SIX

Maria's anger surged as she clamored, her eyes ablaze with fury. "This… this is utterly preposterous!" she seethed. "Do you honestly think, even for a moment, that this ludicrous plan of yours will unfold according to your whims? Let's face it, it's sheer madness, and we all know it!"

"Ma'am," Michael began cautiously, but before he could finish his sentence, Maria sharply interrupted.

"Putain de merde, tais-toi!" The profanity-laden phrase escaped her lips, hitting the air like a thunderclap.

That instant, those French classes from ninth grade rushed back as Mr. Henri's favorite cuss word echoed in my memory.

"You only speak when you're spoken to," Maria continued and I couldn't have agreed more with her at that moment.

Yes, the memory of her unnerving phone call from yesterday was still vividly green in my mind. Hell, it even cast a lingering shadow of unease that robbed me of a peaceful night's sleep as fear of an impending threat loomed over me, haunting my every thought.

However,