Pumpkin and Plum

Chapter 23: Scared

Sam's POV:

Mia forced me to join the gym. I was grumpy as we ate sushi.

"Cheer up pumpkin, it will work out well. Here, I have a surprise for you."

She handed me open air tickets to Hawaii.

"Kauai!?"

"Please say yes. I want to spend as much time as possible with you before we take off for college."

"Ok, but during the holidays. Also, I have to ask permission from Emara."

Mia scowled.

"Stop scowling, she is not bad you know."

"I know and that's why I don't like her."

"Sam, is that you son?" I turned to find Mr. Garrison. He was my dad's friend; he also worked in real estate.

"Hi, Mr. Garrison. How are you?"

"I am doing great."

He looked at Mia and added, "Can I take him away for a minute? I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all," Mia said.

I followed Mr. Garrison out to a secluded area.

"Sam, how is your work going? Any new projects?"

"No, I don't work for my dad anymore."

He looked taken aback, then a look of relief replaced it.

"It's all for good son, I am glad you are out of dan-" he stopped mid-sentence.

"Mr. Garrison, is there something amiss?"

"No, no, nothing. Can you convey a message to your father?"

"Sure."

"Tell him to complete the current project and not to accept any projects from the Fortune Fountain"

"Who!?"

"I think your father accepted the project without realising who they are. Just ask him to complete it and never get involved with them in the future. It's a relief you don't work there any longer."

The fact that Mr. Garrison was worried, bothered me more. He was at the front row of the Russian mafia that controlled illegal weapon distribution in California and we paid them tribute for protection. They were the big fish... What has my father gotten into?

"Sam, what happened? You look pale," Mia asked.

"Can we head home? I feel sick."

"Sure," Mia immediately got up.

"Move aside, I will drive." Mia took the wheel

"No, I can manage."

Mia's mom died in a car crash. Even though she knew how to drive, she never drove unless she had to. She grabbed the keys and marched resolutely to the driver's seat.

I couldn't stop the nagging suspicion that the disappearance of Mr. Henry was what triggered dad to stop me from working with him.

"Dad, do you work on the Fortune Fountain project?"

"How do you know? Did anyone threaten you?"

"No, no one threatened me. Mr. Garrison told me."

"What!?"

"He asked to complete the current project and not get involved with them in the future."

My father nodded as though he had already decided the same.

"What's happening, dad?"

"Sam, let's not discuss it."

"Is that why you didn't want me to work for you?"

"Sam..."

"Dad, are you in danger?"

"I hope not, I wish I could tell you. But it's best if you know as little as possible."

"Is Mr. Henry's disappearance connected with all this?"

My dad did a double take, "No, it's not."

"Dad, I want to help, please. Why not ask the police for help?"

"No," he almost shouted.

"Sam, promise me that you would never get involved. I want you to be safe. Promise me, son."

"Dad-"

"Sam, no hacking or no snooping around. Promise me."

"Fine, I won't."

"Sam, if anything happens to me, promise me that you won't do anything stupid."

"Dad?"

"Promise me, Sam. I want you to take care of Wade and Mia. I don't want you in harm's way."

"Dad, I can't-"

"Sam, you must. I promise I will stay safe. We just have one more month of work left."

The sinking feeling in my stomach stayed. Mia sat and rubbed my tummy.

"Mia, I am alright."

"You don't look it."

I pulled her into a hug. She kept rubbing my back murmuring encouragement. For the first time in my life, I was scared.