Chapter 21
“They’ve gotten 2 million dollars together,” Hoke
Dorough announced to his wife with a smile.
“That’s enough to get 2 of the Boys out,” Paula
beamed back at her husband. Things were
finally starting to look up for them.
They had both heard about the fights the Richardsons
and the Littrells were having with the Carters, and tried to stay immune to it
all. They thought it was absolutely
ridiculous. The Carters said they would go along and that’s that. But no one could leave it at that quite as
well as the Doroughs. The phone rang again and Paula picked it up, “Hello?”
“Mrs. Dorough? May I speak with your husband please?”
It sounded like someone from the FBI, “Why sure,
ok... Is anything wrong?” her stomach shifted with worry.
“Oh no, no, it’s possible that things may be even
better Ma’am. Please put your husband on.”
Paula obediently handed the phone to Hoke,
“Hello? Uh-huh....Uh-huh... They what?
They do? When? Who? Wonderful,
wonderful. Thank you!” Hoke hung up the phone with an odd look on his face, he
turned to face his anxiously awaiting wife with the same look on his face.
“What is it Hoke? Tell me?” she was near strangling
him if he held the news any longer.
“They think they know where the Boys are... They’re
sending a surveillance squad out right now!
Paula, they’ve found our Boys!!”
Actual tears of happiness fell down Paula’s face,
“How do we know if it’s actually them?”
“Paula, it’s them! It has to be!” Hoke hugged his
wife, “Our son’s coming back to us, I know it!”
“Found them? They found them?” Jackie Littrell found
herself speechless. She laughed and
hugged and kissed her husband and her son.
Harold and Jr laughed at Jackie’s display. She was
dancing around the room, “Now don’t get your hopes up dear, they just have a
lead from some hick town on where they are.
It might not be...”
“Harold!!!
Just shut up! Don’t spoil my moment!
Just let me think that they’ve found my baby for a few hours, afterwards
I’ll listen to your logic...” Jackie was still smiling. She sighed, “I suppose I should start
planning dinner for Brian. He’ll be hungry.”
Harold III rolled his eyes, “What about me?”
Jackie laughed as if to say, what about you? You
haven’t been missing for nearly a week.
Hal tried to play like he was hurt, but Jackie blew him a kiss to let
him know it was alright, she still loved him.
“Well if they found them does that still mean we have
to pay ransom?” Denise McLean was wondering to her mother who had flown in to
be with her.
“Who cares Denise, they may have found them! Now we
know they can be returned safely,” her mother assured her.
“But what if... what if they see the FBI outside and
get really freaked out and start shooting...”
“Denise, calm down. AJ’s coming home now,” Denise’s
mother patted her leg.
“I know,” Denise said with a small smile, “but I
can’t help but worry.”
“Really?
Found them?” Bob Carter hung up
the phone to stare at his wife who was wringing her hands nervously, “They
think they know where Nick is.”
Jane let out a cheer, “Are they going to get him now?
Will we get to be there? When will we see him?”
“Jane calm down, honey. They think they know where he
is, they aren’t certain,” Bob said taking Jane’s hands.
Jane bit her lip on disappointment, “Well how
uncertain are they?”
Bob shrugged, “They are looking into it right now,
and right now it seems pretty damn suspicious.
Lets just pray that they’ve found them.”
“Woohoo!” Jerald Richardson said after hearing the
news, “Do they need any help with the bust?”
Ann sat still trying to contain her excitement, she
knew good and well that this could be a false lead but she didn’t care. She wanted to believe her youngest son had
been found.
“How sure are they that Kevin’s in there?” Tim asked,
he was the only one that wasn’t overly chipper about the latest break through.
Anne shrugged, “It was a lead from some officer from
a hick town... They didn’t even want to hear it at first, but they did go check
it out. The place is a possible
hide-out.”
Tim nodded, “Mom, I know you are excited, but don’t
get your hopes up too high in case it’s not Kev, ok?”
Ann nodded to her ever practical son, but hell, she
couldn’ thelp it. Her baby had been found, she just knew it!
“That is the 4th time that car has driven
by here,” Kenyon grouched peeping out the window.
“Maybe they’re lost,” Brody shrugged.
Kenyon shrugged too.
Both were silent as Ariella walked into the room. Ariella made a hasty retreat when she
realized they were staring at her.
“Bren’s girlfriend is a hottie,” Brody whistled, “I
wouldn’t mind getting in those panties.”
“Yeah,” Kenyon said with a toothy smile, “I’d give
her a real good time.”
“Checking out my girl gentlemen?” Brendon approached
the table with a frown of disapproval.
“We can’t help it, she’s hot,” Kenyon said.
“Well knock it off!” Brendon snapped, “The boss is
contemplating giving the Boys an early release because of Carter... that means
we’ll only get half the money!”
“Bummer...” Brody said, “So what can we do about it,
Bren?”
“I was hoping you’d ask me that,” Brendon said, his
face taking on a darker expression, “I want a mutiny. I say if the boss wants to let up on the deal, then let him...
but we won’t follow. I’m keeping those fags until I get all that money. Even if
it means they die.”
Kenyon blinked at Brendon’s coldness, but was quick
to mask his shock, “How are we going to go about that Brendon?”
“Well first we need to get our weapons in order,”
Brendon said, “Stick with me gentlemen, and you will get rich.” He smiled
deviously, not aware that Ariella was right around the corner in ear range,
gasping over what she had heard.
What could she do? What could she do? Should she tell
Zalia?- No, Brendon would be furious!
Should she go along with Brendon then?- But then people would get hurt!
She was so confused and just needed to think.
She had to take a break. She
eyed the door to the basement. Slowly
she went to the hanging shelf and picked up a face mask. Covering her face, she ventured down into
the stale dinginess of the basement- prison.
Brian made a face at AJ as he popped peanut butter
covered cheerios into his mouth. Kids
could eat anything. He smiled down at
Nick who slept curled up in front of him.
The medication had knocked him right out. Nick was sounding a little
better to Brian’s relief. That scary
whistling noise Nick’s breathing made were really beginning to bother
Brian. He snored lightly. Timid footsteps were being taken towards the
door, in the old building the Boys could hear almost any kind of movements from
upstairs. The door opened slowly, and a
female ninja came down the stairs, alone.
She held a small weapon at her disposal but she did not point it
threateningly at anyone. She looked at
Nick and pointed, “Is he better?”
Howie was the one to respond, “A little better, yes.
Thank you.”
The female ninja nodded, “Is the food ok down here,
or do you Boys need something else?”
AJ almost choked on his Cheerios, where had they
gotten her from? She was... nice?
“Um....” Kevin was too surprised to respond properly,
as was Howie and AJ.
The female ninja stood there looking uncertain of
what to do next, “Well...” she spoke finally, “I’m going to go back up. Take care of yourselves....” She meant that, because from that point
forward she did not know how long they were going to be down there... and if
Brendon ever took charge, she couldn’t even be sure if he would let them out at
all....