Vau’s garage reminded Malik of what you’d see in the movies. The outside looked like a no-frills storage facility and scrapyard combined. The truck rolled to a stop in front of a sizable chain-link fence at least ten feet high that seemed to surround the entire compound. Just beyond the barrier stood a large metal building with several white garage doors. All entrances were closed but one. Vau stopped at the call box and said, “Open up.” The gate slid open, and Vau pulled into the gravel lot toward the open garage door and parked the truck. “We do a night shift on Fridays for the late-night weekend accidents,” Vau explained to Magaly and Malik. The three got out of the pickup to see someone walking toward them.
“What do we have here?” the man asked. He was slightly taller than Malik with brown curly hair and dressed in coveralls and boots.
“Tony,” Vau said, “meet Malik and Magaly. They’re friends of Dr. Patel’s.”
Tony seemed to assess Malik and Magaly and nodded. “What’s up.”
Malik nodded back, and Magaly said, “Hi.”
“I found them on the side of the road,” Vau explained. “Doc loaned Malik his car. They got into a little trouble and needed some help.”
“The Jag,” Tony said, seemingly impressed. He walked around the car, inspecting it. “It doesn’t look like there’s any major structural damage, but we will have to get it on the lift to check it out.”
“How long will that take?” Malik asked. He felt his voice rise a little and cleared his throat.
“Why?” Tony asked. “Do you guys have somewhere you need to be?”
“Well,” Malik said, “I— I—”
Vau cut him off. “They are in trouble with those clowns from Confidence Biotech. That’s why Doc loaned them his car. I’m sensing a bit of panic in the kid,” Vau said, looking at Malik. “I get it. You have no idea who we are, and we are about to put your only way out of here on a lift, stranding you here for the foreseeable future.”
Malik didn’t say anything. Vau was spot on.
“How about this,” Vau continued. “Is there anyone you can trust to pick you up and take you someplace safe? Someone who isn’t connected to any of this?”
Malik had been thinking about this all evening, and the same name kept popping into his head. He should’ve called him a while ago, even before tonight. The last time they spoke, it was a difficult conversation. It was Malik’s fault, and he knew that. “I know one person I can call,” Malik said.
“Who?” Magaly asked.
“Coach O,” Malik said.
Magaly opened her mouth to ask more about him, but Malik rushed on, “I’ll explain everything later, I promise.” Malik turned to Vau. “Do you have a phone I can use?”
“Tony, do you mind getting that on the lift?” Vau asked, pointing to the tow truck. “You two follow me.”
The inside of the garage was like a museum exhibit. There were rows of antique cars from various decades, all in mint condition, buffed chrome all around.
“I’ve never seen this many shades of green before,” Magaly said.
“Neither have I.”
“They don’t make them like this anymore,” Vau said. “Malik,” he pointed to a glass window carved in a brick wall, “there’s a landline phone in the office.”