A man named Johnny, who is homeless, experiences a drastic change in his fortune when he accidentally discovers a bag hidden in a rubbish bin containing a staggering $5 million. Seizing the opportunity, he runs off with the money and uses it to buy a luxurious mansion and a car. But Johnny’s life quickly takes a sinister turn when dangerous gangsters appear on his doorstep demanding the return of their money.
Forty-six-year-old Johnny scavenged through rubbish bins in search of scraps to feed himself, a grim reality that had become part of his daily life. For several years, he had relied on discarded, stale food from large supermarkets and restaurants that deemed it unworthy of consumption. But on this particular day, fate had something extraordinary in store for him.
“Ugh… this is beyond rotten!” Johnny grimaced in disgust as he plunged his weathered hands into the depths of the dustbin to retrieve a half-eaten burger that was anything but appetising. The overpowering stench of decay and dampness permeated the air around City Park’s public dumpster and nearly made Johnny sick. But he refused to give up.
Continuing his search, he came across an unusual black bin bag that immediately caught his attention. Filled with curiosity, Johnny pulled it out and carefully opened it, half expecting to find something edible. What he discovered, however, left him frozen in disbelief. The bag was full of neatly stacked, untouched hundred-dollar bills, crisp and new.
“Jesus… Oh my!” Johnny’s eyes widened in shock. “Is this…is this real?”
Johnny had never been so frightened. He looked around anxiously to make sure no one was watching him, before hastily grabbing the bag of money. Johnny ran to a secluded underpass nearby where he sat down in a quiet corner and began to count the bills.
The smell of money filled the musky air as Johnny’s heart pounded. He was stunned when he finished counting the last wad of cash and collapsed in awe when the fortune totalled a whopping $5 million.
With the bag of new-found riches clutched tightly in his grimy hands, Johnny hurried to meet his old friend Billy, once homeless but now a janitor at a local cafe.
“Wait… what? $5 million? You got that in your inheritance?” Billy gasped in amazement as Johnny showed him the money. “You’ve got to be kidding, man! And where did this grandpa come from? I thought you had nobody.”
“Yeah, man! I had no idea I had a grandpa,” Johnny told Billy. “The old man somehow managed to find me before he died… and left me his fortune. It’s all my money, mate. I’m rich! I don’t have to live on the streets anymore!”
Johnny has concocted a fib about an unsuspecting inheritance from an estranged grandfather who never existed. Who would tell their friend about finding a rubbish bag full of millions in a rubbish bin?
Johnny, of course, would never risk it. So he outright lied to his best friend about the origin of the money, and surprisingly, even Billy believed him.
“I need a small favour, Bill,” Johnny added slyly.
“What kind of favour?”
“I want you to help me buy a house… and a car… BY TOMORROW!” Johnny finished as Billy looked up at him in disbelief.
“By tomorrow? Are you kidding me? What’s the rush? Getting a house overnight is… pretty impossible, mate.” Billy raised an eyebrow.
“Look, man… you know I don’t have any ID… and no legal papers. Getting a house involves a lot of legal stuff…and paperwork. So all I’m asking is that you register the house and the car in your name because you have an ID,” Johnny added.
Billy was confused and hesitant. But Johnny knew it was the only way he could start living his dreams. He persuaded his friend to do it for him.
“Bill, look… you don’t have to do this for nothing, OK?” Johnny explained. “I’ll give you $100,000 for it, man. That’s a lot of money. Think about your daughter, Ellie… your fight for her custody. Think of all the things you wanted to give her but could not because you were too poor. You buy me the house and the car tomorrow… and $100,000 in cash is yours! Can’t you do that much for your friend?
Billy’s 15-year-old daughter Ellie was living with her foster parents. Billy’s parental rights were terminated several years ago because of his poor living conditions and history of homelessness.
He had always wanted to make up for being absent from his daughter’s life and had even dreamed of earning a lot of money to send Ellie to college. Motivated by his dream, he gave up his life on the streets and got a job as a cleaner in a café to save enough money to fulfil his daughter’s dream.
Johnny knew all about Billy’s struggles and decided to use them to his advantage. “Don’t you want your daughter to go to a nice college? How long are you going to juggle between odd jobs… and struggle to make money?”
Johnny’s words echoed in Billy’s ears. He wanted his daughter to follow her dreams. He wanted her to forgive him for not being there when she needed him most after her mother’s death. So, after much thought, Billy nodded.
“Good…I know an estate agent who can do that for a few extra fees,” Billy looked up at Johnny, who was all smiles.
The friends met with the estate agent and registered an abandoned mansion, which was listed for sale in Billy’s name the next day. They also gave the agent a generous tip for getting the paperwork done quickly.
Johnny was over the moon when he got the keys to his new home. But his happiness would not be complete without his dream car. So as soon as they bought the house, Johnny and Billy went to the car showroom in town to buy Johnny’s fancy new car.
“Now that’s what I call a beast on wheels!” Johnny’s infectious laughter echoed through the open windows as he sat behind the wheel of his new car and sped down the road.
