After that supermarket incident, Jacob learnt to respect his sidekick's gut feelings. He was surprised to learn that Sonny had known of the danger all the time they were in the supermarket. This made him respect his partner even more.
"But who was that man who on that day blocked and fought the attendant who pursued us?" Jacob asked two days after the supermarket drama.
"He's one of our friends and agents. I tipped him that you were in danger; he decided to act." Sonny replied. "It's a very common trick and strategy we use whenever one of us falls into danger."
Sonny paused as Jacob listened keenly and went on, "Someone simply appears out of the blues and blocks the way as he pretends to be angered that his toes have been stepped on. It's just a matter of staying ahead of our adversaries and outwitting them."
Jacob found it very amusing as he was amazed but realised he would live to fight another day. He said, "Thanks for asking him to help."
Since that unfortunate day, Jacob's ears were always on the alert and listened to any warning Sonny gave. For quite a while, they avoided that supermarket like a plague to lull the memories of the front line staff who worked there.
Instead, they turned their focus more on the jewellery shops, but whenever danger lurked behind them, Sonny was always there to alert him.
"Business is too bad at this joint," they would say to each other,"But let's try elsewhere."
In this way, they avoided trouble for quite a long time. As time went on, Jacob also started developing strong feelers for danger.
But living together with Sonny made Jacob learn more about who his buddy really was. Sonny, the pickpocket and shoplifter, lived a life of contradictions.
Jacob was yet to discover the other side of Sonny's life, which baffled him as he thought about his confidant.
One hot Saturday afternoon, Sonny unexpectedly suggested as he wanted to know, "Let's go for a visit to the estates and see some of our friends. Will you come with me?"
"Sure, but what friends?"
"You'll see," Sonny replied as he began packing some goods into a bag; items such as soap, margarine, salt, tea leaves, salt, cooking oil, and many others.
Twenty minutes later, they were visitors to slum dwellers in the outskirts of the city. Sonny distributed the items they had brought with them to the poor men and women who sat outside their houses.
There were ten men who sat with their families. Men and women cheered wildly when they saw Sonny give out those gifts.
One old lady cried out cheerfully, "Many thanks to you, Sonny, and your companion. Receive my blessings. God bless you forever. Please come again."
"I surely will when things are ok," he said as they were leaving.
When they returned to their room, Jacob told his friend, "I noted that the old men and women really liked you."
"Of course, they do. I always help them. I can not help seeing them suffer, yet the rich have so much. Why should the majority suffer when a few have too much and even more than they need? It's not fair at all!"
Jacob was evidently shocked by his friend's kindness to the poor. But he understood his deeds; Sonny stole from the rich to give to the poor whatever they lacked.
That way, Sonny believed he was offering a sacrifice for God and the people. He was still wondering about his friend when he saw Sonny take out a crime novel and begin to read with a zeal not found in other people who hated crime.
The book certainly took Sonny into his world where he belonged.