Chapter 5
"The fax is coming!" Chris announced. Four men huddled around the fax machine as a paper came out. Everybody grabbed for it, but Lance was the only one who got it. They looked at the picture. Justin had bags under his eyes and his hair was a mess. "They do have him," Lance whispered.
"See?" the messenger said. "Now release me!" She held up her wrists. Chris took a knife and was about to cut the rope when he was stopped.
"She's going to tell us where Justin is, first!" JC said, kneeling next to the couch. "Where is Justin?"
"Confidential," she said.
"Don't start that again!" Chris pleaded.
"Joey, take her back to your room!"
Smiling, Joey said, "It'd be my pleasure!" Joey grabbed her arm and was about to drag her to his room when Lance stopped him.
"I don't think that'd be wise!" he said.
JC stared at his band mate. "Why not?" he wondered.
"Because it says right here, "If my messenger does not come back within an hour, or if she has been touched in anyway (beaten, raped, etc.) Justin will be killed and you will be forced to watch!"
"Where does it say that!?!" JC wondered, taking the paper out of his hands. Lance pointed to a corner. "How can you read that!?!"
"I have good eyes!" Lance said.
They looked at the girl. "Chris, untie her." Taking the knife, Chris cut the rope off of her wrists.
"Tell your 'Boss' that we'll give him, and ONLY HIM, the money tomorrow at Tanner Park!" JC shouted as he watched her exit.
*****
"And what did you tell him?" Julia asked.
"Nothing," a black-haired girl answered as she and Julia entered the attic.
There was silence as Julia looked at Justin. "Savanna, I want you to tell them that I refuse their offer!"
* * * * *
(THE NEXT DAY)
JC sat on a bench, watching some children climb on the wooden playground. Looking to his left, he saw the black-haired girl walking towards them. JC nudged Lance and pointed to her.
"I thought I told you that we only wanted your BOSS!" JC said, standing up. Then he sighed. "Tell us where Justin is and THEN we'll give you the money!"
A grin showed up on the girl's face. "You won't be giving me any money!"
The four men stared at her with confusion. "You're going to give him back without the money!?!" Chris asked, astonished.
She shook her head. "My boss wants you to know that YOU will not be calling the shots. That is my boss's job!" She began to turn around, but JC grabbed her arm.
"All we want is our friend back!"
"Then I guess you'll just have to wait until further instructions are given!" She released herself from JC's grasp and climbed onto a UTA bus.
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