J.T. heard footsteps walking back and forth through the building. The men hadn’t left earlier as he had thought, and he wondered what they were up to.
They’re likely making plans for Saturday.
Julie had been dragged away earlier, and J.T. didn’t know what room or area in the building they had taken her to. He hadn’t heard a peep from her since then.
He listened closely but couldn’t make out their words from across the building. Laughter rang out between the men, infuriating him. There was nothing J.T. could do to help his sister or himself.
The click clack of shoes on the cement floor was getting louder. J.T. looked up and saw Anthony coming toward him. He carried a paper plate of food and a plastic water bottle.
J.T. glanced to his left at the broken-out second-story window. The night sky was as dark as ink.
Guess it’s dinnertime.
Anthony set the plate and water bottle on a skid and approached J.T. “Boss says you need to eat.”
“Have you ever formed a complete sentence in your life, Neanderthal?”
Anthony delivered a swift kick to the right side of J.T.’s knee. “I’d kill you in a heartbeat if Mr. Vetcher would let me, but he thinks you’ll come in handy during the heist. I have my doubts, and if I accidentally shoot you”—he laughed at J.T.’s pain-filled grimace—“well, shit happens, you know.”
Anthony went to the left chain and unlocked it from the pillar. J.T.’s outstretched arm and the chain dropped to the floor. Anthony took the plate of food and set it in front of J.T. He cracked the plastic lid of the water bottle and placed it next to the plate. “Don’t move until I tell you to.” He stepped back and took a seat on the skid. “All right, eat.”
“I have to use the bathroom.”
Anthony rose and walked away. He returned moments later with a rusty bucket and pushed it with his foot. It slid across the floor and rattled to a stop next to J.T. “There, problem solved. Now eat.”
“Did my sister have dinner?”
“Yes. You have ten minutes. I’d suggest shutting up and eating. You aren’t getting anything else until tomorrow.”
“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”
Anthony grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” His cell phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “Yes, sir, I’ll be right there.”
J.T. yelled out as Anthony walked away. “What’s in it for you to be his trained monkey? Are you and Antonio each getting a third of the take?”
Anthony’s middle finger shot up as he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.