Lost And Found Part 3
Part 3
The next morning I started my day like any other (when I hadn’t focused on a missing person’s poster) but it didn’t last long. When I got to school there was a big black SUV like all the FBI spooks use in the movies. There was also a police cruiser parker in the next slot. I wondered what had happened to warrant the police. Was there a drug bust going down or something? I knew of a few kids who did pot or had some extra pills from time to time to sell to anyone looking for a good time but nothing on the scale to call in the police. As for the black SUV I didn’t let it bother me too much, I didn’t want to know. If I had thought about it (I blame the fact I am not a morning person) I would have turned right around and gone home.
It turns out that both of the cars were there for me. I knew we were starting a new chapter in government (my first period) so I grabbed the text book from my locker were it stayed whenever I wasn’t actually reading it. It was big and heavy and no one wanted to carry that sucker around. When I entered the class room there was a police officer and a man and woman in dark suites. My first thought was that someone was going to have a fun time with the goon squad until I realized that they were all looking at me.
The man in the dark suit was the first to speak. “Jensen, Jensen Ackles,” it was more statement then question. I didn’t respond and so he was the first to move as well, coming towards me with a slow but purposeful walk.
I tried to think of anything I had done that the school would bring in the big guns, let alone the police. Okay, so the police I could maybe understand with the whole fighting with members of the football team but that was a month ago. I hadn’t done anything bad for a while now that I thought about it. Instead I had been doing some good things, mainly finding missing kids and returning them. Okay, so maybe I wasn’t returning them personally and there might be a process they had to go through before they could get home to their families.
Oh.
It came to me about the same time as Mr. Dark Suit did. They wanted me for something I had done right but something that no one was supposed to do. (Fine it was that they could do since people who knew where missing persons were, were supposed to turn them in if you wanted to get technical. At least in theory but with society going down the toilet generation by generation that was up for debate.)
“Mr. Ackles, you need to come with us.” The woman and the police officer were making their way towards us now. I could see that the officer was Chief Beaver and knew that even if the spooks had waited for him to bring me to the police station instead of joining him to get me, I was in big trouble. Chief Beaver was usually a laid back kind of guy but whenever he got involved in your things had hit the fan.
I backed up a step (big mistake) my heart rate speeding up as I told myself (internally) to just act normal. No one knew what I could do or had been doing. At least I didn’t think so. (I was both right and wrong) no one in Texas knew what I was doing but the people at the Center recorded all their calls (I had been wrong about that, too, from my earlier guess).
“Just come with us, no reason to make a scene,” Mr. Dark Suit’s voice was lowered and very serious as he reached out for my arm.
That was a mistake for him.
As he grabbed me, Chief Beaver saw and quickened his pace leaning forward to get to us faster. “Now wait a minute” but he never got to finish.
To this day I couldn’t tell you why I did it, but if Mr. Dark Suit thought I was causing a scene before he grabbed me, it was nothing compared to the scene, or scenes, really, because his gabbing me set off a chain reaction of them, I made next. The good old fight or flight response kicked in and the anger and fear that was growing in my tightening belly settled on fight first and flight second instead of the other way around like the average person.
I swung my big, fat, heavy, government (oh the irony when I found out Mr. dark suit was FBI) book in a powerful sweeping arch that would make a major league batter weep tears of joy and I struck Mr. Dark Suit in the face. He let go of he as he cried out over a very audible, and satisfying, thinking back on it later, sounding crunch that had to be something going wonky with his nose. I wasted no time in dropping the book that would have been a dead anchor weight and turned on my heels to run down the hall.
Mrs. Dark Suit and Chief Beaver were hot on my tail and I knew that if I left the building I wouldn’t get far. (I didn’t get far anyway in the end). I was better versed in the architecture of the school and used it to my advantage sprinting through the halls to somewhere that I felt safe and to someone who could and might (okay, I knew he would) protect me.
JD’s office door was open and I was over the moon for that stroke of luck as I slid into the office grabbing the door handle to help me stop. It jerked my arms but I didn’t have time to think about the pain as I slammed the door shut behind me in front of Mrs. Dark Suits face and turned the lock with shaking fingers.
JD, who had been at his desk, was quick to react, shooting up from his seat (dropping the pizza he was eating on a file open on the desk) and was already around the desk and at my side when there was pounding on the door and the handle was rattling.
“What is going on? Are you okay, Jensen?” It wasn’t mild mannered JD, high school counselor, standing beside me. It was Captain Jeffery Dean Morgan of the US Marines and he would defend me like he would one of the underlings in his old troops. At least I hoped that he would, me being a helpless teenager against two FBI goons. I didn’t count Chief Beaver because once he knew I hadn’t done anything wrong he’d be on my side. Also he was an ex-soldier too and would wait to see what was going on before making any decisions.
“This is the FBI! Open the door!” Mr. Dark Suit’s voice came through said door loud and clear if a bit high and nasally.
I hoped I had broken his nose but couldn’t express that thought as JD looked at me very seriously. “Quit banging on the door!” JD raised his voice but he didn’t shout. His voice was very authoritative the like of which I had heard only once when my mother got angry and went off on a preteen who was making fun of my sister Mac at the pool one summer when she was learning to swim and using every flotation device imaginable and that would fit on her body at once. No one argued with that voice unless they wanted trouble. Mr. Dark Suit on the other side either didn’t notice or had a death wish because he pounded again and shouted back.
“I’m agent Christopher Heyerdahl of the FBI, you have a suspect of interest with you that we need for questioning. I order you to open this door!” Mr. Dark Suit had a name and it was a mouthful, I would continue to call him Mr. Dark Suit or just Mr. Dark. I didn’t like him any more now that he had identified himself, something he should have started off with, than I had disliked him a minute ago.
JD turned to me to me and asked in a whisper so low I almost didn’t hear it so anyone outside the office wouldn’t be able to even if they had their ear pressed to the door. “Did you break the law?”
I shook my head so violently I almost gave myself whiplash. I was getting upset and didn’t trust myself to keep my voice low or from cracking or going into hysterics. I really wanted to be safe, I wanted JD to protect me, but I wasn’t sure he would if he thought I had done something wrong. This was my internal, unconfident self that all teenagers have but most won’t admit exists giving me the negative and depressing spin on things.
“Are you closely associated with someone who broke the law to the point of accessory?” JD was also talking very fast, as well as very low, and I almost didn’t understand him.
I shook my head no again and my heart rate and breathing increased and my lip trembled slightly to my rising panic.
“One last chance, open this door or I’ll break it down!” More pounding on the door and Mr. Dark yelling.
This was followed by two voice competing with each other to rebuke Mr. Dark.
“Christopher!” A woman’s voice sounded slightly embarrassed and had a bit of warning, of what, who knew, her partner was bigger than she was.
“Now wait a minute!” That was Chief Beaver’s voice and it was angry as well as threatening. Chief Beaver wouldn’t allow me to be hurt even if he had to follow a superior’s lead.
JD looked to the door when he heard Chief Beaver and pushed me towards the chair I usually sat it. I sat because it was something to do and because I might fall down if I didn’t and my body became weak and panic set in. JD had moved to the side of the door like cops do on TV and in movies.
“Chief is that you out there?” He didn’t call Chief Beaver by his name which I thought was odd but didn’t matter when he answered.
“Yeah, JD, it’s me. You guys okay in there?” Was he asking because he thought I would hold JD hostage or because he was worried about us? By us, I mean me, since I was no threat to JD but he could hurt me if he thought I had done something. Again with that negative depressing inner voice which brought me closer to a meltdown.
“We’re okay,” JD sounded reassuring for a moment before he went back to that authoritative voice from earlier. “What the hell is going on Chief?”
Mr. Dark tried to answer but his un-named partner cut him off and she sounded mad now. It was quiet outside the office for a second or two while the goons probably were hashing things out with Chief Beaver.
“Could we come in?” Chief Beaver asked when they must have made up their minds about what to do.
“Explanation first.” JD wouldn’t budge.
“It appears that Mr. Ackles has been making some calls to the…” there was a break and some mumbling before Chief Beaver went on. “To the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He has provided them with a few addresses for several missing kids. That information has been correct,” Chief Beaver emphasized that point, that I had been truthful like maybe there was a presumed question as to whether I had prank called them with fake tips. Maybe Chief Beaver had asked that question of the FBI when they came looking for me. They would have to tell the truth and…when I don’t know or couldn’t think of anything else for why he or they would ask or tell whatever it was information wise they had traded.
“Just a minute,” JD’s voice was softer but still carried through the door. He came over to my side and his face was curious. “Are they telling the truth Jensen? Did you make those calls about the missing kids?” His voice was kind and there was nothing accusing or suspicious or even curious in his voice.
All I could do was nod my head yes as the first tears slipped down my cheeks. I was crying. I hadn’t cried since I was twelve and fallen off my bike and sprained my wrist really bad. I had thought it was broken but it wasn’t and I had to have a sling to keep my arm steady for a few weeks.
JD handed me a tissue from a box that had been hidden by a stack of books on his desk. “We’ll sort this out, Jensen, don’t you worry. I’m going to deal with Jim and those,” Here he paused for a second before grunting, “People.”
It took me a moment to realize that Jim was Chief Beaver. JD went back to the door and unlocked it before opening it a crack. He stood in that crack so he could see out but everyone out in the hall could not see in.
“Chief Beaver why don’t you take Mr. Heyerdahl-“ He didn’t address the man by his rank, probably as a slight and that made me glad. “And this woman to the conference room. My office isn’t big enough for everyone and all of us can talk there.” He didn’t give them any chance to respond to his order, yes, it was an order. He had used his authority voice again, before he shut the door and relocked it.
Mr. Dark Suit yelled about how he was in charge and pounded on the door for a few seconds before his partner and Chief Beaver got him to stop as JD walked behind his desk. They must have left to do as JD ordered since it was all quiet after that in the hall. JD grabbed the waste basket and held it out to me for my very used tissue. Waste basket back on the floor, me not crying anymore and somewhat composed, he sighed.
“I’m going to call your parents to come here. You are a minor and the FBI or police can’t question you without your parents or legal guardian present. I’ll suggest that they bring a lawyer if they have one. Then we’ll talk. When they get here the FBI will talk to you, I don’t think there is any way to get around that. I want you to be honest with them but only answer direct questions. Don’t elaborate just give them the facts and everything should be cleared up and everyone can go back to their normal lives.”
