Soul Hostage Read Free Page A

Shall we get started?” 
    Joey and I and maybe everyone else in the room stared at the old man as he continued, “So what should we do with these fine people?”  He nodded toward the group of hostages and then turned his gaze to Joey.  “Any ideas?” he asked with a wink.
    It seemed to be another inside joke where I was on the outside.  
    Joey answered with a wink of his own, raised the pistol, pointed it in the general direction of the terrified hostages, and started to slowly swing it between them.
    “Hold on!”  I surprised myself by stepping forward.  “I have a better idea.” 
    Louis Stoaffer looked at me with a sort of amused expression.
    I looked around the area quickly and not seeing what I wanted moved into the office. All the while, the others watched me with confusion.  Well, not everyone looked confused.  The old man continued to look on with amusement.
    On the concrete floor in the corner of the office, I found what I wanted and quickly returned to the other room.
    As I moved toward the others, I quickly flipped through the magazine.  It was some movie magazine with lots of pictures of famous actors.   There was a picture of Brad Pitt with George Clooney. I considered using this one, but they were too well known to work.  Finally, I saw an advertisement with a couple of guys standing around a truck supposedly discussing the great gas mileage and dependability of the vehicle. 
    “Okay, I want everybody to look at this picture and describe the two men.” I walked closer so that they could get a better look. 
    The blonde leaned near so that she could see. “Okay, there is one thirty-ish looking guy with brown hair and a light brown beard.  He’s kind of husky. And…”
    She was interrupted by the young mother.  “And the other man is older with dark black hair.  He might be the other one’s father…”
    The elderly man spoke up, “No I think he’s an insurance salesman.”
    “It doesn’t matter what his job is!  I want you to describe him!”  My comment came out more loudly and more impatiently than I had intended, and the people in front of me recoiled a little.
    After a moment, the elderly woman spoke up to correct her husband. “No, he looks too athletic to be an insurance man.  Look at those muscles.  He is very fit.  I think his hair looks a little fake like maybe he’s wearing a toupee.”
    “Yes! Her husband agreed with her.  “You’re right, Gwen.  He looks like he works out.” 
    “Good! What else?”  I was actually enjoying this.
    “The younger guy has no wedding ring but the older guy does,” the blonde observed.
    “Interesting point,” I commented lightly. 
    The humor was not lost on the others as they laughed enthusiastically. For a brief instant, everyone seemed to forget the dangerous predicament in which they found themselves. Joey quickly stepped forward to remind them.
    “Good thinkin’, Thomas.  Better to have a false ID than a pile of bodies” Joey said, and the laughter instantly stopped. “Anyways, looks like we’re all havin’ a good time here. So as long as we’re gettin’ to know each other so good, I want ev’rybody to give me their driver’s licenses.” 
    For a few seconds, no one moved as if confused as to what they should do.
    “I want yer driver’s licenses!”  Joey cleared up the confusion instantly. He turned to Louis Stoaffer.  “You too.”
    With a flash of a smile, the old man responded, “I have to apologize. I lost that important document about ten years ago.”  His chuckle was shared by Joey. 
    Licenses were quickly removed from purses and wallets and passed forward to Joey who made a show of looking at each carefully. 
    “Oh, Jennifer, put on some weight, haven’t you?” He commented to the blonde woman.  Her reaction was a brief look of cold hatred before lowering her eyes.
    “Okay, Jennifer, William, Gwendolyn, Laura, and…” Joey looked at the children with a puzzled expression.