A Warning for the Unwary
Her breath hitched as she unzipped the bag, not knowing what was inside. She had heard the warnings, hoping she wouldn’t become the next cautionary story splashed across the news.
Her pulse raced as she peered into the bag, uncertain of the trouble she was about to face.
Chilled to the Bone
The cold wind of North Carolina's morning sliced through her, tugging at her hair. The snowstorm had raged overnight, and she'd hoped it would let up by dawn.
But it had only worsened, covering parked cars and making roads impassable. With work still ahead of her, she prepared herself and began the three-mile trek to her job. Little did she know, it would be the last time she walked that path.
Simple and Satisfying
Meghan McCalister had always embraced a quiet life. At sixty, she had retired from teaching and found contentment working at the local farmers’ market, providing for her family.
Living alone in a modest home on the outskirts of town, she watched with pride as her two grandkids thrived in college. Their parents had passed, and it was up to Meghan to raise them. But soon, her peaceful world would spiral into chaos.
Her Daily Routine
Meghan cherished the calm of her later years. Her mornings began with feeding her cats, then a quick drive to the farmers' market to sell fresh produce.
The short commute was a refreshing break from her cozy but sometimes stifling bungalow. But as winter set in, everything would change.
A Rough Ride
While driving to work, Meghan’s car let out a loud screech, and every dashboard light flickered on. She managed to pull over to the snowy shoulder, wondering what had gone wrong.
Her late husband had taught her a few things about car maintenance, so she popped the hood without hesitation. That simple choice would alter her life in ways she couldn’t have imagined.
A Bigger Problem
Meghan soon discovered a serious issue with her engine. After calling a tow truck, she had the car brought to her trusted mechanic, hoping for a quick fix. But when the mechanic revealed the full extent of the damage, she realized the car’s problems went far beyond the engine.
From faulty brakes to a failing head gasket, the car was barely functional. Faced with the high cost of repairs, Meghan realized it might be better to start walking to work.
Walking in the Cold
So, Meghan began walking to work, leaving early and returning in the afternoon. Despite her age, she enjoyed the six-mile trek, looking forward to the quiet time as the week passed.
But the winter chill grew fiercer, and what had once been a pleasant walk was now a struggle. Without a car, what other choice did she have?
Staying Positive
She bundled up in layers, donning multiple sweaters and heavy coats to fight the cold. Though it didn’t offer as much warmth as she hoped, Meghan kept walking.
She had always maintained a positive outlook: "Everything happens for a reason." Little did she know, this attitude would soon lead her into a dangerous and terrifying situation.
A Mysterious Find
While on her way to work one morning, Meghan spotted a lone handbag lying in the snow. The bright red leather glimmered in the soft morning light.
It stood out like a stain on white fabric, beckoning her to take a closer look. She didn’t know what it was, but her curiosity got the better of her. Looking back, she realized she should’ve kept walking.
A Designer Surprise
The sun had only just risen, and the streets were still quiet. Meghan scanned the area, searching for any sign of the bag’s owner.
It was an expensive designer bag, full of the kind of luxury that only the wealthy could afford. Just by its appearance, Meghan could tell the owner was likely someone with money. If only she knew what that bag truly meant.
Studying The Bag
The unsuspecting grandma picked up the bag, quickly studying it. She turned it over, her brows drawing up at the Hermes designer logo on its side.
The red leather that had drawn her attention earlier was soft to the touch, exotic. It was clean, too, as if someone had just thrown it into the snow not a minute ago. It was also heavy.
Open It
Curious as to what was inside, Meghan decided to take a peek. Her fingers reached for the zipper – a red leather extension at one of the bag's exquisite ends.
She dared pull it, but a crow cawed above her, snapping her attention away from the bag. She stared at the bird, her brows knitting. Was it a sign that she should drop the bag and run?
Taking It
The black-feathered bird continued gawking and cawing at Meghan until she decided not to open the bag. But she also couldn't leave it behind. Stifling a shiver, she tucked the red bag under her arm and continued on.
Since the farmer's market was just a block away, it was only a short time before she entered the building's door and got ready to start her day. But nothing about this day would go as expected.