Billy sat beside him, sharing his friend’s joy. Deep down, he could hardly wait to meet his daughter Ellie and reveal the surprise he had planned for her future.
“Hey, buddy… how about we celebrate this incredible day with a drink?” Johnny asked Billy as they pulled up outside Johnny’s new mansion, ready to call it a night.
“Thank you, mate! I’d love to… but I’ve got the night shift at the shop,” Billy declined the offer disappointedly.
“Aww, come on, man. It’s not every day we get to experience such joy.”
“I know, mate. It’s unbelievable. But duty calls, you know? I can’t let my colleagues down tonight. Besides, I could use the extra hours to earn a little bonus,” Billy said with a smile, leaving Johnny to celebrate alone. “And thanks for the $100,000!”
Johnny nodded. He chugged a beer and dozed off, waking up the next morning in his plush bed. He looked out the window and admired his stylish car parked outside. Johnny was so happy with his new life. Then a loud knock on his front door shattered the silence around him.
“Who is it so early in the morning?” Johnny muttered.
The knocking grew wilder and louder as Johnny pulled his coat closer and approached the door, reaching for the knob.
The door creaked open and Johnny’s eyes widened in horror. Dressed in black, a group of six men stood on the doorstep, their piercing gaze fixed on a terrified Johnny.
Their body language spoke volumes about the underbelly of the society they came from. To say ‘just thugs’ would be an understatement. These men were lethal.
“You must be one dumb son of a bitch, huh?” One of the men, who was the leader of the gang, held the door shut and stared daggers at Johnny. “Did you really think we wouldn’t find the guy who stole our five million from the dumpster and was wandering the bloody streets?” He barked.
“Five million dollars? I… I’m sorry… I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Johnny stuttered and pretended. But things came to a deadly head when the gang leader pulled out a bowie knife and burst into the mansion with his thugs.
“Listen to me, you stinking sack of rubbish,” he roared, rubbing the sharp, glistening blade of the knife against his palm. “You have exactly one week to sell your fancy house and that shiny new car parked outside. And here’s the kicker, mate! You better give me back every penny you make on the sale… plus a bloody ten percent as a little bonus for screwing up our plans and thwarting our deal. Oh, and that stash of cash you got stashed away in your house? We want it now. Go…bring the money.”
Terror struck Johnny’s nerves. “What are you waiting for, you idiot? Bring the money NOW!” The thug’s booming voice sent a shiver down Johnny’s spine.
He rushed upstairs to get the money. He tucked the rest of the cash into his backpack and, as he looked at the dollars, he made a split-second decision.
With the thugs waiting for him downstairs, Johnny jumped out of the window and ran out of the gate as fast as his legs could carry him.
Johnny rushed to a second-hand shop on the way and bought some new clothes for a steal. Then he ran to an old motel on the highway to spend the night.
“Hey there, I need a room,” Johnny approached the motel clerk, panting. “But here’s the deal…I’ll give you a good tip if you don’t bother me showing my ID.”
“Sorry, sir… but it’s against our hotel policy to rent rooms without checking the IDs of our guests,” the motel clerk squared his shoulders.
“Look, mate. I don’t want any trouble, OK? I just need a place to stay for the night. I’m willing to make it worth your while. What do you think?” Johnny pulled out a wad of cash and showed it to the man.
The motel clerk could not deny the pleasure of the handsome tip. “Here are the keys. Room number 206. Second on the left upstairs!” He said, tossing the room key into Johnny’s hand.
As Johnny settled into his room and stood under the shower, his encounter with the gangsters replayed in his mind, haunting him. He could not shake the fear that his fate was in their hands if they ever found him.
Leaving the city by train or bus was his last resort. But Johnny knew that without identification it would be almost impossible. He was thinking hard and deep when a strange idea suddenly struck him.
“A scrap yard is not far from here!” Johnny thought. He decided to buy a cheap, old car there and leave the state the next day at the earliest.
The next morning, Johnny went to the barber shop first thing. He shaved his head and beard so no one would recognise him. He put on a fedora and went to the junkyard.
“Hello there! I’m here for a car. Got anything in decent shape, mate?” Johnny approached a garage worker.
“Ah, greetings, sir. Well, you’re in luck! I might have something for you… follow me,” the man said, leading Johnny into the garage. They walked through the rows of old cars until they reached a cheap, worn-out Mustang in reasonably good condition.
“Um, this one doesn’t look too bad. How much do you want for this car?” Johnny turned to the man.
“$500!”
“Wow! That’s a bargain. But here’s the thing… I need to get out of this state as soon as possible. Paperwork…and anything legal is not my thing. If you know what I mean…” Johnny said.
“All right! Technically, it’s illegal to sell cars without proper paperwork. But you can have it for $5,000… hard cash. And we do it under the table! No questions. No paperwork. No records. How does that sound?” The guy grinned, his lips curled around a cigar.
