Update update update
Saturdays started early in the Tomago household. On November 1st, the Saturday started with an interrogation.
Luca hopped up on one of the stools at the counter, where Scout was sitting and Wasabi was lightly grilling him.
"So you've been on your own for a week now?"
"Yes sir, just about. Andrew left about eight days ago and didn't come back."
"And you didn't call the police?"
"No, sir."
"What about your parents?"
"They're not around much, sir."
"But could they have any idea where Andrew is?"
"I don't think so, sir. They're in prison, sir. But Andrew isn't like them. He hates them." Luca listened, silent but supportive, his hand on Scout's shoulder.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Scout, do you want me to call you Scout?"
"That's my real name, sir."
"Okay, just making sure. Scout, it might be best if I called Child Protective Services. They could help you."
"No sir, please…" Scout sounded scared, and the strong hand on his shoulder slipped down to his hand, squeezing it. Scout squeezed back, terrified. His grip was stronger than Luca's, as he often tackled people twice Luca's size in the legal combat known as football.
"My family might have its shortcomings, sir, but they're my family, and that's my home… Please, sir…"
"Okay, I have an idea. Boys get dressed and ready to go." Luca didn't question his dad, he just went to get ready. Scout had thrown some things in a bag and went to go change after Luca changed.
"Luca, don't bring your camera today. If it gets misplaced we can't get you a new one until Christmas." Luca nodded and grabbed a sketchbook instead.
"Where are we going, sir?" Scout asked nervously.
"First we're getting breakfast. Then we're going to look for your brother. If we don't find him today, I think I know a place where you can stay for a while."
A few minutes later, they pulled up at the Lucky Cat Cafe.
"What is this place? I've never been here."
"It's like the best bakery ever," Luca explained, waving hello to Aunt Cass.
"Scout, do you like cinnamon rolls?" Wasabi asked, the teen nodding.
"Hello, Cass, three cinnamon rolls, a coffee and two, orange juice, Scout?"
"Yes, sir."
"Two orange juices."
"Coming right up!"
Scout and Luca sat down and rearranged the sugar packets while Wasabi talked to Cass and waited for their food. After a few minutes, the two adults came over.
"Scout, this is Cass Hamada."
"Hello, ma'am, it's nice to meet you," Scout said with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you too, Scout."
"Cass said that if we couldn't find your brother today you could stay with her for a while."
"Thank you, ma'am." Scout was a little nervous, still fiddling with the sugar packets. She put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly and then went to go get their cinnamon rolls.
"I know you're probably very nervous right now, Scout. I know what it's like to be scared and on your own. Cass Hamada helped me out when I was younger and needed someone in my ring. And if things don't work out with your brother, or here, I will find a way to help you, okay Scout?"
"Yeah, you're part of our family too now," Luca chimed in.
"Thank you," Scout said shyly, looking down, "I don't deserve your kindness."
"Everyone deserves kindness, no matter what they've done or where they come from," Luca said decidedly. Wasabi beamed at his son before turning to Scout.
"Do you have any idea where Andrew might be?"
"Yeah, sometimes he hangs around Good Luck Alley." Wasabi felt the blood rush out of his face.
"Okay. Khary has a show down there, maybe he knows something. We'll go to Good Luck Alley, but you're both staying in the car."
"Yes sir," Scout agreed. He really didn't like Good Luck Alley. He hated that his older brother was spending time there.
"Thank you again, Cass, I'll let you know about Scout's situation, well, when I know more about Scout's situation."
"Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help whoever needs me."
"I knew you would be. And I think this boy may need a lot of help." Luca and Scout were talking about their plans for the next Halloween party, or maybe a Christmas party, or New Year's Eve. Wasabi let them dream but he did worry for Luca's friend.
"Okay boys, here's the rules about Good Luck Alley. You stay in the car, it shouldn't be too warm or too cold but I'm leaving the keys and you can roll down the windows a little bit if there's a problem. Stay in the car, oh, and hold these." Wasabi distributed box cutters from the glove compartment.
"Why do you have two box cutters?" Luca wondered.
"Because I have two children," Wasabi said without blinking, clambering out of his car, locking it, and searching for someone's brother, his or Scout's, or, optimally, both.
Wasabi had good instincts when it came to finding Khary. He couldn't always be what his brother needed, but he would always try to be there. And it wasn't that hard, walk towards the theatre and he'd find the performer. He held onto a picture that Scout had been able to provide him of Andrew and wondered what the odds were that Khary knew Andrew. And, though Wasabi didn't want to think about it, what were the odds that someone in Good Luck Alley wasn't up to something that, well, would mean bad luck for Scout.
"I hate it here," Scout blurted after a minute of processing his nerves.
"Good Luck Alley?"
"Yeah. It's more like Bad Choice Alley."
"My uncle works near here," Luca said absently, grabbing his sketchbook from the seat, "but let's not think about where we are. Let's play a game. We'll make a story. I'll draw a picture, then you draw a picture, and we'll make up a story with whatever we create together. Okay? Sound good?" Scout wanted to make a living writing children's books, and Luca knew that.
"Yeah."
Wasabi had only left the kids for ten minutes when he ran straight into Khary, who jumped back when he saw his big brother.
"Wasabi, what are you doing here? Is it Reese or Luca? Are they okay?"
"It's not about the kids, it's about their friend, Scout. He has a brother who is said to hang around here. Andrew Burks. You know him?" Khary looked a little uncomfortable.
"The name doesn't ring a bell."
"How about the picture?" Wasabi pressed, showing Khary what he had on hand.
"No, I don't know him. Wes, I don't think you should be out here, it's not safe."
"We're not starting that, Khary, unless you want to hear the same lecture."
"No, listen, I already have to be out here for work. I'll keep an eye out for that Andrew guy. You enjoy your Saturday, spend time with your kids."
"Khary, finding this guy is very important. He's all Scout has left."
"I'm sure not all," Khary said, knowing how quick Wasabi was to welcome people into his family.
"Be careful, Khary. I trust you to handle yourself, but you're right. We're not in the safest neighborhood. That's why I want to make sure you get home safe tonight, and why I want to make sure Andrew Burks gets home safe too."
"Got it. I'll see what I can do. See you later."
"See you tonight."
"Yeah…"
Wasabi returned to the car to find his son and Scout doodling and laughing, enthralled by their project. He smiled sadly and got in.
"You can hang out with us for as long as you want, Scout. I think you'll probably be spending the night at Cass's, though. My brother is keeping an eye out for Andrew. He'll let me know if anything turns up."
"Thank you, sir." Scout sounded choked up.
"It'll be okay, Scout. You'll always have someone to reach out to. There are a lot of people who care about you," Wasabi assured.
"Thank you…"
Later that night, when the twins were in bed, Scout was at the Lucky Cat, and Khary had yet to come home, Wasabi did a little research.
"Matilda and Joseph Burks worked at Sycorax before their imprisonment," he mentioned offhandedly to his wife.
"Oh great, Sycorax."
"I hope that kid will be okay," Wasabi sighed.
"I'm sure he will be. I'm glad Luca was looking out for him or who knows how long Scout would have been alone."
"We should unground Luca. Tomorrow. It would make it easier for him to be there for Scout."
"So long as neither of them ventures into Good Luck Alley. I already don't like that your brother is there. I don't want to find out that Reese and Luca wind up there again."
"We'll take care of them…"
"You coming to bed?" GoGo asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm gonna stay up, wait for Khary. See if he learned anything about Andrew Burks."