I highly doubted this since JD didn’t know exactly what I had done. There was no way my life was ever going to be normal again unless this power for finding missing kids went away. So far it hadn’t weakened and showed no signs of going away. I wondered for a second if it would ever go away or if I could wear it out. That thought was put aside when JD picked up the phone to call my parents. They would likely freak out that the FBI were here to question me. Nothing like this had ever happened to the family, we went about life with our heads down and keeping to ourselves. We didn’t have a family lawyer to offer advice, although JD seemed very knowledgeable about such matters from what he’d said to me a minute ago. The phone call went quickly and I assumed my parents would be on their way.
“Your parents are on their way,” JD did confirm. “They said they would call a lawyer.” With that, JD picked up the phone again but after he pressed just a few buttons put it back in the cradle and I could hear ringing on the speaker function. It was picked up after a few rings by a confused sounding Chief Beaver. “Beaver this is Morgan, Mr. Ackles and I will join you as soon as his parents arrive…” He was cut off by an angry Mr. Dark Suit.
“You will bring Mr. Ackles now! He is wanted for questioning and you have no right to keep him from interrogation!”
Before he could continue, JD cut him off and sounded downright scary. “Mr. Heyerdahl I am sure you are aware that it is against the law to question a minor without the presence or consent of said minor’s parents or legal guardian, and since Mr. Ackles hasn’t broken any laws, your attitude is unwarranted and uncalled for. If you persist in this harassment I will have to make a complaint to your superior. Settle down, settle in and we’ll all be with you soon.” JD hung up the phone then and leaned back in his chair. We sat for a minute in silence before he sat up straight and focused all his attention on me. “I think you need to explain what has been going on Jensen” his voice was back to being kind.
I could have cried again over the whole situation and how JD was sticking up for me but I didn’t thankfully, I was embarrassed enough for the little bit I had earlier. I nodded and told him about being struck by lightning, which he knew already and about how I had seen the first missing poster of Riley and how the morning after I knew where he was. I told him about how I had made my first call to the Center. I did not tell him about my date with Jared or that I had called from ACES’s pay phone. I told him how I had tried out another poster and the results of that call. A few tears slipped out over the fate of Jenny and JD gave me another tissue but he never interrupted me. So I went on with the last poster and phone call and about the reward for Hope that I didn’t want. When I was done I felt a little better for getting everything off my chest.
“Well, that is quite the talent you seem to have picked up,” JD said when I was finished. We sat for a minute in silence after that thinking. “I would tell the FBI that and nothing more unless they ask you questions and just stick to the basic facts when answering. You can even repeat part of that…” He broke off trying to come up with a word other the story for what I had told him that would reassure me he was on my side. “Line of facts,” he finished at last.
After that, we just waited, not saying anything, both in our own worlds of thought until the door handle of the office rattled and my dad’s voice called out, “Jensen!”
My parents had arrived. JD got up and opened the door with me at his side. When my parents saw me unhurt they seemed to sag a bit in relief. My mom rushed forward to pull me into a hug that was tight enough to bruise ribs. I let her hug me for a moment knowing how scared she had to be. I had been struck by lightning, had the possibility of damage from said strike hanging over me and now they had been called because the FBI wanted me. Mom was going to need therapy after everything was over…or she’d go completely gray from worry. She always said that was the reason whenever she pointed out another grey hair.
“I suggest we get this over with so you can take your son home.” JD startled mom enough to let go of me. I don’t think she had noticed him in the doorway. JD squeezed past us and led us down the hall to a door at the end. When he opened it, three annoyed faces turned to us. I don’t think the FBI and Chief Beaver had been getting along during their wait. We all filed in and it was then that I noticed that there was a man I hadn’t seen before with my parents. He was average all the way around in appearance. Average height, average build, non-descript haircut for his brown hair, brown eyes without glasses and flat line of a mouth. We all sat down around the table and JD suggested that we all introduce ourselves.
“Just one moment,” The man who had come with my parents said and he put a briefcase he had been carrying on the table. Opening it he pulled a slim black recorder out, closed the briefcase and replaced it on the floor. He turned the machine on and left it on the table. “I am Mr. Browne.” I kid you not, that was his name, “and I am the Ackles attorney.”
I had no idea where my parents had found him or how they could afford him; with a recorder ready to go he must be smart and know his business and those kind of lawyers are expensive, but I was instantly glad he was there.
From there my parents introduced themselves, I identified myself, not like everyone in the room didn’t know who I was, JD gave his full name as did Chief James Beaver. Mr. Dark Suit gave his name again and the woman was finally identified as Agent Erica Carroll. Mr. Browne had Mr. Dark Suit explain why he and Agent Carroll were there to question me.
They explained about the anonymous calls to the Center with correct information that only insiders should know about missing kids they had tracked me down. It hadn’t been easy for them but they had found me out and come to interrogate me.
I’d like to point out now, the difference in the language used by the opposing parties. One was aggressiveness that went above and beyond for my circumstances, in my opinion, that proved to be a warning for my treatment by them in hindsight. The other was a calming de-escalation of afore mentioned tension that was more appropriate.
With that, Mr. Browne had me explain myself for the calls and how I had come across such information. I repeated the story I had told JD not long before we had come into the conference room. The room was chaos when I finished with everyone trying to ask different questions of me. JD had to step in since he was the only one who didn’t have any questions since this was his second time around the block. He used his commanding voice to tell everyone that they could all ask their questions, but in turn, around the table, with my parents getting first pick.
Mom and dad wanted to know if I was okay and why I hadn’t told them what was happening. I answered that I was fine, which I was, physically, I was not going to admit I was a bit scared and that it was embarrassing and creepy to admit I had been dreaming about little kids and I didn’t know if it would last. What if I told them and then the power went away? Next, I assured Chief Beaver that I didn’t know any of the kids, hadn’t seen them before or knew anyone who knew them. Browne was satisfied that I had only called the Center about the kids and had let them do their jobs. I had not broken any laws and couldn’t be charged with conspiracy or obstruction.
Of the two agents Carroll went first. She asked me if I had other symptoms from the lightning to go with my dreams like bleeding hands and feet or hearing voices. It kind of freaked me out since I knew she was talking religious stuff like stigmata. I didn’t see how the two could be connected and I wasn’t all that religious. Mom and Dad were and went to the occasional church service when they could. I hadn’t gone since I was a kid or rather since I had started helping out at the restaurant. I could see from the look on my parent’s faces that they were considering these questions but they didn’t speak up.
Agent Heyerdahl was the last to get to ask me anything and he must had been thinking fast and hard to get his schemes in order to dupe everyone. “It seems you have quite the talent, Mr. Ackles, but have you considered the risks?”
“Risks?” my mom couldn’t help interrupting. A mother is, or should be, attuned or worried about the health and wellbeing of their children, although not every mother is this way in reality and it makes me sad to think about it.
“Well, yes,” Agent Heyerdahl went on in a voice that evoked more worry. “Your son was hit by lightning and while he was checked out by a doctor at the time, you didn’t follow up with any check-ups did you?” This was not a question, he was assuming and he had nailed it. “They are expensive and seem like such an unnecessary inconvenience to the average working person.” He had to know all about my family and our situation, it was the only way he could be playing the people in the room like he was. “But over time complications can come up that weren’t immediately visible after the accident. Electricity takes such a toll on the body and a tiny defect can grow over time and strain can last until suddenly the body can’t go on.”
“You mean Jensen could die!” My mom was beginning to panic and clutched at Dad’s hand and it looked like he was about to speak up when agent Heyerdahl went on.
“That is a possibility but we would like to run some tests on Jensen and we could give him a full medical check-up.” He was using my first name now and I wasn’t happy about that. Especially since he was talking as if I wasn’t in the room. “We know so little about the human mind and Jensen’s has begun acting in a way that could benefit mankind. Think of all the missing kids he could find. Or missing soldiers and prisoners of war who have been away from their families for decades. He could even find criminals so they can be brought to justice and save future victims.”
I thought he was laying it on thick but I could see everyone else eating it up. Even JD, who was on my side, but he was a former soldier and that remark about POW’s would appeal to him.
“There are rewards occasionally for finding some of these people that I am sure Jensen would receive. He could use them for college or give them to charity.” This would play well for my parents who would love to see me get a college education and maybe I could save some or give some to Josh or Mac. I was known to share some of the important things and they shared in turn, because we knew how hard it was for Mom and Dad to spend money on something other than bills sometimes. “He could get a thorough check-up and constant medical care while we run a few experiments to see how his mind works and reunite some families.”
By now I had had enough and didn’t want to hear anymore. Plus, I didn’t want everyone to keep eating up what was sure to be or turn into poison. I wasn’t going to go anywhere and be experimented on!
“Um, excuse me, but I’m not going to be shipped off to some secret government research lab somewhere.” My angry and loud voice seemed to break the spell agent Heyerdahl had been weaving. But he had gotten his hooks in and my parents responses showed it.
“Jensen, honey, what about he the doctors? You need to get checked out.” My mom probably had scenarios of me dropping dead of a heart attack while looking at missing kids posters.
“I can have Doctor Miller look at me or the doctor from the hospital, they’d know more than someone starting from scratch.” Doctor Miller had been our family doctor forever he was older then dirt. Thinking about that now, I guess that didn’t make him stand out as the best choice since Mr. Dark Suit could claim he could over look something. Also, the doctor who had treated me for being struck by lightning in the first place could pass on his notes and/or consult with the government doctor since he didn’t know that much. A lightning strike was a lightning strike, it was what came later that was important and I hadn’t had that check-up yet to show any real difference, (if there even was one).
Mom piped in that yes Doctor Miller would be a good choice and just like I predicted, Agent Heyerdahl pointed out he might miss something or wouldn’t be up to date with all the current and cutting age practices and that the government had the newest technology to go with the newest doctors to treat me, like there was already something wrong with me. I suppose, in a way, there was, or must have been, since I now had the power to find missing kids in my sleep.
“Okay, so you guys give me a check-up, why can’t I just go on finding missing people from my own bed? What if this power I have doesn’t work outside my house? What if I get to the lab and it goes away?” I was raising valid points and the tide turned just a bit my way, but Agent Heyerdahl was slick and he countered me well. I could tell, however, that he was getting angry at my arguing with him.
