My eyes opened. I smelt the eggs and toast. My parents were up and were making breakfast. I jumped out of bed rushing around my room to get ready for the day. I threw my clothes on while hoped my uncle wasn’t awake yet so I heard a clear shot to show my parents the recording from early that morning. Finally I went to the drawer where I’d put my tape recorder and grabbed it. I ran out of my room and grabbed my jacket hanging on the doorknob.

  “Mom! Dad!” I said as I slid into the room. “I’ve got to show you something.”

  “Can you show us later?” asked my father. “You need to eat your breakfast. You’re running late for school.”

  “Forget about school!” I yelled. “I need you to listen to this!” I said with anxious excitement. I handed my father the tape recorder.

  My father pressed play. One of my music tapes started playing. “I’ve heard this one before. I got it for you last christmas.”

  I looked at my parents with wide eyes. I’d used a new tape during the conversation last night. Someone had changed out the tapes. “I... uh… never mind!”. I ran out of the kitchen.

  “What about breakfast?” my mom called after me.

  “I’m not hungry!” I called back. Actually I was starving but I did have time to eat. I ran to the guest bedroom and banged on the door.

  “Sherman! Good morning!” said my uncle opening the bedroom door.

  “Cut the crud!” I yelled. “Where’s my tape?”

  “What tape?” asked my uncle.

  “I don’t have time for this! The tape you stole!”

  “Oh you mean that tape of our secret conversation last night that you thought you were going to show your parents this morning. That tape?”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Yes that tape, you idiot! Give it to me!”

  “And why would I do that?”

  I ignored the question and continued “How did you even know about my tape recorder?”

  “I saw it last night when I ran at you.”

  “Well it’s my personal property! I thought you told us you were a different man. Yet here you are stealing from a family member and trying to murder your only brother and his wife!”

  “Keep your voice down!” said my uncle throwing me into his room. “If your bloody parents heard you I’ll have to kill them right now!”

  “You aren’t going to kill anyone!”

  “On the contrary, my dear nephew, you'd parents are going to die today. You and I are the only ones who are going to know they died at my hand though. If you try to tell anyone I can always kill you too. See if you and your parents were to die then I would be the only living descendant over your grandmother so I would get the fortune. It is out of the goodness of my heart that I am keeping you alive.”

  I almost laughed. “That’s not why you’re keeping me alive. You’re keeping me alive because you think I’ll tell you where Shifra is so you can kill her.”

  “That’s where my leverage comes in.” said my uncle with a wicked twinkle in his eye. “For all you know I already know where Shifra lives. I could even have one of my murderer buddies watching her at this moment and if you don’t do as I say I could have him kill her.”

  I froze with fear. I was so shocked that my uncle had really out witted me. I didn’t necessarly believe that he knew where Shifra lived but there was always the chance that he did and I wasn’t going to risk it. “...ok…”.

  “Good. Now I’d get to school or your going to be late. Oh but one more thing before you go. I wouldn’t try asking anyone at school for help either. If you’ll come look out the window I can show you why.” he led me to the window in the bedroom. I looked out and saw a man looking at my house. “That’s a friend of mine from prison. He’s going to keep an eye on you at school today. If you try anything he’ll report back to me and the man watching Shifra. Both your friend and your parents will die.”.

  I nodded to scared to speak. This whole time he was holding my wrist but now he let go. I ran out of the bedroom and out of the house. I jumped on my bike and saw my uncle’s friend getting in a car. My uncle wasn’t kidding. Tears came down my face because I knew there was nothing I could do about my parents. I road away and my uncle’s friend stayed behind me in his car. I was knee deep in crud.