After leaving the bar, Darnell didn’t go looking for trouble with Cesar and his group. Instead, he took Bailee straight back to Horizon Yard.
Horizon Yard, the neighborhood where Bailee lived, was conveniently located near a supermarket, hospital, and elementary school.
The neighborhood itself was quite decent, with complete facilities and multiple layers of security. There were even security patrols from time to time.
The only downside was the presence of numerous beggars, at least twenty or so, scattered on both sides of the street. Whenever someone or a vehicle stopped, they would approach to beg. If no money was given, more beggars would surround them, not allowing them to leave.
Some would cling to legs or lie in front of cars. If they encountered someone tough, they would use their numbers to block them.
As a result, those targeted had no choice but to give money to avoid trouble, usually ranging from one dollar to fifty dollars.
Darnell’s taxi was also blocked by a one-eyed beggar. The taxi driver handed over two dollars before they could proceed.
Darnell glanced at the one-eyed beggar, who looked quite arrogant. He snorted disdainfully after receiving the two dollars.
It was clear these people were organized and disciplined.
Bailee had drunk a bit too much tonight. Concerned for her safety, Darnell personally escorted her to her place.
Not wanting Casey and Shayla to speculate about their relationship, Darnell rang the doorbell and quickly retreated to the fire escape. Once he saw Casey and Shayla open the door and help Bailee inside, he left the neighborhood.
However, Darnell didn’t head home immediately because he had no money left. He only had a check worth 5 million and a Rolex on his left wrist.
The few thousand dollars in his pocket had been given to Bailee for her rent at the Friendly Diner that afternoon. The remaining change had been spent as tips at the bar.
He had assumed Cesar still had Desmond’s six thousand dollars and thought he could get by without carrying cash. But unexpectedly, Cesar and Harry had escaped during the chaos.
So at this moment, Darnell was truly penniless.
After pondering for a while, Darnell took out his phone and tried to book a ride through an app, but there wasn’t even a bicycle in sight nearby, five minutes passed without finding a car.
He then considered hailing a taxi to take him back to Woodsea to get some money. However, several experienced drivers insisted on being paid upfront in cash.
They also refused online payments, fearing sophisticated scammers.
“What kind of luck is this today? Did I use it all up this morning?”
He reluctantly called Cesar and Harry for help but found both their phones were turned off.
Darnell felt an urge to beat up Cesar.
After spacing out for two minutes, Darnell decided to go back and borrow money from Casey and Shayla or even spend the night there if necessary.
At that moment, he heard some noise from the side. A one-eyed beggar in his twenties approached him, dragging one leg and letting one arm hang limp. He made some unintelligible sounds as if signaling that he was not only disabled but also mute.
Darnell glanced at his joints with a hint of amusement but said nothing. He stretched lazily and prepared to get up.
The one-eyed beggar stood in front of Darnell without any extra movements, just shaking his metal bowl filled with about thirty coins and over two hundred dollars in bills, indicating that there were many kind people around.
Darnell turned his head away, ignoring the young beggar’s actions.
The young beggar looked pitifully at him and took half a step closer, shaking the bowl even more vigorously so that the coins clanged continuously.
“Isn’t this embarrassing?” Darnell frowned and said to the young beggar, “Don’t do this.”
A few patrolling security guards and passersby chuckled at this scene as if it were commonplace.
The young beggar remained unmoved, continuing to shake his metal bowl with its pleasant clanging sound.
“This really isn’t good,” Darnell said seriously. “You should take it back.”
Clang! Clang!
The young beggar shook the bowl harder and stubbornly moved closer to Darnell’s face with great persistence.
“Alright then,” Darnell sighed helplessly. “How about two dollars?”
The young beggar shook his bowl again, rejecting Darnell’s offer.
Darnell extended a hand. “Twenty dollars should be enough.”
The young beggar smirked slightly and eyed Darnell’s Rolex before shaking his bowl again with a clanging sound.
Gritting his teeth, Darnell said, “Two hundred dollars is my final offer!”
The young beggar nodded repeatedly with joy and held out the bowl to Darnell.
Raising his right hand, Darnell made the young beggar smile, until it froze on his face moments later.
“If you’re so insistent on giving me money,” Darnell said as he grabbed a handful of bills from the bowl before hopping away like a rabbit. “Thank you very much.”
Several security guards were stunned while the beggar stood there dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened.
“What? You still want to give me more? Isn’t this embarrassing?” Seeing the young beggar’s hand frozen mid-air, Darnell quickly grabbed another handful of coins. “Two hundred is more than enough. Thank you!”
In the next second, he bolted away on foot.
“Wow! This neighborhood is amazing! Even beggars here are so generous,” Darnell shouted as he ran past a security guard with a thumbs-up gesture. “They knew I didn’t have money for a ride and insisted on giving me some.”
He dashed towards an approaching taxi in the distance while several security guards remained rooted in place. Meanwhile, the beggar snapped out of it and pulled out a knife from behind him.
“You bastard! I’ll kill you!”
Suddenly, no longer mute or deaf or disabled in any way, he chased after Darnell furiously with red eyes while shouting orders at other beggars, “Stop him!”
About ten other beggars joined in, wielding various objects. Once seemingly disabled individuals now moved nimbly like young men.
“Hey guys! No need to chase me. No need for more money! It’s enough already!” Running fast yet still turning back occasionally, Darnell shouted, “That’s very kind of you. I really appreciate! it”
“Screw you!” The one-eyed beggar roared angrily, wanting nothing more than to hack him into pieces. He was so frustrated that he was about to cry. How could there be such a shameless person?
Robbing a beggar’s money? Was there no law at all?
Ten-plus people chased after him while Darnell sprinted towards an approaching taxi which immediately sped off upon seeing such commotion. This time, it was Darnell’s turn to be frustrated. Fortunately, after running another 200 meters, two jeeps with flashing police lights approached from the front.
The police cars, seeing a group of people armed and chasing Darnell, abruptly stopped across the road. The car doors opened, and eight police officers jumped out.
With a fierce aura, they immediately drew their firearms. A female officer stepped forward, raised her gun, and sternly shouted, “Freeze!”
Judith?
Darnell was slightly taken aback, wanting to turn around and avoid her, but he heard Judith shout,
“Anyone who moves will be shot.”