“We would like to study how you mind works to understand your powers better. To do that you would need to be where all the equipment is and the scientists. Also we have doctors on staff so that even if you have a clean bill of health for your check-up if anything comes up while you are being…tested,” Here there was a brief hesitation over the word, like he had wanted to say something else, “You can have the best medical help immediately. Lastly, we cut out the middle man. You wouldn’t have to call the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, you could just tell us and we could send police or agents out to get the children right away instead of waiting for them to get their notes to us. Oh, and as a bonus you would be saving money from not using pay phones.” Agent Heyerdahl smiled at me, rather malevolently, I thought, as he just off my escape routes in reasoning.
“You forgot to mention what happens if he can’t find people outside our house,” Dad’s voice seemed to break our standoff.
“Nothing happens except Jensen goes home. The tests are on us, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to him. He has already reunited families with their missing kids. He’s a kind of hero, it’s the least we could do. If he loses the powers it would be a disappointment but there is nothing anyone can do about that. If he can only find people from his room, I hope we can find some way to have a night or two to have a scientist over with some equipment to monitor him there with your permission.” He addressed this last bit to my parents. “We could do some studies and make sure he isn’t being harmed by finding children and after that we could sent up a direct line to us so we can still work quickly to retrieve the children.”
Now I was getting scared again as well as angry (that emotion was feeding into the fear). My life was going to be taken over one way or another and I was going to be studied and watched like an exotic, endangered animal in a zoo. I just wanted to go home and everyone turned to look at me. It took a moment to realize I had said that bit out loud. I tried to save face by pushing on and I know I sounded like a whiny kid, but I was ready for this train to stop and let me off. “I don’t want to go to some lab a thousand miles from home to be studied. I feel fine and I like talking to Danneel.”
“We have a research lab right here in Texas a few hours away so you won’t be far from home.” Agent Carroll spoke up for the first time and she sounded sympathetic and understanding. She had drunk the Kool-Aid and believed in her partner. Either that or she had drunk the government Kool-Aid and what was good for them was justifiable to whatever they might do to me.
“I do urge you to go,” Agent Heyerdahl was letting some of the irritation he was feeling show. “I think it would be the best thing for everyone.”
“I don’t want to,” I crossed my arms and slumped in my chair. I was done with being reasonable now that it looked like no one was going to be looking out for me but me.
“You are a minor, correct, you don’t get to make that choice.” Agent Heyerdahl cracked and some of his true personality showed. In the future he turned out to be a not so very nice man as you can guess from this interaction.
“Are you threatening my son?” Dad stood up and leaned over the table towards agent Heyerdahl and he sounded mad. Like, I’m going to beat the shit out of you any moment, mad.
“Not at all, Mr. Ackles, I am just pointing out that at his age he might not see how much this arrangement could benefit him.” Agent Heyerdahl tried for placating but I thought he sounded patronizing.
My parents and the rest of the group must have thought so, too, because Mom stood up and grabbed my arm and gently pulled until I uncrossed my arms and stood up. Everyone else stood up after me and Mr. Browne put his briefcase on the table.
“I think we are done here,” my dad said. “Thank you for the offer but I think we’ll have to decline.” He addressed the agents. “If Jensen’s not under arrest?” He looked to Chief Beaver who shook his head “Then we are taking Jensen home.” he looked to JD.
“Of course,” JD answered. “I’ll have your things and any assignments collected for you and your friend, Chris, could be persuaded to bring them by I’m sure. I’ll see you tomorrow.” JD didn’t mention my detention at all and I was thankful.
“Thank you for your services and getting to us so quickly.” Dad turned to Mr. Browne last. “I’ll call you later to settle everything if that’s alright?”
“Of course, Mr. Ackles, call me at your earliest convenience.” Mr. Browne reached out to shake dad’s hand.
“If you change your mind here are is our card.” Agent Heyerdahl took two cards from his pocket and slid them along the table towards my parents and Mr. Browne.
“I don’t think we will.” My dad didn’t take a card and Mom didn’t either.
“If you need to get in touch-” I was happy to notice he didn’t use the word want. ”With the Ackles, please do so through me.” Mr. Browne took out a card of his own and slid it over to the FBI agents. Mr. Browne took one of agent Heyerdahl’s cards but I was sure it was standard practice for him whether he liked someone or not. Contact information could be important in his line of work.
With that Dad waved for Mom to usher me out and Mr. Browne, taking up his recorder, followed us. JD came after him, calling goodbye to us when he reached his office door. Chief Beaver and the FBI followed further behind. We were halfway to the car by the time I saw them exit the building.
None of us talked on the way home and when we got there I went straight to my room and closed the door. I didn’t want to be bothered and I was a little surprised when my mom didn’t follow me. But then again they had a lot to talk about that they might not want me to hear. For a little bit I just laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling but I got bored quickly and decided to read. I had picked up a copy of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy from the library and it would be due back soon. I soon became absorbed in the pages and lost track of time. It was Mom knocking on my door and opening it to tell me that dinner was ready that tore me away from the cat and mouse game of spy vs spy. As I put the book on my night stand my stomach rumbled, angry I had skipped lunch and just now letting me know.
When I got to the dining room Josh and Mac were there already. I had been so absorbed in my book that I hadn’t heard them come home. Mom or Dad or both must have talked to them before hand because neither asked me about the missing day of school. Not that Mac would have known because she goes to a different school but Josh would have known. Or if he didn’t he may have been curious why mom and dad had to leave the restaurant and not come back. I did find out that the restaurant had closed after the lunch crowd for a family emergency as a sign placed on the door proclaimed. Josh had spent his afternoon off enjoying the nice day and seeing a movie. Other than that there wasn’t much talk at the table and dinner was over quickly. When it was and before I could escape to my room again the phone rang. It was Chris and my parents let me take the phone into my room.
“Jensen, what happened today? Are you okay? The whole school is talking about how you got arrested.” Chris didn’t waste time getting into it or telling me that I was the subject of the gossip mill.
I wondered what kinds of things were going to be said about me in the days to come. “I didn’t get arrested and I’m fine.” Thinking about it, I was kind of surprised now that I wasn’t arrested. I had assaulted an FBI agent. I made this comment to Chris since he liked that kind of thing.
“Well, from some accounts, if they can be taken at their word, the guy did grab you. If he didn’t identify that he was law enforcement or whatever you could claim that you were defending yourself against assault.” Chris was correct, he could make a good lawyer if he wanted. “But that still doesn’t explain what they wanted with you.”
I had decided that I was going to tell Chris about my powers sometime and this seemed as good a time as any. So I told him everything. Except for the Jared parts. I wondered if I should or would tell Jared. I supposed if we started dating regularly I might have to, but when was the question. There was silence on the end of the line after I had finished and I wondered if the connection had been lost or Chris had fallen asleep.
“Dude!” Chris finally said rather loudly and excitedly when I thought about hanging up. “You’re an X-man!” Then his voice was hurtful. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this? I am your best friend, right?”
“Chris you are one of my only friends and yes, you are my best friend but it’s embarrassing. It’s not a party trick or something you just let slip in casual conversation. Plus, I don’t want people wigging out about me dreaming of kids, it’s creepy and some crazy person might think I’m a pedophile or something. Can you imagine some person coming at me with that?” I shuddered at the thought since in today’s judgmental, happy society it could be spread like wildfire in social media and people would believe it to be true even if it wasn’t. It could haunt me for a long time even if I could prove it untruthful.
“That’s gross man but I see your point” Chris was back to normal. “So are you going to do it again?”
I was confused for a second my mind still on people and social media making me out to be a monster or a freak. Then I realized he meant if I would try to find more kids. “Probably, but not until this thing with the FBI calms down. I doubt they would like it if I just went out to get another poster tomorrow or something. I want time for them to leave town if they haven’t already.”
“Do you think they’re going to leave so easily?” Chris’s voice was serious and he had to be thinking of something.
“No.” I could wish they would leave right away but knew logically that they might stick around for a bit. “What are you thinking?” Because he had to be thinking something, it was just the way he worked looking at all the angles.
“You said that male agent told you that you didn’t have a choice about going with them. Well, the scary thing is, he might be right. As a minor, you are legally subject to do what a parent or guardian tells you to. And since the government wants you to do something and your parents don’t, but the thing in question involves the law, the safety of children and potentially national security with the military angle, they could petition to get guardianship of you over your parents. They could, in effect, take you away from them and into their custody that way. You wouldn’t have a choice and you would be stuck with them until you turn eighteen and considering you just turned seventeen that is a lot of time to use you as a guinea pig.
I couldn’t speak as Chris laid it out for me and I saw how royally screwed I was. The government could take me away from my family, and I was sure they could do it quickly, and stick me with anyone they wanted and do what they wanted to me. It was anyone’s nightmare and I didn’t think I would be getting much sleep tonight or any night soon. Maybe I wouldn’t use my powers anymore if that was the threat hanging over me for the next year. But that didn’t feel right to me. I had these powers and I could do good with them, as much as I hated to admit agent Heyerdahl was right about that. It was all so depressing I felt that I might cry again. My emotions were being put through the ringer and I was losing control. I hated the feeling.
“Jensen, you there?” Chris’s voice brought me back to the present.
“Yeah,” I sighed, kind of wishing I wasn’t. “Look, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay I’m tired. It wasn’t a lie I was tired) and have my stuff ready for me will you.” Chris never had dropped by otherwise I’m sure my parents would have said something. They weren’t too caught up in this to let my homework slide.
“Sure, see you tomorrow.” Chris hung up on his end and I did, too, before taking the phone back to its cradle. While I was out of my room I said goodnight to my parents and Josh, Mac was already in her room for the night. I slept fitfully that night and when the alarm went off I was grumpy and annoyed.
Josh and my parents were up and eating breakfast when I came into the kitchen. They all had to work at the restaurant. Dad had been out to open it early and had come home to get a nap before taking Mom and Josh back with him. Knowing that I had some work to catch up on and that Chris would be at school early, I grabbed some fruit and a muffin to go and headed for the door. I didn’t get far since when I stepped out onto the porch I was met by a crowd of people milling about the front lawn. They all turned towards me as the door shut behind me. We stared at each other for a tense moment, or at least they looked at me and me just looking blankly ahead before they surged forward all clamoring to get my attention. They were reporters. I caught a few fragments of questions and started to panic before the door behind me opened and my dad came out.
“No comment!” he shouted first, followed by the old person’s phrase, “Get off my lawn!” before pulling me inside and slamming the door. He steered me towards the living room as the phone began to ring. “Don’t answer that!” He said as Mom came in, her arm wrapped around Mac. Josh was closing the curtains of all the windows and as he passed the phone he picked it up and put it back down cutting off the call. It started ringing again immediately. Dad put me on the couch before going over to the phone and unplugging it before going into the kitchen to unplug the one in there. Mom and Mac had joined me on the couch and Josh did too once he was done with all the windows. When Dad came back from the kitchen he had a newspaper with him. He laid it open on the coffee table and all of us leaned forward to read the front page.
