AmyStrange & the Criminal
(Part 1: the Escape)
                              Copyright © 2019 by David P. Ayotte
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR CHILDREN
[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ]
CHAPTER 14: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st

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     After I told them that, it was    
like I’d pushed a button that made them
pull out their smart-phones and begin  
tapping. After a minute, they looked at
each other in astonishment, and then at
me.                                    
     Darryl was the first to speak,    
“Ok, now I know your financial sit-    
uation here, for both of you.”         
     “I know. You do our taxes every   
year,” I interrupted. Another thing    
Beth didn't know about, but now she    
did. I looked over at her, and she     
didn't look mad or anything. She was   
actually smiling at me.                
     “And,” Darryl continued, “I also  
know that unless you just won some kind
of lottery or inherited a boatload of  
money, there is no way you have that   
kind of money just laying around.”     
     I thought about that for a minute,
“I don't know Dr. D. We have enough    
equity on the house, I think I could   
probably swing another mortgage, maybe 
rob a bank, so there's no way to know  
for sure. At least, not one hundred    
percent anyway,” I said.               
     I looked at everyone, one at a    
time, and then added, “until the Cat   
tells you herself, and that’ll be in   
about...” I looked at my watch, and it 
was almost quarter after seven, “almost
exactly five hours from now.           
     “And here's the kicker. Since that
ten thousand is only an advance, when  
the job is done, and of course, if the 
Cat is real, we each get another forty 
thousand. And, another half million    
each, if we help spring her two buddies
later.”                                
     Mouse spoke up first, after that  
bombshell, “So you guys aren't getting 
married?” She looked at Beth for       
confirmation.                          
     “Of course, we're getting         
married,” I said without thinking, “but
first, I like everyone's idea about    
making a formal proposal in front of   
friends.”                              
     I walked over to Beth, got on one 
knee, and then took her hand. Both     
Mouse and Rhonda started sniffing. Pee 
Wee almost looked like he was also     
going to start crying, the big lug.    
     Darryl pulled a small video camera
out of his pocket, and Beth... I’ve    
never seen her look more beautiful, or 
happier.                               
     Her smile wasn't crooked anymore. 
     That’s when Rhonda, my freakin'   
arch-enemy, decided to spoil           
everything.                            
     “Wait!” she cried out.            
     Everyone looked at her, and she in
turn looked at Darryl. “Wouldn't now be
a good time, you know, to give         
them...?”                              



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CHAPTER 14: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ]

PART 1 IS FREE:                          
  You can copy and distribute it to any-  
one and everyone,  as long as it's dis-  
tributed for free* and in its entirety,**
including the COPYRIGHT PAGE.            

*This does not apply to AMAZON.COM, **or REVIEWS