“Alright, we’ve got the micro-welder. We’re just missing the laser cutter,” Asante said.
“Impossible,” LaNiya interjected, “Unless we run into some funding, there’s no chance we’ll be able to afford one.”
“We could–” Michael started to say.
“We’re not stealing anything!” Zuriya shouted.
“Why do you always assume the worst with me?” Michael asked, “ I was just going to say that we could try rigging something up. Maybe the other classrooms would have something we could use.”
“Huh, that’s actually a good idea,” Asante said.
“Actually?”
“Woodshop and the other art classrooms may have some precision cutting tools.”
“Why didn’t you think of that earlier? We could have avoided running for our lives,” Zuriya protested.
“Getting our own tools from the store was the simplest option,” Asanted retorted, “But now, we’ll have to either sneak into the classrooms after hours or explain to the teachers why we need to borrow their tools.”
As Asante continued rambling on about the suit construction, Michael couldn’t help but focus on David pacing back and forth. He hadn’t calmed down since his uncle left; every voice or sound that came from the other side of the window made him pause and tense up. He’s just waiting for something…or someone.
“We’ll have to figure–” Asante said.
“I can’t do this,” David interrupted.
Everyone froze. Zuriya tilted her head in confusion.
“Can’t do what?” she asked.
“What’s going on?” LaNiya chimed in.
But David didn’t answer right away. He brushed past her towards the storage door.
“I just need to know,” he said, his voice strained. “You guys stay put.”
“Wait!” Zuriya shouted, but he was already gone.
“We’ll go after him,” LaNiya said, “Zuriya, you stay here with Asante. Come on, Michael.”
Before he could react, LaNiya had already grabbed Michael by the wrist and was dragging him out into the garage. She slipped and passed by all the mechanics. It didn’t take long for her to catch up to David, who pressed his ear against the glass door that led into the lobby. He looked up and saw LaNiya and Michael jogging up to him.
“You guys are really bad at the whole staying put thing,” he said.
“Could say the same about you,” Michael said, trying to catch his breath.
David shook his head and returned his focus to the door.
“What did you hear?” LaNiya asked.
“Likely nothing over all the mechanics and parts moving back here,” Michael said.
David nodded, taking his ear away from the door.
“I can hear Uncle Al somewhat. It sounds like he’s raised his voice,” David said.
“Maybe it’s just an angry customer,” LaNIya offered.
“Yeah, maybe,” David answered, reaching for the doorknob.
“Stop! What are you doing? You can’t just walk in there,” LaNiya said, grabbing David’s hand.
David paused, but he didn’t move his hand from the door. He had the knob gripped tight; he only needed to push down to open the door. LaNiya was pretty strong, but she wouldn’t be able to stop him if he decided to barge into the lobby.
“I’ve gotta know it’s him,” David said.
“And what are you going to do if it is your dad,” Michael asked. “Have a heart-to-heart in the middle of the lobby. My guess is that it won’t be that simple.”
“Stay out of this, Michael.”
“No. You’re not thinking straight.”
“Wait, your dad?” LaNiya asked, losing her grip on his hand. “Is that who you’re worried about?”
David didn’t answer, but he also didn’t remove his hand from the door.
“Is he…dangerous?” Michel asked.
David nodded. LaNiya turned angry, her face scrunched,,, and her eyes narrowed. Her voice rose—not quite too yelling, but enough to pierce through whatever shield David was keeping up.
“What do you think you’re going to do, huh? Your uncle is already handling the situation. At least you have someone willing to protect you. Why would you rush out into danger like this?” LaNiya asked.
“Who are either of you to talk? Neither of you know him like we do,” David spat back. “If he’s here, it’s not for a quick visit.”
“You’re scared, aren’t you?” Michael asked, his voice was steady but unkind.
“Shut up, Michael.”
“Is he here for you and Jess?” he continued.
David turned to look at him. His eyes flared with anger, but Michael could see he was still hiding the fear. He softened his stance, meeting David’s gaze.
“I know what it’s like to want to protect someone and feel like you can’t do anything about it. But this isn’t the way.”
David turned away, back to the door. He sighed but still gripped the knob.
“He wants to take us away,” David said. “He comes around randomly, trying to pick fights and find any possible reason to say that it isn’t safe here. But he lost all rights to see us after he–”
Michael could tell David was biting his tongue; whatever the reason was, it wasn’t something that needed to be discussed right now. LaNiya also picked up on it.
“You want to protect her, like any big brother would,” she added, her voice gentler but still firm.
“I need him to know that I won’t let him take her away.”
“Your uncle won’t let anything happen to you or Jess,” LaNiya said.
“But he can’t stop him forever.”
LaNiya went silent. Michael saw something in the way she looked at David. She didn’t know what to say.
“Maybe not,” Michael interjected, “But for right now, he’s the one standing between you and your dad. You’ll need to trust him.”
