Page 31 of Dutch

"Come on," I mumbled, wanting them to drive faster.

A black sedan finally pulled up, and I double-checked the license plate before hopping inside.

"Makari?" the driver asked.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

As we pulled away, I was relieved. I did it without Dutch breathing down my back.

I sipped my coffee as we headed to the storage place.

"Are you all right back there?" the driver asked.

"I'm good, just missing my brother."

"Oh, is he okay?"

A bitter laugh escaped me. "He's dead, but I'm pretty sure I'm being lied to about how it happened."

I could see the driver's eyebrows arch in the rearview mirror. "My bad, that's heavy."

"Yeah, but I'm going to figure out the truth if it kills me."

The driver slowed to a stop in front of the storage place.

"Is this the place?" the driver asked.

"Yeah, I just need to grab something. Can you wait?"

He nodded, and I hopped out, leaving my coffee in the car. As I approached unit thirty-two, I dug for my keys, which were trembling in my hands as I stuck them inside the padlock.

I rolled the door open, and suddenly, I felt like I'd been sucker punched, but I didn't have time to linger. I moved a box, and I saw his old leather jacket. I picked it up and caught a lingering hint of his cologne.

"Damn, Malakai, what happened to you?"

I noticed his guitar case in the corner, and my throat tightened as I remembered his crooked grin when he played. I put the jacket down and dug through a box where I saw his graduation picture. He had his arm around my shoulder. We looked so young and full of promise.

I looked at my watch. The time was ticking, and I couldn't afford to get caught up. I rifled through another box, and all Isaw were some CDs and books, but then I spotted a leather thing that looked like a receipt book.

"Hello, I bet this is what Jahlil was asking about?" I muttered as I pulled out the ledger book. My heart pounded, this had to be the key to whatever shit I was mixed up with.

I flipped through a few pages, and the words meant nothing to me at that moment, but I knew it was important.

I glanced at my watch… time to get back. I shoved the ledger into my bag.

"I pray you left me some breadcrumbs, Mal."

I exited the storage unit, happy to see my driver waiting for me. I locked the door and hurried to his car. As I got inside the car, I peered at the building, my chest tight with emotion. Malakai's presence was heavy in that storage unit, kicking up emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.

"I'm headed to the 'Ink Spot.' You have the address but pull up to the back. I'm going in the back door," I instructed.

"I know where it is. Are you an artist there?"

"Yeah," I answered, suddenly not in the mood to talk. I wondered what was in the ledger, but I didn't want to pull it out until I was alone.

I was happy I was going to ink a design today. I needed a release. As we neared the shop, I pointed out the alley for him to enter in case someone was watching.

"Hey, I'm in need of a tat, so I may check you out," the driver said.

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