Chapter 7: Unraveling the Mystery

Jay started to fidget, his eyes darting around the room as he began to speak. "My daddy sold me for money," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure what he needed it for, but he rushed into our house and had a bag of expensive items, looking for more when he decided to sell me." Judd cringed at Jay calling his father "Daddy" again, a term that seemed so out of place for a teenager. It was a phrase that children used, not adolescents. Judd's concern only grew from the answer he received, now having more questions than ever. "What kind of expensive items was he looking for?" Judd asked, trying to keep his tone neutral. Jay hesitated, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I don't know," he said, his voice shaking. "He was in a hurry, and he kept muttering to himself. He said something about needing to pay off some people." Judd's brow furrowed in concern. Who was Jay's father trying to pay off, and what kind of situation had he gotten himself into? Judd's mind was racing with possibilities, but he knew he needed to tread carefully. "Jay, do you know who your father was trying to pay off?" Judd asked, trying to keep his tone gentle. Jay shook his head, his eyes welling up with tears. "No, I don't know," he said, his voice cracking. "But I know he was scared. He kept looking over his shoulder, like he was worried someone was going to catch him." Judd's gut was telling him that there was more to this story than Jay was letting on. He needed to get to the bottom of it, but he also needed to make sure Jay was safe. "Jay, I need you to trust me," Judd said, his voice soft. "I'm going to do everything I can to help you. But I need you to tell me the truth. Is there anything else you know about your father's situation?" Jay hesitated, his eyes searching Judd's face. For a moment, Judd thought he saw a glimmer of trust in Jay's eyes, but then it was gone. "I don't know anything else," Jay said, his voice barely above a whisper. Judd nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew he had to be patient, but he also knew that time was of the essence. The sooner he got to the bottom of this mystery, the sooner he could help Jay. As Judd sat there, trying to process everything Jay had told him, he heard a knock at the door. It was a soft knock, but it was insistent. Judd's instincts told him that it was someone he didn't want to deal with, but he also knew he couldn't ignore it.