Waylon looks concerned but gets out of the car, and Cam follows after him. “Cam… this is the other one.”
“It’s so wonderful meeting one of Waylon’s friends that I don’t have to pay,” Leland says, which makes Cam laugh. “I’m Leland.”
“Cam,” he replies.
“It’s nice to meet you, Cam. Before we go on our life-changing journey, would you like to meet… The Fence?”
“Sure?” He seems uncertain, as do most people.
Waylon shakes his head as he tries to save his friend, and I have to be honest, I’d like to save him from the experience as well. “Nope. No, he doesn’t.”
A vehicle suddenly slides to a stop on the road before the driver honks the horn.
“Why’s your kidnapper van here?” Waylon asks.
“I had the seats put back in it for child safety reasons,” Leland says as he sets a hand on Waylon’s head and turns him to face the van. Cassel, wearing a full face mask and gloves, gets out of it.
“Why am I the only one dressed up?” Cassel asks.
“See, Waylon. I could be weird like him. Don’t forget his house is where youwantedto stay,” Leland says.
Cassel gasps. “You texted me, ‘Grab the kidnapper van. Do not show your face or any skin… leave that skin to the only man who wants it: Jeremy. *Vomit emoji*.’”
Leland looks pleased as Jeremy gets out of the passenger seat, also dressed like he’s going to rob a bank.
“What…” Cam just trails off.
“Cam, don’t look at them. Guys, we’re going to go play video games, so have fun without us,” Waylon says, looking worried as he ushers Cam toward the door.
Leland slides in front of them. “No, no, my dears. Into the van.”
“I’d really rather not,” Waylon says.
“What is happening?” Cam asks.
“Leland thinks he’s funny. He’s not.”
My husband issoproud of himself. “That is quite wrong. I don’tthinkI’m funny. IknowI’m funny, thank you very much.”
Leland swoops Waylon up and starts for the van. “Cam, you might as well come along unless you want to sit in the yard until we return.”
“Waylon, is this the guy Sally said tied a balloon to you and abducted you?”
“Sure is,” Waylon says, looking ultra defeated in Leland’s arms. “Please just remember that anything that happens today does not reflect on me as a person. I am a normal person. Please…please.”
Cam just laughs while Leland stuffs Waylon in a seat and buckles him in before putting a birthday hat on his head and snapping the band under his chin. “There we go. Do you need help with your seat belt like Waylon did?” Leland asks Cam.
Waylon just submits to the torture; he doesn’t even remove the hat.
“I think I got it,” Cam says as I get into the van with them. I mean… if this really is something atrocious, I need to be aroundto save Waylon and his friend. We could be heading out to see the world’s largest ball of yarn or bungee jumping off a bridge. One never knows when Leland is involved.
Leland gets into the driver’s seat while Cassel and Jeremy get in the back.
“This is Cassel… he’s like… Leland’s friend or brother or something, and his boyfriend Jeremy. Jeremy’s a police officer, so at least you know whatever we’re doing will be legal,” Waylon says. It’s kind of hard to reinforce this with Jeremy in his robber getup.
“Really? We have to do a career day thing where we shadow someone, and I thought it’d be neat to shadow an officer. Do you know if I can do that?” Cam asks.
Jeremy quickly pulls his robbing mask off and runs his fingers through his hair, like he’s trying to pretend the mask was never in play. “Yeah, of course. I’ll get some information and send it with Waylon.”
