Author's Note: I'm sorry for the absence, I've just been really low lately and it's been hard to find the motivation to write, but I finally managed to get a chapter together and I hope you will like it :)

CHAPTER 3

As per usual the kids and their uncle was picked up by Keller's partner in his old, grey van.
The boys were forced to ride in the back of the van, which wasn't only uncomfortable and unsafe but the whole van smelled like something had died in there.
The smell was most likely from Keller's partner, that smelled and looked like he had never taken a shower in his entire life.
Mozzie climbed into the van and placed himself in a corner where he could hold onto some sort of handle placed on the van's wall, so that he could at least feel a little secure.
Then he pulled his little brother onto his lap and placed his free arm around Neal's waist to make sure that the younger boy had some security as well.
Mozzie had found that this was the best way after an incident where the boys were sitting regularly in the van only to be sent flying into the when the driver made a sudden, violent halt.
Both of the kids had ended up with a concussion and Keller had put the blame entirely on them, claiming that their safety was their responsibility.
So Mozzie ended up taking it upon himself to make sure that they were as safe in the back of the van as they possibly could.

The van finally stopped at its destination and they were free of the uncomfortable van for now.
Keller's partner went into the museum first to do whatever it was that he did.
Mozzie wasn't sure what the man actually did, and he wasn't even sure what part Keller played in their heists, they were rarely on the actual crime scene.
Keller and the boys walked in a couple of minutes later, trying to look like a father and his two kids in order to blend in.
Once out of sight from the museum staff by the entrance, Keller gave them clear instructions on what they were going to do.

"Don't mess this up"

Keller said in a threatening tone before resting his hand where Mozzie had seen him put the gun.
Was it an intentional gesture to scare Mozzie or was it just a pure coincidence?
Mozzie didn't know and he really didn't want to find out, so he just took Neal by the hand and walked up the stairs.
It wasn't hard for the two boys to conjure up some fake tears, it was like they had a natural talent when it came to acting, or maybe they just had a natural talent when it came to tricking people.
In the end it was probably both.
They walked, hand in hand, to a museum staff member who was keeping an eye on the exhibit.
She immediately looked concerned when the young boys came towards her with crocodile tears running down their cheeks.

"Hi sweethearts. Are you lost?"
"We can't find our daddy"

Mozzie said with a sob and the woman immediately forgot about the exhibition to help the children, which gave Keller the opportunity to walk into the room unnoticed.

"Where did you lose him?"

She asked and Mozzie started to tell her about visiting another exhibition and how they were playing around and then suddenly their dad was gone.
He dragged the story out, making it unnecessarily long in order to give Keller as much time as possible and luckily the kind woman didn't interrupt him even once.
She just patiently listened to the little boy's rambling until he was done and then she suggested that they would go downstairs to the information disk and have someone call out a message for their dad.
Mozzie agreed and they followed the woman but they just made it to the staircase when they heard a voice behind them.

"Boys!"

Keller ran towards them and once he reached them he crouched in front of them, pulling the kids into a bone crushing hug.
Then Keller got up and gave the woman a thankful look.

"Thank you for taking care of them. I left the room for a second to take a call and when I came back they were gone. I was so worried"
"Oh it was no trouble at all. I'm just glad you found each other again"

The woman was genuinely concerned about them and that made it so much harder for Mozzie to not feel guilty. It was always harder deceiving the nice people.

"Is he okay?"

She suddenly asked and Mozzie looked to his side to notice that Neal hadn't stopped crying, in fact he just seemed to be crying more.
It seemed as if his fake tears had triggered real ones and that wasn't good.
Mozzie was about to hug his brother and try to calm him down but Keller beat him to it.
Their uncle picked Neal up and hugged him to his chest.

"I'm guessing he got very scared"

Keller said and the woman nodded in understanding, it seemed as if she believed his excuse.

"Shh, it's okay little guy. Daddy's here"

Keller's voice was so unbelievable soft and warm that he actually sounded like a comforting father.
It reminded Mozzie of their father, and all the times that he comforted Mozzie when he was upset.
Neal never really got to experience what it was like to have dad, since he was only two when their own dad passed away and his little brother had not a single memory of the man.

As soon as they reached the van, Keller put the still crying child down on the ground.

"Your stupid crying could have messed this all up!"

Keller yelled, causing Neal to take a step back in fear.
Mozzie pushed away his own fear and decided to try to defuse the situation or at the very least redirect Keller's anger on to himself.

"I told you this would happen"

Mozzie said, sounding way angrier than he had planned to. He was angry, he was very angry.
He was angry because Keller used them like puppets without caring for their needs and when they didn't have the chance to satisfy their basic needs like hunger, they were bound to act differently, especially Neal who was still too young to really control his emotions.

"I told you that he would get cranky without food but you-"
"Shut up, Mozzie"

Keller interrupted him before pushing the boy to the ground. Mozzie's body hit the concreate and he groaned from the pain.
Despite the pain he still forced himself to stand up again, only to see that Keller was now pointing a gun at Neal.
Mozzie knew that he should do something, he should jump in front of his brother or something but he completely froze.
He couldn't move, he couldn't speak.
Then Keller's finger was placed on the trigger and he swore that his heart stopped when Keller pressed the trigger.
He closed his eyes waiting for the loud sound but instead all he heard was a click of the gun and then Keller's laugh.
Neal let out a terrified whimper and that sound was enough for Mozzie to get over his shock and he ran to his brother, throwing his arms around him.
He was suddenly overcome with guilt.
Neal could've been shot, his only family could've been killed and Mozzie didn't protect him.
He looked back at Keller who was tucking the gun away again. Did the man know that the gun wasn't loaded or did he just take a guess?
Mozzie felt more disgusted by Keller than ever, he had pointed a gun at his own nephew without even hesitating.
Keller met his eyes and gave him a big smile, as if nothing had ever happened.

"You guys can walk home"

Their uncle said before he jumped into the van and within seconds the two boys were left alone on the parking lot outside a museum with no idea where they were or how to find their way home.