The Source

Part 23

Becca was pacing back and forth in front of Freen who was just staring at the gun Becca had in her hands and kept waving around. Becca was muttering to herself trying to understand everything. Every couple of seconds Becca would point the gun at her, shake her head and then continued pacing. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Freen.

Why? You have money, you have power. Why steal paintings?

Because I have to pay for what I did.

What do you mean?

There's a part of the story that I omitted. Song's death was not just a simple hit and run. I was the driver that hit her. Becca's eyes widened. The last night that we were together we went to our graduation party at a friend's house. I got drunk, my brother was high on drugs and Song said she had a ride home so I left with my brother. My brother was about to vomit in my dad's car so I looked at the road to make sure it was clear, I reached back to grab a barf bag for him and suddenly he yelled. I stepped on the brake as hard as I could, but it wasn't quick enough! I had run somebody over. I got out of the car and I saw her. Tears had started to fall from Freen's eyes. I screamed for Heng to help me, but when he saw her, he just pulled me into the car and we drove home. Next thing I knew my parents are getting into their car leaving us alone. I don't even remember what happened next. I just remember the voice of Song's mom crying in my ear telling me Song had died from her injuries on the way to the hospital. My parents packed up everything and we left.

When I came back for the funeral, I saw a note in my car that said they knew what I did and that they would contact me. I received warnings here and there over the years, but nothing too threatening so I ignored it until one day a group of guys kidnapped me. I was gagged and bound to a chair. I could only see a couple of feet before me, everything else was dark. That's when a woman's voice came out of the shadows. 

Flashback 

The woman who came out of the shadows was holding a file with Freen's picture pinned to the front of it. 

Freen Sarocha Chankimha. 29 years old. Daughter of Charunee and Saint Chankimha. Owner of Tulip Enterprises. Murderer. The handkerchief was removed from her mouth so she could speak. 

I'm not a murderer. Who are you? Why am I here? 

Oh, so killing your best friend doesn't make you a murderer? Freen's face went pale. I've been sending you messages, but you've ignored them. I was hoping that you would come to your senses and tell the police the truth, but you haven't. I've been very patient, Chankimha, hoping you would do the right thing, but my patience has run out. I think it's time everyone knows the truth that you and your family have been trying to hide all these years. 

NO! Please! I'll do anything! No one can know. The woman smiled provoking a shiver to run down Freen's back. 

Then I need something in exchange. 

Anything! Do you need money? I can get you lots of it. Do you want me to write a check?! 

I don't need your blood money, but I know a way in which you can help me and I give you my word that no one will ever know the truth from me. 

End of Flashback 

You just believed her? Freen nodded. Who is she? 

She's The Founder. She created The Source. 

What's The Source? Freen sighed. 

I don't know much about how it started and I never cared to ask, but it's a very large group, maybe a whole community, that dedicate themselves to ridding Thailand of poverty. Over the years since I started working for them, I've noticed that the percentage of poverty in Thailand has decreased more than 50% so whatever it is that she's doing it works.