Star Eater
Chapter Thirty

Kai walked away from the meeting. As soon as Akuma said they were out of hearing range, he broke into a run. He didn't stop until he reached the storage unit. He didn't care about the massive traffic jam he left when he crossed Ventura.

In his rush, Kai forgot to physically open the door. He ran right through it. Not that it mattered. He’d given Link the only key, and the storage unit was empty. Kai glanced around. Empty pizza box, empty water bottle, discarded manga on the couch. And a note. Kai snatched it up. Link’s sloppy handwriting said,

“Thanks, dude. I’m going home to face the music. See you in school (and probably not anywhere else for a while.)" - Link

Kai cursed in French, English, and Japanese, using language that would have earned him a slap in the face if his father had heard it. He grabbed his phone and stabbed the buttons. The device remained dead. He couldn't text Link and warn him.

“DAMN IT!” he screamed. He threw the phone across the room and it shattered against the concrete floor. “Fuck,” he said, collapsing onto the couch. Link was going to be arrested in his place.

Joseph exhaled loudly. It had been a long but productive day. Joseph unrolled his yoga mat, took off his shoes and socks, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes. For five blissful minutes, there was nothing but the breath and the lights dancing behind his eyes.

Then the sound of footsteps approaching, and a gentle knock. Cole entered and apologized immediately when he realized he’d interrupted Joseph’s meditation.

“Problem, boss,” Cole said softly.

“What?” Joseph asked irritably. Could he not have some peace?

“Homeland has begun tracking Kai’s movements.”

“How?” Joseph asked.

“The video feed and electronics disruptions,” Cole said. “They believe it’s a mobile electromagnetic pulse jammer developed by the Koreans.”

“Since Kai took the hydrogen his powers have grown,” Joseph said. “And he’s become more noticeable.”

Cole nodded. “They haven’t been able to hone in on his position yet. But they’ll have a movement pattern which they can use to narrow their search field soon enough. And they are planning on investigating the locus of the phenomena.”  S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Have your men returned with the equipment?” Joseph asked.

Cole shrugged. “Not yet,” he said. “We were waiting for nightfall.”

“We don’t have time,” Joseph said. “We have to protect our investment. Send them now, and double their pay. Tell them caution is essential in this endeavor.”

“Yes, sir.”

Link walked home, hands in his pockets, trying to organize his thoughts in such a way that he could avoid more trouble. He needed to diffuse his dad. He needed to not get sucked into a pissing match. He needed to not care what his dad would say—and his dad would say a lot—about his character. It was going to be biblically bad. Link prepared himself for the worst.

He checked his phone, hoping Kai texted him. There was something going on with the other kid. He felt a little guilty unloading on Kai like that. He’d texted Kai after the other boy left, just a general ‘hope everything is okay’ sort of sentiment. Kai hadn’t responded. Hopefully they could talk again on Monday at school. Link had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to sneak out tomorrow. At least his phone was working again.

Link didn't notice the black SUV waiting just across the street from his house. Men got out of the car when he was twenty feet from the front door. Link glanced up at the sound of opening doors.

“Lincoln Palmer,” one of them called to him. Link stopped, his eyes narrowed. His heart began to pound. You didn't do anything wrong, he told himself.

“Yeah?” he said. The front door opened and his dad walked out onto the stoop. He’d been watching from the windows. Or he had tracked Link’s phone, Link couldn't decide. For once, Link was relieved to see his dad, because he was terrified. This wasn’t some cop out to collect him. These guys were on another level and the SUV looked like a death trap to Link.

“Son,” Mr. Palmer said, gesturing over. His dad almost never called him ‘son,’ and Link couldn't express the gratitude he felt at his dad clarifying their relationship so quickly in front of these men. He took a few steps towards his dad before the suited men surrounded him.

“I’m sorry, sir,” one of the suits said. “I’m going to have to ask you to return to your home.”

“Who are you?” Mr. Palmer demanded coming down the stairs quickly and getting right in the speaker’s face. The speaker flashed a badge at his dad.

“Homeland Security,” Mr. Palmer said, mystified. “What’s this about?”

Link’s stomach dropped. Whatever was going on, it couldn't be good.

“We need to ask him questions in regards to an incident,” the suit said.

One of the men grabbed Link’s arm and led him to the car.

“I’m coming too,” Mr. Palmer said.

