Alice Mercer woke up and rubbed her eyes. It was Dawn.

New day.

"Yes. They will be here at four and make sure you finish them off, one by one, or two by two... I need this job done, clean!". Her father whispered loudly from his bedroom. "My daughter should not know this. Yes... " He commanded. Jason probably thought Alice was at work.

He was wrong.

What was he talking about thou? She wondered. She wanted to take a shower but any sound she made would alert his father of her presence. Since he thought she was not there, she had to convince him.

Alice was twenty seven, and the only child of Jason Mercer and Joanna Mercer. Jason was a businessman, and Joanna a cardiologist. Her mother had disappeared when she was ten, and found a year later, dead.

Alice was raised by Mariah, the housemaid, who had been there before Alice was born.

She heard Jason's car drive out and then took a shower. She needed to see the people who were supposed to be taken one by one, or two by two.

She slipped in her black jeans, biker boots and wore a grey wool jersey. She pulled her hair in a messy bun and put on a light lipstick. She wore her clear glass shades and took her handbag and the phone.

She walked out silently and left her car. Jason had obviously seen it. She'd lie later that she's taken a cab.

She called Jane.

"Yes." Jane picked.

"We need to talk." She stopped a cab and got in.

"Come before I get busy. I have a meeting." The sound of the computer keyboard made noise in the background.

"Few minutes " Alice said and hung up.

*****

She arrived at GetWell clinic and passed straight to Jane's office. She was typing furiously on her keyboard.

"Dad is planning to kidnap some people." She whispered, inspecting the office. No one except two of them.

Jane lifted her head. "Excuse me?" She pushed her spects back with a middle finger.

Alice paced around the office. Her heart pounded.

"I told you he's suspicious. He makes mysterious calls. And he doesn't want me to know. He changed... Damnit, Jane. " She sighed.

Jane got up and stood by the window, facing out. The cool breezefrom the open window swept across the room.

The silence drove Alice mad.

"Do you know the victims?" Jane turned to her and slipped her hands in the pockets.

Alice shook her head. "All I know is, it's a group of musicians. They wannet to stay for a month, and do a concert or whatever music show. So dad offered to pay their two weeks stay. Dad is not that generous."

"He has his plans ...." Jane's voice vanished into a whisper as she stared in to the air.

"He has plans " Alice echoed.

"Make sure you meet those people. Know them. And make friends with them." Jane suggested.

"Gotta go. He thinks I'm at work." She nodded and walked out.

*****

Dan Smith sat quietly next to his companion and brother, Tom. Tom was his guitarist, friend and brother. Desiree was driving them to Eden hotel, where they'd stay for a month, preparing for the concert.

"Stop thinking about Miss Frankford. It makes you furious." Tom said. He was right. He understood the noise in Dan's head when he kept silent. Lucia Frankford and Abigail Almond we're backup singers. Abigail loved Dan a lot, but she contained her feelings. She was raised right.

Lucia was different. She'd show up at Dan's house unannounced, wearing a knee length coat and visibly nothing under it. She was pretty and hot. But why was she single?

"Damnit, she annoys me." Dan said through clenched teeth.

"The reason why you should focus on something positive." Tom said calmly.

Again, he was right.

They pulled over at the hotel special parking lot and walked out to the reception.

The colleagues got out of the car and followed. Jason met them.

"Brothers, welcome!" He exclaimed. They greeted and he ordered the staff to prepare free lunch and he joined. They sat around the table and chatted.

"I hope your journey was good?" He said.

"Yes sir. And thank you for your offer. It's generous." Dan said.

"Oh, what's more generous than you feeding two thousand orphans? I saw you and your team in the news and I was touched." He smiled broadly.

Dan nodded. "We appreciate."

The door opened and Dan lifted his head. A woman entered and greeted. She was thick and her skin caramel. She wore black jeans, biker boots and wool jersey.

"This is Alice Mercer, mY daughter." Jason said.

"Are you okay sweetie?" He asked Alice.

"Yes. Just a bit tired. A lot of work." She smiled. Her nose was shapely and eyes round and clear black and white. Her fingers were thick and beautiful.

Dan couldn't help but stare.

She glanced at Dan and smiled.

"So, I'm a busy man. Whatever you need, my daughter will provide. She's only a phone call away. Enjoy your stay at Eden hotel." Jason said finally.

Your daughter and I need to talk, Dan thought to himself