My irritation flared up, "I'm not going anywhere! We need to help her first!"
Mandy had changed. She was different.
Her own grandmother had died from a stroke on the street.
During her wake, Mandy had solemnly promised to help any elder in distress, scam or not.
What happened to that promise?
"Help who?" she retorted with clear frustration.
I pointed sternly at the woman on the ground.
She paused, then burst out laughing, "Jess, are you playing hero now? Help what? It's just a balloon!"
A balloon?!
I spun around.
The old woman was gone.
Where she'd been lying, a pink balloon now slowly rose into the air.
This was surreal!
A cold draft swept up, sending shivers across my skin and raising goosebumps.
Shaking, I pulled out my phone to call the police.
Hearing my call, Mandy's eyes widened, her expression uneasy, "I'm not sticking around for this. You catch up quick, don't keep folks waiting!"
The police were quick to arrive.
Hotel staff were cooperative, promptly bringing up the security footage.
In the video, neither the old woman nor I appeared at all.
She'd been there three times, and I'd been right by her side!
Yet, the footage only showed Mandy entering and leaving.