Danielle's POV

I glance around the main entrance. Good. Our parents are talking, so we all know what that means. Yup, they will be held off for a while. I point to the air vent in the next room and my sister nods. It was a closet so nobody sees us leave. We crawl into the vent and can now hear and partially see what's going on.

Joey looks a little nervous as the big built guys stand there talking to them. They were not his usual hair dressers! Then one says, in a voice with a hissing sound. "Don't worry, Mr. Stamper. This can happen painlessly if you just work with us." He angles his eyebrows. "So what will it be, boy?"

I want to cry, but I don't want them to hear me. I can't let them hear me. My sister gives me a 'it's going to be ok' look. I nod thanking my sister for helping me be brave. Even if just a little.

Joey asks the owner of the hissing voice, "What do you guys want? As long as nobody gets hurt...." Joey tries to look mean, but I can tell in his eyes that he is scared.

"We think you know what we want." One of the hissing man's henchman says in a gruff voice, crossing his massive arms.

"No, really I don-" He's cut off by one of the guys hitting him. My sister covers my mouth to keep my scream from being heard. I have tears in my eyes. 'Joey,' I'm thinking, 'if you know what they want, please, please just tell them'.

Then, Joey sees us for a split second and knows we are up here. 'Oh no.' I think, my breath catches. I'm afraid to even breath. We could all be in danger now.

The bad guys didn't see me... I hope. At least if they did, they don't let on.

"Ok ... ok ... ok ... I think ... I know ... what you are talking ... about. " Joey stammers.

"You'd better! Or else!" The bad guys keep circling him threatingly, it's like predators just waiting to go in for the kill.

I really hope nothing happens to him.

"Well?" The leader says, menacingly.

"Well what?" Joey replies, shaking. But the light in his eyes seems to change, as he looks closely at the leader's face. Maybe he does know what they are talking about.

The villain growls a bit, then raises his hand like he's going to hit Joey again. Thankfully, he seems to change his mind. "Where is it?"

"Where it always is." Joey replies, his shoulders are squared back and he has a determined set to his jaw. "But you need me to find it."