Small Town Miracle
Local boy gains psychic ability after being touched by the finger of God
Local teenager Jensen Ackles has caused a stir by finding several missing children alive and well. After being struck by lightning, or the finger of God, according to religious leaders in the area, last month, he has gained the psychic ability to find any missing persons. He has put his new powers to good use locating a handful of missing children who have since been reunited with their parents.
There were pictures of Hope Shavies and her family as well as the picture of Carlos Ramirez from his missing person’s poster. My freshmen school photo was also present. The article went on but my mom had picked up the paper and was shaking it at Dad.
“How could they do this! How did they get the story? Is it even legal to print Jensen’s photo, let alone name, him in the article? He’s a minor! I thought you couldn’t do that!? We should sue! What are we going to do?” Mom was getting more and more upset as she went on and she began to pace causing me, Mac and Josh to pull our feet up least they be trampled. Dad had to wait for her to run out of breath before he could answer.
“I don’t know how the paper knows about Jensen but once they had the story there is no way we could stop them from publishing. We just have to hope for now that if we don’t talk to them they will find something else to write about. When they understand that we are not going to cooperate and there is nothing further they can write about, the next news story will take them away. We just have to wait it out until the police get here to make them leave after I get ahold of them and Mr. Browne. I’m sure he can also straighten up the photo issue. I’m sure we can find out who leaked the story and Mr. Browne can help us if there is something we can do. That is all we can do right now. Kids,” he turned to look at us, “You won’t be going to school today. I don’t want you to go outside, try to stay away from the windows until the cops get here. In the meantime, why don’t you go up to your rooms?” it was a kind of order, but sounded like a suggestion.
Mac looked scared and Josh hugged her to his side. “Come on, squirt, we can play some games.” Josh hadn’t called Mac a squirt for a least a year and the old endearment seemed to help calm her as he lead her back to his room.
I wanted to stay to find out what was going to happen but I knew that Mom and Dad wouldn’t like it. I went off after Josh and Mac thinking of what I could do. I wanted to talk to someone. Well, I wanted to talk to Chris, really. I swear he was a lawyer in a former life, which was why he thought like one. Did I mention he’d thought about being one already? Well, whatever. I also wanted to talk to Jared. To try and explain and see what his reaction was. I didn’t want him to stop liking me just after we really started to get to know each other a bit.
To do either of those I would need a phone and dad had unplugged the house phone. Mom and Dad had cell phones which they were most likely using at this very minute to call Mr. Browne and the police. I didn’t have a cell phone, even though I was old enough to have one, it was supposed to come with the driver’s license and Mac sure didn’t have one, but Josh did. It was supposed to be for emergencies and check-ins only but I counted this as an emergency and I knew where he kept it. He’d be busy with Mac and there was no one he’d call to talk about this with. When the bill came next month I would pay for the minutes I’d used. I went to where he kept the backpack he used to carry stuff around like a woman carries a purse and took the phone. Once in my room I turned on my radio keeping it low to help disguise the fact that I was talking to someone and still hear Chris.
He picked up right away with a cautious, “Hello?” As if he wasn’t sure who was on the other end. He didn’t have my brother’s number so I was a little surprised he’d picked up at all and I didn’t have to leave a message for him to call me back.
“Chris, it’s me” I had no doubt he’d know me by my voice so I didn’t say my name like proper manners call for.
“Jesus, Jensen! Are you okay? I saw the paper and also the local news just ran a clip of you and your dad on TV.” Chris sounded really worried and that wasn’t like him at all. It took a lot to rattle Chris.
I was glad I had told him about my powers last night otherwise I wasn’t so sure I would like to hear his reaction from finding out from the paper or TV. I hadn’t noticed the TV crew when I had been standing on the porch, but then again, I was stunned to see plain old reporters of print news. Okay, to be fair, some of them were from online news media. “I’m okay but my parents aren’t happy and Mac’s a bit scared. I don’t know how the story got out.”
“I think I might be able to help you a bit if things are the way I think they are. Coach Lehne has been bragging about talking to some reporters last night about the freak who terrorizes the school. Principal Manners has threatened to fire him if he hears he’s talked to anyone about you as of this morning.” Chris sounds angry now which is right on par for him.
At least now I knew and it’s also likely he gave the reporters my photo too. Although why he picked my freshmen photo is odd but who knows what goes through his mind when you get him to think about anything but football or any other school sport. “I’m not going to make it to school today but is there any way you could pick me up tomorrow morning?” I didn’t relish the thought of running into any reporters on my way to school. I could see red and blue lights flashing against the curtains and knew the cops had arrived. They hadn’t used their sirens, probably because this wasn’t an emergency and by now they would be doing something about the crowd in front of our house.
“No problem.” Chris didn’t even hesitate at my request. “So what are you going to do now that people know about your power?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing.” It would be something for me to think about. I had thought of just that yesterday, going about picking up missing posters here or there where I saw them and calling Danneel with the addresses.
“Well, you better come up with a plan or something. Maybe get a post office box or something for all the letters and shit.” Chris was trying to be helpful but it only confused me.
“What are you talking about?” I had a sinking feeling in my gut that whatever he said was something important, something I had missed or didn’t think about, not that I had done much thinking about it at all.
“You made the local paper, the local TV, and social media. If the major networks don’t pick it up, even as a fluff side piece, I’d be surprised. Some people are going to not believe a word, a lot of people are going to be interested enough until the next big story comes along but some people are going to latch on to this like stink in a shit house. You are going to get all kinds of letters, postcards, pictures and who knows what kind of objects in the mail from people who will want you to find their missing loved ones. You’ll probably get phone calls, too, and people might come in to town to look for you. And that is just the average person. We are in the end of the Bible belt so you’ll probably get a lot of fanatics, too, either praising you as an angel or cursing you as a devil or some such. Let’s not even talk about the UFO nuts or other people claiming to be psychics who want to work with you. Lastly, you’ll get the grifters trying to work with you or you to work for them or something. You have some serious thinking to do about the next few days and weeks.” See, trying to be helpful, but what a mind to come up with this stuff! It just freaked me out. I hadn’t thought about any of this!
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I was so screwed, not to mention scared. I didn’t need this right now. Whatever happened to just trying to survive high school? Was an average angst filled few teenage years not enough? What had I done wrong in a previous life to deserve this? I wonder if Jared would take me away from all this. What category was Jared would fall into? Chris seemed okay, so far, and it gave me some comfort. “I’ll have to come up with a plan and get back to you.”
“Sure, but if you need any more advice just ask. Good luck and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Chris hung up and I was bummed for a seconds before I figured that he would be late for class since we had talked so long.
I waited in my room, trying to read, but not getting anywhere and started to pace when I realized that I just read the same page for the third time and didn’t remember what it was I had just finished. I turned off the radio, too, when the DJ started talking about a media story that was picking up posts, tweets, shares and what nots. It was my story. With the radio off I could now hear what was going on in the house. Mom and Dad were arguing with someone. I crept out of my room and closer to the voices in the kitchen.
“A perimeter has been set up around your house and your neighbor on each side. I’ll have a patrol here to watch it but I only have the men and the budget for two days.” That was Chief Beaver’s voice, I recognized it from yesterday.
“That’s fine, I’m sure we can figure something out should we need to do so after that.” That was Mr. Browne’s voice. “I’m assuming that the school will have a patrolman or two?”
“Yes, they have one on duty, most of the time, anyway. I’ll just add another when Jensen has classes.” Chief Beaver sounded confident but I was unsure. We were a small town and the resources weren’t infinite. The officer he talked about who patrolled the school was old, and about to retire. He mainly just walked about when we were between classes and made sure that the school gate was open and shut when it needed to be.
“Good.” Mr. Browne had no idea. “As for now, we are putting out a press release of no comment. We aren’t confirming or denying anything. We did find out the press had two sources for the story and we have been able to silence one. A football Coach by the name Fredric Lehne provided the photo of Jensen and he’s one source. We are writing up an action suit for that and he was just served with a gag order. It’s the second source that we don’t know yet that concerns me.” Mr. Browne sounded like he was on top of things and I hoped that he could make everything disappear soon.
“Is it really safe to send the kids to school tomorrow?” My mom sounded worried and even if this were to pass tomorrow, I doubt that she would let us out of her sight much longer then a school day from now until we moved out. She had always been a worrier. Remember when I got struck by lightning in the first place?
“With the patrols here and at the school, plus the lockup on campus I don’t see why not.” Mr. Browne tried to soothe my mother. “Mackenzie goes to a different school but I wouldn’t worry too much about her. She is a minor and reporters are not likely willing to go to jail and be fined for trying to talk to her. While her campus isn’t locked up, the teachers will be told to keep an eye on her. I am sure she will be fine. Josh and you two are a different matter since you will be at work at your restaurant. However, you stick with the no comment, and the law says that whoever comes in has to order food if they want to stay and that you have the right to refuse them service if it comes to that.”
“I’ll put up a sign and tell the staff.” Dad sounded revived.
“I think that about covers it for now” Mr. Browne said. “Is there anywhere you need to be today besides work?”
“No, I’m going in but Donna and Josh are staying. My parents will be coming in to help out at the restaurant and I’ll fill them in on everything.” My dad’s voice was getting closer as he talked and I went back into my room. I had just flopped myself on the bed and picked up my book when he stuck his head in.
“Hey, I have to go to the restaurant but I want you to stay here. The reporters have been pushed back but keep the curtains closed just in case okay. I’m going to go say goodbye to Josh and Mac. I’ll see you when I get home.” He went down the hall not waiting for an answer but I figured he didn’t need one. He wasn’t asking anything, he was giving orders and I had no problem following them. When he was gone I tried to read again but got nowhere. By lunch we all decided to watch a movie since all of us were bored. We all gave in to Mac’s pick of the movie to cheer her up. She picked COCO which had just come out recently and despite it being a Disney/Pixar film and very colorful I found it sad and not quite appropriate for the situation I was in. After that I was too depressed to watch anything else so I went to my room and took a nap like a toddler would. When Dad got home he brought leftovers from the restaurant. We didn’t talk much as we ate and I could tell dad was a bit stressed. I wondered how bad it had been at the restaurant.
