Adopted By Polly Gray

Chapter 13: The Truth

Starlene had never been more terrified in her life. She watched as Birmingham grew smaller and smaller in the distance. She wondered if her family had survived going against Kimber and his men, if the coppers ever got involved, but also if anyone had realized she was gone. Would they come rescue her? Of course, they would. She was thinking crazy for a moment. Her family would immediately be right behind Jones' men soon and she would be safe and sound back home with her mother in no time. At least she hoped so, anyway. The sun was setting, and dusk was fast approaching. She sat in between Johnny and Phil while Scott drove. Johnny looked to be a kid, himself. She wondered how old he was and how he ended up getting into kidnapping her with Jones' men.

"Ya hungry?" Johnny asked the girl who was zoned out.

"Huh?" She snapped out of her thoughts.

The boy laughed, "I asked if you were hungry."

"Oh, no, I'm okay, thank you." As if on cue as soon as Star replied her stomach also decided to answer but with a very vocal opposing response.

"Funny." Johnny said as he reached into a bag with food before pulling out a sandwich, "'Cus it sounds to me like ya are."

"Here. It's just bread and jam but it's pretty good." He handed the food to her.

"No, really. I'm fine." Starlene delicately pushed Johnny's hand away without taking the sandwich.

"We didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking."

Starlene was stunned, "I- I wasn't. I just don't want to take all your food."Before anything else could be said Phil reached over and without hesitation grabbed the sandwich out of Johnny's hand and began to eat it.

"Nope, no poison here. Just a nice snack to fill the stomach on the long car ride home." Phil laughed with a mouth full of food.

"We have plenty of food here, Miss. Franny made sure to pack all different types of snacks in case you only liked certain things." Johnny gave her a reassuring smile.

"Who's this Franny you keep talking about?" Starlene asked as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Our Boss. Johnny Boy give me on of them sandwiches will ya?" Scott replied.

Johnny reached into the bag and got out two sandwiches reaching out in front of him to give Scott his and offering one yet again to Starlene who hesitated at first but after another growl arose from her stomach, she decided to take the offering after all.

"I thought Jones was your boss?' She asked before taking a bite of her food.

"Yes and no." Johnny answered as he began to eat his own sandwich.

"Franny is our boss, but for this mission specifically she told us to listen to Jones." Phil added.

"So, who is Jones to Franny?" Starlene desperately wanting to connect the dots on who these people were, why Jones suddenly was obsessed with her, and why did he have her taken from her home?

"She's technically Mrs. Jones." Scott chimed in.

"So, she's his wife?" Starlene took another bite of the sandwich.

"Yes, little Miss." Phil was now reaching to grab another sandwich.

"So, Jones name isn't Jones, his first name I mean." Now the pieces were coming together but she still wasn't getting the picture.