Chapter Three

The broiling Florida sun beat down upon the green chalk-lined soccer field. It was Thursday afternoon varsity soccer practice at Cocoa High School. Figures in gold and black raced up and down and down the field. The air was filled with a cacophony of grunts and cries of "I'm open!" and "Set it up!"

Tony Jr., aged 17, was almost the spitting image of his astronaut father. His 6'1" frame was athletic yet muscular; his hair was short and wavy-brown.

Today, he was playing defense and wearing a gold uniform trimmed with black stripes (offense was wearing the away uniforms - black shirts trimmed with gold stripes). He darted to and fro up and down the field, passing, kicking, and dribbling all the way.

Tony Jr., maneuvered the ball into position for a goal shot. Just as he was about to take the shot, he vanished. Without anyone behind it to kick it, the ball suddenly rolled to a stop right in the middle of the field.

Neither the coach nor the other players could believe what they had just seen.

"Sister!" Jeannie called out to the air. She was standing in her kitchen at home. "SISTER!"

Jeannie II suddenly appeared before her. "You rang?" she asked with a smirk.

"Where is Anthony?" Jeannie demanded.

"Is he not in space?" Jeannie II replied coyly.

"You know VERY well as to which Anthony I am referring," Jeannie shot back.

"Oh, you mean Tony JUNIOR!" Jeannie II exclaimed, feigning surprise. "I am sorry, dear sister, but I have not seen him."

"You are lying," said Jeannie.

"Prove it …"

"I have just received a call from the soccer coach at Anthony's school," said Jeannie. "He said that Anthony disappeared into thin air right in the middle of practice."

"Really, now ..."

"Where IS he?" Jeannie interrogated.

"Surely you do not think that I had anything to do with his disappearance now, do you?" said Jeannie II, feigning innocence.

"This is not like him," Jeannie replied icily. "Where is he?"

"Oh, okay ... I confess," Jeannie II replied with a girlish giggle. "I did indeed have a LITTLE something to do with his disappearance."

"This is serious," said Jeannie, glaring angrily at her sister. "This is no laughing matter.

"I am going to ask you again ... Where ... IS he? Where is Anthony?"

"Uh, uh, uh," Jeannie II clucked. "That would be telling." With that, she folded her arms in front of her chest, blinked, and disappeared.

"What do you WANT with me?" Tony Jr. cried. He was on his knees in a deserted warehouse, his hands bound with duct tape behind his back.

"Revenge," replied Maurice in his lilting Caribbean accent. He was surrounded by several of his henchmen - all wearing three-piece suits comprised of black jackets, matching black pants and ties, and white shirts.

"What did I ever do to YOU?"

"You sent my brother to prison!" Maurice shouted angrily.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tony Jr. replied. "I've never met your brother."

"You LIE!" With that, Maurice nodded. Two of Maurice's henchmen grabbed Tony Jr.'s arms and held them up behind his back. A third henchman kicked him in the stomach.

Tony Jr. screamed in pain.

"What's his name?" Tony Jr. inquired, wincing in pain. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath. Tears streamed down the sides of his face.

Maurice nodded once more to his henchmen. Once more, a henchman kicked Tony Jr. in the stomach. Tony Jr. yelped in pain.

"FAISAL! FAISAL ST. GREGORY!" Maurice barked at Tony Jr..

Faisal … Faisal … Where have I heard that name before? Tony Jr. thought, thinking quickly. It sounds vaguely familiar.

"The drug dealer," said Tony Jr. finally, having now remembered the name.

"Yes," said Maurice.

"He was a drug dealer … he sent HIMSELF to prison," said Tony Jr., panting. "Kidnapping, drug trafficking, attempted murder …"

Maurice turned and walked away. "Soften him up," he said to his henchmen as he left.