Mark

Julie was momentarily speechless. Then quite vocal. "Mark? You? Why are you doing this!!?? You jerk! You..." Her emotions overtook her and she lunged for him.

He stepped quickly back having anticipated a reaction. "Julie, wait. It's me Mark. I heard you were in trouble. What's the matter? Wait I have a note for you."

Julie stopped, once again confused. "What?"

"I had a note in my books today. Here, read it. It says you are in trouble. It had an envelope to give to you. Here. What's going on?"

Julie was still trying to sort out this turn of events. Finally she realized she was still standing out on the front steps with Mark. She simply turned and walked in the house. "Come in Mark. Have a seat."

Mark was a trusted friend. They had grown up together. Played together. She was suddenly embarrassed that she had thought that this was her blackmailer.

She sat down on the sofa with the open letter and sealed envelope that Mark had handed her. She opened his first.

  Mark

  You don't know me but I know who you are and that you are a friend of Julie's.
  Please take this letter to her tonight.  She has a little bit of trouble so please be
  understanding if she is not her normal self.

  Z

She looked up and saw the concerned look on Mark's face. Then she turned her attention to the sealed envelope which read "For Julie- Open Immediately on Receipt".

  Julie

  Mark knows only what you tell him.  I know he is a friend.  I picked him for    
  your first challenge because I thought it might be easier.  But do not take this as
  a sign of weakness on my part.  If you do not follow all the instructions here
  then I will simply add Mark to the list of people who will get your pictures.

  Now you must do two things for me tonight.  If you do I will return three of your 
  pictures to you.  If you do not I will return them all to you.  After sending out
  copies to your parents, your boyfriend, your pastor, teachers and friends. Oh
  yes, and Grandma.

The letter continued to detail what the blackmailer, who had signed his letter 'Zach', wanted her to do and finished with a repeat of the earlier threats.

Julie folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. She wished she could reseal it so no one would ever see it. She looked over at Mark with a heavy sigh.

Mark waited, a look of concern on his face, while inside he waited to see if Julie would follow the instructions that he had put in the second envelope.

"Mark, here's the deal. I'm not really in trouble exactly. But I do need your help. See, I'm joining a club of girls on campus and it looks like they have included you in my initiation tests. So can you help me with that tonight?"

"Uh, sure, I guess. What do I need to do?"