in. Thomas
got out just as the door was closing and went after him. The smart-assed kid
was going to pay for that comment, and he was going to make sure that he paid
dearly. The kid took off out of the building just as Thomas did and he was
darting down the street. He followed for about four blocks, losing him twice
before he couldn’t find him. He was just about to go back when he saw him go
into a big building and close the door. He started to follow, but when he got
to the building the intercom wouldn’t work and he stood out there for several
minutes pounding on the door that no one would answer. Thomas looked around. Maybe
he’d gotten the wrong building and he started to go down to the next one. By
the time he’d moved down three more he was exhausted.
Thomas was going to get the kid if
it was the last thing he did. The fucking little bastard would probably tell
his dad some stupid lie and Thomas would not only be out of a job, but he’d
also be barred from the building again. Pulling out his phone he called his dad.
“I just saw Trace leaving the Cunningham
building. I was worried he’d be hurt so, when I went after him, he took off. I
can’t stand that he thinks I’m going to hurt him all the time. Would you call
Michael and make him aware that his son is out running around again?” Thomas
groaned when he realized he should have called his mother first. She would have
maybe believed him quicker than his dad.
“What did you do to make him run,
Thomas? If you hurt that boy, you and I are going to tangle and then Michael
will—”
“I didn’t hurt him. And I didn’t
make him run. I told you, he was leaving the building and I followed. I lost
him on the street.” Thomas had one more thing to add to his list of grievances
from his stepbrother. “I would have called Michael but, like you, he would have
blamed me. You know I could have just let him run wild in the streets, but I
called to let someone know.”
His father relented, but still
didn’t act as if he believed him. His dad said he’d let Michael know as soon as
he hung up. And Thomas hung up soon after. He watched the three buildings and
when no one came out after thirty minutes, he moved on. Fucking kid would
probably end up dead and then what fun could Thomas have? He was grinning when
he went back to his apartment. Time to make some arrangements.
~~~
“Your father said for you to wait
here until he comes out of his meetings. He said to tell you to behave yourself
and not to touch anything.” Grace sat down at the big desk as she spoke to him.
“I don’t know why parents tell their kids that. How are you supposed to know
things if you can’t touch them?”
Trace grinned as he stuffed the
rest of the grapes in his mouth. He was glad the door downstairs hadn’t been
locked. He was sure that Uncle Thomas would have hurt him if he had been able
to catch him. Trace took a big drink of his water before he spoke. “Thanks
again, Miss Grace. I was all turned around until I saw your building. I’m glad
that man downstairs didn’t get mad when I almost knocked him over.” He watched
her face to see if she was mad. She didn’t appear to be, so he relaxed a
little.
He didn’t tell her the real reason
he’d been running around. He was sure she’d never believe him and was afraid
she’d make him go back with his uncle again. Trace looked down at his scuffed
shoes before he looked up at Grace when she started talking. He liked her. He
liked her a whole lot. She didn’t talk to him like he was a kid and she always
had something for him to snack on.
“Arnold. He’s my friend and a pain
in my ass.” She picked up this sheet of paper with a lot of small pictures on
it. “See this? It’s called a contact sheet. I’m supposed to pick one picture
out of all these to put on the cover of my catalogue. Why on earth would you
need…” He could see her counting. “Fifty-three? He took fifty-three pictures?
Christ, why did I… Anyway, he
got out just as the door was closing and went after him. The smart-assed kid
was going to pay for that comment, and he was going to make sure that he paid
dearly. The kid took off out of the building just as Thomas did and he was
darting down the street. He followed for about four blocks, losing him twice
before he couldn’t find him. He was just about to go back when he saw him go
into a big building and close the door. He started to follow, but when he got
to the building the intercom wouldn’t work and he stood out there for several
minutes pounding on the door that no one would answer. Thomas looked around. Maybe
he’d gotten the wrong building and he started to go down to the next one. By
the time he’d moved down three more he was exhausted.
Thomas was going to get the kid if
it was the last thing he did. The fucking little bastard would probably tell
his dad some stupid lie and Thomas would not only be out of a job, but he’d
also be barred from the building again. Pulling out his phone he called his dad.
“I just saw Trace leaving the Cunningham
building. I was worried he’d be hurt so, when I went after him, he took off. I
can’t stand that he thinks I’m going to hurt him all the time. Would you call
Michael and make him aware that his son is out running around again?” Thomas
groaned when he realized he should have called his mother first. She would have
maybe believed him quicker than his dad.
“What did you do to make him run,
Thomas? If you hurt that boy, you and I are going to tangle and then Michael
will—”
“I didn’t hurt him. And I didn’t
make him run. I told you, he was leaving the building and I followed. I lost
him on the street.” Thomas had one more thing to add to his list of grievances
from his stepbrother. “I would have called Michael but, like you, he would have
blamed me. You know I could have just let him run wild in the streets, but I
called to let someone know.”
His father relented, but still
didn’t act as if he believed him. His dad said he’d let Michael know as soon as
he hung up. And Thomas hung up soon after. He watched the three buildings and
when no one came out after thirty minutes, he moved on. Fucking kid would
probably end up dead and then what fun could Thomas have? He was grinning when
he went back to his apartment. Time to make some arrangements.
~~~
“Your father said for you to wait
here until he comes out of his meetings. He said to tell you to behave yourself
and not to touch anything.” Grace sat down at the big desk as she spoke to him.
“I don’t know why parents tell their kids that. How are you supposed to know
things if you can’t touch them?”
Trace grinned as he stuffed the
rest of the grapes in his mouth. He was glad the door downstairs hadn’t been
locked. He was sure that Uncle Thomas would have hurt him if he had been able
to catch him. Trace took a big drink of his water before he spoke. “Thanks
again, Miss Grace. I was all turned around until I saw your building. I’m glad
that man downstairs didn’t get mad when I almost knocked him over.” He watched
her face to see if she was mad. She didn’t appear to be, so he relaxed a
little.
He didn’t tell her the real reason
he’d been running around. He was sure she’d never believe him and was afraid
she’d make him go back with his uncle again. Trace looked down at his scuffed
shoes before he looked up at Grace when she started talking. He liked her. He
liked her a whole lot. She didn’t talk to him like he was a kid and she always
had something for him to snack on.
“Arnold. He’s my friend and a pain
in my ass.” She picked up this sheet of paper with a lot of small pictures on
it. “See this? It’s called a contact sheet. I’m supposed to pick one picture
out of all these to put on the cover of my catalogue. Why on earth would you
need…” He could see her counting. “Fifty-three? He took fifty-three pictures?
Christ, why did I… Anyway, he
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