ON A ROAD IN KOKOMO...

“Hello, Mr. Mann, glad you decided to pick up...for a second I thought you may have taken us lightly...” I cut her off and ask, “OK, who is this?” Now I don't know if it was how I said it or what I said but in a sharp, no nonsense tone she snaps back, “LOOK, you are in no position to (abrupt pause)...” After a moment I hesitantly ask, “Hello...hello?” She comes back on and calmly says, “I'm going to hang up, (the phone beeps in my ear) but you will be receiving directions shortly, be there and don't be late.” She hangs up, and I just sit thinking, I look at the time on the iPHONE (4:55 pm, July 5th), the phone chimes and I see an unread text message from Map Quest, giving me detailed directions to 1337 W. 32nd St. Chicago, IL 60603. Chicago, I'm not in Ohio? I finally start thinking and decide to put this phone to use and bring up the Google Maps app. It takes a while to load but when it finally does, a little blue dot on the screen shows my location to be, Kokomo, Indiana. I look at it again and think out loud, “Kokomo, Indiana?!?” I have no idea where that is but I am not surprised that I’m in a placed called Kokomo. A few minutes later the phone chimes again and a text that reads, 'It's 5:00 pm you have 3 hrs.' I try to text back, but the phone won't allow it, I try to call out but it won't let me do that either. I come to the conclusion that this phone was only meant for me to be reached. So instead of getting frustrated I just put the phone in my pocket and as I do I feel the keys I got from ole boy. I take them from my pocket, look at them in my hand take a deep breath then head to the car. As I'm walking to the car I begin to think of my family and how I missed spending time with them for the 4th. I want to speak with my girls, I wish I knew where they were and how they were doing, I really miss my babies. I feel myself tearing up but I stop to shake it off – I can't afford to get emotional right now. I finally make my way to the – still smoking – car. I look back down the road and ole boy is still slumped over against the tree – I guess I got so caught up in my thoughts I didn't realize I passed him. I look at the keys for a second, then look back at ole boy, close my eyes and recall his last words, 'Reach in my jacket pocket and grab my keys, go to the car and look in the trunk...' I take a couple of steps back and press the trunk release button not knowing what to expect - I hear a click but nothing happens. At this point my heart is racing, but I press it again and again and it just does the same thing. I find the key on the keyring, put it in the lock, and before I can unlock it someone opens the passenger door and weakly says, “wait...”