Page 24

The knock on the door was a welcome interruption.

Harry had been organising paperwork for competing assignments he wished he hadn’t taken — one from Agent Zee and another from Agent Zed. He honestly wasn’t sure whether they worked together just to spite him, worked for different organisations just to spite each other, or were simply angry at the world. Maybe all of it.

Harry was both happy and surprised to see his friend Mustafo Bob in the doorway.

“Harry!” Bob called, breathless. “Harry! I need your help! The kids need your help!”

Bob was not one for hysterics. Hyperbole, yes. Exaggeration, definitely. But hysterics — no.

Harry ushered him inside and gestured to a chair.
“Bob,” he began slowly. “What’s the issue?”

Ignoring the chair and opting instead to pace with his hands a-flurry, Bob began rambling in mostly coherent statements.
“It’s the kids!” he started. “Or at least one of them.”

Whether he meant to or not, Bob paused for dramatic effect while Harry looked on inquisitively.

“He’s missing!”

Turning to face him, Bob looked wild-eyed — enough that Harry half-expected him to grab his collar and shake him. Instinctively, Harry took a step back.

“Who’s missing?” Harry asked in a calm tone. “And when?”

“This morning!” Bob almost wailed. “The kids — you know, the ones who walk by on their way to school — well, they walked by this morning, but one was missing! He wasn’t there!”

Harry held up a finger, trying to calm him.
“Bob,” he said, still level. “It’s flu season.”

He let the statement hang, certain Bob would fill in the rest himself.

Bob just shook his head. “No, no, no. It’s not the flu,” he insisted. “Something has happened!”

He looked at Harry pleadingly. Now it was Harry’s turn to put the rest together.

“And you want me to find out,” Harry concluded.

Bob nodded. “It’s for the kids, Harry,” he reminded.

Harry took a slow breath, then let it out. Bob was his friend. Even if all Harry had to do was prove the child was alive and well, he’d do it.

“Okay, Bob,” he said. “I’m on it.”