CHAPTER THREE

"I need to go and find him," Lincoln announced in the living room. It was half an hour after LJ came home and told Linc that Michael was in Panama. During this half hour, LJ got a change of clothes and watched his father shout, yell and swear in whatever way he could. He knew how his father felt and thought it was really his mistake to let Michael go.

"What did I just do?" LJ thought, "Uncle Mike risked his life for me and I just let him walk away from me like that." Regretted as he was, he didn't know how he could fix this. He was angry. He was afraid. He was anxious. So when Lincoln said that he was going to find Michael, LJ immediately grabbed his backpack and decided to go too.

Sophia protested, "No, LJ. You stay." LJ said, "No way. I will help, Dad!"

Lincoln thought for a moment. "LJ, Sophia is right. I don't want you to come. Stay here and call me if Michael shows up. I'll be right back," Linc said and began to walk towards the door. LJ followed his father.

Linc noticed that LJ was behind him. He looked at LJ and said, "It's dangerous, LJ. Mike is still a wanted man in Panama and if a cop sees him, we've got to run. I'll do whatever I can to help Michael. Even if it means …"

"And so we'll do whatever we can to help Uncle Mike," LJ answered without even hearing the last part of Lincoln's sentence. Perhaps it was the urgency of the situation, or it was the determination Lincoln saw in his son's eyes, Linc nodded and went out. LJ followed closely behind.

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Linc and LJ were in their car which was moving pretty slowly. They needed to move around like this to make sure they could check every alley, every corner or perhaps every inch of the street. Panama City was not exactly a big place. The buildings were not tall. However, they were not built in a systematic way so that it was one of the best places for hide-and-seek, especially during the night. There was just no way for even the local people to tell where the beginning or the end of a street should be.

"You sure it's here?" Linc asked after checking the streets twice.

"Yes, this was where I saw Uncle Mike," LJ pointed at the lamp post and continued, "But dad, it was almost an hour ago. He must have gone."

Lincoln thought for a moment and said, "We should keep looking. I bet he's still here."

"Dad, you know. Maybe we should go to the nearby streets. I remember he was walking towards the Gardner Street the last time I saw him," LJ reasoned.

"You know what. We should get out of the car and check the area more closely. Michael is here. I know it," Lincoln said.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'm his brother and your dad."

"Let me search the nearby neighbourhood, dad"

"We stay together, LJ."

"It'd be faster."

"It'd be dangerous."

"Look, the more we debate on this, the further away Uncle Mike may have gone!"

"You're right. So, get out of the damn car and follow me close!" Lincoln ended the conversation. LJ followed reluctantly. He loved his dad but still couldn't forgive his stubbornness sometimes.

Linc and LJ circled around the blocks carefully, looking everywhere they could. The rain had stopped, however it was still very difficult for them to search. Would Michael still be here? Lincoln questioned in his heart. Or would the company have already taken him out? Lincoln felt sick when he thought of this.

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They were close when they were small. And they knew each other well. Lincoln could always tell where Michael was. He could always understand what he was thinking and feeling. However, they grew apart when they got older. It was probably due to the different paths they had chosen. Lincoln was the rebellious son who always got himself into troubles. Michael was the good kid who always did the right things but got dragged down by Linc all the time.

Lincoln remembered there was one time when Mike was lost. The foster parents had tried everywhere they thought of but still couldn't find Michael. They were worried sick, thinking that some bad things might have happened to him. Michael was just 14 at that time. They decided to search the neighbouring area but Linc insisted to search the nearby streets more closely once again. What made him think that Michael was there was nothing more than the hunch. He just knew.

Back then, it was the hunch that led Linc to the sobbing Michael in the dark alley two blocks away from where they lived. "I miss her," That was all Michael said when he saw Linc. Lincoln put an arm around his little brother, trying his best to comfort him. He knew he could never be as good as their mother. But he swore he would make things right for Michael. He didn't care what he had to give for that.

Nearly 15 years from that time, here they were. He and his son tried to find the missing Michael in Panama City. Despite Linc had made a promise that he would make everything right, he managed to screw everything up. Michael had given up his high-paying job, his loft, his future, his friends, his love and perhaps his soul in his quest of trying to save Lincoln.

Lincoln sighed when he thought of this. "What kind of brother am I?" Lincoln asked himself.

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It started raining again. Linc and LJ didn't even bother to take an umbrella. They walked around the buildings, hoping to catch any sign of Michael.

But there was just nobody on the street.

"Where are you, Michael?" Lincoln sighed again.