Enough Is Enough
Meghan was an hour into her shift when she decided enough was enough. Curiosity had been burning through her since she walked in, and she couldn't wait to go on her break so she could look into the bag.
She'd placed it under her station next to her effects, and each time she walked past it, it would call to her. Taking it behind the counter, she pulled the zipper open.
Thinking It Through
With her heart thumping, she dragged the zipper across the bag's length. She'd heard scary stories about malicious people leaving explosives in bags. Such occurrences were always chilling, making her wonder if she was in that same boat now.
These thoughts made her halt, and her hand trembled in place. What if the bag was rigged with something dangerous? What if her curiosity cost the lives of everyone in the farmer's market?
It's Not Over
Meghan slowly zipped the bag closed. But instead of placing it aside, she grabbed it with both hands and sprung to her feet.
She called one of her co-workers, asking him to watch over her station for a few minutes. She jutted her chin at the restrooms and tapped at the bag. The man nodded, thinking Meghan needed to relieve herself.
Inside The Bag
Outside, in a secluded part of the snow-covered parking lot, Meghan finally cracked open the bag. She'd expected to find something malicious inside but was taken aback at what stared at her.
Carefully placed inside the bag were wads of cash strapped into stacks with rubber bands. Meghan took out the first wad, counting the one-dollar bills to five hundred dollars. But that was just the beginning.
Counting It
The second stack had hundred dollar bills, the third a mixture of a hundred and one-dollar bills. Meghan was awestruck, forgetting that she was out in the biting cold.
Her body ran warm as she continued counting. She was now past the ten thousand mark, with more cash stacks still waiting for her. If only she knew who the money belonged to.
A Hefty Sum
Meghan ended up with fifteen thousand dollars in her hand, not to mention the bag the cash came in, which could fetch a hefty sum at a second-hand shop. Excitedly, she snapped several photos of the money and sent them to her granddaughters in college.
She thought about how this money would come in handy in buying them school supplies. She could even fix her car with it! But people rarely walked around with such massive amounts of cash, let alone threw them into the roadside snow. At once, the excitement that had taken over Meghan's body froze into ice.
It's Dirty Money
What if the cash belonged to someone dangerous – a criminal gang or someone who made terrible life decisions and was looking to pay up or get rid of the money?
These thoughts had Meghan throwing the bag and the money on the snow, stepping back with her shaky fingers against her lips. She took in a deep breath in a bid to calm her head. What kind of trouble had she gotten herself into?
Maintaining The Peace
For Meghan, the biggest downside to living a quiet life was the constant fear of everything falling apart. She didn't like the idea of chaos looming just outside her door.
She'd never been caught with the wrong crowd in her long life. She’d rarely slept in a police station because of breaking the law. Of course, she'd had minor runnings with the authorities, but none of it was ever serious. Fifteen thousand dollars of unexplainable money would surely put her where the sun never shined.
Breathe
"Keep calm," Meghan whispered to herself. Maybe the money belonged to some ordinary woman who lost it while driving down the road. Maybe someone's kid took the bag without knowing what was inside and left it in the snow. None of these reasons seemed sensible, but Meghan needed something to keep her mind steady.
Breathing in again, she hurried down and collected all the money, stuffing them into the bag. Although she didn't like what she was about to do next, she knew it was the only right thing to do. She'd deal with the consequences as they came.
I Need To Go
Meghan hurried back to the building with the bag under her arm. She told her boss she had an emergency and needed to visit the police station immediately.
Her boss tried to pry, but Meghan didn't divulge any information about the bag or what it carried. She only insisted she needed to go to the station, saying it was urgent.
Reaching Their Destination
Her boss, Mr. Chaplin, offered to drive her to the station. He gave her the rest of the day off and walked her to his Jeep. The next thirty minutes saw them cut through the midmorning traffic into the local station.
Meghan walked in with the red bag clutched tightly under her left arm. She didn't let Mr. Chaplin look inside. She hadn't mentioned it in their conversation here.
A Full House
With her heart pounding and sweat slicking her forehead and neck, she went into the station and asked to see any officer on duty. The place was packed, so a deputy came to listen to her issue.
He stared wildly as Meghan presented the bag, taking out stack after stack of cash. Even Mr. Chaplin looked dumbstruck. But Meghan didn't stop.