Chapter Eight

“So. You’re the guy Alex has running around for him lately.” Luke looks Chris up and down with a bit of a disgusted look. Chris is a mess. His hair is dirty, his eyes are red from lack of sleep, he’s scrawny, underfed. His jeans have a nasty rip above the knee and a bandage is visible beneath the tatters. The dirt on his sweatshirt looks like it’s been gathering for a few weeks. Luke frowns and shakes his head. “I was hoping for someone a bit tougher, but whatever. Alex says you can get the job done.”

“Yeah, I’ll get it done." Chris thinks about Lily again. It's all he thought about anymore. The tears. Anguish. Those photographs. "I don’t have much choice.”

“Whatever man. What’s your name?”

Chris hesitates. This guy looks tough. And rough. Not the kind of guy you want following you home. Giving someone like this your real name is probably a bad idea. Chris thinks for just a second and then stares Luke in the eye, straightening his back and trying to make himself look tougher than he feels. “Craig,” he replies.

“Alright Craig. Let’s get in there and take care of this kid so I can go home.”

“Alex said we just need to rough him up a little right? Maybe break a few things in the house and scare him? Do you even know who this guy is?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. I don’t want to know. Let’s go.”