[Chapter 16: The Richer You Are, The Stingier You Become]
"I have to go now. I'll come back to find you when I have time. I squeezed in this visit; I still have a magazine shoot, and my agent is waiting for me in the car." Amanda hugged Daniel warmly, waved, and headed toward the door. "I'm leaving now. Goodbye, Daniel."
...
Not long after Amanda left, another car rolled up and stopped right outside Cross Hall.
It was a Rolls-Royce, and the instant it stopped, it drew plenty of attention.
As the car parked, the passenger door opened first, revealing a white man in his thirties dressed in a sharp suit, tie, and glasses. He stepped out, walked around the back, bowed slightly, and opened the rear door.
The first thing to appear from the backseat was a walking stick.
Then came a large, thick leg wearing high-end alligator leather shoes.
Finally, a hefty middle-aged white man eased himself out of the car.
He looked about fifty, towering -- nearly six feet two -- and broad in build, especially his gut, which stretched snugly around his waist like a tire.
Daniel figured this man probably couldn't even see his own toes when he looked down.
"Sir, we have arrived at Cross Hall," the man who looked like a butler said with a respectful tone.
The corpulent man glanced up at the storefront and nodded.
The butler stepped inside first to inspect the interior furnishings. He frowned slightly, clearly displeased, but said nothing.
Spotting the reception sofa, he pulled out a pristine white towel and rigorously wiped the surface several times. Then he told the corpulent man waiting outside, "Sir, it is ready."
Daniel watched the heavyset man carefully. His presence carried an unmistakable air of importance.
'Looks like I'm about to land a big job today,' Daniel thought with quiet anticipation.
...
The corpulent man "squeezed" into Cross Hall and settled himself on the sofa, while the butler stood nearby.
Daniel said, "I imagine the drinks here aren't exactly your style, so I won't bother offering. May I ask your names?"
The butler replied, "This is Mr. Douglas. You can call me Charlie."
Daniel started, "You can call me--"
"Daniel Cross, we know," interrupted the butler abruptly, cutting him off, which annoyed Daniel noticeably. He found the man rather rude.
The corpulent man shot a glance, and the butler quickly stated their purpose: "Mr. Douglas wishes to find someone."
"Looking for someone?" Daniel's eyebrows knitted together. This had the potential for trouble.
The fundamentals of exorcist magic included a few basic spells for locating missing people, but they were rudimentary at best, and Daniel wasn't sure they'd work here.
"Who are you looking for?" Daniel asked.
The butler answered, "Mr. Douglas's daughter, Miss Katherine."
"How long has she been missing?"
"Three days."
"Why didn't you call the police?"
"This isn't the first time she's gone missing."
Daniel understood then why Mr. Douglas wasn't worried.
So, she had a history of running off -- probably sneaking away for fun, cutting off communication on purpose.
"How much are you prepared to pay?"
The butler replied without hesitation, "One thousand US dollars."
Clearly, this was a pre-agreed sum.
Daniel blinked in surprise, wondering if he'd heard correctly.
"You said one thousand dollars?"
"Yes, it's quite a lot of money, but--"
Before the butler could finish, Daniel's face turned cold.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot take this job."
The butler and Douglas both froze, taken aback. They hadn't expected such a straightforward refusal.
After a moment, the butler challenged, "How can you refuse?"
"Why can't I?" Daniel fired back.
Douglas finally spoke: "Young man, one thousand dollars is a lot. Many of my employees need ten days -- or longer -- to earn that much."
"Then you can send your employees to look for your daughter," Daniel said.
"If they had that kind of ability, believe me, I would," Douglas replied.
"Please leave," Daniel said firmly.
Douglas asked, "How much do you want?"
With a serious expression, Daniel said, "One hundred thousand dollars, minimum."
Both Douglas and Charlie were visibly shocked.
"Are you crazy?" Charlie stammered, unable to believe Daniel had named such a figure.
Douglas stayed silent, but his eyes said the same thing.
"Is your daughter not worth this much?" Daniel asked.
"Of course she is," Douglas snapped, "but finding her? No -- and neither is hiring you."
"Looks like this business won't be happening today," Daniel said again. "Please leave."
Using his walking stick, Douglas stood up, declaring with authority, "Young man, you just missed an opportunity to earn my favor."
Daniel nearly laughed -- out of anger. This was the first time he'd met someone who boasted about themselves like that.
Shouldn't such things usually be said by a third party?
The butler Charlie added, "You'll regret this."
"Gentlemen, please," Daniel responded coldly.
...
Watching the Rolls-Royce pull away slowly, Daniel shook his head.
He'd been sure this would be a big score today, but instead, this was the result.
Douglas, sitting in his Rolls-Royce, had carried himself so grandly that Daniel had expected fortune -- but this man turned out to be absolutely stingy.
The saying, "The richer they are, the stingier they get" -- really hits the mark, Daniel thought, sighing.
As the Rolls-Royce disappeared, the onlookers around Daniel secretly breathed sighs of relief.
It was probably a blessing Lawrence was already dead; otherwise, he might have been popping champagne right now.
Daniel noticed their reactions but didn't pay them any mind.
Before anyone could celebrate for long, another car screeched to a stop outside Cross Hall.
...
This one was a modest Ford sedan.
The door slammed open, and a white woman in her thirties hurried inside, urgently pleading, "Mr. Cross, please save us."
Daniel's gaze fixed on her, brows tightening instinctively.
He sensed a strong dark energy radiating from the woman.
Her usually attractive face was marked by dark circles under tired eyes, a pale complexion, and utter exhaustion, as if she hadn't slept in days.
"Have strange things been happening often at your home lately?" Daniel asked deeply.
She nodded repeatedly, glancing nervously left and right, as if danger could strike any second. "Yes, Mr. Cross, please save us -- and my three children."
"Don't panic. You're safe here." Daniel poured her a cup of hot water. "Tell me exactly what's been happening at your house."
His reassurance seemed to help a little.
After sipping the water, she steadied her voice and introduced herself.
"My name is Kathy, I'm 32 years old, and I have three kids. My husband and I bought our house at a bargain price. But ever since we moved in, strange things have constantly happened.
My daughter talks to herself all the time. When I ask, she says she's talking to another child, but no one's there.
My husband used to be gentle and great with the kids, but lately his temper's snapped, and he shouts at them constantly. He even killed our dog -- cut it into pieces with an axe. The way he looks at us... terrifies me..."
Kathy's story wasn't original -- it sounded like a typical horror movie plot.
It was always about a family moving into an old house, only to face relentless supernatural terror.
About seven out of ten horror films followed that cliche.
That made it hard for Daniel to tell if a real haunting had occurred.
Her husband's sudden personality shift suggested possession.
That trope was also common.
After a moment of thought, Daniel said, "My consultation fee isn't cheap."
Kathy quickly replied, "I'm willing to give everything we have for my family's safety."
Daniel deliberately ignored the vague 'everything' and said, "To handle this, you're going to need one hundred thousand dollars."
*****
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