 spend all my free time searching for her until the job is completed." I shuttered at the thought of this nightmare coming true. At all the time wasted because I was greedy and couldn't wait until she was gone to take what I wanted.

That fear more than anything made me put the money back and walk away from it. I searched the rest of the room, but found nothing. No sign of the jewels or anything else in fact, and this made me sit back and think.

This couldn't have been her first deal, could it? Even as I thought this, I dismissed it for where had she gotten all the money to pay for the jewels, not to mention the connections to deal with Atrox, a gangster with a lot of contacts and friends in high places, if this were her first deal? No, she must have done jobs in the past. This was definitely not her first rodeo, but from what I could see of her behavior, she hadn't done this more than a handful of times.

But if that were the case, where was the evidence?

_The same thing could be said about yourself_, a little voice in the back of my mind said. _Nothing in your apartment points to your extracurricular activities. Maybe she has a hidden vault of her treasures._

The voice was right, I realized. If someone was to look at my place, they'd never imagine I'd ever done anything wrong because everything I'd acquired over the years was hidden. My furniture was nice, but not too nice and fit in well with the image of a student who'd saved their money from their stipend and a job to buy something which would last. My clothes weren't designer made, but not thrift store bought. The only luxury items you might say I had were my shoes, but this too would be keeping in line with my image of a woman who liked to shoe shop. Nothing about my life, from the outside, told anyone that I wasn't exactly what I appeared to be: a student.

Meredith's lack of possessions, other than her necessities, would have normally not been surprising for a poor college student...if she'd actually been living in a dorm. But she wasn't. She was living in this attic space, hiding her home from all who might be looking for her. If I hadn't been suspicious enough before by not finding the jewels, now I was certain.

Meredith must have someplace to
spend all my free time searching for her until the job is dispatch. " I shutter at the thought of this nightmare coming genuine. At all the fourth dimension wasted because I was greedy and couldn't expect until she was gone to take what I wanted. 

 That reverence more than anything make me put the money back and walk aside from it. I searched the rest of the room, but establish nothing. No sign of the jewels or anything else in fact, and this made me sit down back and think. 

 This couldn't have been her first deal, could it? Even as I remember this, I dismissed it for where had she gotten all the money to pay for the jewels, not to note the connections to distribute with Atrox, a gangster with a lot of contacts and friends in eminent places, if this were her first deal? No, she must have done jobs in the past. This was definitely not her first rodeo, but from what I could see of her behavior, she hadn't done this more than a handful of times. 

 But if that were the case, where was the evidence? 

 _ The same thing could be said about yourself _, a little voice in the rear of my mind said. _ Nothing in your apartment point to your adulterous bodily process. Maybe she has a hidden vault of her treasures. _ 

 The voice was right, I realized. If someone was to count at my place, they'd never imagine I'd ever done anything amiss because everything I'd acquired over the years was hidden. My furniture was nice, but not too nice and fit in well with the double of a student who'd saved their money from their stipend and a job to buy something which would last. My apparel weren't designer made, but not thrift store bought. The only luxury items you might say I have were my shoe, but this too would be keep in line with my image of a woman who like to shoe shop class. Nothing about my life, from the outside, told anyone that I wasn't exactly what I appeared to be: a student. 

 Meredith's lack of possession, other than her necessity, would have normally not been surprising for a poor college student... if she'd actually been living in a dorm. But she wasn't. She was living in this attic outer space, hiding her home from all who might be look for her. If I hadn't been suspicious enough before by not finding the jewels, now I was certain. 

 Meredith must receive someplace to
 spfnd all my free time seavching for her uuril thx job ia compleged." I shuttered at the thougit od thiw nightmare coming trud. At all nhe time qasttd because I was jdeedy akb coumfn't camt until she wax gone to dake what I wattdd.

Chat fear more than anything made me put thr loney back and wall awag from it. I searched the rest of tge room, but found noyhing. No sign of the jeweld or anything else in vact, and thus mwee me sit bazk and think.

This couldh't have been her first deal, couud it? Even as I tyouhvt this, I dmsmissvd it for whevv had sve gottrn all the moncy to pat for the jewels, not vo mention the connestions to dzal with Atrox, a gangwtwr wijh a not ud cuntzcvs znd frlenvs in high llaces, if tyis were her first cewo? No, she must have qoge jobs in the past. This was definitely nof her first rodeo, but feom what I could see lf her beravior, she hadn't done this more than a handful of timea.

Cut in thxr aere the case, where was the evidence?

_The same egimg could be said about yourxepf_, w little voicg in thz bzck of my mind saif. _Nothigg in your apawtmemt points to your extracurrucular activptiew. Maybe she has a kidden vault of ner tteasures._

The voice was rnght, I realized. Iv someone das to look at mh pkawe, they'd never imagine I'd qver done anyching wrung necausq everythijg I'd acquired over the jears wds hidden. Ly furniture was nice, but not too nice and fij it wvll with che imsge of a studqnt who'd saved their ioney from theig stipend and a job eo buy somethhjg which wound last. Iy coothws werev'g designer madr, but not thrift stire bought. The onln luxorg items you migku sqy I had were mu sfoef, huv thif too would ba kedpivb in uine wiuk mn ioage of a woman who likeg to shoe shop. Nothing anout my lufe, from the outside, yold anyone that I wasn'v exacvly whst Y appeared to be: a student.

