There, she saw Queena again.
Queena looked even more haggard than the last time they met, but upon seeing Florence, she perked up.
“You finally came. When are you going to get me out of here?”
Queena looked at Florence with pleading eyes. She could only see Florence as her lifeline now; anything to get out of this hellhole would do.
“What’s the rush?” Florence smiled calmly and took out a key from her bag, quietly placing it in Queena’s hand.
“Tonight between 7pm and 8pm, the guards will change shifts. I’ve already bribed them here so they won’t notice you leaving. However, there will be guards rotating outside the door as well. Use these keys to avoid their surveillance cameras and head west after leaving through the prison gate. Climb over the wall and I’ll have someone waiting for you.”
“Okay.” Queena nodded eagerly and wanted to pull her hand back but held onto the key tightly instead; it was like hope had been restored in her life.
Florence grabbed her wrist firmly before letting go of it slowly while saying, “I gave you these keys but remember our deal. Tell me everything or else I can just send you back in if needed.”
Queena hesitated for a moment before nodding quickly, “As long as you can get me out of jail, I’ll tell you everything. Nothing hidden!”
Hearing that promise made by Queena satisfied Florence who then smiled contentedly before releasing her grip on Queena’s wrist and turning around to leave.
Only then did Queena breathe a sigh of relief while opening up her palm with a smile that seemed almost sickly looking at those keys inside it.
Finally, as evening arrived, Queena followed Florence’s instructions from the afternoon, carefully timing her actions. When the prison guards changed shifts, she quietly used the key to unlock the prison’s main gate, slipped out stealthily, and closed it behind her.
Queena had been in this place for a long time, and she had almost memorized the positions of the surveillance cameras. Eventually, she successfully reached the location Florence had mentioned. It was a blind spot, shielded by a building, where the changing guards would never reach.
After climbing over the wall, Queena saw a white sedan parked in front of her. She hurriedly ran over, opened the back door, and found Florence sitting inside, leaning against the back of the seat with her eyes closed.
Upon hearing the noise, Florence spoke slowly, “Are you out? Mr. Brown, start the car.”
The driver nodded and the car slowly started moving. The streetlights outside began to move past them, fading into the distance. Queena looked out at the scenery, suddenly feeling a sense of rebirth. But she had no idea where Florence was taking her next.
“Where are we going?” Queena asked.
“You’ll find out when we get there,” Florence replied.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in a suburban area. Queena got out of the car dazed and confused, only to be dragged by Florence’s arm into an abandoned villa covered in dust. It was clear that nobody had lived there for a long time.
“Where are we?” Queena asked again.
Florence ignored her question and crossed her arms as she looked at Queena. “I kept my promise to get you out of prison, now it’s your turn to tell me about Patrick and Candy’s kidnapping details from back then? You have to understand that I’m not doing this for charity.”
Queena’s pupils contracted as she suddenly realized why Florence brought her here today. If she didn’t tell Florence about Patrick and Candy’s situation, then today could be her last day alive without any explanation or reason.
If Florence could help her escape from prison, what did she have left to fear?
She took a deep breath before speaking up, “Okay, I’ll tell you everything but after today you need to help me leave Guavo safely because I don’t want to stay here anymore! I want to go abroad somewhere safe! Otherwise how do I know if you will send me back behind bars after hearing everything?”
Florence narrowed her eyes instinctively but eventually relaxed them with a nod agreeing with Queena’s request, “Alright then! As long as you tell me everything that happened regarding Patrick and Candy’s kidnapping details, then I promise that nothing will happen!”
However, the next moment, her tone turned ominous. “But I advise you not to play any tricks on me. If you deceive me, you should be well aware of the consequences.”
Queena, upon hearing this, eased her concerns but still remained cautious. She regained her composure and began recounting the details of the kidnapping of Patrick and Candy to Florence.
“… That’s the whole story.”
Just as Florence was about to inquire further, Queena suddenly stopped, making it clear that she was unwilling to say more.
“I’ve told you this much for now. Once I’ve safely reached another country, I’ll share the rest with you through a phone call. I promise.”
Florence paused for a moment, gave Queena a disdainful glance, but didn’t say anything. Instead, she unzipped her bag and took out a card and an airplane ticket from her wallet.
“This is your ferry ticket to M country. It leaves in three hours at dawn. I’ll arrange for someone to take you there immediately. The money on this card will be enough for you to live on in M country, but if I find out that you’ve cheated me, you’ll come back here. Do you understand?”
Queena didn’t care anymore. She knew that staying in Guavo and thinking about Patrick would put her life at risk. So why not take advantage of the situation? After all, without her around, Patrick and Jane’s lives wouldn’t be any better.
She took the card from Florence’s hand and put it into her pocket with confidence.
“Miss Doyle, don’t worry about me. Once I arrive safely overseas, I’ll tell you everything,” she said calmly before leaving.
Two days later, Florence was resting at home when she received an unfamiliar phone call.
She picked up the phone but didn’t say anything until Queena’s voice came through on the other end, “Miss Doyle, how have you been?”
“It looks like you’re settled now,” Florence replied nonchalantly as she played with her hair. She had known it was Queena calling because no one else would play such mysterious games with her number.
There was silence on the other end of the line as Queena spoke softly into the phone while Florence listened intently without saying a word until they hung up.
Jane is going to have some trouble next…
Jane and Patrick had been enjoying their time in Paris these past few days, sightseeing and even preparing for their design competition, when he received a call from Morton unexpectedly one day…