The Spark

“Oh.”

A minute later, she said, “What kind of car would you get if you were buying it?”

“If I was buying it and wasn’t pla

She nodded.

“A nineteen seventy Ford Bronco.”

“Really? A fifty-year-old car? I don’t know what it looks like.”

“Did you ever see the movie Speed?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, it’s what Keanu Reeves drove. I watched that movie twenty times when it came out, just to check out his character’s car.”

She smiled. “That’s not the type of car I would have expected you to covet.”

“I think there’s a lot about me you’re going to find out tonight that you might not have expected.” I pointed up ahead. “Pull over in front of those of stores.”

“Near that group of guys?”

“Yeah.”

Autumn did as I asked. But when she put the car in park, she went to turn off the ignition.

“Keep it ru

“I want to go with you.”

“You’re not going with me.”

“Why not?”

“Can you just trust me?”

She sighed. “Okay, okay. I’ll wait in the car.”

I opened my door and turned back before getting out. “Lock the doors behind me.”

There were three guys standing in front of a closed neighborhood grocery store. They eyed me as I approached.

“I’m looking for a twelve-year-old kid named Storm. Any chance you’ve seen him around?”

The taller of the three lifted his chin. “Who’s asking?”

“I am. Name’s Decker.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know any Decker.”

“I don’t live in the neighborhood anymore. I used to hang with Dario over on Cleveland Street and ate my meals with Bud most nights.”

The guy rubbed his chin. “Decker, huh? That does sound familiar.”

“Look, I’m trying to find the kid to keep him out of more trouble than he’s already in.” I tilted my head toward the car. “That’s his social worker in the car. She’s putting her neck on the line right now by not calling in that he disappeared from Park House. If I don’t find him, we’re going to have to call it in, and then he’s in deeper shit than he needs to be.”

Two of the guys looked at each other, and one nodded. “I don’t know if the kid you’re looking for is there, but there’s a group around that age that hangs out in the abandoned lot over on Belmont Ave. And check out behind the pizza place off Jerome Street.”

“Thanks.”

Autumn and I stopped at the park, since it was on the way. I ran out and looked around, but it was empty. Then I gave her directions to the abandoned lot the guys at the store had mentioned.

“You know this neighborhood pretty well. Did you have clients here when you did street crimes?”

“Nope. Used to live here myself.”

“Really? I don’t think you mentioned that when we…met to exchange luggage.”

I looked over and waited until her eyes met mine. “I don’t think you mentioned that I only had seventy-two hours to fill you in on my life story because you were going to disappear.”

She smiled sadly. “I guess I deserve that.”

We both stayed quiet until we pulled up at the abandoned lot. Again, I got out by myself and had a few words with the people I encountered. Unfortunately, Storm wasn’t there, but one of the kids knew him and suggested trying some girl named Katrina’s block, because Storm “got it bad for the girl.”

Over the course of two hours, we went from place to place. It was begi

As we pulled close, Autumn asked, “Can I handle this?”

I nodded. “Of course. Just stick close to the car, please. And if he acts like a little punk and takes off ru

“Deal.”

I watched from the car as Autumn and Storm spoke. It looked like she laid into him good, and the kid was smart enough to just take it and not argue back. After about ten minutes, he climbed into the backseat while Autumn got behind the wheel. I turned.

“I’m sure Autumn covered most of what needs to be said, so I’m just going to add two things.” I counted off with my finger. “One, you may not give a shit what happens to you, but Autumn here could be arrested for not reporting that you took off. I’m going to take a leap of faith and assume you didn’t know that. But now that you do, you need to think twice about how your actions affect others—especially a person who is good to you.” Storm was avoiding eye contact, so I spoke with a stern tone. “Look at me.”

His eyes flashed as they met mine.

“How many people in your life can you count on? I got a pretty good feeling that number is low. So I’m going to give you some life advice, man to man—not attorney to dumbass client. When you find a person who has your back, you make sure you have theirs. So from now on, before you do something stupid, you act like a man and think about the consequences. Got it?”

Surprisingly, he didn’t grumble too much. “Got it.”

Autumn was driving, so she couldn’t see our interaction, but I nodded in her direction, hoping he’d take a hint.

Storm frowned but after a moment, he spoke. “Sorry, Autumn. I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.”

Satisfied, I went on with my lecture. “And number two, you might be a tough kid, but you don’t walk around these streets alone at night. You stick with a buddy, or better yet, two or three of them. If you grew up here, you know what you were just doing was dumb. You might have friends and know the blocks to keep off of, but it’s not safe out here alone, no matter how tough you are.”

He wasn’t as receptive to that comment, but at least he didn’t argue. Honestly, half the struggle for a kid in his situation was knowing which battles to fight and which to surrender to. Storm was smart and had figured that one out early.

“I don’t remember which way the police station was,” Autumn said as she drove. “Do I make a right or a left at the light?”

“The police station is to the right, but go left. Let’s drop him off at Park House before you take me back to my car.”

“It’s okay. I can handle it from here. I already have you out so late.”

“I’m fine. I’d rather make sure the resident manager didn’t jump the gun and call Probation, and also that no one gives you a hard time.”

“Oh, alright. Thanks.”

Park House was quiet, and luckily no one had called Probation. So once I knew there was no trouble brewing, I waited outside to give Autumn and Storm some time to talk. I sensed she’d wanted to have another heart to heart with him.

I was leaning against her car when she walked out a few minutes later.

“Everything go okay?”

She nodded. “Though I also thought everything was going to be okay the other day when I dropped him off. I just don’t get what it’s going to take to scare him.”

“Unfortunately, not much scares a kid like him.”

Autumn’s eyes quietly roamed my face. “It sounds like you’re saying that from personal experience.”

“I am.”

She made a face that reminded me why I didn’t often talk about how I grew up. I loathed pity. That shit should be saved for people who can’t help themselves.

I shoved my hand into my pockets. “Every screwed-up kid who manages to pull himself up out of the dirt has one person who made a difference in his life. You’re Storm’s person. You may need to use that to your advantage at times.”

“What do you mean?”