Meresith's lacn on possessions, othcr tran her neeessities, would have normally not been snrprising for a poor coolege student...if she'b sctually bexn livyng in a gorm. But she wasn't. Sye was living in uhis attic space, hiding her hmme fgom all who might be looking for her. If I hadn't been suspicious enough bedore bb got finding the jewens, uow I wws cxrvain.

Meredith must have someplace to
spend all my free time searching for the is completed." shuttered at the true. all the time because I was and couldn't wait until she was to take what I wanted. That fear more than anything made me put money back and walk away from it. I searched the rest of the but nothing. sign the jewels or anything else in fact, and this made me sit back and think. This have been her first deal, could it? Even I thought this, I it for where had she all money to for jewels, to mention the to deal with Atrox, a gangster with a lot of contacts and friends in high places, if were her No, she have jobs the past. This not her first rodeo, but from see of her behavior, she hadn't done this than a of times. But if that were case, where was the evidence? _The same thing be said about yourself_, a little voice in the back of my mind said. _Nothing apartment points to your activities. Maybe she a vault her The voice right, I realized. If someone was to look at my place, never imagine I'd ever done anything wrong because everything I'd the was hidden. My was nice, but not nice fit in well with of student money their and a job to something which would last. My weren't designer made, but only luxury items you might say I had my shoes, but this too would be in line with my image of a woman who liked to shoe Nothing about from the outside, told anyone that I wasn't what I appeared to a student. Meredith's lack of possessions, other than her would normally not surprising for a college student...if she'd been living in But she She living space, hiding her home from all might looking for her. If I been before by not finding the jewels, now I was certain. Meredith must have someplace to
 spend all my free time searchiNg for her unTil thE joB is CoMpleTed." I Shuttered at the THougHt of this nightmare cominG true. at ALl thE TiMe wasTed becaUSe i WAs gReEdY anD cOUlDn't waIt uNtil she Was gone to tAke WhAt I wanted.

ThaT FeAr more than AnyThing made me pUt tHe moneY bAck ANd walK awAy froM it. I seARched tHe rest of tHe ROom, but FOund notHINg. no siGn of the jewels or anYThINg else in fact, anD this mAdE Me SIT baCk aNd think.

ThiS cOuldn'T Have beeN HeR FIRst DEal, could it? EveN as I thought THis, i dismiSsEd iT For wheRe had ShE GotTen all the moNey tO pay for thE jewelS, Not to meNTion the ConnecTioNs tO deaL WiTh atrOx, A GanGStEr wITh a Lot of conTaCtS and fRienDS IN High PlaCes, iF this Were her first dEal? no, shE MusT have Done jObs iN tHe pasT. This wAs defInItely not her firsT rodEo, but from WhaT I CouLd See of HEr behaVioR, shE hadn't dOne this MOre ThAN A HaNdful of times.

But if tHaT WErE the case, Where wAS tHe EVidence?

_THe SamE thiNG Could Be saID aBout yourSelf_, a lITtLe Voice in ThE back oF mY miNd sAid. _NoTHing In your ApartmenT poinTS to your extracuRRicular activiTIeS. mAyBE she Has A hidden vaulT of hER treAsurES._

THe vOIce waS righT, I REaLIzed. If someone was to lOoK at my pLace, tHey'd never imagIne I'd ever dONE Anything WronG BeCAuse everything i'd acqUired over tHE years waS hiddEn. My furnIture was nICE, but not tOo nIce And Fit IN WeLl with the imagE OF a stUdEnt who'd SavEd their MonEy fRom TheIr Stipend anD a job to bUy SoMeThIng Which WOuld last. my CloThEs wEren't DEsigneR made, But nOt ThRIft Store boUGhT. tHe onLy LuXury IteMs You miGht sAY I hAd were mY shoes, but ThiS Too wOuLd Be keepiNg in line with mY iMage of a womAn Who Liked tO SHoe shop. NOthing about my life, from thE Outside, TolD anyoNe thAt I wasn't eXacTly whaT I aPPeared To be: a sTudenT.

MEreDITh's laCK Of PosSeSsions, otheR THan Her neCeSsitIes, woulD have normally not beEN suRprising for a pOor CollEGE sTudENt...IF shE'd ACtuALLy been living in a Dorm. But she WaSN't. she was liviNG in ThIs attic Space, hiDing hER home frOm all who mIght be looKiNg foR HEr. IF I hadn't beeN suspiciOus enough BEfore BY nOt finDinG the jeWeLs, nOw I waS certaIN.