The next morning I started my day like any other (when I hadn’t focused on a missing person’s poster) but it didn’t last long. When I got to school there was a big black SUV like all the FBI spooks use in the movies. There was also a police cruiser parker in the next slot. I wondered what had happened to warrant the police. Was there a drug bust going down or something? I knew of a few kids who did pot or had some extra pills from time to time to sell to anyone looking for a good time but nothing on the scale to call in the police. As for the black SUV I didn’t let it bother me too much, I didn’t want to know. If I had thought about it (I blame the fact I am not a morning person) I would have turned right around and gone home.
It turns out that both of the cars were there for me. I knew we were starting a new chapter in government (my first period) so I grabbed the text book from my locker were it stayed whenever I wasn’t actually reading it. It was big and heavy and no one wanted to carry that sucker around. When I entered the class room there was a police officer and a man and woman in dark suites. My first thought was that someone was going to have a fun time with the goon squad until I realized that they were all looking at me.
The man in the dark suit was the first to speak. “Jensen, Jensen Ackles,” it was more statement then question. I didn’t respond and so he was the first to move as well, coming towards me with a slow but purposeful walk.
I tried to think of anything I had done that the school would bring in the big guns, let alone the police. Okay, so the police I could maybe understand with the whole fighting with members of the football team but that was a month ago. I hadn’t done anything bad for a while now that I thought about it. Instead I had been doing some good things, mainly finding missing kids and returning them. Okay, so maybe I wasn’t returning them personally and there might be a process they had to go through before they could get home to their families.
Oh.
It came to me about the same time as Mr. Dark Suit did. They wanted me for something I had done right but something that no one was supposed to do. (Fine it was that they could do since people who knew where missing persons were, were supposed to turn them in if you wanted to get technical. At least in theory but with society going down the toilet generation by generation that was up for debate.)
“Mr. Ackles, you need to come with us.” The woman and the police officer were making their way towards us now. I could see that the officer was Chief Beaver and knew that even if the spooks had waited for him to bring me to the police station instead of joining him to get me, I was in big trouble. Chief Beaver was usually a laid back kind of guy but whenever he got involved in your things had hit the fan.
I backed up a step (big mistake) my heart rate speeding up as I told myself (internally) to just act normal. No one knew what I could do or had been doing. At least I didn’t think so. (I was both right and wrong) no one in Texas knew what I was doing but the people at the Center recorded all their calls (I had been wrong about that, too, from my earlier guess).
“Just come with us, no reason to make a scene,” Mr. Dark Suit’s voice was lowered and very serious as he reached out for my arm.
That was a mistake for him.
As he grabbed me, Chief Beaver saw and quickened his pace leaning forward to get to us faster. “Now wait a minute” but he never got to finish.
To this day I couldn’t tell you why I did it, but if Mr. Dark Suit thought I was causing a scene before he grabbed me, it was nothing compared to the scene, or scenes, really, because his gabbing me set off a chain reaction of them, I made next. The good old fight or flight response kicked in and the anger and fear that was growing in my tightening belly settled on fight first and flight second instead of the other way around like the average person.
I swung my big, fat, heavy, government (oh the irony when I found out Mr. dark suit was FBI) book in a powerful sweeping arch that would make a major league batter weep tears of joy and I struck Mr. Dark Suit in the face. He let go of he as he cried out over a very audible, and satisfying, thinking back on it later, sounding crunch that had to be something going wonky with his nose. I wasted no time in dropping the book that would have been a dead anchor weight and turned on my heels to run down the hall.
Mrs. Dark Suit and Chief Beaver were hot on my tail and I knew that if I left the building I wouldn’t get far. (I didn’t get far anyway in the end). I was better versed in the architecture of the school and used it to my advantage sprinting through the halls to somewhere that I felt safe and to someone who could and might (okay, I knew he would) protect me.
JD’s office door was open and I was over the moon for that stroke of luck as I slid into the office grabbing the door handle to help me stop. It jerked my arms but I didn’t have time to think about the pain as I slammed the door shut behind me in front of Mrs. Dark Suits face and turned the lock with shaking fingers.
JD, who had been at his desk, was quick to react, shooting up from his seat (dropping the pizza he was eating on a file open on the desk) and was already around the desk and at my side when there was pounding on the door and the handle was rattling.
“What is going on? Are you okay, Jensen?” It wasn’t mild mannered JD, high school counselor, standing beside me. It was Captain Jeffery Dean Morgan of the US Marines and he would defend me like he would one of the underlings in his old troops. At least I hoped that he would, me being a helpless teenager against two FBI goons. I didn’t count Chief Beaver because once he knew I hadn’t done anything wrong he’d be on my side. Also he was an ex-soldier too and would wait to see what was going on before making any decisions.
“This is the FBI! Open the door!” Mr. Dark Suit’s voice came through said door loud and clear if a bit high and nasally.
I hoped I had broken his nose but couldn’t express that thought as JD looked at me very seriously. “Quit banging on the door!” JD raised his voice but he didn’t shout. His voice was very authoritative the like of which I had heard only once when my mother got angry and went off on a preteen who was making fun of my sister Mac at the pool one summer when she was learning to swim and using every flotation device imaginable and that would fit on her body at once. No one argued with that voice unless they wanted trouble. Mr. Dark Suit on the other side either didn’t notice or had a death wish because he pounded again and shouted back.
“I’m agent Christopher Heyerdahl of the FBI, you have a suspect of interest with you that we need for questioning. I order you to open this door!” Mr. Dark Suit had a name and it was a mouthful, I would continue to call him Mr. Dark Suit or just Mr. Dark. I didn’t like him any more now that he had identified himself, something he should have started off with, than I had disliked him a minute ago.
JD turned to me to me and asked in a whisper so low I almost didn’t hear it so anyone outside the office wouldn’t be able to even if they had their ear pressed to the door. “Did you break the law?”
I shook my head so violently I almost gave myself whiplash. I was getting upset and didn’t trust myself to keep my voice low or from cracking or going into hysterics. I really wanted to be safe, I wanted JD to protect me, but I wasn’t sure he would if he thought I had done something wrong. This was my internal, unconfident self that all teenagers have but most won’t admit exists giving me the negative and depressing spin on things.
“Are you closely associated with someone who broke the law to the point of accessory?” JD was also talking very fast, as well as very low, and I almost didn’t understand him.
I shook my head no again and my heart rate and breathing increased and my lip trembled slightly to my rising panic.
“One last chance, open this door or I’ll break it down!” More pounding on the door and Mr. Dark yelling.
This was followed by two voice competing with each other to rebuke Mr. Dark.
“Christopher!” A woman’s voice sounded slightly embarrassed and had a bit of warning, of what, who knew, her partner was bigger than she was.
“Now wait a minute!” That was Chief Beaver’s voice and it was angry as well as threatening. Chief Beaver wouldn’t allow me to be hurt even if he had to follow a superior’s lead.
JD looked to the door when he heard Chief Beaver and pushed me towards the chair I usually sat it. I sat because it was something to do and because I might fall down if I didn’t and my body became weak and panic set in. JD had moved to the side of the door like cops do on TV and in movies.
“Chief is that you out there?” He didn’t call Chief Beaver by his name which I thought was odd but didn’t matter when he answered.
“Yeah, JD, it’s me. You guys okay in there?” Was he asking because he thought I would hold JD hostage or because he was worried about us? By us, I mean me, since I was no threat to JD but he could hurt me if he thought I had done something. Again with that negative depressing inner voice which brought me closer to a meltdown.
“We’re okay,” JD sounded reassuring for a moment before he went back to that authoritative voice from earlier. “What the hell is going on Chief?”
Mr. Dark tried to answer but his un-named partner cut him off and she sounded mad now. It was quiet outside the office for a second or two while the goons probably were hashing things out with Chief Beaver.
“Could we come in?” Chief Beaver asked when they must have made up their minds about what to do.
“Explanation first.” JD wouldn’t budge.
“It appears that Mr. Ackles has been making some calls to the…” there was a break and some mumbling before Chief Beaver went on. “To the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He has provided them with a few addresses for several missing kids. That information has been correct,” Chief Beaver emphasized that point, that I had been truthful like maybe there was a presumed question as to whether I had prank called them with fake tips. Maybe Chief Beaver had asked that question of the FBI when they came looking for me. They would have to tell the truth and…when I don’t know or couldn’t think of anything else for why he or they would ask or tell whatever it was information wise they had traded.
“Just a minute,” JD’s voice was softer but still carried through the door. He came over to my side and his face was curious. “Are they telling the truth Jensen? Did you make those calls about the missing kids?” His voice was kind and there was nothing accusing or suspicious or even curious in his voice.
All I could do was nod my head yes as the first tears slipped down my cheeks. I was crying. I hadn’t cried since I was twelve and fallen off my bike and sprained my wrist really bad. I had thought it was broken but it wasn’t and I had to have a sling to keep my arm steady for a few weeks.
JD handed me a tissue from a box that had been hidden by a stack of books on his desk. “We’ll sort this out, Jensen, don’t you worry. I’m going to deal with Jim and those,” Here he paused for a second before grunting, “People.”
It took me a moment to realize that Jim was Chief Beaver. JD went back to the door and unlocked it before opening it a crack. He stood in that crack so he could see out but everyone out in the hall could not see in.
“Chief Beaver why don’t you take Mr. Heyerdahl-“ He didn’t address the man by his rank, probably as a slight and that made me glad. “And this woman to the conference room. My office isn’t big enough for everyone and all of us can talk there.” He didn’t give them any chance to respond to his order, yes, it was an order. He had used his authority voice again, before he shut the door and relocked it.
Mr. Dark Suit yelled about how he was in charge and pounded on the door for a few seconds before his partner and Chief Beaver got him to stop as JD walked behind his desk. They must have left to do as JD ordered since it was all quiet after that in the hall. JD grabbed the waste basket and held it out to me for my very used tissue. Waste basket back on the floor, me not crying anymore and somewhat composed, he sighed.
“I’m going to call your parents to come here. You are a minor and the FBI or police can’t question you without your parents or legal guardian present. I’ll suggest that they bring a lawyer if they have one. Then we’ll talk. When they get here the FBI will talk to you, I don’t think there is any way to get around that. I want you to be honest with them but only answer direct questions. Don’t elaborate just give them the facts and everything should be cleared up and everyone can go back to their normal lives.”
