Nowhere to Run Chapter 6
Nowhere to Run: Chapter 6:
A week later Jake Sullivan sat in his one room apartment excitedly tearing open the letter he just received. His eyes gleaming as he scanned over the page quickly as he resisted the urge to drop the letter and rub his hands together gleefully. He frantically searched through the pictures he had printed off sometime earlier in attempt to figure out which one had sent him the letter, his eyes resting on a picture of a skinny brunette smiling widely surrounded by his band mates.
“Ah so it’s the one who went for help.” Jake mused to himself looking at the broad smile and eyes slightly crinkled in happiness.
“Gullible thing isn’t he?” He said with disgust setting down the picture.
“They must still be here in Orlando if he was able to respond that quickly. The only thing missing here is exact dates and places.” His eyes gliding over the letter again. “Well I’ll just have to flush them out won’t I? Interesting though how he doesn’t mention anything about his short friend being injured… mind you as stupid as this kid is he probably knew enough to not worry ‘an 8 year old child’… there has been nothing in the news yet either though…” He said thoughtfully, seconds later an evil gleam entered his eyes.
Walking over to the counter he kept his telephone on Jake pulled out the local phone book for the Orlando area. Searching through it quickly he found what he was looking for, picked up the telephone and dialed the number.
“Yes hello is this…ABC television networks? Could you put me through to someone in the Entertainment section? Thank you…. Yes hello I have a scoop that you might want to check out…”
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A few days later Joey looked up from his task of feeding Brianna as he heard voices in the front hall.
“We’re in here!” Joey called out and looked over at Justin who looked up from his book startled, not having heard the voices from the front hall.
“Hey.” Chris said as he and JC came into the Kitchen.
“Hey. How was the session?” Justin asked marking his place and putting his book down.
“Fine. She says I can probably be done by the end of the month.” Chris said. “Hang on just let me get a drink.”
“No you sit down Chris I’ll get it for you.” JC said moving to the far side of the room where the fridge stood.
“I’m perfectly fine to get myself a drink Jace.” Chris said a little more forcefully then needed and fixing JC with a scrutinizing stare.
“I know but you just had physiotherapy and you are probably tired and should really sit down...” JC said stumbling over his words at the scrutiny then turned and quickly crossed the rest of the way to the fridge.
“You know I really had hoped he would have gotten over this by now.” Chris said lowly so only Joey and Justin would hear him.
“You’ve got to give him time man. That was a big thing you did whether you think so or not… and well you know how Jace is.” Joey said spearing a carrot on the baby fork and handing it to his daughter.
“Anyone one of us would have done it. And don’t try to deny it. Its just that no matter what I tell him he won’t lose the ridiculous guilt thing.” Chris said frustrated.
“Give him time Chris. You aren’t helping matters by getting mad at him every time he tries to help you.” Justin pointed out.
“But…” Chris started in defense but didn’t get to finish as JC came back carrying sodas for everyone.
“So she’s letting you out in a couple weeks. That’s good news man. How is the shoulder anyway?” Joey asked.
“Its pretty good. Always a little sore right after physio but its definitely better.”
They sat at the table for the next few minutes making idol talk as Joey finished feeding Brianna stopping only when Johnny came rushing into the Kitchen with an disturbed look on his face.
“We have a bit of a situation guys.” Johnny said without even letting the question be poised.
“What it is?”
“A friend of mine who works at ABC just faxed this to me. The press has seen Chris and all of you with him at some point coming out of the physiotherapy appointments. The story is going to break in about an hour. She couldn’t stop it but was nice enough to give me the heads up.” Johnny said handing over the piece of paper he was holding to JC who was the closest to him.
“For Immediate Release. Nsyncer seen coming out of high profile hospital. There is news today that the eldest Member of the pop group Nsync, Chris Kirkpatrick, has been seen coming out of a high profile Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital. The Nsync Member was spotted earlier this week leaving the hospital with one arm in a sling and accompanied by another Nsync group member and friend Justin Timberlake. This would suggest that the postponement of the recording for Timberlake’s anticipated Solo Album is for reasons other then what was originally suggested. We were unable to reach a spokesperson before air time and will bring you more news as it develops.” JC read. “Well I suppose it was going to happen sooner or later, we did get almost a month.”