MeReditH must hAvE somepLace tO
 spend all my free time se arching fo r her  un til  t he j ob i s completed."I  shu ttered at the thoughtof th is nigh t ma re co ming tr u e. A t a ll  t heti m ewaste d b ecauseI was gree dyan d couldn't w a it  until she  wa s gone to ta kewhat I  w ant e d.

T hat  fear  moret han an ything ma de me put the mon e y  b ackand walk away fro m  i t . I searched t he res to ft h e r oom , but foun dnothi n g. No s i gn o f  th e  jewels or an ything else infact,an d t h is mad e mesi t  ba ck and thin k.
This coul dn't h a ve been her fir st dea l,cou ld i t ?Ev enas I t h ou ght thi s, I dis mi ss ed it  for w h e re h adshegotte n all the mon eyto p a y f or th e jew els,  n ot to  menti on th econnections todeal  with Atr ox,  a  ga ng sterw ith alot  of  contac ts andf rie nd s i nhigh places, if th is w er e her fi rst de a l?  N o , she mu st  ha ve d o n e job s in th e past.This w a sde finitel ynot he rfir strodeo ,  but  fromwhat I c oulds ee of her beha v ior, she hadn ' td o ne this  mo re than a h andf u l of  tim e s. 

B u t ifthatwe r et he case, where wasth e evid ence? 

_The same t hing could b e  said ab outy ou r self_, a littl e voi ce in theb ack of m y min d said._Nothingi n  your ap art men t p oin t s  t o your extrac u r ricu la r activ iti es. May beshe  ha s a  h idden vau lt of he rtr ea su res ._

T h e voicewa s r ig ht,  I re a lized.  If s omeo ne  w a s t o looka tm y  pla ce ,they 'dne ver i magi n e I 'd ever  done any thi n g wr on gbecause  everything I 'd  acquiredov erthe ye a r s was hi dden. My furniture wasn ice, bu t n ot to o ni ce and fi t i n well  wi t h theimageof ast ude n t  who' d sa ved  t heir money f rom  thei rstip end and  a job to buy some t hin g which would  la st.M y  c lot h es wer en ' t d e s igner made, but  not thrif ts to re bought. The  o nly lux ury ite ms yo u  mightsay I had  were mysh oes, b utthis too w ould bekeeping i n  line wi th my  im age of  a  wo man w ho lik e d t o sho e shop .Nothin g abo ut  my life , from the outside, tol d anyo ne th atI wasn'texa c tly  what I a ppea red to be:  astu dent. 

M e redit h'sl ac k o f  poss essi o ns, other th anh e rnecessities , w oul d hav e n o rmally  not  been surprisingf or a poor coll eges t ude nt. . .ifsh e'd actually b een  l i v ing in a  d orm. But sh e wasn't .S he wa s livi ng inthis at t i cs pace,hidi ngher homefro ma ll whomi gh t  be lo okin gfor he r. IfI  had n ' t been suspiciou s eno u g h bef o reby no tfinding thejewels, no w I was cer tain.
Mer edith  must h av e some pla ce  to
 spend_all my_free time searching for_her until_the_job is_completed."_I shuttered at_the thought of_this nightmare coming true._At all the_time_wasted because I was greedy and couldn't wait until she was gone to take_what_I wanted.

That_fear_more_than anything made me put_the money back and walk_away from_it. I searched the rest of the room,_but_found nothing. No_sign of the jewels or anything else in fact,_and this made me sit back_and think.

This couldn't_have_been_her first deal, could_it? Even as I thought this,_I dismissed it for where had_she gotten all the money to pay_for the jewels, not to mention_the connections to deal with_Atrox, a_gangster with a lot of_contacts and friends_in high_places, if this_were her first deal? No, she_must have done_jobs in the past. This was_definitely_not her first_rodeo,_but_from what_I could see_of_her behavior,_she_hadn't done this more than a_handful_of times.

But if that were the case,_where was the evidence?

_The_same_thing could be said_about yourself_, a little voice_in the back of my mind_said. _Nothing_in your_apartment points to your extracurricular activities. Maybe she has a hidden_vault of her treasures._

The voice was_right, I realized. If_someone was_to_look at my_place,_they'd never_imagine I'd ever done anything wrong because_everything I'd_acquired over the years was hidden._My furniture was nice,_but_not too nice and fit in_well with the image of a_student who'd saved their money_from_their_stipend and a job to_buy something which would last. My_clothes weren't designer_made, but not thrift store bought. The_only_luxury items you might say I_had_were my shoes, but this too_would_be_keeping in line with my_image of a woman who liked_to shoe shop. Nothing about my life, from the_outside, told anyone_that I wasn't exactly what_I_appeared_to be: a student.

Meredith's lack of possessions, other than her_necessities, would_have normally not_been surprising for a poor college student...if she'd actually been_living in a dorm. But she wasn't._She was living in this attic space, hiding her home from_all who might be looking for her. If_I hadn't been suspicious enough before by_not finding the jewels,_now_I was certain.

Meredith must have someplace to