One Lock between Life and Death

In One Lock between Life and Death, Mitch’s world shatters when his mother-in-law falls critically ill. His rescue efforts are thwarted by Jake, a security guard sponsored by Mitch’s own wife, Jenna. Jake clamps the responding ambulance, claiming he is simply following protocol. While Jenna coldly defends the guard and accuses her mother of faking the crisis, the situation turns dire. When the doctor announces the patient’s heart has stopped, the petty enforcement of rules becomes a race against time.

Chapters

Chapter 2

Nothing like this had ever happened before. But the moment Jake showed up, cars started getting clamped.

At the end of the day, this was all just a setup targeting me. I just didn't know what I'd done to offend him.

Was I supposed to pay him to unclamp my car every single time from now on? I refused to encourage this lawless behavior of his.

"Jake Gould, this is a matter of life and death," I said, my face hardening. "Unlock them right now! My wife sponsored you and even helped you find a part-time job so you could earn some money. She didn't do any of that just so you could make things difficult for me."

Jake looked at me with disdain. "What does Jen sponsoring me have to do with you? You're the one who's unwilling to pay the fees. How is it my fault?"

I was just about to respond when a familiar voice came from behind.

"What's going on?"

It was my wife, Jenna Hudgens. I immediately turned around, wanting to explain the situation to her, but Jake moved faster.

He rushed up to her, looking aggrieved, and complained, "Jen, does being sponsored by you mean I'm somehow inferior to others? I may be a security guard, but I still have my dignity. Mitch keeps humiliating me just because he's a homeowner here. Have I done something wrong?"

Hearing Jake downplay the situation, I hurriedly explained, "Jen, Mom suddenly collapsed. We need to rush her to the hospital right now. Jake clamped the ambulance, and he's charging 200 dollars per lock to remove them. Isn't that just ridiculous?

"Hurry and tell him to unlock them. Mom's already in bad shape. We can't afford any more delays."

I thought Jenna would be on my side. After all, the person lying in the ambulance was her own mother, and it was a life-or-death situation.

What I didn't expect, however, was that when she opened her mouth, it was to scold me.

"Mitch McLaren, what is wrong with you? This is Jake's first day as a security guard, so he's surely following orders from his superiors. Can you stop making things difficult for him?

"And besides, your mom looks to be in very good health. Why would she even need an ambulance? If you ask me, she's just bored."

For a second, I almost couldn't catch my breath. No wonder Jenna didn't seem worried at all. She thought the person who'd collapsed was my mother.

With someone backing him up, Jake immediately put on an aggrieved expression again. "Jen, tell Mitch that I'm just following the rules and regulations. If he wants the locks removed, he'll need to pay. Please don't make things difficult for someone who's just trying to do their job, okay?"

Jenna frowned and ordered me, "Did you hear that? If you want to take your mom to the hospital, then hurry up and pay him to have the locks removed. Stop causing trouble for no reason!"

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