Link was surprised. Part of him had expected his dad to lose it, but no, his dad kept his cool, his glare fierce and challenging. The suit tried to argue but Mr. Palmer very loudly said, “I’ll be damned if you suits are taking my son into custody without me beside him. If you aren’t arresting him, you can’t stop me from coming. He’s a minor. So unless you want me to call the local news station and let the press know that another young Black man has been taken into custody without due cause and without a parent beside him, I suggest you make room.”

The suit’s arguments sputtered into angry silence but he nodded. Mr. Palmer went to stand beside Link and the agent let go of Link’s arm. His dad reached up and put his arm around his son, who was caught somewhere between total terror and relief that his dad hadn’t abandoned him. He was trying not to cry. Together, they all got into the SUV.

The trip was tense and silent the whole ride, but Link felt a tiny bit better with his dad beside him. They arrived at a nondescript building in downtown Culver City. The suits marched the two of them inside. They were brought into a stark room with a table, a two-way mirror, and a few chairs. The table was nailed to the floor with handcuff rings on top. Link looked at it and gulped. They hadn’t handcuffed him, which was a relief. He’d been handcuffed once in his life and he didn't want to repeat the experience.

“Dad, I—”

“Not now,” his dad said. “Stay quiet. You answer their questions simply and honestly but otherwise nothing, okay?”Link fell silent. They didn’t wait long until a man in a nicer suit walked in and sat across from them. 

“Mr. Palmer, Lincoln,” he greeted each with a head nod, “my name is Agent Stanley. I have some questions for you.”

“What is this about?” Mr. Palmer asked.

“Mr. Palmer, I know you’re a military war hero and I know you’re concerned about your son,” Agent Stanley said. “Before we get into specifics, I need to ask Lincoln some questions.”

Mr. Palmer’s mouth thinned and he crossed his arms as he sat back, but he nodded. Agent Stanley turned back to Link.

“What were you doing near the corner of Saticoy and Hayvenhurst last night?”

Link’s stomach dropped. He was made. Despite the way their meeting ended, he hoped Jeff got away. He hoped Jeff hadn’t done anything super stupid. He hoped he survived this meeting. Link considered not coming clean, but he hadn’t done anything illegal and he needed to make that clear real fast.

“I was meeting a friend,” Link said, staring at the table.

“Who?” Agent Stanley pressed.

Link sighed. He was definitely going to be grounded for life. “Jeff Miller.”

“Jeff!” his dad choked out.

Agent Stanley put a hand, indicating Mr. Palmer should control himself. “And what did you two do?”

“We just talked,” Link said, his voice pleading. “We met at the trampoline park and we talked.”

“WHAT!?” Link’s dad snarled.

“Mr. Palmer,” Agent Stanley repeated, his voice firm. “Where is the trampoline park located?”

Link told him the address.

Agent Stanley looked it up on his phone. “That’s almost two miles from where your Uber picked you up last night,” he said.

At which point, Link spilled the whole story. He knew his dad said to keep it simple, and he tried, but the telling was as much for his dad as it was for the agent. He described the blackout and the fear and how he’d ran towards the closest source of light. And when he was able to, he ordered an Uber to pick him up. He didn't even know where he was exactly. He just waited until his phone was working again.

Link could feel the waves of fury rolling off his dad. He kept his eyes on the table. The agent didn't seem impressed with his story. Agent Stanley sat there with an impassive face, studying Link.

Finally, he said, “I’m going to ask you a very important question, and I want an honest answer, do you understand?” Link nodded sullenly. “Were you and your friend Jeff involved in any suspicious activity in or around the Ettan World Refinery?”

Link frowned and shook his head. “No,” he said.

“So this isn’t you?” the agent asked, taking a photo out of a folder and pushing it across the table at him.

Link studied it. The photo itself wasn’t particularly clear and it was from far away. It showed a figure in a hoodie wearing some sort of mask, walking across what Link guessed was the refinery parking lot. Despite the quality of the photo and the hidden features, Link’s mind recognized Kai. He couldn't say why or how he knew, but he knew that this was his friend.

“It’s not me,” Link said, trying to instill every ounce of certainty in his voice. He shoved the photo away from himself.

“You have a juvenile record,” Agent Stanley said. Link nodded. “You also have connections with the Wright family.”

Link frowned.

“Mason Wright,” Agent Stanley said.

“What’s he got to do with this?” Link asked.

“Why don’t you tell me?” Agent Stanley said.

Link stared at the agent. This was so out of hand. He had no idea what was going on or what the guy was talking about. He had nothing to do with a break-in or Mason outside of karate club.

"Answer him,” his dad growled. Link shrugged. He didn't have to pretend to be baffled.

