A Knock at the Window

Chapter 13: Family Values

We made our way inside the rundown building and the only thing I could do was worry that soon everything could get worse and Jake could be looking at years in prison for something he hadn't even done. I couldn't sit by as he was being accused of being my kidnapper at the time he was trying to keep me safe. We walked into the front room of the building and we both had a seat in the corner of the room. I kept quiet and observed the area.

After a few minutes, a man, tall and slender in appearance came from the back room and Jake jumped to his feet. I remained seated as Jake pulled the man into a side conversation. After a brief moment, he walked over and reached out for my hand and I rose up from my seat and followed him. We walked into an office furnished almost as if we were still in the 1960's.

"Someone needs to get back into this decade," I said under my breath.

Jake looked at me and shot me a subtle smirk.

"Who are we here to see?" I asked.

My question was answered within seconds as a round yet average height man walked through the door. His salt and pepper colored hair shined in the light from the hair gel that blatantly cemented to his head. He was followed by a small shorter lady who looked as the definition of a little old grandma. Jake's face lit up as the two strangers came into focus.

"Uncle Benny!" he said loudly as he reached out for a handshake turned hug.

"Nephew!" replied the man, "How are you, my son?"

"Well, we have sort of gotten ourselves into some trouble uncle," he responded just as the older lady caught his attention, "Aunt Kathy, how have you been?"

"Trouble? What kind of trouble Jakob? " questioned his uncle as his face turned slightly angry.

"Jakob, now you told me you wouldn't do the same things your father did that got him in trouble. You promised me." his aunt's face turned sad quickly.

His father? His father died when he was little; at least that was what he had been telling me. I wanted to question her but yet I sat down in a sofa chair in the corner of the room and quietly watched.

" Aunt Kathy, I swear it's nothing like that. I told you I would never mess up like Dad did," he replied.

"Then what kind of trouble Jake?" his uncle stood back waiting for his explanation.

Jake took a seat on the chair arm next to me.

"Daniel and the boys have gotten out of jail," he stated.

"Well good for them," his uncle replied, " What does that have to do with you?"

"Uncle, I'm the reason they were sent to jail in the first place and now they're after me and my girl."

His girl? He had actually called me his girl. On the inside excitement took over me but a smile was the least at what I needed to show at the moment.

"I did it for Casey. I had to make sure she had food to eat and a roof over her head." continued Jake, " You've got to realize why I did what I did."

"We understand that sweetheart but what exactly did you do for Daniel, Liam, and Trey to end up in prison?" questioned his Aunt.

"For a few months, I sold for them and then I got caught. I was let go for being a minor but they were busted for everything," he said.

"Sold? Sold what??" his uncle questioned strongly.

Jakob's face turned pale as he answered, "Anything..drugs, stolen cars..whatever I needed to sell or deliver, I did it."

His voice quivered as the truth flew out to his family. The look on his uncle's face was of pure anger while his aunt sat on the couch across from us and a blank look stretched across her face.

"I did it to take care of Casey Uncle Ben," he said.

"And look where that got you!" Uncle Ben yelled out, "Where is Casey now huh?!"

I reached out for Jake's arm to keep him from rising up from the chair arm and charging at his uncle like I feared, yet there was no fight at all.

"You, yourself has to realize what happened because of your actions Jakob." his uncle continued.

"I do Uncle, I'm trying to make up for what I've done in the past. I'm trying to keep Maddie safe so she doesn't end up like Casey. I just need your help. They are after us, the cops are after us, her parents are after us..no one but she and I know the true reason why we are running."

Lies. Not all my questions had even been answered yet. I was going with him due to trust but that was becoming very limited.

"Maddie?" his uncle said.

"Yes, Maddie." Jake stood up and grabbed my hand pulling me into the conversation circle, "Aunt Kathy, Uncle Ben this is Maddie. She's my girlfriend."

I was speechless at the time. Not really knowing what to say, I looked over at them showing them my acknowledgment. His uncle looked at me for a moment, almost as if he was studying my every unspoken word. After a few seconds, his uncle walked over to a dark brown varnished desk and grabbed out a pair of keys tossing them in Jake's direction.

"Make things right Jakob," he said with a straight face.

As Jake went to talk he was interrupted by a loud truck pulling into the drive of the parking lot.

"Ben, who is outside?" said his Aunt Kathy.

Jake walked over to the window, lifting the blind to see who had just driven up to the lot. Without even a second look, Jakob grabbed my hand pulling me away from the window.

"It's Daniel and the others," he said frantically.

His uncle took a second person look out the window and raced over to us.

Placing his hands on each of our necks and pulling our heads into almost a huddle his uncle spoke," Go out the back door, the car is in the back, keep each other safe." he said and look directly at Jake, " Make things right Jakob."

Before we could race out the back, a loud bang came from the office door.

"Come on Benny!" yelled out a familiar voice; the voice I had heard on the phone the day at the motel when he called Jake," Where is Jakob?!"

Another loud bang came from the kick at the door and Jakob's uncle pushed up into a nearby closet. I wrapped up in his arms in order for us both to fit in the tiny closet opening.

"You're shaking," whispered Jake.

I ignored his obvious comment.

"Calm down and just breathe," he whispered again before leaning down and kissing me on the forehead.

I took a deep breath in and prayed for the best.