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“It came from a textile plant,” Lainey said.

“Good girl. Keep going.”

“It was in our bank for six weeks, before we exchanged it into cryptocurrency.”

“Yes, and you divided half of the money into eighths and deposited them into eight different accounts.”

Lainey started coughing. She couldn’t stop. It went on and on and on.

Crack!

Lainey still coughed.

“Give her some more water,” Ivan said.

Amanda grabbed her chin, forced her jaw open, and poured water down Lainey’s throat. “Drink, you stupid bitch.”

Lainey tried to drink, but the coughing wouldn’t stop. She needed to lean forward to spit out the phlegm.

“Ivan, give me your knife.”

Oh God, this is it. Matt isn’t going to get here in time.

Ivan reached down under the table then came up with a huge knife. He leaned across the table and stabbed it into the wood. “There.”

Lainey continued to cough.

“You couldn’t have just brought it around to me?” Amanda asked as she pulled it out of the table.

“No.” Ivan pulled another dessert out of the take-out bag and started eating.

Amanda went behind Lainey.

“Stay still.” But Lainey couldn’t as the coughing continued.

I’m not going to cry. I refuse to give the bitch the satisfaction.

She felt her hair being pulled. More hair ripped from her scalp.

“Ow,” she mumbled.

Then her head was free. She bent over and spit out the phlegm that had been tickling her throat.

“That’s just gross.” Amanda said.

Lainey was only sad that she hadn’t thought about spitting on the bitch.

At least her cough had stopped.

“Water.” Lainey begged.

Amanda put the glass up to Lainey’s lips and she sipped slowly.

“Now talk.”

“I transferred the money into the Grand Cayman account that was listed on the file.”

“You did not,” the man said. “It never arrived. You stole it.”