“Mason is the president of the karate club,” Link said. “That’s all I know.”

“Do you know his family has underworld connections?”

“I heard his dad was arrested,” Link said. “But Mason never talks about it.”

Agent Stanley studied him. “You really just went into the trampoline park and talked?”

Link nodded. “Ask Jeff. He’ll tell you.”

“Where is he staying?”

Link gave him the name of the crummy motel Jeff was staying at, and the agent left them alone. In the meantime, Link’s dad remained silent, still emanating waves of anger. So Link slumped in his chair and waited. Maybe an hour later, Agent Stanley returned. He said Jeff confirmed Link’s story, but for Link not to go too far. They might have questions later.

It was a dreadful car ride home, as much because Link knew he was a dead man and his dad was glowering at the window, as because Link was exhausted. Between working at Habitat all morning, fighting, and then nearly being arrested by Homeland Security, all Link wanted to do was pass out.

It was almost midnight by the time they got home. Link followed his dad into the kitchen where his dad pointed one beefy finger at a kitchen stool. Link sat.

“What happened?” his dad asked, taking a seat across from Link.

“I swear, it’s just like I told the agent,” Link said.

“Are you trying to convince me that you met up with your little criminal friend and he didn’t have some hair-brained scheme to run away and you didn't jump on the bandwagon?”

“Because of mom,” Link said.

“Your mother?” Mr. Palmer demanded, not believing it.

“Yeah, Dad, because of mom,” Link said wearily. “She just started talking to me again. She’d be devastated if I pulled some shit like that. Besides, we may hate each other,” he pointed at his dad and then himself, “but I know I have a chance at a clean slate here. And I wanted to take it.” He felt tears stabbing the back of his eyes and fought to keep them at bay. “Okay, I wanted a chance to figure out what my end game is and who I can be. I know that doesn't make sense to you but that’s what I want.”

The wild crazy look in his dad’s eyes subsided at the answer. Mr. Palmer crossed his arms and studied his son. Then he sat down.

“Your mother has that affect on people,” Mr. Palmer said quietly. “How’d you get into contact with Jeff?”

“You mean how did you miss us communicating because you’ve been spying on my phone and computer?” Link snapped. His dad nodded, not a trace of shame there. “School email.”

Mr. Palmer sat back and Link swore he saw a hint of an emotion he couldn't identify, certainly not something he’d seen on his dad’s face before.

“So, if you knew what Jeff’s plan was, why did you meet him at all?”

“I didn’t know Jeff’s plan,” Link said. “He wrote me that he wanted to meet up and hang out. He sent me an address and by the time I realized it was in the industrial district, there was no time to write him back.”

Mr. Palmer was quiet for a moment. “I don’t hate you.”

“Really?” Link asked, and he felt the tears come out against his will. “So you just act like a huge asshole for fun?”

There was dead silence and Link swore he was going to get another punch to the face. Instead, his dad looked thoughtful.

“Not for fun,” he said. “Because I want to push you. Because it’s—” he inhaled sharply and shook his head. “It’s the only way I know how to make a man.” He uncrossed his arms and ran a hand over his short-cropped hair, then wiped sweat from his upper lip. “I think we both know that you’re going to have a tougher time in this world because of your skin color. I want you to be prepared.”

Link didn't know what to say to that. It was the most honest conversation without violence he’d ever had with his dad. He wiped tears off his cheeks but they kept falling. He stared hard at the countertop because he didn't trust himself to meet his dad’s gaze.

Mr. Palmer studied his son. “Your mother was much better at this shit than I ever was, which is why I let her take custody. Ah hell, I knew I’d fuck this up. Promise me you weren’t involved in this refinery thing.”

“I wasn’t, Dad,” Link said. “I swear I just went to the trampoline park and left.”

But his dad was already nodding like he believed Link, which was a miracle in and of itself.

“One more question,” Mr. Palmer said. “How’d you disable the alarm system?”

“I got the password from your laptop,” Link said.

“Yes, but how did you know how all the equipment worked?” Mr. Palmer pressed. “It’s not your standard phone app that prompts you.”

Link shrugged. “I watched a video on YouTube,” he said.

There it was again. That hint of something in his dad’s eyes. Link had hope this might not turn out so badly.

“You’re grounded for the next four years,” his dad said. “Now go to bed.”

Link hesitated a second. He supposed it was a light sentence all things considered. He slid off his seat and headed to bed. As he changed into clean clothes and laid down, he wondered what the hell was going on, and what the hell Kai was into.

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