Chapter <b>81 </b>


    EL 55 vouchers


    When Richard showed up, several townspeople immediately rushed over and started beating him. Leading the charge was Gina.


    “You and that bitch must be in on this together,” Gina snarled. The drug’s effects had worn off, and she was itching for someone to take her anger out on–Richard just happened to be there. “Come on, everyone, hit him!”


    Gina was well–respected in the town. At hermand, the townspeople swarmed in.


    “Folks, listen to me, I’m not-” Richard yelled from the ground, curled up with his arms over his head. But the crowd had lost their minds; they weren’t listening <i>to </i>a word he said.


    From inside the car, Helen watched the scene and shook her head, muttering, “Vicious peoplee from harshnds.”


    “Stop! Can’t you see who I am?” Richard shouted, shing his credentials. “I’m Richard Stone, mayor of srough. Where’s Devin Baker? Get him here.”


    Hearing someone call his name, Devin hurried over, full of bluster. “Who’s looking for me?” he demanded.


    Tonight’s events in town had already been enough of a mess; now, with outsiders showing up to stir more trouble, Devin was naturally in a foul mood.


    “It’s me!” Richard shouted hoarsely, still shielding his head.


    Gina couldn’t care less who he was–she was too busy venting her rage, hitting harder and harder.


    When Devin finally saw who Richard was, his eyes went wide. Internally, he cursed Gina for not knowing her limits–she’d dare hit anyone.


    “Stop!” Devin’s hand shook on his cane. “This is Mr. Stone. Gina, stop at once.”


    At Devin’s words, Gina finally froze. It took her a second to realize she’d just assaulted the mayor.


    Devin quickly stepped forward to check on Richard, smiling ingratiatingly. “Mr. Stone, are you all right? It’s all because it’s so dark out–we couldn’t see clearly. They definitely didn’t mean it. I apologize on their behalf.”


    Richard wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, ring at him with resentment before waving it off. “Forget it. I won’t hold it against you. Just hand over that girl.”


    “What? What girl?” Devin avoided his gaze, stammering.


    “Obviously the girl your whole town is out searching for,” Helen said as she opened the car door and stepped out.


    11:28 pm PPSS


    EX 55 vouchers


    Her steps halted briefly, her gaze turning ice–cold, her entire presence radiating the oppressive authority of someone in power. She shot Devin a nce, her tone sharp. “Don’t y dumb. Hand


    her over.”


    “And this is?” Devin tried to change the subject.


    Richard leaned in close to whisper, lowering his voice. “Doesn’t matter who she is. What you need to know is you can’t afford to cross that girl.


    “She’s someone many officials have named as needing protection. Don’t do anything stupid now. If something happens to her, we’re all finished.”


    Hearing that, Devin finally realized just how dangerous the girl Gina had brought in was. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he told Richard and Helen the truth. “It’s not that I don’t want to hand her over–we don’t know where she went.


    “Steven drove off with her. We’re looking for them too.”


    “Damn that Steven!” Richard’s teeth clenched in rage, his fists tightening. He hadn’t expected Steven <i>to </i>still be thinking about having sex at a time like this.


    In the past, whenever higher–level officials came to investigate, he always had a way to muddle through. But this time, with Olivia disappearing on his district, he had no idea how he was going to exin it to his superiors.


    Although Richard was worried, he still couldn’t figure out why so many people were paying attention to an ordinary young woman. ‘Was it really just because she was pretty?‘ he wondered.


    Seeing this, Helen didn’t bother wasting any more time with them–she opened the car door and drove off.


    B