I highly doubted this since JD didn’t know exactly what I had done. There was no way my life was ever going to be normal again unless this power for finding missing kids went away. So far it hadn’t weakened and showed no signs of going away. I wondered for a second if it would ever go away or if I could wear it out. That thought was put aside when JD picked up the phone to call my parents. They would likely freak out that the FBI were here to question me. Nothing like this had ever happened to the family, we went about life with our heads down and keeping to ourselves. We didn’t have a family lawyer to offer advice, although JD seemed very knowledgeable about such matters from what he’d said to me a minute ago. The phone call went quickly and I assumed my parents would be on their way.
“Your parents are on their way,” JD did confirm. “They said they would call a lawyer.” With that, JD picked up the phone again but after he pressed just a few buttons put it back in the cradle and I could hear ringing on the speaker function. It was picked up after a few rings by a confused sounding Chief Beaver. “Beaver this is Morgan, Mr. Ackles and I will join you as soon as his parents arrive…” He was cut off by an angry Mr. Dark Suit.
“You will bring Mr. Ackles now! He is wanted for questioning and you have no right to keep him from interrogation!”
Before he could continue, JD cut him off and sounded downright scary. “Mr. Heyerdahl I am sure you are aware that it is against the law to question a minor without the presence or consent of said minor’s parents or legal guardian, and since Mr. Ackles hasn’t broken any laws, your attitude is unwarranted and uncalled for. If you persist in this harassment I will have to make a complaint to your superior. Settle down, settle in and we’ll all be with you soon.” JD hung up the phone then and leaned back in his chair. We sat for a minute in silence before he sat up straight and focused all his attention on me. “I think you need to explain what has been going on Jensen” his voice was back to being kind.
I could have cried again over the whole situation and how JD was sticking up for me but I didn’t thankfully, I was embarrassed enough for the little bit I had earlier. I nodded and told him about being struck by lightning, which he knew already and about how I had seen the first missing poster of Riley and how the morning after I knew where he was. I told him about how I had made my first call to the Center. I did not tell him about my date with Jared or that I had called from ACES’s pay phone. I told him how I had tried out another poster and the results of that call. A few tears slipped out over the fate of Jenny and JD gave me another tissue but he never interrupted me. So I went on with the last poster and phone call and about the reward for Hope that I didn’t want. When I was done I felt a little better for getting everything off my chest.
“Well, that is quite the talent you seem to have picked up,” JD said when I was finished. We sat for a minute in silence after that thinking. “I would tell the FBI that and nothing more unless they ask you questions and just stick to the basic facts when answering. You can even repeat part of that…” He broke off trying to come up with a word other the story for what I had told him that would reassure me he was on my side. “Line of facts,” he finished at last.
After that, we just waited, not saying anything, both in our own worlds of thought until the door handle of the office rattled and my dad’s voice called out, “Jensen!”
My parents had arrived. JD got up and opened the door with me at his side. When my parents saw me unhurt they seemed to sag a bit in relief. My mom rushed forward to pull me into a hug that was tight enough to bruise ribs. I let her hug me for a moment knowing how scared she had to be. I had been struck by lightning, had the possibility of damage from said strike hanging over me and now they had been called because the FBI wanted me. Mom was going to need therapy after everything was over…or she’d go completely gray from worry. She always said that was the reason whenever she pointed out another grey hair.
“I suggest we get this over with so you can take your son home.” JD startled mom enough to let go of me. I don’t think she had noticed him in the doorway. JD squeezed past us and led us down the hall to a door at the end. When he opened it, three annoyed faces turned to us. I don’t think the FBI and Chief Beaver had been getting along during their wait. We all filed in and it was then that I noticed that there was a man I hadn’t seen before with my parents. He was average all the way around in appearance. Average height, average build, non-descript haircut for his brown hair, brown eyes without glasses and flat line of a mouth. We all sat down around the table and JD suggested that we all introduce ourselves.
“Just one moment,” The man who had come with my parents said and he put a briefcase he had been carrying on the table. Opening it he pulled a slim black recorder out, closed the briefcase and replaced it on the floor. He turned the machine on and left it on the table. “I am Mr. Browne.” I kid you not, that was his name, “and I am the Ackles attorney.”
I had no idea where my parents had found him or how they could afford him; with a recorder ready to go he must be smart and know his business and those kind of lawyers are expensive, but I was instantly glad he was there.
From there my parents introduced themselves, I identified myself, not like everyone in the room didn’t know who I was, JD gave his full name as did Chief James Beaver. Mr. Dark Suit gave his name again and the woman was finally identified as Agent Erica Carroll. Mr. Browne had Mr. Dark Suit explain why he and Agent Carroll were there to question me.
They explained about the anonymous calls to the Center with correct information that only insiders should know about missing kids they had tracked me down. It hadn’t been easy for them but they had found me out and come to interrogate me.
I’d like to point out now, the difference in the language used by the opposing parties. One was aggressiveness that went above and beyond for my circumstances, in my opinion, that proved to be a warning for my treatment by them in hindsight. The other was a calming de-escalation of afore mentioned tension that was more appropriate.
With that, Mr. Browne had me explain myself for the calls and how I had come across such information. I repeated the story I had told JD not long before we had come into the conference room. The room was chaos when I finished with everyone trying to ask different questions of me. JD had to step in since he was the only one who didn’t have any questions since this was his second time around the block. He used his commanding voice to tell everyone that they could all ask their questions, but in turn, around the table, with my parents getting first pick.
Mom and dad wanted to know if I was okay and why I hadn’t told them what was happening. I answered that I was fine, which I was, physically, I was not going to admit I was a bit scared and that it was embarrassing and creepy to admit I had been dreaming about little kids and I didn’t know if it would last. What if I told them and then the power went away? Next, I assured Chief Beaver that I didn’t know any of the kids, hadn’t seen them before or knew anyone who knew them. Browne was satisfied that I had only called the Center about the kids and had let them do their jobs. I had not broken any laws and couldn’t be charged with conspiracy or obstruction.
Of the two agents Carroll went first. She asked me if I had other symptoms from the lightning to go with my dreams like bleeding hands and feet or hearing voices. It kind of freaked me out since I knew she was talking religious stuff like stigmata. I didn’t see how the two could be connected and I wasn’t all that religious. Mom and Dad were and went to the occasional church service when they could. I hadn’t gone since I was a kid or rather since I had started helping out at the restaurant. I could see from the look on my parent’s faces that they were considering these questions but they didn’t speak up.
Agent Heyerdahl was the last to get to ask me anything and he must had been thinking fast and hard to get his schemes in order to dupe everyone. “It seems you have quite the talent, Mr. Ackles, but have you considered the risks?”
“Risks?” my mom couldn’t help interrupting. A mother is, or should be, attuned or worried about the health and wellbeing of their children, although not every mother is this way in reality and it makes me sad to think about it.
“Well, yes,” Agent Heyerdahl went on in a voice that evoked more worry. “Your son was hit by lightning and while he was checked out by a doctor at the time, you didn’t follow up with any check-ups did you?” This was not a question, he was assuming and he had nailed it. “They are expensive and seem like such an unnecessary inconvenience to the average working person.” He had to know all about my family and our situation, it was the only way he could be playing the people in the room like he was. “But over time complications can come up that weren’t immediately visible after the accident. Electricity takes such a toll on the body and a tiny defect can grow over time and strain can last until suddenly the body can’t go on.”
“You mean Jensen could die!” My mom was beginning to panic and clutched at Dad’s hand and it looked like he was about to speak up when agent Heyerdahl went on.
“That is a possibility but we would like to run some tests on Jensen and we could give him a full medical check-up.” He was using my first name now and I wasn’t happy about that. Especially since he was talking as if I wasn’t in the room. “We know so little about the human mind and Jensen’s has begun acting in a way that could benefit mankind. Think of all the missing kids he could find. Or missing soldiers and prisoners of war who have been away from their families for decades. He could even find criminals so they can be brought to justice and save future victims.”
I thought he was laying it on thick but I could see everyone else eating it up. Even JD, who was on my side, but he was a former soldier and that remark about POW’s would appeal to him.
“There are rewards occasionally for finding some of these people that I am sure Jensen would receive. He could use them for college or give them to charity.” This would play well for my parents who would love to see me get a college education and maybe I could save some or give some to Josh or Mac. I was known to share some of the important things and they shared in turn, because we knew how hard it was for Mom and Dad to spend money on something other than bills sometimes. “He could get a thorough check-up and constant medical care while we run a few experiments to see how his mind works and reunite some families.”
By now I had had enough and didn’t want to hear anymore. Plus, I didn’t want everyone to keep eating up what was sure to be or turn into poison. I wasn’t going to go anywhere and be experimented on!
“Um, excuse me, but I’m not going to be shipped off to some secret government research lab somewhere.” My angry and loud voice seemed to break the spell agent Heyerdahl had been weaving. But he had gotten his hooks in and my parents responses showed it.
“Jensen, honey, what about he the doctors? You need to get checked out.” My mom probably had scenarios of me dropping dead of a heart attack while looking at missing kids posters.
“I can have Doctor Miller look at me or the doctor from the hospital, they’d know more than someone starting from scratch.” Doctor Miller had been our family doctor forever he was older then dirt. Thinking about that now, I guess that didn’t make him stand out as the best choice since Mr. Dark Suit could claim he could over look something. Also, the doctor who had treated me for being struck by lightning in the first place could pass on his notes and/or consult with the government doctor since he didn’t know that much. A lightning strike was a lightning strike, it was what came later that was important and I hadn’t had that check-up yet to show any real difference, (if there even was one).
Mom piped in that yes Doctor Miller would be a good choice and just like I predicted, Agent Heyerdahl pointed out he might miss something or wouldn’t be up to date with all the current and cutting age practices and that the government had the newest technology to go with the newest doctors to treat me, like there was already something wrong with me. I suppose, in a way, there was, or must have been, since I now had the power to find missing kids in my sleep.
“Okay, so you guys give me a check-up, why can’t I just go on finding missing people from my own bed? What if this power I have doesn’t work outside my house? What if I get to the lab and it goes away?” I was raising valid points and the tide turned just a bit my way, but Agent Heyerdahl was slick and he countered me well. I could tell, however, that he was getting angry at my arguing with him.
