The Chance (Thunder Point #4)(59)

Eric looked at Mac. “She’s not doing very well. She’s being taken to the hospital.”

“So I heard,” Mac said.

* * *

When Al and Eric got back to the station, everything was fine. Howie was under control, pumping gas like mad. And Al said, “Listen, I know it’s your night to bug out early while Justin and I manage things, but I need a couple of hours.”

“For?” Eric asked.

“None of your business, but I’m not going to rob an armored car or anything that would reflect badly on you.”

“You’re going back there,” Eric said.

“I think someone should and I think it shouldn’t be you.”

“Why not? Seriously, I’ve been looking out for the kid since I hired him and—”

“And he thinks we have a common enemy—the boss. Let me go.”

“I’m not the enemy!”

“I know that, but he’s got a bomb inside him. Come on, try to remember how little sense the world made when you were his age—try to remember how many innocent people you thought were plotting against you. He’s a mess. He didn’t ask for the mess, either.”

Eric thought about that for ten seconds. “Yeah. Go. Take all the time you need. We got this. And if you see a chance, tell him I’ll do anything I can to help.”

“Sure I will,” he said. Al grinned. “You and Howie got the station. Have fun.”

Al took off before Eric could think of something more to ask or say. He went back to the Coastline, where he’d left his truck, and drove first to the pizza place, ordered two big ones, then returned to Justin’s house. The door was now closed. In fact the place looked sealed up, but the van was still in the drive. He knocked.

Justin opened the door with a snarl on his face. Oh, man, this was one tough customer.

“What do you want?” Justin asked.

Al shrugged. Okay, he thought, I’m balancing two large pizza boxes on one hand.... “Well, I invited a few friends over to your place for pizza, I hope you don’t mind.” Justin started to close the door and Al put his foot in the way. “I want to talk to you.”

That sneer didn’t go away. “I have food, you know.”

“But do you have this kind of food? Because I never met a young man in my life who didn’t like pizza. Jesus, can I come in? You’re being such a pain in my ass!”

“Then just go away.”

Al pushed his way inside. The younger boys were sitting at the table, where there were three glasses of some kind of liquid, no ice. It looked like a meeting had been taking place. He put the pizza boxes on the table. “One is pepperoni and sausage and some other stuff and the other one is just lots of cheese because I wasn’t sure what would float here. Maybe someone could get me a drink or something? Whatever that is you’re drinking?”

“It’s Kool-Aid,” Justin said. “We were just talking. Then we might head over to the hospital. But I’ll call Eric, tell him I can’t work....”

“Justin, he’s not expecting you to come back to the station tonight. I think he’s pretty clear you’ve had some crazy stuff going on.” He opened the top box. “Kool-Aid is great.”

Justin sighed. “Al, this here is Danny. He’s fourteen. And this is Kevin. Twelve. Guys, this is Al Michel. The guy I told you about. I work with him.”

They each said, “Hi.” Very quietly.

Al nodded at them, then opened the two pizza boxes. “Dig in.”

“Thank you,” two quiet voices said.

And a glass of Kool-Aid was placed before Al by Justin. “Sit down, son,” Al said. “I’m not dangerous. And I’m not going to injure your pride, which is about the size of the Pacific Ocean.”

Justin sat down, but no one reached for pizza. Finally Al did, pulling a piece out of the pie and lifting it to his mouth. “First, we eat,” he said. “Then we talk.” No one moved. “Come on, boys.”

“I’m not that hungry,” Justin said. And once he said that, his younger brothers nearly sat on their hands.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d try to choke down a piece, just to be polite. Justin, take a piece of pizza so your brothers don’t feel so uncomfortable.”

Still, it took him a long moment. Then when he finally lifted a piece and took a bite, his brothers followed suit. And within ten minutes one of the pizzas was nearly gone. Al hid his smile. Not hungry? That would make sense after their mother was taken to the hospital. But it wasn’t the truth; they were growing boys.

He watched them with appreciation. Good-looking crowd, all of whom could use a decent haircut. Brown hair, brown eyes, straight teeth. Danny was getting a peachy, fuzzy stubble. Kevin wore glasses. Justin was thin, but then he was also tall. Maybe he’d recently shot up a few inches, growing into those big feet.

Danny sat back first, hands on his stomach. Kevin was next, but he pushed in one more piece first. There were only three pieces left when these boys without much appetite were full. “Get cleaned up while I talk to Justin,” Al said. “Then I’ll take you over to the hospital to see your mother, make sure she’s settled in all right.”

Danny and Kevin got up from the table but Justin said, “You have to go back to work.”