A/N: I apologize for not updating sooner, but I have a ton of summer plans.
"There's a note here," said Jonny, moving the newspaper aside.
It was hastily scribbled on the back of a lost dog flyer. The writing was smudged in a few places.
'We have Angela. Bring $15,000 dollars in large bills to the corner of Second and B by midnight tomorrow night. If you bring the police into it, start arranging the funeral.
If you don't bring the money, you'll never see her again.'
"We better go to the cops," said Jonny. "They need to know about this."
"No!" Random argued. "Can't you read? They'll cap her if we get the cops involved. We have to figure out where she is and rescue you her."
"They won't release her unless we pay the ransom," said Jonny. "Besides, how are we gonna come up with fifteen grand by tomorrow?"
Random's cell phone chirped. He pushed 'talk', feeling annoyed that someone would be bothering him now.
"This is Carmine Delvecchio." an unfamiliar male voice said. "Tell Garret he might as well ice Angela because I ain't paying. Angela deserves to pay for that snotty attitude of hers. You got me?"
"How'd you get my number?" asked Random. "Wait, that don't matter. On second thought, maybe it does..."
Jonny took the phone from Random. He had overheard both sides of the conversation and knew Carmine must be A.J.'s adoptive father. He had also heard from Garret that Carmine owed him a large amount of money.
"Mr. Delvecchio, you have to understand," Jonny said patiently. "You need to do the right thing and pay your gambling debt. Your daughter's life is at stake."
"You think you're some sort of Robin Hood, but all you are is a violent criminal who needs to be off the streets." Carmine spat before hanging up.
"Now what do we do?" Random said in a higher voice than normal. He was panic-stricken at the thought of losing A.J.
"I have an idea, but I don't really like it," said Jonny.
The only person who might be able to help him was the FBI agent Stringer, who was trying to get him to turn informant. They had a scheduled meeting at a shabby diner, so he could always ask for assistance.
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"Good afternoon, Mr. Calvo," Agent Stringer chirped from the diner's lunch counter.
Jonny sat down next to him. He took a breath. There was no point in beating around the bush when time was so precious. "I need a favor from you." he said.
"What sort of favor?" Agent Stringer asked suspiciously.
"A friend of mine was kidnapped this morning," Jonny explained. "Her father, Carmine Delvecchio, owes a big debt to Garret."
"And you think the kidnapping was contrived to coerce him into paying?" Agent Stringer asked.
Jonny nodded. He produced the ransom note from his jacket pocket and laid it on the counter. Stringer carefully looked it over.
"If you help me get A.J. back," Jonny started. "I'll testify against Garret, I'll do whatever you want me to do. I swear on my mother. Please help me."
"If I know Garret as well as I think I do, your friend will be dead long before you can reach him. Don't get your hopes up."