Lottery 1
Andrea shared a cab with Jenny and decided to stay with her overnight. The two began working at the diner at the same time, and she felt a sort of sisterhood.
The two shared a half bottle of wine to relax, they both had work the next day.
Andrea fell asleep peacefully on the couch, and began snoring away.
Jenny was amused at first, but found she could not sleep with constant noise in the living room. She walked to her bedroom window and glanced out of it. She thought she saw someone in a car on the street looking up at her. She withdrew quickly from the window, and her heart began to race. The events of the day flooded back to her, and she re-lived them vividly in her mind.
Jenny took several deep breaths as Andrea snored still in the living room. The noise calmed her for a moment, she was not in the apartment alone. For the moment at least, she was safe.
Then she began to think of Willy, it was odd that he had not been by since that night. If he had won the half billion lottery, he would have stopped by at least and shared the news. Actually he would have probably bought her a diamond necklace, like he always talked of. Jenny thought, ‘that was strange, he had not been around. Now a loan shark has come looking for him? He must have missed his payment, so where is he now?’
Then she recalled the strange conversation between the blonde woman and the brunette male a few days ago. How they had suddenly come into a lot of money, like they had won the lottery. The girl treated her as if she was prying into their business.
What if William had been the victim of foul play. What if the reason this blonde had been so defensive was because she had something to hide.
Something like, she killed someone for their ticket.
Shaniqua knocked again on the door where Christine Barrette stayed. It had been several days since her story ran, and she still had received no leads.
Christine opened the door and stepped outside. Her hair was more disheveled than normal, the woman looked defeated.
“Are you alright?” Shaniqua looked at the almost zombie like human that stood in front of her.
“Who are you?” Christine said in a wispy, defeated tone. “Why do you keep coming to my mother’s house?”
“I’m Shaniqua Paston, KKRY.” the reporter extended out her hand, but it was not taken. “I believe your husband held the winning ticket to the Tri-State Lottery. The Half Billion Jackpot.”
“That was claimed.” Christine seemed further away.
“Mrs. Barrette.” Shaniqua moved until she was back in Christine’s line of sight. “I believe that money belongs to you and someone stole the ticket.”
Christine began to take notice of the reporter.
“I believe that’s the reason he killed himself, because he lost the ticket or it was stolen by these two who cashed it. Maybe he was swindled out of it, I don’t know.”
Christine watched the reporter but was unable to say anything.
“I want to try and help you get your money back.” Shaniqua looked her straight in the eye. “I am going to do everything in my power to find these people who cashed this ticket and get your money back.”
“How?” Christine finally spoke.
“By swaying Public Opinion, of course.” Shaniqua smiled with her, ‘I got this’ look.
Christine felt a small glimmer of hope arise.
Dare she think it, dare she believe it. The end of all her troubles. The banks would stop calling. The bill collectors could all be paid off. She could pay off that gangster and his goons. She and her family would finally be safe.
“Christine?” Shaniqua questioned the woman who now seemed enveloped in thought.
A tear fell down the woman’s face, as her mood began to turn. The man she had so dearly loved, had finally come through for her at the end. Then his rotten luck, he lost his one salvation. He lost the money that would have turned everything around. He finally made it. ‘He must have been so proud’, she thought.
“I bet he was just waiting to race home and tell me he’d won.” Christine whispered. “And I wasn’t there to come home to.”
It was Shaniqua’s turn to be silent now. She didn’t know what to say to the grieving widow.
Christine’s eyes locked with the reporter’s. “What if it’s my fault? If I had only been there. If I just hadn’t left.”
The guilt was so apparent in her face as she quickly looked away, it made Shaniqua want to cry in sympathy.
“You can’t punish yourself for that.” Shaniqua interjected quickly. “You had no idea what was going on. I’m sure you did what was best for your kids.”
Shaniqua made sure their eyes locked. “And that’s what you have to think about now. Those kids.”
Christine’s tears lessened as she composed herself slightly. Only a small leak from the side remained.
“We’re going to figure this out.” Shaniqua assured her. “I’m going to get you your money back.”