Chapter 275: WHO IS IT? II

Oh, fuck, I can't believe Ben hasn't told Anon yet!

- Love? Did I say love? No, I meant "deep feelings". - I tried to hide it.

- Ben, open the console on the dash in front of you, please. Hector asked.

- Now? Yes... – Ben agreed, opening – What do you need, Thorzinho? There's nothing here.

- I thought I might have a little spoon. I believe our friend Anon is in need. - Heitor started to laugh mockingly.

- Spoon? Why would I need a spoon, sir? – Anon asked, confused.

- You know what I like most about this bunch of crazy people? – Ben touched Anon's arm – It's just that we have a kidnapped child, several lives in danger and the owner of the whole thing plays a trick on me asking if there are spoons for my man... I'm sure that another one like you doesn't exist, Thorzinho! At least not as similar to my Babi.

I took Hector's hand and pressed it against my fingers. Darkness took over the interior of the car and the only light there was from the headlights on the completely snow-white road.

- The road is slippery – Anon said – I'm not used to driving in the snow, sir.

- You want me to drive, Anon?

- Of course not, sir.

- Anonzinho can do it, Thorzinho. - Ben said.

When I was about to ask how long it would take, the car stopped, in front of a property with a wooden fence and a large, badly closed gate.

- It's here, according to the GPS. Ann warned.

- Isn't it better for you to take a white T-shirt, swinging it up? – Ben suggested – Why if Daniel looks out and doesn't recognize them… And if he thinks it's the Police? White flag is a sign of peace.

- We're not in a peace sign, Ben. Hector opened the car door.

- I will escort them armed, sir. When I get close to the house, I wait farther.

- OK.

I got out of the car, feeling the frigid air again. Ben tried to open the door and Anon blocked it with her own body:

- You stay here, Ben.

- No... No way. I will not stay here alone. If I hear shots, I'll die from my heart... And if I see ghosts, I'll die too. Not a living soul in this fucking place.

Ben pulled a gun from inside his coat and cocked it, handing Ben:

- Anything suspicious you see, shoot.

- Little Anon, I've never fired a shot in my life.

- For everything there is a first time. It's risky for you to come along, and I won't leave you here unprotected.

Ben took the gun carefully:

- By my salts... If this goes off accidentally and I kill myself?

Anon smoothed his face and said, bending down to his height:

- I trust you, okay? Everything will be fine.

- Oh, Anonzinho. I love you... I need to confess this.

Anon looked at us. I stayed there, immobile, watching everything as if it were a soap opera in the penultimate chapter.

- I think... We can take it slow, Barbara. Hector said.

- No... I want to see the kiss. – I said seriously.

- Mrs. Bongiove, I wouldn't do that in front of you.

- Imagine, Anon, make yourself comfortable. I won't mind.

- Barbara... Come on, please. Hector pulled me by the arm.

As we walked, he said:

- Don't you understand that Anon is a discreet man?

- But Ben isn't.

- Barbara, let's go!

We walked a little, towards the house that was in the distance. We climbed over the old wooden gate, which was padlocked with a chain. There was only a dim light on the porch of the house.

The property was large, but did not have plantations, unlike the other lands nearby.

- How do you think he got this place? – I asked.

- I don't know... I have no idea.

We heard footsteps and I turned back, startled. It was Anon.

- Anon, how could you give a gun to Ben and not give it to me?

- Mrs. Bongiove, there are no bullets in his gun.

- But... You triggered it. - I said, confused.

- To make him feel safer. But nothing will happen there. Soon the other cars will be close and all the men will be surrounding the house. Ben is in no danger. I will protect you... with my own life.

- It is cute.

We started walking faster. It seemed that the closer we got to the house, the further away it got.

- My heart is beating so hard that I have the feeling that you can hear it. – I confessed.

- It's normal to be nervous, Barbara.

- Heitor, we've been away from her for so long... I wonder if everything is really okay with our baby.

- He wouldn't be crazy to do anything to her, Barbara.

- But Heitor, it seems to me that he knows he won't win any of this. His requests were completely absurd.

- Sir, I'll stick around. I can hide behind this bush and see you from here. I'll have a gun in hand. - Said Anon.

- Okay, Anon.

- Hector, we're going to separate. - I spoke.

- Like this?

- I'll go ahead and knock on the door.

- This was not the arrangement, Barbara.

- It can't be the two of us together. I knock, Daniel appears and you catch him. He'll be off guard and confused when he sees me.

- He'll know he's not alone.

- We need to at least try.

He shook his head:

- Are you crazy.

I let go of his hand and followed, distancing myself a little. We walked at the same speed. As I got closer, I started to feel my heart beating faster and faster. What if Maria Lua was crying? What if she wasn't there? What if Daniel wasn't there anymore?

When I got to the porch, I noticed the light on inside the house. I looked everywhere and saw no one, not even Anon. Heitor was near the porch, but he didn't go in.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. My hands were shaking. It took a while before I heard footsteps.

- Who is it? - Asked the female voice on the other side of the door.

A woman? That voice wasn't strange... I wrinkled my forehead, trying to find an answer:

- Mother-in-law? – I said, confused, at the same time that the door opened and I saw Celine, with Maria in her arms.