Chapter 2
J.J. felt heart-sick leaving his dad like that., but he knew that he had no choice. Like his other dad, Wade, used to tell him, a man has to do what a man has to do. J.J. had read gory comic books and seen enough adventure movies to conjure up all kinds of scenarios for what they wanted to do with Johnny. Whatever it was, he was certain that it had to do with his psychic abilities.
Brushing those thoughts aside, J.J. concentrated on remembering that doctor's name and quietly finding his way out of the back storeroom without being noticed. Maybe if the robbers were going to get a doctor for Johnny, they were not planning to hurt him any more than they already had, J.J. thought. He had almost reached the back exit when someone opened the storeroom door letting some fluorescent light into the dark room.
A woman's voice yelled, "This is the county sheriff's police. J.J. come here, everything is safe, no one is going to hurt you."
Hidden behind a stack of boxes of paper towels, J.J. remained perfectly still heeding Johnny's warning.
"J.J. your dad needs you," the woman said in a cajoling tone, while scanning parts of the room with a flashlight. "He said that you should come out now."
J.J. felt his heart skip a beat when he heard that, but he did not move. He didn't recognize the woman's voice. It certainly was not sheriff Turner. Thinking that he might be heard, he willed his breathing to quiet down. He couldn't risk moving or using the cell phone now.
The woman lingered for a few moments, listening quietly.
"You better cut this crap and come here this instance or we'll hurt your dad," she finally shouted angrily.
At that threat, J.J. broke into a cold sweat and started re-thinking the promise he had made to his dad. He tried to balance the fear that they would hurt Johnny more if he didn't do as they asked with the breaking of a solemn promise. He also considered how angry Johnny would be if he broke his promise to get away. Really, he hadn't much experience seeing Johnny very angry, even when he had done some pretty major screw-ups, like running to the circus to be with the trapeze artist. In fact, he couldn't imagine Johnny being angry, but he could see him being sad and disappointed. He had seen a lot of that. He decided to stay put. Johnny had given him an important task to do and he would do it.
After a few more minutes of holding his breath while the woman stalked up and down the rows of boxes looking for him, he heard her slam the door shut and walk out to the store front. A little later, J.J. heard cars revving up and driving away. When the sounds faded to nothing, he took a peek through the glass pane in the door and though he wasn't surprised to see that his dad was gone, his eyes welled up with tears that slowly slid down his cheeks. Walking to a corner of the back room, he sniffled and hit a speed dial number on Johnny's cellphone.