Johnny agreed and paid the money. Happily, he got into the car and drove out of town. Just as Johnny was about to cross the US-Mexico border, his phone rang loudly, causing him to pull over to the side of the road. It was a call from Billy.
“Hey, Bill! Listen, man… I’ve got some important news…” Johnny said, only to be interrupted by a familiar, menacing voice on the other end of the line.
“Unexpected, huh? Looks like Billy couldn’t make it to the phone. Guess who this is? Didn’t think you’d get caught so soon, did you, Johnny?”
Johnny’s heart was racing and his hands were shaking.
“You didn’t really think you could take our money and run, did you? Why didn’t you tell us your house and car were registered in poor Billy’s name, Johnny?” The gang leader laughed.
“By the way… your friend Billy is no longer with us, I’m afraid. He had a little incident when we paid him a surprise visit at his shabby little home. Shame on his weak heart! The poor fellow stopped breathing when we pointed the gun at his temple. Good thing he saved us a bullet… and our time!
A cold sweat broke out on Johnny’s forehead as the Mafia boss coldly added: “Wherever you are now, Johnny… and wherever you’re going… just know that we will find you.
“And the day we meet, you will meet the same fate as your dear friend!”
“We’re giving you one last chance, Johnny Boy. We’ll be waiting at Billy’s house… you have one hour. Bring the money. Don’t even think about playing games with us. It won’t end well for you.
The thug hung up, leaving Johnny with a sinking feeling and a race against time. How threatening could this get? What else did Johnny have to lose?
The gang had killed his only dear friend, one who had no idea where the fateful $5 million came from, and paid a heavy price for it. And now they would stop at nothing to get their money back.
Johnny banged his head on the steering wheel and cursed, not sure where he was going. If he stepped on the accelerator and sped straight out onto the empty road ahead, the $700,000 in cash in his backpack would take him across the US-Mexico border.
But Johnny made a different decision. He turned around and headed back into town.
Johnny sped down the motorway and pulled up outside a joke shop in a shopping centre. He walked in, anxiety and fear etched on his face as he approached the clerk.
Rubber chickens, fake insects, comedy props and other fun accessories were displayed in glass cases. But Johnny had something else in mind.
“Do you have a dozen packs of fake $100 bills?” Johnny leaned closer to the salesman.
Well… well… you want to have a bit of fun, don’t you? Yep! We’ve got a dozen packs of these counterfeit Benjamin Franklins right here!” the shopkeeper chuckled.
“Perfect… I’ll take a dozen packs then. Gonna be a hilarious surprise for my friends,” Johnny grinned.
“Oh, I can imagine the laughter you’ll have. Just remember, this fake money is for novelty purposes only, all right?”
“Yeah…yeah! Just harmless fun, mate. Thanks!” Johnny said as he put the fake money into a black bin bag. He then went to the mall’s storeroom and left the rucksack of real money in one of the lockers.
Johnny immediately drove to the foster home of Billy’s daughter and met her. He could not find the courage to tell her that her father had died. But he picked up his broken heart to do it anyway.
“Ellie, I need to talk to you about something… it’s about your father,” Johnny said, his voice choked with pain.
Although Ellie lived with her foster parents, she still loved her dad and was worried when Johnny said that. “What’s wrong… is Dad OK? Why didn’t he come with you?” She asked.
“I’m sorry, dear. Your father…he passed away,” Johnny broke the bad news. It felt terribly painful, like daggers piercing his heart, as he saw Ellie’s eyes well up.
Johnny pulled himself together and made up a lie. “He had a heart attack, Ellie. I wish there was more I could say.”
Ellie burst into tears. She could not believe that her father, who had fought so hard to bring her home… to fulfil her dreams… to make her happy, was gone.
“He… he was everything to me,” she cried. “I still can’t believe it. Please tell me it’s not true, Johnny. Please tell me Dad’s OK… and alive.”
“I know it’s hard to accept, dear. Before your father died, he wanted me to give you something,” Johnny said as he handed Ellie a note and a key.
“What is this? What are these numbers?” Ellie spoke through her tears.
“It’s the locker number in the storage room… in the shopping centre nearby. This is the key to it. Your father left you something, Ellie,” Johnny said. “Billy was such a wonderful dad. He worked very hard…and honestly, to bring you home. He saved money for your college. It’s yours now.”
With a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder, Johnny jumped into his car and drove to Billy’s house, where the gangsters were waiting for him.
Johnny parked his car at a crossroads far from Billy’s house and approached the building. He took a deep breath and held the bag of counterfeit money in his hand. The flickering flame of his lighter cast an eerie glow on his face as Johnny tossed the lighter into the bag.
Within seconds, the air was filled with the sound of crackling flames and the pungent smell of burning paper. Johnny wasted no time. He marched quickly to the front door and knocked. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as the door swung open about 20 seconds later.
The Mafia boss’s face twisted in shock and anger as he saw the burning bag of money on the doorstep.
“CATCH HIM!” He roared at his gangsters. Johnny grinned wickedly as the thugs surrounded him.
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