An Exchange of Moral Virtue

"I lied to the authorities! " Ingrid was visibly angry.

"I am sorry," Alfred said, keeping his voice down.

They were in S____ park on a Sunday. The park was almost empty except for some joggers that went by.

"You said the watch is a cheap knock off."

"I said it in jest. I didn't know if it's real or not. A guy gave it to me together with a pile of money in exchange for the hard drive."

"I covered for you, just to hide what you did." Ingrid walked back and forth in front of Alfred.

"Just like I said, you don't have to do that."

"The police wanted me at the station. What would I tell them? Oh... Please help me, Alfred. "

Alfred was sitting on the park bench. He cupped his face with his hands.

"I don't know. Maybe the truth." Ingrid kneels in front of Alfred.

"Who told you to take the hard drive, anyway?"

"Some man, " Alfred replied, unsure of himself. Ingrid stood up.

"Are you crazy? That's not an answer."

Alfred raised his arm to make a point.

"Okay, a man I don't know called me at the restaurant. I took the call because he might be one of the regulars who want a reservation."

Ingrid's eyes widened.

"And then what?"

Alfred's memories of the night flashed before him, and he told everything to Ingrid about what truly happened.

That night, he was about to leave the restaurant when he received a call from an unknown caller.

"Hello, A_ Restaurant, how may I help you?"

"Alfred, listen."

"Who is this?"

"I know you, but you don't know me. You got to listen carefully. I will offer you a deal, Alfred, and you can't say no." Alfred sensed it was a prank call.

"You got the wrong Alfred. Bye." But the caller was 100 percent sure it was him.

"Your father needs money for his chemotherapy. I know it is breaking your family apart. I can help. I know your relationship with Ingrid too. You need me, Alfred. I know life for you is difficult, and I am here to help you."

Alfred remembered how frail his father had become from his battle with cancer. He needed money to support his treatment, and this moment is a golden opportunity for him.

"Who are you?"

"It's not important to know who I am. Listen, follow my instructions carefully. You will not be harmed. I promise you that. I also have the money for your father's treatment. But first, you have to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"Get out of the room...now!" It was not a real instruction but more of an order.

Alfred followed the man's voice. He saw Gerald inside his room, trying to keep things neat and orderly.

"Be discreet. There's a key left at the toilet. Take it."

Alfred went inside the toilet and found the key.

"Wait for Gerald to go out of his room. That won't take a second." Alfred slightly opened the toilet door and watched Gerald get out of his room towards the cashier area.

"Now get out and open his room."

Alfred followed the man's instructions to a 'T .' He panicked slightly as the keys got tangled in his hand.

"Calm down. Find the fifth key."

Alfred counted the keys in his hand. When he tried the fifth key, it did not fit. He counted the keys backward and fitted the fifth key again. It opened.

"I am in," Alfred replied, his forehead sweaty.

"Find the NAS drive under the computer monitor."

"Nas?"

"It is a black metal box with an initial N.A.S. on it." Alfred saw the black metal box hidden under the pile of boxes.

"Open it and pull out the number 1 hard drive."

Alfred followed the instruction and pulled the hard drive from its slot. Someone tried opening the door. It was Gerald.

"He's here. Now what?" Alfred felt his heart thumping.

"Wait. I'm counting. Three, two, and now gently open the door."

He opened his door and saw Gerald going inside the toilet.

"Get out now and hide in the next room."

Gerald can be heard from inside the toilet. "Where is my goddamn key? Dammit!"

Then Gerald went out to look inside the cashier's area.

"Get out now and go back to the toilet." Alfred slowly sneaked back into the toilet.

"Placed the key on the sink. Don't worry, that's where he usually left his keys." Suddenly the line went dead.

He looked at the toilet mirror and saw Gerald from behind. Alfred feared he was caught.

Gerald saw the key on the sink, "Oh, there's my key! Goddam."

Alfred immediately replied, "It's there when I went in."

"But I….. It must have been my confused self. I thought you left already?"

"Yes. I just forgot my fanny pack. I guess I will have to leave now, Gerald.."

Alfred held the fanny pack that contained the hard drive and tied it around his waist.

"Okay, good night," Alfred said before going out of the restaurant.

Outside, Alfred's phone vibrates in his palm. He answered it as he walked around the back.

"That almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Leave the drive near the trash. You can find your reward there. Just take it and don't look back."

Alfred followed the instruction and left the hard disc. An old bowling bag was left near the trash. He opened it, and there it was- the money and a watch. He grabbed the bag and casually walked on.

He immediately went home and saw Ingrid had already prepared the food for him.

"What took you so long?"

"Just had to get you something."

"Oh, what is it?"

In front of the dining table, Ingrid saw the watch on her plate. She screamed in extreme delight.

"Is this a gold watch?" she asked. Alfred almost choked.

"Gold like…. I think."

Ingrid can't get enough of the happiness she felt. Then asked in a giggly manner,

"How can you even afford to buy a watch for me?"

Alfred already prepared an answer.

"It's a long...long... story. Why don't you try it on?"

Ingrid put the watch on her wrist. It glowed and looked even more expensive on her.

"Oh lord, I cannot imagine you will get something like this for me!"

She tried adjusting the dial, and it made a funny sound.

Ingrid laughed out loud. "Okay, It's fake, right?"

Alfred wondered what that sounds too. The sound got louder but quickly faded afterward.

"I wonder what that is. " Ingrid asked. "Thank you, Alfred. That is a lovely gesture."

Ingrid kissed Alfred on the lips.

Later that night, Alfred made a call to his Dad's doctor.

"Hello, sorry to disturb you, Doc. I got the money for my Dad's chemotherapy. I can bring him to your clinic tomorrow."

The doctor was elated on the other line and replied, "We can start your Dad's chemo treatment tomorrow. Please drop by."

"Okay. I will do that first thing in the morning."

Forward to the present. Ingrid looked at Alfred. She loved him so much that whatever he had done- was for his family. Alfred was slumped on the park seat, fetal like, as he hugged his thigh.

"I forgive you," Ingrid said. There were already plenty of joggers that frequented the park.

"You can say the truth to the police, Ingrid. I will even come with you. Tell it myself."

There was a long pause. Ingrid just had that much love for Alfred that she will do anything.

"No, Alfred. I already started it. For you, I will need to lie again. But help me think of an alibi that the police will believe in."

Alfred can't believe what he just heard. He grabbed his hair and pushed it back. He completely blamed himself for taking the man's call, and now his girlfriend is doing the same thing to get him off the hook. What's happening? He needed quick help to brush everything aside.