Seven pm

 Another week had gone by, and nothing was heard from Anthony. It seemed like he had just vanished into thin air. Sandra's finger flickered as she typed his name in the search bar. Nothing important came up. The media had no new news on him. She looked up to the wrinkled forehead of her best friend. Her eyes watched as her friend's teeth dug into her bottom lip.

    "Is there something you can do?" She questioned.

    "This has to be some violation of human rights!" She persisted.

   Her once jovial friend stared at her with the sober eyes of a pitier.

     "There is nothing I can do." Her friend voiced out in a hushed tone.

    Frustration washed over her. 

    "What do you mean by there's nothing you can do?"

     "I mean there is nothing I can do. " She repeated as she dropped the contract on the table.

    "why?! " Sandra cried in frustration. Her fingers wiped back the tears that dropped on her cheeks. Tanya was her last resort. She had tried every means possible, but it all seemed to fail. It was like the entire world had gone against her.

     "Babe..." Tanya called out as she placed a palm on her arm.

 She looked up.

    "The Maven family has never lost a court case. Heck, they're hardly ever even sued to court. They control the entire country. I have never met anyone that could go against them. We all fear for our lives. A family with four great lawyers is not one to to with." Tanya explained.

    "that is also why your father's death wasn't charged as a murder case." 

    " I know that, but there has to be a way." Sandra replied, digging her teeth into her fingers. There had to be a way.

   Her eyes lit up as she thought of the best idea she could bring up.

    "What if....." She said, pulling a finger forward. 

    "What if?" Came the question, with a voice of impatience.

     "What if we run to some nongovernmental organization that deals with human rights. They could help... "

    "that could work.... " Tanya pondered as she nodded repeatedly. 

    Sandra's smile broadened in victory.

    "Except for the fact that Anthony's elder sister donates heavily to every NGO you can think of. Why do you think the society loves them? They give. And they just don't give, the give largely."

   Her lips bent in a frown.

     "your case would die, even before it was brought to life. No organization would want to lose their biggest donor. "

   With little to no enthusiasm, Sandra pulled the cup of coffee to her lips.

    If only she had chosen to study law, she might have stood a chance.

    "I'm really sorry I can't help." Tanya apologized. "You know I really want to." She sighed.

    "I get it."

    "At least he's not always in your hair, plus your family is safe."

     "safe?" Sandra scoffed.

     "he always has his people around us. They're everywhere."

      "well, they're not here now." Tanya replied.

    "Turn around."

   Tanya's head slowly spun, and her eyes widened as she saw a man with a tattooed face staring at her. He raised his finger, and passed a little wave. Tanya slowly reciprocated before she turned back.

    "Why didn't you tell me he was here?!"

     "It didn't sound like a good idea to me. " She shrugged.

     "yes. It is totally not a good idea to inform your best friend that your 'owner' has a hitman watching her! "

    " You would have chickened out." She shrugged again.

    "Exactly why you should have told me!"

   Sandra's lips parted to speak, but her phone's ringtone stopped her.

    She looked at the phone, and then to her best friend.

    "Who is it?" Tanya whispered.

     "An unknown caller." She whispered in return.

    "Take it."

    "No." Sandra refused.

  The phone rang thrice, and on the fourth time, she hurriedly shut it down.

    Her palms placed on her chest, felt her racing heart.

    "It could just be a random caller, right?" Tanya tried to soothe.

    She did not respond. Her brain couldn't organize words properly. At least not yet.

     "chill, girl. You're just on edge today. It could be your mom or sister calling you from a different number." She soothed again, in a lower tone.

    Both sat frozen in their seats as the tattooed man walked towards them. 

    "You better take it," he warned as he dropped a ringing phone on their table.

    With trembling hands, Sandra picked it up.

    "Hello?"

     "Turn on your phone." Came a mysterious voice from the other end.

   The call ended immediately. 

     She dropped the phone on the table.

     "Who was it?

    "Definitely not my mom, or sisters." She replied as her fingers hit her phone's power button.

   As soon as her phone lit up, a messaged popped up.

    "Seven pm." Sandra read out loud.

    "What?

   "Seven pm." She repeated. "The caller said to check my phone. The message in my phone says seven pm." She explained.

    " What does that mean?"

     "There's only one way to find out."