Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35 The alleyway behind the loading docks.

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Finished

Joanna swallows hard, her mind racing. So Megan didn’t die. The timeline is intact. The hiking accident was just a bitter husband’s cover story to hide his own shame. Megan Foster is very much alive, currently serving as Elliot’s mistress and still on track to become the most dangerous lieutenant at the future Nightshade Base, exactly as she had in the future dream.

“I understand,” Joanna says calmly, anchoring her voice to sound sympathetic. “And I’m sorry for what you’ve had to deal with, Mr. Foster. But about the necklace-”

“If you want it, it’s yours,” David interrupts harshly. “I’m not coming back to the store to deal with it. I’ll call the jewelry boutique right now and tell them I’m releasing the piece to you. Just go down there, pay whatever remaining processing fees they demand, and buy it directly from the shop. They can wire my portion of the cash to my P.O. Box or account on file.”

He pauses, the anger fading into a desperate, strict command.

“But you listen to me, and listen well. You don’t say a damn word to that sales clerk about Megan being alive. As far as the city of Felton is concerned, she is buried in a closed casket in the northern ranges. If you breathe a syllable of the truth to anyone, the deal is off. Do we have an agreement?”

Joanna looks at the business card on the table, a grim, satisfied smile tugging at her lips. “We have a deal, Mr. Foster. Your secret is entirely safe with me. Thank you.”

“Whatever,” David mutters, and the line goes completely dead.

Joanna slowly lowers the phone, a chill of absolute certainty settling into her chest. She turns to Jolie, whose jaw is practically on the floor.

“Well,” Joanna says quietly, her eyes flashing with a dangerous, calculating light. “It looks like Megan Foster is alive and well. And tomorrow morning, we’re going back to that jewelry store to claim our prize.”

Jolie snapped her laptop shut and picked up her own phone, her fingers flying across the screen. “If we’re doing this, we need to move before that clerk locks up for the night. Let me call the boutique and set the bait after I take a fast shower.

Joanna nodded, leaning back against the headboard as Jolie bathed. After Jolie came back dressed in clean clothes she sat down and picked up the phone. Jolie dialed and the line connected after a few rings from the telephone.

“Hi, yes, hello,” Jolie said, her voice instantly transforming into that of a wealthy, demanding personal assistant. “I am calling on behalf of my boss who is interested in buying the jewelry commissioned by David Foster. We just spoke with Mr. David Foster regarding the commissioned emerald necklace. He informed us he would contct your management to

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11:26 Sat, Oct 3

Chapter 35 The alleyway behind the loading docks

officially release the piece into our possession.”

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Finished

Jolie went quiet, listening intently. A slow smirk spread across her face as the clerk on the other end confirmed the update.

“Perfect,” Jolie continued, her tone dropping into a confidential, hurried whisper. “Now, my employer wants this transaction handled immediately. Tonight. She is willing to pay the remaining processing fees in cash, along with a very handsome personal discretion bonus for you, if we can skip the formal morning paperwork. We want to avoid any public attention.”

Jolie paused, nodding at Joanna. “Yes, exactly. The mall is closing, so the front doors are locked. The alleyway behind the loading docks? Perfect. Joanna will meet you by the service exit in thirty minutes. Have the paperwork ready to sign.”

Jolie cut the line and looked up, her eyes wide with adrenaline. “Everything is ready. David Foster actually called them ten minutes ago to wash his hands of it. The clerk is terrified of corporate finding out she’s doing a cash hand-off after hours, but that ‘discretion bonus’ convinced her. She will be waiting for you in the alley behind the mall in thirty minutes.”

“Good job,” Joanna said, tossing on her dark utility jacket and grabbing a fresh stack of hundreds from their hidden stash. “Stay here and keep an eye on the laptop. If anything feels off, I’ll ping your phone.”

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