want to upset Brutus any further. He already seemed close to tears. “We… we don’t know if Carlos heard them right.” The tremor was very evident in Brutus' voice and he seemed close to breaking down and sobbing. “It was probably a mis-misunderstanding. Can I just go home now? I work at the animal shelter tomorrow morning, and I-I just want to go to bed.” My heart ached for the oblivious boy when I heard him plead like that. There was no way I was going to let him be home by himself now. He was going to have to stay here tonight, but I needed to find some way to convince him. “Of course, Brutus, but first could you make me a kettle of chamomile tea?” I asked innocently. Brutus nodded and went to the kitchen to make it. He would be too polite to say no if I offered him a cup, and after he drank it, I knew he would be too tired to walk back up to his apartment. Chamomile put Brutus to sleep faster than a child with warm milk. Just as I was about to turn back to the little hellion and give him a strong talking to about his hazardous decisions, I heard something at the door. The younger man must have heard it as well because he started to move towards the apartment’s only entrance. As we got closer, I could see the handle moving, almost as if someone was trying to pick the lock. Then I heard soft murmuring on the other side. I leaned my ear up against the wooden door to hear what they were saying. “You sure this is the right apartment? Seems like too nice a place for the guy we’re looking for,” said one of the men. “Hey, looks aren’t everything, you never know what dirty secrets he’s hiding in there,” said the second man. “And yes, I’m sure! While your sorry ass was knocked out, I followed the guy. Before I came back and got you, I saw him and some little dude walk right in here.” “Well, I’m not having much luck with this lock. Do you have any other ideas?” “How about we just break the door down?” That would be the last thing they ever did if they broke down my door. The nerve of some people! Like I said before, this younger generation had no respect! I was about ready to open the door up right at that moment just so I could give them a firm talking to, but then I realized I didn’t know how armed or trained these men were. They sounded inexperienced, but that didn’t mean they weren’t capable. “We’ll lose the element of surprise. You sure you want to go up against him like that?” “Hey, it’s basically two on one. We can take him. That other guy Page 84
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