Page 32 of The Cute Psycho

Congratulations! You've won a brand new iPhone. Follow the link to redeem the prize.

Did Lina sign up for something? I keep rereading the message, trying to think what to answer. I can't in good faith redeem the prize, since I could not have it shipped to Sacre Coeur anyway. Instead, I decide to craft a message advising them to choose another winner.

Thank you for your consideration. I, however, cannot accept such a gift. Another lucky person may benefit more from it. Please forward it to someone else.

Hitting send, I snuggle back under the pillow.

I barely get to close my eyes, though, when my phone buzzes again.

Congratulations! You've won a brand new iPad. Follow the link to redeem the prize.

I scroll up and realize this is a different number than before. Surely, Lina hadn't participated in so many contests.

I type up the same message and hit send.

When the next text comes, however, I'm not surprised. Instead, I'm starting to become suspicious.

Congratulations! You've won a brand new car. Follow the link to redeem the prize.

Different number, but the same text. The only difference is the prize. Annoyed at whoever is messaging me out of the blue, I decide to play their game.

The link does not work.

The screen immediately blinks to life with another text. This time, an answer.

My apologies. Please try this one.

My paranoia is through the roof at this point. They can't reply to my previous messages, but they promptly replace the link? Something isn't right. No one even knows this number aside from Lina and her brother. Unless...

My eyes widen at the possibility that it may be Father Guerra's relatives. What if they think Lina is on the receiving end?

The phone immediately drops from my hands, and I back away from it. But the more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Why would the mob send these ridiculous texts? Maybe it's simply a prank. To test my theory, I type up another text.

I'm sorry, but I am a nun and I have renounced all earthly possessions. I cannot claim such a prize.

I hit send and wait. Sure enough, another text. This time, from the same number.

Congratulations! You've won two gallons of Holy water from the Vatican. Follow the link to redeem the prize.

I stare at the screen with open-mouthed shock before suddenly bursting out laughing. They are mocking me now. Whoever is on the other end is definitely making fun of me. Well, game on.

Only two? How is that the same price as an iPhone? I feel cheated.

I smile cheekily at my reply, especially when I see that the stranger has texted back, finally ditching the format.

How many do you want?

You, Sir, are making fun of a poor nun. Don't you know it is a sin? You'll end up in Hell.

You don't seem too nunly to me. I hear communion wine is quite dangerous these days...

My smile dies on my lips as I read the message. This person knows... that can only mean one thing. Whoever is texting me knows I am not Lina. Dear Lord, maybe it is the mob. And maybe they know I helped Lina bury Father Guerra.

Did they send you to kill me?

Apprehensively, I hit send.

Kill you? No, too morbid. But you could click that link. No deaths involved. Promise.

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