are you even trying? - 22. fall

by nick nelson

part twenty-two of 23

for previous episode, click here

to begin at the beginning, click here

> mrs worth looked up from the crossword magazine she had been flipping through, trying to decide whether to do a difficult puzzle, or a not so difficult one. can i help you, sir? she asked the visitor. i want to see my old pal johnny. is your old pal johnny expecting you? no, but i know he would like to see me. do you have anything to show that he might want to see you? no, but i know that he would. you will have to do a little better than that, sir. the director is a busy person. he is in conference now, in any case. i can wait. not in here. show some evidence that he might want to see you, or be on your way. gee, that’s harsh. are you going to throw me out? obviously, i am not going to pick you up myself and throw you out. but i have all the resources of organization a at my disposal at the touch of a button. how about organization b? i think organization a is capable by itself. can i leave a message? this is the modern age, sir. there are numerous channels and applications by which you can leave a message. i would like to leave a note, on paper, if that is all right with you. you want me to give you a piece of paper, and what, a pencil? no, i have it all written down. mrs worth shrugged. fine. just leave it on the desk. the visitor took a small piece of paper, folded in fours, out of his pocket and stepped up and placed it carefully on the desk. you see, he smiled at mrs worth, i came prepared. mrs worth did not reply. when the visitor had left and closed the door behind him, she unfolded the piece of paper. on it was written: highway 93. * buddy stopped the truck. there were no lights, or any other signs of life, visible on the highway. wait here,buddy told johnny. i will be right back. this is my last chance, johnny thought. he counted to sixty-six. the cab door opened soundlessly, and he climbed down. johnny ran. he ran and ran and ran. he came to the old house. it had no lights on, but he felt sure there was someone in it. he crept up to the window and looked in. juliet was sitting on a long sofa, and billy the kid was pacing up and down in front of an unlit fireplace. johnny tapped on the window. next