“We would like to study how you mind works to understand your powers better. To do that you would need to be where all the equipment is and the scientists. Also we have doctors on staff so that even if you have a clean bill of health for your check-up if anything comes up while you are being…tested,” Here there was a brief hesitation over the word, like he had wanted to say something else, “You can have the best medical help immediately. Lastly, we cut out the middle man. You wouldn’t have to call the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, you could just tell us and we could send police or agents out to get the children right away instead of waiting for them to get their notes to us. Oh, and as a bonus you would be saving money from not using pay phones.” Agent Heyerdahl smiled at me, rather malevolently, I thought, as he just off my escape routes in reasoning.
“You forgot to mention what happens if he can’t find people outside our house,” Dad’s voice seemed to break our standoff.
“Nothing happens except Jensen goes home. The tests are on us, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to him. He has already reunited families with their missing kids. He’s a kind of hero, it’s the least we could do. If he loses the powers it would be a disappointment but there is nothing anyone can do about that. If he can only find people from his room, I hope we can find some way to have a night or two to have a scientist over with some equipment to monitor him there with your permission.” He addressed this last bit to my parents. “We could do some studies and make sure he isn’t being harmed by finding children and after that we could sent up a direct line to us so we can still work quickly to retrieve the children.”
Now I was getting scared again as well as angry (that emotion was feeding into the fear). My life was going to be taken over one way or another and I was going to be studied and watched like an exotic, endangered animal in a zoo. I just wanted to go home and everyone turned to look at me. It took a moment to realize I had said that bit out loud. I tried to save face by pushing on and I know I sounded like a whiny kid, but I was ready for this train to stop and let me off. “I don’t want to go to some lab a thousand miles from home to be studied. I feel fine and I like talking to Danneel.”
“We have a research lab right here in Texas a few hours away so you won’t be far from home.” Agent Carroll spoke up for the first time and she sounded sympathetic and understanding. She had drunk the Kool-Aid and believed in her partner. Either that or she had drunk the government Kool-Aid and what was good for them was justifiable to whatever they might do to me.
“I do urge you to go,” Agent Heyerdahl was letting some of the irritation he was feeling show. “I think it would be the best thing for everyone.”
“I don’t want to,” I crossed my arms and slumped in my chair. I was done with being reasonable now that it looked like no one was going to be looking out for me but me.
“You are a minor, correct, you don’t get to make that choice.” Agent Heyerdahl cracked and some of his true personality showed. In the future he turned out to be a not so very nice man as you can guess from this interaction.
“Are you threatening my son?” Dad stood up and leaned over the table towards agent Heyerdahl and he sounded mad. Like, I’m going to beat the shit out of you any moment, mad.
“Not at all, Mr. Ackles, I am just pointing out that at his age he might not see how much this arrangement could benefit him.” Agent Heyerdahl tried for placating but I thought he sounded patronizing.
My parents and the rest of the group must have thought so, too, because Mom stood up and grabbed my arm and gently pulled until I uncrossed my arms and stood up. Everyone else stood up after me and Mr. Browne put his briefcase on the table.
“I think we are done here,” my dad said. “Thank you for the offer but I think we’ll have to decline.” He addressed the agents. “If Jensen’s not under arrest?” He looked to Chief Beaver who shook his head “Then we are taking Jensen home.” he looked to JD.
“Of course,” JD answered. “I’ll have your things and any assignments collected for you and your friend, Chris, could be persuaded to bring them by I’m sure. I’ll see you tomorrow.” JD didn’t mention my detention at all and I was thankful.
“Thank you for your services and getting to us so quickly.” Dad turned to Mr. Browne last. “I’ll call you later to settle everything if that’s alright?”
“Of course, Mr. Ackles, call me at your earliest convenience.” Mr. Browne reached out to shake dad’s hand.
“If you change your mind here are is our card.” Agent Heyerdahl took two cards from his pocket and slid them along the table towards my parents and Mr. Browne.
“I don’t think we will.” My dad didn’t take a card and Mom didn’t either.
“If you need to get in touch-” I was happy to notice he didn’t use the word want. ”With the Ackles, please do so through me.” Mr. Browne took out a card of his own and slid it over to the FBI agents. Mr. Browne took one of agent Heyerdahl’s cards but I was sure it was standard practice for him whether he liked someone or not. Contact information could be important in his line of work.
With that Dad waved for Mom to usher me out and Mr. Browne, taking up his recorder, followed us. JD came after him, calling goodbye to us when he reached his office door. Chief Beaver and the FBI followed further behind. We were halfway to the car by the time I saw them exit the building.
None of us talked on the way home and when we got there I went straight to my room and closed the door. I didn’t want to be bothered and I was a little surprised when my mom didn’t follow me. But then again they had a lot to talk about that they might not want me to hear. For a little bit I just laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling but I got bored quickly and decided to read. I had picked up a copy of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy from the library and it would be due back soon. I soon became absorbed in the pages and lost track of time. It was Mom knocking on my door and opening it to tell me that dinner was ready that tore me away from the cat and mouse game of spy vs spy. As I put the book on my night stand my stomach rumbled, angry I had skipped lunch and just now letting me know.
When I got to the dining room Josh and Mac were there already. I had been so absorbed in my book that I hadn’t heard them come home. Mom or Dad or both must have talked to them before hand because neither asked me about the missing day of school. Not that Mac would have known because she goes to a different school but Josh would have known. Or if he didn’t he may have been curious why mom and dad had to leave the restaurant and not come back. I did find out that the restaurant had closed after the lunch crowd for a family emergency as a sign placed on the door proclaimed. Josh had spent his afternoon off enjoying the nice day and seeing a movie. Other than that there wasn’t much talk at the table and dinner was over quickly. When it was and before I could escape to my room again the phone rang. It was Chris and my parents let me take the phone into my room.
“Jensen, what happened today? Are you okay? The whole school is talking about how you got arrested.” Chris didn’t waste time getting into it or telling me that I was the subject of the gossip mill.
I wondered what kinds of things were going to be said about me in the days to come. “I didn’t get arrested and I’m fine.” Thinking about it, I was kind of surprised now that I wasn’t arrested. I had assaulted an FBI agent. I made this comment to Chris since he liked that kind of thing.
“Well, from some accounts, if they can be taken at their word, the guy did grab you. If he didn’t identify that he was law enforcement or whatever you could claim that you were defending yourself against assault.” Chris was correct, he could make a good lawyer if he wanted. “But that still doesn’t explain what they wanted with you.”
I had decided that I was going to tell Chris about my powers sometime and this seemed as good a time as any. So I told him everything. Except for the Jared parts. I wondered if I should or would tell Jared. I supposed if we started dating regularly I might have to, but when was the question. There was silence on the end of the line after I had finished and I wondered if the connection had been lost or Chris had fallen asleep.
“Dude!” Chris finally said rather loudly and excitedly when I thought about hanging up. “You’re an X-man!” Then his voice was hurtful. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this? I am your best friend, right?”
“Chris you are one of my only friends and yes, you are my best friend but it’s embarrassing. It’s not a party trick or something you just let slip in casual conversation. Plus, I don’t want people wigging out about me dreaming of kids, it’s creepy and some crazy person might think I’m a pedophile or something. Can you imagine some person coming at me with that?” I shuddered at the thought since in today’s judgmental, happy society it could be spread like wildfire in social media and people would believe it to be true even if it wasn’t. It could haunt me for a long time even if I could prove it untruthful.
“That’s gross man but I see your point” Chris was back to normal. “So are you going to do it again?”
I was confused for a second my mind still on people and social media making me out to be a monster or a freak. Then I realized he meant if I would try to find more kids. “Probably, but not until this thing with the FBI calms down. I doubt they would like it if I just went out to get another poster tomorrow or something. I want time for them to leave town if they haven’t already.”
“Do you think they’re going to leave so easily?” Chris’s voice was serious and he had to be thinking of something.
“No.” I could wish they would leave right away but knew logically that they might stick around for a bit. “What are you thinking?” Because he had to be thinking something, it was just the way he worked looking at all the angles.
“You said that male agent told you that you didn’t have a choice about going with them. Well, the scary thing is, he might be right. As a minor, you are legally subject to do what a parent or guardian tells you to. And since the government wants you to do something and your parents don’t, but the thing in question involves the law, the safety of children and potentially national security with the military angle, they could petition to get guardianship of you over your parents. They could, in effect, take you away from them and into their custody that way. You wouldn’t have a choice and you would be stuck with them until you turn eighteen and considering you just turned seventeen that is a lot of time to use you as a guinea pig.
I couldn’t speak as Chris laid it out for me and I saw how royally screwed I was. The government could take me away from my family, and I was sure they could do it quickly, and stick me with anyone they wanted and do what they wanted to me. It was anyone’s nightmare and I didn’t think I would be getting much sleep tonight or any night soon. Maybe I wouldn’t use my powers anymore if that was the threat hanging over me for the next year. But that didn’t feel right to me. I had these powers and I could do good with them, as much as I hated to admit agent Heyerdahl was right about that. It was all so depressing I felt that I might cry again. My emotions were being put through the ringer and I was losing control. I hated the feeling.
“Jensen, you there?” Chris’s voice brought me back to the present.
“Yeah,” I sighed, kind of wishing I wasn’t. “Look, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay I’m tired. It wasn’t a lie I was tired) and have my stuff ready for me will you.” Chris never had dropped by otherwise I’m sure my parents would have said something. They weren’t too caught up in this to let my homework slide.
“Sure, see you tomorrow.” Chris hung up on his end and I did, too, before taking the phone back to its cradle. While I was out of my room I said goodnight to my parents and Josh, Mac was already in her room for the night. I slept fitfully that night and when the alarm went off I was grumpy and annoyed.
Josh and my parents were up and eating breakfast when I came into the kitchen. They all had to work at the restaurant. Dad had been out to open it early and had come home to get a nap before taking Mom and Josh back with him. Knowing that I had some work to catch up on and that Chris would be at school early, I grabbed some fruit and a muffin to go and headed for the door. I didn’t get far since when I stepped out onto the porch I was met by a crowd of people milling about the front lawn. They all turned towards me as the door shut behind me. We stared at each other for a tense moment, or at least they looked at me and me just looking blankly ahead before they surged forward all clamoring to get my attention. They were reporters. I caught a few fragments of questions and started to panic before the door behind me opened and my dad came out.
“No comment!” he shouted first, followed by the old person’s phrase, “Get off my lawn!” before pulling me inside and slamming the door. He steered me towards the living room as the phone began to ring. “Don’t answer that!” He said as Mom came in, her arm wrapped around Mac. Josh was closing the curtains of all the windows and as he passed the phone he picked it up and put it back down cutting off the call. It started ringing again immediately. Dad put me on the couch before going over to the phone and unplugging it before going into the kitchen to unplug the one in there. Mom and Mac had joined me on the couch and Josh did too once he was done with all the windows. When Dad came back from the kitchen he had a newspaper with him. He laid it open on the coffee table and all of us leaned forward to read the front page.
