In the morning, I left early for the police station. I informed them what the situation was. They said that we should keep them in the loop about their next move and they would be there at my house in some time to set up surveillance. I went home and learned that Jim already got a call from the extortioners. They wanted the information as soon as possible. “Buddy, they just called and said that if I don’t hand over the information today itself they will kill me. And they also know that I’m staying with you so they can and will kill you and your family.” He said panting. “What will we do now?” “Relax the police will be here in no time. They will help us” I said. “There is no time to wait for them. I have to do it now. Will you come with me please?” he asked. “Yes, I’ll come; But what about the incomplete information? What use will it be to them?” I asked “No time for question buddy, they say they just want whatever I have on this.” He said “Ok, let’s go.” I said. We reached the venue and there they were, two bulky men with black masks on their faces. “Hand it over” one of them said pointing a gun at him. Jim did exactly as he was told. He handed over the documents. “We have done exactly as you h
ad asked, now let us go” I said. “Not so fast Mr. Hall” said one of the extortioners. “How do you know my name? And what more do you want from us?” I asked inquisitively. “His work is done, now your work begins. You have to make this formula work for real. We can let him go but not you. You have to stay here and prove his formula right.” They said. “Why will I work for you guys? I will have you know that the police are on their way” I said “I wouldn’t do this if I were you Mr. Hall. We have your wife and son with us. If you want to see them alive you will do it” They said. “How do you know all this about me and how did you get my family?” I said. “Oh no, you convinced Jim to give me up. If he couldn’t do it then you thought I could, us being fellow workers” I said realizing. “Oh Jim, how could you do this to me? I thought I was your friend and you got me messed up? I did not expect this from you” I said disappointed. “I had no choice; they would’ve killed me if I didn’t do what they asked me. So, when I said I couldn’t do it, they asked if anyone else could I said your name because you helped me with the initial work on this project. And I knew you could definitely do it.” He said with his head down. “Enough of this chitter chatter, get to work both of you. We have decided that both of you will work on it together. Two is always better than one. And we have your family as leverage, if you decide to do something stupid, you know they will pay for your mistake” said one of them. They blindfolded us and took us somewhere. It was a lab and they said they will give whatever we need to complete the formula. But I had no intention of doing this for them. I remembered something at that moment, when I had gone to the police station, the policemen had showed me how they will track Jim’s phone to get the culprits and they had tried it on my phone. And they had said that even if they couldn’t track his phone to the culprits there would be a distress signal in the (Jim’s) phone if pressed they will know the phone’s location and could catch the thieves. They never got to do it in his phone but maybe the distress signal will still work on mine. I tried pressing it a few times but didn’t know if it worked or not. “I’m sorry I got you in this mess. I should have handled it myself. I put yours and your family’s life in danger” Said Jim. “Don’t think about it too much. What’s done is done. Let’s get to work and get the hell out of here” I said. At that moment, I heard a loud thump, then again and again. It was not on our door but somewhere outside. “We have you surrounded. You have nowhere to go, come out with your hands behind your head” I heard someone call out. I then realized that the distress signal must have worked and the police had come for us. We tried opening the door but to no avail. After a few minutes, our door was broken down and there was police all over the place. I inquired about my family and they said they had found them locked in the next room. “Oh honey, thank God you two are safe. I was so worried about you guys” I said to my wife hugging her. The police escorted the two men out of there and took all of us home. They informed us that the two men were just petty thieves and this was the biggest gig of their lives. And now this will keep them in jail for the rest of their lives. The end