Dark Origins and Unlikely Heroes

Untitled Part 3

3

On the plane, Emerson realized a little too late that the flash drive was gone, but said nothing. His Father was already pissed (rightfully so, by the way), and didn't want to add onto the stress already building inside him.

"Those morons," he muttered, taking another drink of his scotch to help calm his nerves. "This gets out and we're screwed."

Emerson shook his head. "No, we aren't. We're not at fault here, Father. Our Lawyers can prove we did everything nice and legal for a change. They'll get a kick out of making an easy few million for a change."

Seemingly placated by his Son's never-ending optimism, he leaned back in the plush, cream leather seat and tried to let the nausea subside. The last twelve hours had been intense and a lot of uncertainty still hung, thick in the air.

And the back of his throat tickled slightly.

"We're going to our Doctor when we get home," he told his Son. "I want to make sure those idiots didn't dose us somehow."

Emerson nodded. "Arleigh would kill me if I was sick for our wedding."

"Your mother is looking forward to it being over with. The last eight months of planning the damn thing has stressed her greatly. We like your future bride, but we're eager to have it over with."

"You and I both," he sighed, suddenly exhausted. "I'm going to get some sleep in the back."

Cain nodded, getting a little more comfortable himself.

Back in Georgia, a distraught mechanic continued to pace his small living room, needing to know what the hell to do.

Then it clicked.

The smartest guy he knew. Of course!

His old Football coach.

He would know, right? Dude knew a lot. He went to College.

Farther than he ever got, that's for sure.

His Coach grew up in the inner city and stayed away from the drugs. Got his ass kicked for not doing any. A lot. Played sports, stayed out of trouble. Worked hard, did his best to keep his grades up and earned a scholarship to the University here. He'd gotten hurt during his time there, but finished his degree and went back home to teach kids it's possible to make it out in that world if you have the drive to.

When Ellis and Keith were under his watch, it was his voice of reason and cool logic that helped them the most when they went after their diplomas. He encouraged them to read by showing them books they'd be interested in; like mechanic guides, books on how to make fireworks and explosives, saying things like 'Ain't no one ever quote Don Quixote at me yet; but Uncle Sam sure as hell loves blowing shit up and training young assholes like you how to do it.'

He took the flash drive and closed the laptop, not wanting Keith to find out what he knew just yet.

Right now, he had to find Coach.

Noon on a Friday in the Summer.

Probably his favorite barbecue joint his Uncle runs. When he was on the team, his Uncle supplied the players with ice water and fresh, homemade lemonade during practice and a game.

Home and away.

Plus, he made some of the best barbecue in the State, and his place was almost always packed.

On his way to see him, he thought about what it would mean if he brought his Coach and a good man, into what he knew.

And began to get nervous.