THE NIGHT JADE DISAPPEARED
An Unforgettable Night of Betrayal, Secrets, and Revenge
SCENE 1: A NIGHT HE WOULD NEVER FORGET
Luxury cars raced through the streets as music echoed from an exclusive nightclub. Inside, Purnell sat at the bar, showing off his expensive watch while enjoying the attention of everyone around him.
“Money can solve almost every problem in this world. You just have to know how to use it.”
His friend laughed, but before he could respond, a beautiful woman approached them. Her name was Jade.
“Is that what you tell yourself every night?”
Purnell turned and smiled.
“Only when someone beautiful is listening.”
“Then I guess you must be very rich, because you certainly talk a lot.”
They laughed together. Jade sat beside him, and within minutes, Purnell was telling her about his expensive lifestyle, his business connections, and the luxurious hotel where he was staying.
Jade listened carefully. She wasn’t interested in his jokes. She was collecting information.
“You must have a lot of people who depend on you.”
“More than you can imagine. But I only trust a few people.”
“And what does someone have to do to earn your trust?”
Purnell leaned closer.
“Make me feel like I can forget about the world for one night.”
Jade smiled, hiding the nervousness in her eyes.
“Maybe tonight, you can.”
Hours later, they left the club together.
Neither of them noticed the man watching from across the street. He raised his phone, took a photograph of them, and immediately made a call.
“He’s with her. Everything is happening exactly as planned.”
He paused, listening.
“Yes. I’ll make sure nobody interferes.”
Then he followed their car into the night.
SCENE 2: THE SECRET INSIDE THE BAG
Inside Purnell’s hotel suite, Jade looked around at the expensive furniture and glittering city lights.
“You really live like a king.”
“A king deserves a queen, doesn’t he?”
“That depends on whether the king knows how to treat her.”
Purnell laughed and poured himself a drink.
As the night continued, he became increasingly comfortable around Jade. Eventually, he fell asleep.
Jade waited until his breathing became steady before quietly getting out of bed.
Her smile disappeared.
“I’m sorry, Purnell. You were never supposed to be part of my life.”
She collected his wallet, cash, and expensive watch. Then she opened his travel bag, searching for a small black pouch.
When she found it, she unzipped it with trembling fingers.
Inside lay a flash drive and a folded photograph.
Jade unfolded the photograph.
It showed Purnell standing beside a woman with a little girl between them.
Jade’s expression changed immediately.
“No. This can’t be right.”
She turned the photograph over. Someone had written a date on the back, followed by four words.
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.
Jade quickly photographed the message with her phone. Then she slipped the flash drive into her handbag and hurried toward the door.
Before leaving, she glanced back at Purnell.
“You have no idea what your family has done.”
She closed the door behind her. Downstairs, a black SUV was waiting. The driver unlocked the door.
“Did you get it?”
“I got the drive. But there’s something you didn’t tell me.”
“What?”
Jade showed him the photograph.
“Who is this little girl?”
The driver stared at the image. His face suddenly became serious.
“Where did you find that?”
“Inside Purnell’s bag. Tell me the truth.”
He started the engine.
“If you want to survive tonight, forget you ever saw that photograph.”
Jade stared at him in disbelief.
“What have you dragged me into?”
The SUV sped away.
SCENE 3: PURNELL DISCOVERS THE BETRAYAL
At 8:15 a.m., Purnell woke up and reached for Jade.
“Jade?”
Silence. He sat up and noticed that her clothes were gone.
At first, he assumed she had gone downstairs. Then he reached for his wallet. It was missing.
He searched the table. His watch had disappeared, too.
“You have got to be kidding me!”
He searched his travel bag and discovered that the black pouch was gone. Suddenly, his anger turned into fear.
“No. No, no, no. Not that!”
He grabbed his phone and called Jade repeatedly. Her number was switched off.
Then he opened his banking application and discovered several suspicious transactions. Someone had attempted to access his financial accounts.
But money wasn’t his biggest concern.
The flash drive contained evidence connected to a disappearance ten years earlier—a case he believed had been buried forever.
If the information became public, his life would never be the same.
Purnell dressed quickly and rushed out of the hotel.
There was only one person who might know what was happening.
Bethany.
SCENE 4: BETHANY KNOWS TOO MUCH
Bethany was sitting in her living room, drinking coffee, when Purnell burst through her front door.
“What on earth is wrong with you?”
“I need your help.”
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Bethany, please. A woman robbed me last night. She took my money, my watch, and something much more important.”
Bethany’s expression changed when he mentioned the missing item.
“What did she take?”
“A black pouch. There was a flash drive inside.”
Bethany slowly put down her coffee cup.
“You need to tell the police.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because if they discover what’s on that drive, they’ll start asking questions about what happened ten years ago.”
Bethany stood up abruptly.
“You promised me that part of your life was over!”
“It was over! Until Jade showed up.”
The room fell silent.
“Jade?”
“Yes. That’s her name. And now I want to know why you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Bethany turned away.
“I don’t know any Jade.”
“Then why are your hands shaking?”
Before Bethany could answer, her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen.
JADE CALLING.
Bethany quickly grabbed the phone, but Purnell saw the name.
“You don’t know her, right?”
“Give me the phone.”
“Answer it.”
“Purnell, don’t do this.”
“ANSWER IT!”
He pressed the green button and put the call on speaker.
“Bethany, we have a serious problem. I found the photograph, and I know who the little girl is.”
Bethany covered her mouth.
“You told me Purnell didn’t know she was alive. But I saw the photograph, and there’s something else you need to understand.”
“Jade! Who is the girl?”
Silence.
“Purnell? You’re there?”
“Tell me who she is!”
Jade’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“She’s the reason your family has been lying to you for ten years.”
The call disconnected. Purnell slowly turned toward Bethany.
“What did she mean?”
Bethany’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was going to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“The woman you think is dead…”
She struggled to finish her sentence.
“She never died.”
SCENE 5: THE MEN AT THE DOOR
Before Purnell could ask another question, three heavy knocks shook the front door.
“Bethany! Open the door. We know he’s inside.”
Bethany backed away.
“Who are they?”
“People you should never have met.”
The knocking became louder.
“You have five seconds!”
Purnell moved toward the window and saw a black SUV parked in the driveway. Two men stood outside. One held an envelope; the other carried a photograph.
“I’m calling the police.”
“No!”
She grabbed his arm.
“If you call them, you’ll put Jade in danger.”
“You care more about Jade than you care about telling me the truth!”
“You don’t understand. She wasn’t supposed to fall for you.”
Purnell froze.
“Fall for me? You think she loves me?”
“She was sent to find the flash drive. But somebody changed the plan.”
“Who sent her?”
Bethany opened her mouth. The front door burst open.
“Nobody move!”
The men rushed into the living room. One grabbed Purnell while the other placed the envelope on the table.
“You have twenty-four hours to return what was stolen.”
“I don’t have it!”
“Then find Jade.”
He opened the enve