Chapter 11
Jed woke to the sound of country music. 'Well, that's no help. Where am I? And what do these people want with me?'
He tried to get off whatever he was lying on, but a spike of agonizing pain shot through his body. He looked above his head and realized one arm was cuffed to the bedpost.
"Damn. Anybody here?" Jed yelled as he banged on the wall with his free hand.
The door opened. The guy with the bad teeth walked in.
"Well, it seems like you're finally up. Do you got any pain?"
"Yes. But first, I demand to know where I am and who you are."
"You can't demand anything."
"I'm the President and I demand to know where I am."
"I know who you are. And being President is exactly why we have you."
Jed sighed. "Just give me some answers. As you can see I'm not going anywhere."
"Well, I'll tell you about the first. You're in West Virginia."
"West Virginia?"
Somehow he had made the journey from Wyoming to West Virginia.
"Why?"
"You know, you ask too many questions," as his kidnapper slapped Jed across the face.
"Ow. That hurts."
"It's meant to hurt. Now quit asking so many questions."
"What day is today?"
"You don't learn easy, do you?" as another slap landed on Jed's other cheek.
Catching his breath, Jed refused to give in. "I asked you what day it was."
"Monday."
He had lost two complete days.
"Can you tell me how my wife is?"
"Don't know nothing about that."
"Please, do you know anything? Did you take her too?"
"Nope. You're the only one we wanted. We left your wife behind. She should have been found by now, unless she's dead."
"Oh God!" But Jed still felt Abbey's life force. It really was true that they were deeply connected to each other.
"I'm going to ask again. Who are you and what do you want?"
"Who we are is not important. What we want is you."