The Third Rescue by Jay Mackey

Author:Jay Mackey [Mackey, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Sky Publishing
Published: 2019-08-03T22:00:00+00:00

Fortunately, Ms. Parsons was in her usual place, behind the desk in the periodicals section. She smiled when she saw the kids approaching.

“My, my,” she said. “Back again so soon?”

“Ms. Parsons, we need some information,” said CJ as he reached the desk. “Can you tell us about your friend Jack? He may be in trouble.”

“May be?” said Penny. “He’s definitely in trouble.”

Ms. Parsons’ smile faded. “What do you mean, dear?” she asked Penny. “Has he done something wrong?”

“I don’t know,” said Penny. “But he nearly got CJ kidnapped, and now he’s disappeared.”

That seemed to confuse Ms. Parsons. There being no other patrons at the desk needing her attention, she came out from behind the desk and motioned for the kids to join her at a nearby table. Once they were all seated, she asked what had happened.

CJ described the meeting they’d had with Jack, the phone call with Noga, the attempted kidnapping and Oval’s heroic actions.

“My, my, my,” said Ms. Parsons, shaking her head and wringing her hands. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry I got you involved in all this.” She looked crestfallen, eyes moist, her frown dragging her face toward her ample bosom.

“You didn’t get us involved,” said CJ. “We asked for help, and you tried.”

“Right, it’s not your fault,” added Penny. “But we need to know more about Jack. You said he was a crackpot, but this seems like more than that. Who’d want to kidnap him? Were those guys after him, or CJ, or both—or what?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, child,” said Ms. Parsons, still shaking her head. “Jack is an . . . um, interesting character, to say the least. He’s been coming in here for the last few years, regularly, and so I’ve gotten to know him a bit. We’ve even shared a meal or two now and then. But I didn’t dream he’d put you in danger.”

“Does he put himself in danger?” asked CJ.

“Well, no. I mean, not really, I don’t think,” said Ms. Parsons. “You must understand, he’s a—well, he’s involved with a group of people, they call themselves ‘the True Believers’ or some such nonsense. They all claim to have seen flying saucers, or little green men, or to have been taken by aliens and experimented on.”

“Wow,” said Penny. “So when you said he was a crackpot, you weren’t kidding.”

“No, I wasn’t kidding,” said Ms. Parsons, smiling now. “But Jack doesn’t believe any of that silliness. He says that none of them know what they’re talking about. They’re making it up, trying to get attention, or they’re delusional, or just flat-out crazy.”

“But then why would he hang out with them?” asked CJ.

“He says it’s because they provide a perfect cover for him. He claims that the government—that’s what he always calls it, ‘the government,’ not, ‘the cops,’ or ‘the FBI,’ or even, ‘the authorities,’—the government is after him. He says they’ve held him captive, put him in institutions, and that they watch him constantly. He says he’s always got to watch his back.

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