Page 15 of Sizzling Nights

Marco moved to the stove and began cooking the new orders that had come in. Jace took care of the driver and told him if anyone asked questions about what happened after he slashed the packages, he was to say nothing happened and they ordered more food. Nothing else. And if he was hired again, he was to come directly to Jace or Marco and let them know.

As soon as the kitchen door closed behind the delivery driver, Marco stepped to the door and turned the lock. Anyone else delivering today would need to knock.

He stared at Theresa as he moved back to the stove and nodded. She nodded in return and mouthed, "Thank you."

His heartbeat increased. He rotated his head as he turned the burgers on the grill. He was getting too close.

10

Theresa finished setting up the dining room with Margo's assistance. The hired cleaning company would come in the morning to mop the floors and clean the bathrooms and other areas that were not food-related. Margo had insisted on staying out front with her, so she wasn't alone. She hated feeling like she needed a babysitter, but she was grateful for good friends and the concern. Despite the doors being locked, she still felt vulnerable. And exhausted. She felt totally exhausted. If anything happened tonight, she wouldn't be able to run anywhere. There was nothing left in her. She'd spent every bit of energy she had today.

A loud knock sounded against the front door, and she jumped and yipped. Two more knocks hit the door hard, and Margo's hand flew to her heart first, then both Jace and Marco rushed out to the dining room from opposite directions.

Marco nodded toward her, "It's Mitch. He just texted. Remember, knock space knock knock."

She swallowed the fear that clogged her throat and nodded. She closed her eyes for a moment as Marco rushed to the door to open it. She focused on her breathing, reminding herself they were all okay. It was all okay.

Marco first peered out the door, using his foot as a stopper, then opened the door and let Mitch inside. As soon as Mitch stepped inside, Marco closed and locked the door once more.

Mitch glanced at her and nodded. "Hi, Theresa."

"Hi, Mitch."

He nodded to Jace and Margo who stood nearby. Mitch addressed her. "You received a call on your phone. I need you to listen to what it says and tell me if you recognize the caller's voice."

She swallowed nervously but stepped forward. "Okay."

He pulled her phone from his pocket and tapped the face of it. The caller's voice came on. "Theresa, you can run but you can't hide. Not forever. I know you have the transaction records proving what you think is the Celtics meddling with the presidential election, but you don't really know what you have there. And before you go making an embarrassment of yourself, you and I need to meet."

Theresa stared at the phone that Mitch held out. It was her phone, but right now, she didn't want to touch it. It felt like something poisonous, something dangerous and dark.

How brave was she? Was she brave enough to pretend like she didn't know what they were talking about? She wasn't sure if she was that brave.

Her eyes left the phone and slowly scanned up Mitch's arm and over his shoulder to where Marco stood. He stepped forward, then stood before her and softly asked, "Do you have something that will incriminate them?"

She swallowed. She wasn't sure how honest she should be with anyone. Everyone seemed to want the information she had.

Marco said, "Theresa, you need to trust us, hon. We're trying to save you, but we need to know what we're up against."

Her heart beat so fast she thought she was gonna pass out. She swallowed quickly and took in a deep breath. Well, what did she have to lose, really?

"Yes, I have them," she slowly answered.

"Where are they? We need to put them somewhere for safekeeping."

She licked her lips. "I have them in safekeeping."

"But what if they find them?"

"They won't."

"Theresa..."

She hurriedly said, "Marco, I appreciate everything you're all doing for me. I really, really do. But this is something that I protected long ago when I first started to find out what was going on with the Celtics. I have the files protected in such a way that no one will find them. I have it blockchain-protected, and the only way it can be opened is with a private key. And that private key is hidden over several different sources."

Mitch grinned. He looked at Marco. "Well, damn. That's pretty fucking good."

Marco nodded. She saw him swallow, though. He was worried.

---