“So what do we do now?” Chris asked.
“Well there is no use in denying it. My friend didn’t fax it to me but she says they do have a picture that leaves little doubt it is you two, she also said you were spotted again today with JC. So I guess what we have to do is send one of you out there to make some kind of statement and plea for privacy and hope that ends it.” Johnny said.
“But what do we tell them? Yeah three members of Nsync witnessed a brutal murder and are now in hiding out of fear that the murderer who had gotten away is coming after them? It might just me but if we are lucky enough that this guy hasn’t been able to figure out who we are, we are just asking for trouble coming out and admitting that.” Joey said.
“Well geez, Joey of course we don’t tell them that. One of you will go out there… tell the press that… I don’t know Chris badly injured his shoulder or arm in a motorcycle accident or something and is in physiotherapy for a little while to recover. No dates no extra information. You answer a couple questions, not answer others and hopefully be done with it.” Johnny said rolling his eyes.
“I don’t know…” JC started.
“We can’t deny it. They have pictures. Better come out and control the story as best we can before someone else does and thinks Chris is in there for drug rehab or something.”
“I’m not going in front of the press.” Chris said stubbornly. “I just don’t think it is a good idea.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you did. Actually I think it would be best if you three didn’t. If this guy hasn’t figured out who you are its better not to put you front and center and practically tell him who you are.”
“Ok. Fine I guess I’m doing it.” Justin sighed.
“OK. Come with me I want to have you prepped by the PR people. The sooner we can try and defuse the situation the better.”
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Jake watched from the shadows as a black SUV pulled up to the curb and was immediately pounced on by the mass of cameramen that stood outside the building waiting to get a picture of who was inside the vehicle.
He raised an eyebrow as not one of the three young men he had met in the alley exited the car but the young curly haired one got out and was immediately flanked by bodyguards who had shown up in another car in addition to the one that had been riding with the kid, and was quickly ushered into the building, followed by the hoards of media.
The SUV left outside unguarded and forgotten.
Smiling evilly to himself he waited a few more minutes to make sure no one was watching and pushed himself off the wall and made his way over to the SUV.
***
“No. I’ve already told you that this has nothing to do with drug or alcohol problems. Chris badly hurt his shoulder in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago and the Doctor felt that it would be best that he attend a physiotherapy program for a little while to help the recovery process along.” Justin said trying not to roll his eyes as he repeated himself for the fifth question in a row. “Are there any other questions?”
“Yes Mr. Timberlake. How much longer will Mr. Kirkpatrick be in rehab and why didn’t he come here himself?”
“Chris should be finished rehab by the end of the month and it was decided that Chris should simply take it easy until the all clear was given by both his Doctor and his Physiotherapist.”
“There have been reports that in addition to yourself Mr. Fatone and Mr. Chasez are also in town and have been seen leaving the hospital with Mr. Kirkpatrick is that true?”
“Yes both JC and Joey are also in town right now. We’ve all been taking turns going with Chris to his physio lessons. And before you ask Chris has talked with Lance and told him to stay where he was. He didn’t want to be responsible for Lance having to give up his training. Otherwise Lance too would be here in Florida instead of Russia.”
“Are you all staying in one place and if so can you tell us where?”
“Yes we are all in one place to make things easier, and no for privacy reasons I can’t tell you where.”
“Mr. Timberlake? Does this change any of your plans for the planned group hiatus?”
“Absolutely not. Things had been pushed back a little bit but all is returning to normal soon. I’m leaving in a couple days for London to start recording some of my album. Joey is looking at several movie scripts among other things. JC is just planning on taking it easy for a little while, do some writing and Chris just wants to golf once his shoulder heals. And yes we are still together as a group.”
“I’m afraid that’s all ladies and gentlemen thanks for coming.” One of the bodyguards shouted out over the crowd.
***
“Well that wasn’t to bad.” Justin said glancing beside him at Lonnie who was driving the car.
“Yeah. Lets just hope they leave it alone now. And that guy wasn’t watching and able to connect two and two together.” Lonnie said moving to slow down the car for a sharp turn that was coming up.
“Oh no.” Lonnie said foot pushing as hard against the break as he could.
“What is it?” Justin asked worried.
“The brakes aren’t working!”