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“Like what?”

“You know. That I went to Sunshine Union High. Was captain of the soccer team. I have connections with the Garras.” Alex held his hand out, ticking each one off. “I’m a hard-ass, apparently.”

Hal wheezed, the kind of laugh that folded him over the counter. Alex glared at him, waiting it out. When Hal finally straightened, wiping his eye, he sighed. “Did you respond?”

Alex swiped to the beginning of the chat and passed his phone through the plastic barrier’s opening.

Hal squinted at the cracked, dirty screen as he read through the messages. “Robin? Like the bird?”

“Your name is literally Falcon in Spanish,” said Alex, emphasizing every word.

Hal ignored him. “So, they know your friend.” He looked up as Alex grabbed his phone back. “The one that killed himself at Sunshine Mall?”

“Yup,” said Alex. “Weird, right?”

“Who doesn’t know him though? He’s been the hottest topic for a while.”

“Yeah, but they knew I went to high school with him. And this job that they are offering is related to him.”

Hal’s large eyes perked. “Hold up.” He pointed at Alex’s phone in his hand. “I know I didn’t read everything, but they mentioned a job?”

Alex nodded, shuffling his feet on the peppered laminate tiled floor. “Yeah. That’s where you come in.”

“Woah, woah, woah.” Hal raised his hands and backed up. “I didn’t agree to nothin’. You know I’ll hear ya out, but I ain’t agreeing to nothing if I don’t know what I’m getting into.”

“Dude, relax. It ain’t that hard.” Alex signaled Hal to lower his hands and guard down. “All we gotta do is meet up with someone at Norms. Talk to said person about the job, then see if we accept it or not. No commitment.”

Hal nodded slowly, stroking his thick goatee. “I mean, I like Norms.” He smacked his lips and shook his head. “But why me?” he asked, pressing his fingertips to his own chest. “Why you need me for?”

Alex tilted his head as if Hal forgot what it was like to be in a potentially dangerous situation. “’Cause I don’t wanna go alone? I might get mugged or shot? And no one is gonna pick me up?”

“How is this any different from your other jobs?”

Alex heaved a sigh. He pushed his arms onto the counter, clasped his hands together like he was begging Hal in a confession booth. “Please, man. Who else I got? C’mon.”

Alex didn’t have to look up to know Hal was looking down at him with pity. Even Hal’s silent disappointment was better than having a father who only saw you as a unit. Even if they were just a few years apart, Alex chose to rely on Hal more than anyone, especially because they left a gang that consumed the majority of their lives. Alex looked up when he heard Hal sigh.

“So, what made you want to trust this ‘Robin’?” asked Hal, making air quotes with his fingers.

“Said the person we are meeting has a job related to the Durdens. Apparently there’s a rumor that the source is coming from the Garras.”

Hal straightened, gaze serious. “You’re joking.”

Alex shook his head once.

“There’s no way in hell that anyone,” said Hal, emphasizing with his finger, “especially from whoever is left at the Garras now, would get their hands on any Durden. Those goods have been off the market ever since your pretty friend made headlines for making it a failure. Impossible to get your hands on that shit. And you telling me them Garras have that shit again? No offense, I love my hermanos, but they ain’t the brightest bitches on the block.”

“I know, man. I know.” Alex rocked himself on his heels. “But I have a feeling if I take this job, I might learn something.”

“About?”

Alex shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at his own feet. He had always kept his school life and gang life separate. For the longest time, Alex thought he couldn’t make connections with anyone outside of the Garras, but Ayase proved otherwise. It could have been from all the soccer practices, their late-night deep talks, or even teasing each other about their crushes, but Alex truly knew what Ayase meant to him when he made him promise on the day before the Paragon incident.

“Whatever you do, don’t let Jun know about any of this.”

To Alex, no matter who made a deal with him, he never went back on his word. Even for a high school friend.

He glanced at Hal with a look of determination whenever he made up his mind. “What happened to Ayase and why he did that.”