Her eyes filled with water. She wasn’t just worried. She was scared.
Something felt wrong. Very wrong. And deep inside her, she knew.
Papa J was not just missing. Something had happened. Something big.
And maybe dangerous. It was the fourth day. Esther was sitting quietly in her shop.
She was slicing onions and setting her table like she did every morning. Smoke rose from the fire as she boiled water for the rice. Just then, a black car stopped in front of her shop.
A tall man came down. He was wearing a bright red cap. His shoes were shiny and his clothes looked expensive.
Esther had never seen him before. He didn’t smile. He didn’t greet her.
He just walked up to her table and handed her a brown envelope. Esther looked at it, confused. What? What is this? She asked, holding the envelope with two hands.
The man didn’t answer. He just said, read it and don’t tell anyone. Then he turned and walked back into the car.
Before Esther could say another word, the car drove away. She looked left. She looked right.
Nobody else was watching. With shaking hands, she opened the envelope. Inside was one white paper.
She opened the paper slowly. There were only a few words on it. Come to Green Hill Hotel by 4 p.m. Don’t tell anyone.
From a friend. Esther stood still. Her mouth opened a little, but no words came out.
Her hands began to shake. Green Hill Hotel? She said softly. But I’ve never been to a hotel before.
She looked at the paper again. Her heart was beating fast. Who sent this? What kind of friend? She looked down the road.
The car was gone. She looked at the paper again. Esther held the envelope to her chest.
She looked at the sky. It was cloudy, but she knew one thing for sure. She had to go.
At exactly 3.30 p.m., Esther stood in front of her small shop. She looked at the lock in her hand, took a deep breath, and closed the wooden door. She turned the key twice.
God, please go with me, she whispered. She walked to the road and stopped a tricycle. Green Hill Hotel, she told the driver.
As they drove through the busy Lego street, Esther held the brown envelope tightly in her hand. Her heart was beating fast. She didn’t know who sent the letter.
She didn’t know what would happen. But something inside her told her. This was not an ordinary day.
After some minutes, they reached the hotel gate. Esther looked up. The building was very tall, with windows that looked like glass.
The walls were clean. The front door was big and shiny. Everything around her felt like a dream.
Two security men stood by the gate. One of them wore dark glasses. He looked at Esther and stepped forward.
Good afternoon, madam, he said. Who are you here to see? Esther opened her mouth slowly. I… I got this letter, she said, showing him the paper.
It says I should come here. My name is Esther. The guard took the paper, looked at it, then smiled.
Oh, Esther, someone is waiting for you inside, he said. You can go in. Right away, a man in a black suit came out from the glass door.
He walked to Esther. He didn’t say much. Come with me, please, he said, and began walking back inside.
Esther followed him. Her legs felt weak, but she kept moving. The man in black led her through a long hall.
Then he stopped at a tall brown door. He turned to her and said, Someone is waiting inside. Esther’s heart beat louder.
She looked at the door. Then she looked at the man. Can I go in now? She asked.
The man nodded. Yes, just go in. You’re safe.
Esther took one deep breath. Then she pushed the door open. Her eyes went straight to the man sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the room.