The parking lot looked like some kind of emergency vehicle light show. At least eight police cars, two fire trucks, and two paramedic trucks—all with lights flashing. Cooper stepped out the front doors of Frank ‘n Stein’s alongside of Lunk and Officer Hammer.
“Coop!” Hiro called from the other side of the yellow POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS tape barrier. Gordy stood next to her waving.
Cooper pointed. “They’re the ones who called you.”
“They were with you the night of the robbery?”
“Yeah.”
Hammer motioned for Hiro and Gordy to join them.
Gordy ducked under the tape and raced over. Hiro hesitated for just a moment to wipe her cheeks, then ran to catch up.
She slammed into Cooper and hugged him tight. “I saw all the police cars and the paramedics.” Hiro looked up at him. “I thought you were dead.”
“God answered my prayers.”
She squeezed him tighter. “Mine too.”
“We came back to the boat early,” Gordy said. “Hiro had that spooky feeling. Found your note.” He stared at Cooper’s face.
“Looks like you’ve moved from arcade games to the real thing. Can you see out of that eye?”
“Clearer than I have in a week.”
Hiro clenched her fist and shook it at him. “If your face wasn’t already so messed up I’d let you have it.”
Hammer laughed. “Oh I can see this is going to be a fun night.”
Lunk stared at his shoes and suddenly looked awkward. Out of place.
Cooper pointed at him with his thumb. “And God sent Lunk along like a guardian angel.”
Lunk raised his eyes and stared at Cooper through strands of dark hair. “An angel?”
“It took two belts to keep that door closed. And both of us working on that wall.”
The faintest smile crossed Lunk’s lips.
“Well, next time, NEXT TIME, we all stick together,” Hiro said, poking Cooper in the chest. “That’s what we always do. Right?” She hooked one arm through Gordy’s arm, and the other through Cooper’s. “And that goes for you, too, Lunk. Seems to me we all need to stick together.”
“Yes Ma’am.” Lunk held up his hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say, Hiro.”
She nodded her head toward Cooper and Gordy. “With friends like these I could use a guardian angel too.”
Lunk grinned and jammed his hands in his camouflaged pants.
Gordy reached up and swept an arm around Lunk’s shoulder.
“Alright gang,” Hammer said. “I hate to interrupt this little reunion, but it’s time we all stick together and get down to the station. We’ll get your parents to join us. Then comes the really hard part. I’m going to need statements from all of you—and nothing but the truth.”
Cooper started toward Hammer’s police car. “The truth? That’ll be easy.” He smiled at Gordy, Lunk, and Hiro. “It’s the lies that are really hard.”