Small Town Miracle
Local boy gains psychic ability after being touched by the finger of God
Local teenager Jensen Ackles has caused a stir by finding several missing children alive and well. After being struck by lightning, or the finger of God, according to religious leaders in the area, last month, he has gained the psychic ability to find any missing persons. He has put his new powers to good use locating a handful of missing children who have since been reunited with their parents.
There were pictures of Hope Shavies and her family as well as the picture of Carlos Ramirez from his missing person’s poster. My freshmen school photo was also present. The article went on but my mom had picked up the paper and was shaking it at Dad.
“How could they do this! How did they get the story? Is it even legal to print Jensen’s photo, let alone name, him in the article? He’s a minor! I thought you couldn’t do that!? We should sue! What are we going to do?” Mom was getting more and more upset as she went on and she began to pace causing me, Mac and Josh to pull our feet up least they be trampled. Dad had to wait for her to run out of breath before he could answer.
“I don’t know how the paper knows about Jensen but once they had the story there is no way we could stop them from publishing. We just have to hope for now that if we don’t talk to them they will find something else to write about. When they understand that we are not going to cooperate and there is nothing further they can write about, the next news story will take them away. We just have to wait it out until the police get here to make them leave after I get ahold of them and Mr. Browne. I’m sure he can also straighten up the photo issue. I’m sure we can find out who leaked the story and Mr. Browne can help us if there is something we can do. That is all we can do right now. Kids,” he turned to look at us, “You won’t be going to school today. I don’t want you to go outside, try to stay away from the windows until the cops get here. In the meantime, why don’t you go up to your rooms?” it was a kind of order, but sounded like a suggestion.
Mac looked scared and Josh hugged her to his side. “Come on, squirt, we can play some games.” Josh hadn’t called Mac a squirt for a least a year and the old endearment seemed to help calm her as he lead her back to his room.
I wanted to stay to find out what was going to happen but I knew that Mom and Dad wouldn’t like it. I went off after Josh and Mac thinking of what I could do. I wanted to talk to someone. Well, I wanted to talk to Chris, really. I swear he was a lawyer in a former life, which was why he thought like one. Did I mention he’d thought about being one already? Well, whatever. I also wanted to talk to Jared. To try and explain and see what his reaction was. I didn’t want him to stop liking me just after we really started to get to know each other a bit.
To do either of those I would need a phone and dad had unplugged the house phone. Mom and Dad had cell phones which they were most likely using at this very minute to call Mr. Browne and the police. I didn’t have a cell phone, even though I was old enough to have one, it was supposed to come with the driver’s license and Mac sure didn’t have one, but Josh did. It was supposed to be for emergencies and check-ins only but I counted this as an emergency and I knew where he kept it. He’d be busy with Mac and there was no one he’d call to talk about this with. When the bill came next month I would pay for the minutes I’d used. I went to where he kept the backpack he used to carry stuff around like a woman carries a purse and took the phone. Once in my room I turned on my radio keeping it low to help disguise the fact that I was talking to someone and still hear Chris.
He picked up right away with a cautious, “Hello?” As if he wasn’t sure who was on the other end. He didn’t have my brother’s number so I was a little surprised he’d picked up at all and I didn’t have to leave a message for him to call me back.
“Chris, it’s me” I had no doubt he’d know me by my voice so I didn’t say my name like proper manners call for.
“Jesus, Jensen! Are you okay? I saw the paper and also the local news just ran a clip of you and your dad on TV.” Chris sounded really worried and that wasn’t like him at all. It took a lot to rattle Chris.
I was glad I had told him about my powers last night otherwise I wasn’t so sure I would like to hear his reaction from finding out from the paper or TV. I hadn’t noticed the TV crew when I had been standing on the porch, but then again, I was stunned to see plain old reporters of print news. Okay, to be fair, some of them were from online news media. “I’m okay but my parents aren’t happy and Mac’s a bit scared. I don’t know how the story got out.”
“I think I might be able to help you a bit if things are the way I think they are. Coach Lehne has been bragging about talking to some reporters last night about the freak who terrorizes the school. Principal Manners has threatened to fire him if he hears he’s talked to anyone about you as of this morning.” Chris sounds angry now which is right on par for him.
At least now I knew and it’s also likely he gave the reporters my photo too. Although why he picked my freshmen photo is odd but who knows what goes through his mind when you get him to think about anything but football or any other school sport. “I’m not going to make it to school today but is there any way you could pick me up tomorrow morning?” I didn’t relish the thought of running into any reporters on my way to school. I could see red and blue lights flashing against the curtains and knew the cops had arrived. They hadn’t used their sirens, probably because this wasn’t an emergency and by now they would be doing something about the crowd in front of our house.
“No problem.” Chris didn’t even hesitate at my request. “So what are you going to do now that people know about your power?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing.” It would be something for me to think about. I had thought of just that yesterday, going about picking up missing posters here or there where I saw them and calling Danneel with the addresses.
“Well, you better come up with a plan or something. Maybe get a post office box or something for all the letters and shit.” Chris was trying to be helpful but it only confused me.
“What are you talking about?” I had a sinking feeling in my gut that whatever he said was something important, something I had missed or didn’t think about, not that I had done much thinking about it at all.
“You made the local paper, the local TV, and social media. If the major networks don’t pick it up, even as a fluff side piece, I’d be surprised. Some people are going to not believe a word, a lot of people are going to be interested enough until the next big story comes along but some people are going to latch on to this like stink in a shit house. You are going to get all kinds of letters, postcards, pictures and who knows what kind of objects in the mail from people who will want you to find their missing loved ones. You’ll probably get phone calls, too, and people might come in to town to look for you. And that is just the average person. We are in the end of the Bible belt so you’ll probably get a lot of fanatics, too, either praising you as an angel or cursing you as a devil or some such. Let’s not even talk about the UFO nuts or other people claiming to be psychics who want to work with you. Lastly, you’ll get the grifters trying to work with you or you to work for them or something. You have some serious thinking to do about the next few days and weeks.” See, trying to be helpful, but what a mind to come up with this stuff! It just freaked me out. I hadn’t thought about any of this!
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I was so screwed, not to mention scared. I didn’t need this right now. Whatever happened to just trying to survive high school? Was an average angst filled few teenage years not enough? What had I done wrong in a previous life to deserve this? I wonder if Jared would take me away from all this. What category was Jared would fall into? Chris seemed okay, so far, and it gave me some comfort. “I’ll have to come up with a plan and get back to you.”
“Sure, but if you need any more advice just ask. Good luck and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Chris hung up and I was bummed for a seconds before I figured that he would be late for class since we had talked so long.
I waited in my room, trying to read, but not getting anywhere and started to pace when I realized that I just read the same page for the third time and didn’t remember what it was I had just finished. I turned off the radio, too, when the DJ started talking about a media story that was picking up posts, tweets, shares and what nots. It was my story. With the radio off I could now hear what was going on in the house. Mom and Dad were arguing with someone. I crept out of my room and closer to the voices in the kitchen.
“A perimeter has been set up around your house and your neighbor on each side. I’ll have a patrol here to watch it but I only have the men and the budget for two days.” That was Chief Beaver’s voice, I recognized it from yesterday.
“That’s fine, I’m sure we can figure something out should we need to do so after that.” That was Mr. Browne’s voice. “I’m assuming that the school will have a patrolman or two?”
“Yes, they have one on duty, most of the time, anyway. I’ll just add another when Jensen has classes.” Chief Beaver sounded confident but I was unsure. We were a small town and the resources weren’t infinite. The officer he talked about who patrolled the school was old, and about to retire. He mainly just walked about when we were between classes and made sure that the school gate was open and shut when it needed to be.
“Good.” Mr. Browne had no idea. “As for now, we are putting out a press release of no comment. We aren’t confirming or denying anything. We did find out the press had two sources for the story and we have been able to silence one. A football Coach by the name Fredric Lehne provided the photo of Jensen and he’s one source. We are writing up an action suit for that and he was just served with a gag order. It’s the second source that we don’t know yet that concerns me.” Mr. Browne sounded like he was on top of things and I hoped that he could make everything disappear soon.
“Is it really safe to send the kids to school tomorrow?” My mom sounded worried and even if this were to pass tomorrow, I doubt that she would let us out of her sight much longer then a school day from now until we moved out. She had always been a worrier. Remember when I got struck by lightning in the first place?
“With the patrols here and at the school, plus the lockup on campus I don’t see why not.” Mr. Browne tried to soothe my mother. “Mackenzie goes to a different school but I wouldn’t worry too much about her. She is a minor and reporters are not likely willing to go to jail and be fined for trying to talk to her. While her campus isn’t locked up, the teachers will be told to keep an eye on her. I am sure she will be fine. Josh and you two are a different matter since you will be at work at your restaurant. However, you stick with the no comment, and the law says that whoever comes in has to order food if they want to stay and that you have the right to refuse them service if it comes to that.”
“I’ll put up a sign and tell the staff.” Dad sounded revived.
“I think that about covers it for now” Mr. Browne said. “Is there anywhere you need to be today besides work?”
“No, I’m going in but Donna and Josh are staying. My parents will be coming in to help out at the restaurant and I’ll fill them in on everything.” My dad’s voice was getting closer as he talked and I went back into my room. I had just flopped myself on the bed and picked up my book when he stuck his head in.
“Hey, I have to go to the restaurant but I want you to stay here. The reporters have been pushed back but keep the curtains closed just in case okay. I’m going to go say goodbye to Josh and Mac. I’ll see you when I get home.” He went down the hall not waiting for an answer but I figured he didn’t need one. He wasn’t asking anything, he was giving orders and I had no problem following them. When he was gone I tried to read again but got nowhere. By lunch we all decided to watch a movie since all of us were bored. We all gave in to Mac’s pick of the movie to cheer her up. She picked COCO which had just come out recently and despite it being a Disney/Pixar film and very colorful I found it sad and not quite appropriate for the situation I was in. After that I was too depressed to watch anything else so I went to my room and took a nap like a toddler would. When Dad got home he brought leftovers from the restaurant. We didn’t talk much as we ate and I could tell dad was a bit stressed. I wondered how bad it had been at the restaurant.