The Adventures of Will Irving: Automaton Trouble

Chapter 6

"What happened to your head?" Hank asked.

"I had a run in with Julius Monroe today," Will answered quietly.

"Julius did that to you?" Hank asked, showing a slight bit of agitation.

"Not exactly. The bookshelf gave me the gash," Will explained. "Julius just happened to throw me into the bookshelf."

"I know the guy hates your guts and doesn't need much of a reason to want to beat you up, but what did he want?" Hank asked.

"He came into the office asking if I had ever seen this woman," Will answered as he pulled out the woman's photo from his pocket and handed it to Hank.

Hank examined the photo and then handed it back to Will.

"I've never seen her before," Hank said, shaking his head.

"Me neither...and that's what I told Julius. Then he asked me to rat her out if ever I did see her," Will related.

"What did you say to that?" Hank asked.

"I told him to tell Moe that I don't work for creeps," Will answered.

"And that's when he introduced you to the bookshelf," Hank joked.

"Yup," Will confirmed.

"Did he say anything about why he was looking for the girl?" Hank questioned.

"He wouldn't tell me," Will replied.

"Sounds like she needs help," Max interrupted.

"Not you too? That's exactly what Em said," Will said, somewhat annoyed.

"Well, she's right," Max persisted.

"I'm not sure there's much we can do anyway, Max," Hank noted. "We don't even know the girl or where to find her."

"Exactly! She's not our client...not our problem," Will stated.

Steps were heard coming down the stairs, and everyone quieted for a moment.

"Emily's in bed, Will," Jennifer said as she entered the living room.

"And that's where I need to be," Hank said as he rose from his place on the sofa. "Ready to go, Jen?"

"Sure, uncle. I'm pretty tired myself," Jennifer replied.

Hank and Jennifer said goodnight to Max and then walked to the front door with Will. After seeing his friends out and saying goodnight, Will went up to tuck Emily in and give her a goodnight hug and kiss. He then returned downstairs to the living room.

"I'm going to sit out on the porch for a bit," Will said to Max.

"Would you like some company?" Max asked.

"Sure," Will replied.

The two friends stepped out onto the front porch and sat down on a large wooden bench chair. Will and Max sat quietly for some time, enjoying the cool of the evening after having had such a hot day. Finally, Max broke the silence.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" Max asked quietly.

"What do you mean?" Will replied.

"When you said that the woman was not your client and not your problem," Max clarified.

"I don't know, Max," Will said with some frustration. "I mean...it's true that she isn't our client..."

"But..." Max anticipated.

"But...I guess I don't really believe that she isn't our problem," Will admitted. "You and Em are right. She needs help."

"What are you going to do?" Max asked.