Edward
I tapped my fingers against my knee and spoke more quietly.
"I can't work out what my father is waiting for." I stared ahead without really looking at anything. "I expected him to appear the moment he landed in this country."
The words came out slowly as I thought them through.
"I thought he'd show up at the company. Or call me. Or flood my inbox with messages. Or harass my secretary." I frowned. "But he's done nothing." I turned my head slightly towards Michael. "It's driving me mad that I can't find out what he's doing or what he's planning."
"Well, on that point, you're right," Michael said, sounding more thoughtful. "To be honest, the silence from your old man has been bothering me a bit as well."
I turned to him again.
Michael tapped the corner of his phone against his chin for a moment before speaking.
"So, I took matters into my own hands."
I frowned at him in confusion.
In response, he turned the phone around for me.
"You can call it flirting if you want. Only I call it..." He paused dramatically. "Actually, no. Never mind. I haven't come up with a clever name for it." Michael waved a hand dismissively. "The important part is that I've found a solution to your problem."
I narrowed my eyes.
"A solution?"
"One that'll help your brain calm down." He tapped the phone again. "And, if anything does happen, it'll give us time to prepare."
Even James, who had spent the entire journey behaving as though Michael did not exist, turned slightly in his seat and looked back at us from the front passenger seat.
Michael glanced at James, then returned his gaze to me, appearing thoroughly pleased with all the attention he was receiving.
He remained silent for a few more seconds, adding even more drama to whatever point he was trying to make, all while continuing to wear that ridiculous grin.
"Alright," I said. "I can see I'm going to have to ask."
Michael's smile widened further, even though it hardly seemed possible.
"What exactly have you come up with, oh great Michael?"
"Well, since you insist." Michael straightened slightly in his seat. "I made a few calls. Sent a few messages. Dug through some contacts. Blah, blah, blah." He waved a hand. "Anyway, I found someone very close to your father."
I froze in surprise.
"And this person is now our spy."
He paused again.
By that point, both James and I were hanging on his every word.
"Oh, I know, I know, I know. Spy makes it sound as though we're starring in some film about super-secret agents. But the point remains," he continued, "this person wants to help us."
His tone became more serious.
"If anything happens, if your father so much as thinks about doing something..." Michael looked directly into my eyes. "...we'll know immediately."
There wasn't even a trace of a joke in his voice.
"We'll know, and we'll have time to react." He leaned back again. "So all this worrying you're doing is pointless." A smile returned to his face. "Everything's going to be fine. We've got everything under control now."
I was surprised.
No, more than surprised. I was shocked.
If I were being honest, I had always viewed Michael as somewhat frivolous. Yet now I found myself realising that he had been worried too. More importantly, he had actually done something to help us prepare.
And not just something.
He had found someone to keep an eye on my father.
That was astonishing.
"Well?" Michael said. "I'm a genius, aren't I? You have to praise me now, Edward."
He turned towards James, then tilted his head and lowered it, offering the top of it to him.
"Go on. Pat me on the head. I was a good boy, wasn't I?"
James looked at me uncertainly.
Then at the top of Michael's head.
To my surprise, he actually reached over and patted him.
Michael practically lit up from the gesture.
"Are you certain this person can be trusted?" I asked, interrupting that ritual of praise.
"Absolutely."
"Why?"
Michael pretended to be deeply hurt.
"I'm terribly sorry, but unfortunately, I can't tell you." He winked. "It's my little secret."
"Fine. And thank you. Thank you for doing this."
I had to give him credit where it was due.
Michael merely nodded. "You're welcome."
He pulled out his phone again.
"Right then. I can get back to my 'flirting' now."
I sighed and gave a small nod before turning back towards the window.
Outside, the cars remained trapped in the same traffic jam as we were. The streets were still filthy. The city still looked neglected.
None of that had changed.
Yet some of my irritation had faded.
So had part of my anxiety.