CHAPTER THREE

Josh was sitting at the table thinking about what his mom had said about Alex. There was just no way that Alex was lying. Josh couldn't help but feel that his mom was being paranoid. After everything that had happened the last time they had picked up a stranger she was probally just worried that the situation would repeat itself. Alex emerged from the hallway in deep thought as if he were contemplating something serious and Josh rose from the table to question him. He was determined to find out what Alex's story was so that he could reassure his mother that there was nothing to worry about.

"Hey Alex is something wrong?"

"No not really it's just that my cousins are a little worried that I am riding with strangers. They said that they don't really know anyone from town yet and were kind of angry that I accepted a ride from people I didn't know. I tried explaining to them that y'all are from Chickory Creek but they're still a little peeved."

Alex's cousins concerns apparently echo Momma's, Josh thought.

"Hey why don't you show me your guitar before we head back on the road, you said it was in the trailer, right?" Alex suggested.

Now was as good a time as any to complete his mission. With the rest of the Greene family enjoying their meal, they might not notice Josh and Alex heading to the trailer or the car that would be pulling up soon. Alex had made sure that his accomplice had stayed out of sight while he had tried to cozy up to the Greenes.

"Ok sure just let me tell my parents where we are going so they don't freak."

"We'll only be gone a few moments is it really necessary to tell them?"

"I guess not."

Josh and Alex exited the cafe without being noticed and preceeded to the trailer. Josh was happy that he could talk to someone else about music, someone that actually understood what it was like to want to make it your life. The trailer couldn't be seen from the window of the cafe and that did make Josh a little nervous especially after the concerns his mother had voiced but he shrugged them off as nothing more than contagious paranoia. He opened the door and entered without noticing the dark blue Lincolin towncar that was entering the parking lot. Alex stood outside as he retrieved the guitar.

Meanwhile inside Claire had noticed that Josh and Alex had not returned from the hallway and asked Russell and her mother in law Hattie if they had seen the boys. When the answer was no, she asked Russell to check outside and she volunteered to check the hallway where they were supposed to be. Silently she prayed that she was just being paranoid and that nothing had occured that put Josh in danger.

Russell voluntairly aggred to his wife's wishes and went out the door of the cafe after looking around the building he decided to check the trailer. He had heard Josh mention showing Alex his guitiar and figured that the boys had simply taken the opportunity to do so while they were stopped. He came around the back of the trailer and noticed Alex leaning in the window of a dark blue Lincolin and the door to the trailer wide open. Russell could tell that the driver of the car was a female about five foot six with blonde hair. Russell eased his way back until he was sure that he was invisible to Alex and the mystery girl. Josh emerged from the camper a few seconds later with his guitiar.

"Who's this?" Josh asked quickly.

"Um this is my friend Kayla her brother was the one who was supposed to give me a ride. She talked to the clerk at the gas station and found out about me riding with you guys so she headed this way."

" I was hoping to catch up with you,"Kayla smiled, "My brother was worried that you had hitched a ride with some weirdos."

"But I thought you said that your friend's mother had gotten real sick and that was why he couldn't take you. What's going on Alex?" Josh asked nervously.

Dammit, Alex thought. He had forgotten about that when he had decided to introduce Kayla as the sister of the friend who was supposed to take him to Chickory Creek. Josh was a smart kid and now he knew that something was up and pretty soon the rest of the family would finish their meal and head back to the car. He had to work fast.

"Get in the car Josh," he said pulling a gun from his waist band, "Do it quickly and quietly."

Josh froze his mother had been right the whole time, Alex wasn't who he said he was. Russell had been a quiet observer until the weapon emerged. Now he moved from his hiding place and started towards Josh. Upon seeing him Alex quickly grabbed Josh and placed him in front of him as a shield.

"Don't try anything Mr. Greene or I'll shoot him here and now,"Alex announced pressing the gun against Josh's temple.

Josh could feel the cold steel against his skin and he let out a frightened yelp. Russell looked into his son's grey eyes and could clearly see the fear that filled them. Josh had been shot before and now thanks to Russell he was in danger of being shot again.

"Calm down, Alex. Why don't you just let Josh go and we can talk about this?"

"Talk about what?"

"Whatever it is you want or you're running from. We can figure out another way to handle the situation, a way that doesn't involve anyone getting hurt."

Russell tried to keep his voice calm and steady but inside he too was shaking with fear. The last time Josh had been shot Russell hadn't been there to witness it or to try and prevent it from happening. But now he had the opportunity to make sure that nothing happened to Josh and he was gonna follow through with it. Cautiously, Russell took a step forward but he instantly stopped when Alex pressed the gun harder against the side of Josh's forehead.

"Look Mr. Greene I really don't wanna hurt him. I was hired to do a job and I'm gonna do it. Taking Josh is just a part of that job."

"Daddy," Josh whispered, "Don't let them take me."

"I won't son. Alex I think there's been some kind of mistake."

"No mistake. I was hired to make sure that Josh here paid for the death of my employer's father, a death that you caused."

"Ok well if this man wants revenge for something that I did well let Josh go and take me to him. Josh has nothing to do with this, he's just an innocent bystander. He wouldn't hurt anyone so there is no need to hurt him."

Alex stood there he knew that what he was doing was wrong but he really needed the money. He liked Josh but he had come too far to turn back now. Maybe he could take them both to his employer that would make things easier. His boss could carry out his revenge personally and he wouldn't have to kill a innocent kid.

"Here's what we're gonna do, Mr. Greene. You're gonna get in the front seat with Kayla then Josh and I will climb in the back. Don't try anything stupid either or I will shoot him I don't want to but I will if I have to."

While this was going on, Claire had gotten worried when Russell hadn't returned either and had made her way to the trailer. She was now standing behind Russell listening to every word of the conversation.

"Russell don't," she said quitely, "He'll kill you both if you do."

"And he'll kill Josh if I don't. Don't worry honey I'm not gonna let him hurt our son."

Slowly, Russell climbed into the front seat of the car leaving Claire to watch with tears in her eyes as Alex shoved Josh into the back seat before climbing in himself.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Greene I didn't want to do this but I have no other options,"Alex explained before tapping Kayla on the shoulder and telling her to drive away.