“Yep.”
“Lucas can meet you at the building at seven.”
Aaron automatically converted that to military time: 1900. “Thank you.”
<°)))><
Monday evenings could be quiet, the work week not yet cranked up. By seven, there were only a few cars left in the car park, and a few lights on in the building—most of the workers had gone for the day.
The signage light illuminated the cross and flowers. Aaron sat on a bench outside the main entrance staring at them. They belonged to the parents of those lost ones. He hadn’t forgotten the parents. Losing loved ones wasn’t something to be taken lightly, and he was hopeful the security man would help him solve the crime. He heard a door open and some quiet chatting. The building lights went off but the signage light remained on. He looked up and nodded to some workers as they walked out the main doors.
One of the workers stopped and looked at Aaron. “Are you okay? Are you meeting someone?”
“I’m fine, thanks. Yes, I’m meeting someone. It’s someone from the building security firm. They should be here soon. We won’t be going in the building. Thanks for your concern.”
“No worries.” The worker walked off.
Aaron watched the cars leave. Not long after, a car turned into the car park. The driver parked the car near the building entrance and sat in the car staring at Aaron. It didn’t look like this man was going to get out of the car. Aaron waved, got up, and headed toward the vehicle.
Aaron placed his hand on the roof of the car. “Lucas, is it?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t think that this man had an ounce of fear in him. “Remember me from the other night?” There was no immediate response. Aaron could almost hear the gears turning over in Lucas’s head.
“I do, but it was a mistaken identity. Not sure how I can remedy that.”
Aaron pressed his fingers hard into the car’s roof. “Mistaken identity? Not sure if I believe that, Lucas. You see, my father died just over there not too long ago and I believe that you know what caused his death.”
“Now why would you think that?”
“Deformed animals.” Aaron thought he smelled a whiff of the cheesy scent of the decaying animals.
Lucas snickered. “Listen, mate. I have no idea what you’re talking about, except that some pet hater has been dumping cats and dogs over there in the bush. If that’s what you’re talking about, then I’m not that pet hater and you’ve got the wrong man.”
“Are you responsible for the death of the workers? They left some proof, you know.”
That got him. It was a small pause, but enough to convince Aaron that he was on the right track.
“What proof? What are you talking about, man?”
“The technology you were working on, the experiments. They were causing deformities.” Aaron considered dragging this man out of the car. “My dad’s autopsy report indicated a deformity.”
Lucas just stared up at Aaron. “You’re a brave man coming here and making these accusations. Can I suggest you stop right there, because you’re entering dangerous territory. I know your lady friend, Mackenzie. I assume that’s her name, that’s what her personalised plate said, unless of course that wasn’t her hot little red car. And if what you say about the technology is true, I would be a worried man.”
That caught Aaron off guard. How did he know about Mackenzie? He took his hand from the roof of the car and clenched his fist. There was a strong urge to grab this bloke by the scruff of the neck.
The man continued. “Your dad’s death was an accident. No one’s going to believe what you just told me. The plan for the technology is for positive purposes. We’ve made some slip-ups, but overall this is going to be good for society. Any deaths related to the technology have happened by accident.”
Aaron’s fingernails dug into his hand. Lucas had basically admitted his involvement. Plan for the technology? Positive purposes? What was this man talking about? “But my dad’s dead, and if you’re involved, you’re not going to get away with it.”
“I’m sorry, that’s all I can say. If you decide to take this any further then your Mackenzie is in danger.”
If Aaron’s fingers went any deeper they would draw blood. “You know I can’t let you get away with such threats.”
“Yes, you can. You have to.”
Anger rose within Aaron. The man was full of himself. How dare he make such threats? “Why don’t you get out of the car?”
The man’s arrogance seemed to be growing. “I don’t need to.”
Aaron reached his right arm through the window and grabbed the top of Lucas’s polo shirt. “Listen . . . you touch Mackenzie, you’re a dead man.”
“I won’t touch her unless you make me.” The man looked down at Aaron’s hand on his shirt. “Could you please let go of my shirt . . . I wouldn’t want to hurt such a beautiful girl. I have noticed of late that I’m becoming a bit unstable. Keep that in mind. And don’t involve the police.”
Aaron gripped the shirt a bit tighter. He saw Lucas grab something. A high-voltage current hit Aaron, bringing instant pain. Aaron jolted back, stunned, disoriented. He tried grabbing the roof of the car but couldn’t focus. His thought process was scrambled, like the enemy has blasted his radar system with noise. Dazed, he staggered back and fell to his knees. He tried to focus on the head in the car. He saw Lucas’s lips moving. A smirk?
Lucas held up the stun gun. “Does Mackenzie carry one of these?”
He reached out to grab the man, but his movement had not yet returned to normal. He tried to focus on the car as it drove off. The brake lights reminded him of Christmas.
Aaron staggered over to the bench at the entrance and sat down. His muscles seemed to be coming back to order. Those tiny neurological impulses travelling through his body had recovered from the shock and were back into their normal routine. He rubbed the back of his neck. His head was clearing.
He pictured Lucas’s grotesque smirk. In fact, when Aaron was under the spell of that stun gun, all of Lucas’s head looked gross. Maybe his real face changed. Aaron had heard stories of faces changing when evil was present. And now he knew the other night wasn’t an accident. It was intimidation. Mr Lucas Goatee was trying to scare Aaron, and it was obvious that drugs were clouding his thinking and judgment. His warning, although delivered in a confident manner, came out sounding panicked. Aaron was concerned about Lucas: his mind appeared unsound. And Aaron was more than concerned about Mackenzie.
He sat there alone in the car park, looking up to the heavens. There were only a few stars out. More would sparkle when the light faded. Are you there, God? He didn’t normally talk to God. He missed Dad. He missed the direction Dad gave him. Mackenzie told Aaron that God is the father of the fatherless. Oh, how at times he wished he could understand. He wanted so much to revenge his dad’s death, but doing so would now put Mackenzie’s life in danger. What would God do?
He walked towards the car. His muscles were still sore. What were they up to with the technology? What was the technology anyway?