Another pause passed. David exhaled and finally removed his hand from the doorknob. He flipped around, leaning his back against the wall. His fists were still clenched, but at least some of the other tension had eased.
“Fine, “ David said, collapsing to the ground.
Michael and LaNiya exchanged a relieved glance as David adjusted himself to sit cross-legged on the floor. The expression on his face was still stormy, his eyes still focused on the door. It’s no use. He’s never going to relax until he knows what is going on out there.
LaNiya knelt next to David, doing whatever she could to comfort him. While she was busy, Michael moved towards the glass door. Leaning against it, he could hear the soft mumbling of a conversation coming from the other side. Fine. Guess I’ll do it for him.
Without saying anything, he grabbed the door handle.
“What are YOU doing?” LaNiya whispered sharply.
“Giving him some piece of mind,” Michael said.
He slowly pushed the handle down and cracked the door open. David perked up. They could hear the conversation a bit clearer. Michael stayed on the other side of the door to make sure that no one could see them. It would look like the door hadn’t been closed properly to them. Uncle Al was too distracted with the men in his lobby to notice.
“There’s no need to be so aggressive, sir. We’re just doing our due diligence.”
“Kids shouldn’t be wandering out and about unsupervised. We’re just trying to ensure their safety. Wouldn’t you agree that that is what a responsible adult should do?”
Two men were arguing with Uncle Al. Michael didn’t really recognize either one of them. By the look on his face, David didn’t recognize them either. But LaNiya, who had a sliver of a view into the lobby, immediately looked worried.
“What is it?” he asked.
“It’s them. From the tech store,” she whispered.
His eyes widened. How could they have found us? Didn’t we lose them back in the alleyway? There’s no way they were fast enough to backtrack and see them run into the auto shop. David looked confused.
“You ran into men at the tech shop? The same guys?” he asked.
LaNiya and Michael nodded.
“Like I said, ain’t no stray kids come through here,” Uncle Al said.
“Would you mind if we checked for ourselves? You could’ve missed them walking in with how much business you have.”
“Whatever or whoever you’re looking for, you won’t find here. Unless you two have a warrant to show me, I’d suggest you better leave my lobby. Right now.”
“Alright, alright. There’s no need for things to turn uncivilized. We’ll leave…for now.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing chimed. Then Michael heard footsteps heading toward the glass door. He quickly backed away, trying not to be hit by the door swinging open. The three of them behind the door caught Uncle Al off guard.
“Now, what the hell are you three doing back here?” he yelled.
“Uh…nothing. Just…checking out…things,” Michael fumbled.
He desperately tried looking around for something to look busy with. But finding nothing, he just put his hands in his pockets and refused eye contact.
“We were just…um…making sure everything…uh, everyone was okay,” LaNiya said, glancing at David.
Uncle Al seemed to pick up on it. He turned to David, who refused to meet his gaze. Guilt was written all over his face.
“Uncle Al, I–”
“Don’t give me any of that. You were trying to eavesdrop, weren’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” David answered. “LaNiya and Michael managed to stop me.”
“Well, they have my thanks.”
“Thank you for getting those guys off our trail,” Michael said.
He immediately regretted it, earning an annoyed look from both LaNiya and David.
“Ah, so those two men are friends of yours?” Uncle Al asked.
“Um…no, we’ve just seen them before,” Michael said, trying to deflect.
“Where?”
Uncle Al narrowed his eyes, and his expression turned dark.
“They followed us from the tech store,” LaNiya answered.
“They followed you here? And none of you thought to mention that?”
“None of us knew they’d follow us inside. We thought we lost them in the alleyway,” Michael continued, earning a light bump in the arm from David.
Uncle Al was desperately trying to hold back his anger and frustration. He sighed and rubbed his temples.
“I don’t know what you kids did to gain their attention, but whatever it is, I demand that you end it now.”
“We didn’t do anything,” Michael yelled.
“You messed with something,” Uncle Al raised his voice, “Those guys are bad news for everyone. The last time they were here, they–”
Before Uncle Al could finish, the loud rumble of an engine cuts through the garage. Michael and LaNiya turned to see the silver Cadillac pull into the garage. Its engine grew louder with each passing second–powerful and unmistakably expensive.
Everyone backed away, making room as it made its way inside. The car came to a smooth stop; its tires barely made a sound against the concrete floor. This car had an aura that commanded attention. The interior lighting cast a soft glow through the heavily tinted windows, obscuring the driver’s face.
“Woah, who drives that?” Michael whispered.
“Don’t know, but I have a guess,” LaNiya answered.
Michael followed her gaze. Uncle Al and David were frozen in place; in fact, all of the mechanics in the shop stood frozen in place. The driver’s side door opened with a faint hiss as a man dressed in black stepped out of the vehicle. He adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit. Then he took off his sunglasses and slightly smirked towards the group.
“Ah, there’s my son.”