“Why didn’t you just meet us inside?” Howl asked as Astrid equally distributed the pastries and drinks amongst us. 

A smile not only creeped across her lips, but her eyes as well before she simply answered with,

“I wanted to quickly greet you. Also I have good news to share.”

As we pushed through the busy café, I easily found myself at home. We’d spent countless hours after work here with Howl as a group. It had become a habit to find myself here when I had a minute to spare. I could regard it as one of my favorite places. To think that this place was a major contributor to my father’s work was mind boggling. 

We were headed towards the only secluded table in the whole place. It was sort of hidden in the back by the kitchen. It was a large booth that Howl had specifically designed for us. 

I trailed behind them watching as they took a great deal of care of this girl, Emmie. It was clear to see that they treated her a lot like a younger sibling. My initial thought was that she seemed like a bright and kind young woman. It made me wonder in what ways had she helped them to combat a sly hedge fund manager. Could she possibly face up against such ruthless people?

As I finally reached the table where they had all comfortably sat, she looked at me warily. She had already handed both of them a file and was all business. Though she looked insanely young, her professionalism was unmatched. I would’ve never thought I was seeing the same young woman from earlier who had such a cute demeanor. It made me also wonder how she came to be so close with them as quickly as she has. From what Howl said they met her not even a month ago. 

Catching on right away, Astrid began to assure her that I was a part of the group and apologized for not introducing us. There wasn’t a single hint of hesitation once given reassurance and I was warmly welcomed to sit down. It wasn’t that she trusted me, it was that she trusted Astrid. 

I scanned the document that she finally handed me. It was a well detailed account of misdeeds from an informant. Both of them looked taken aback by the information that they were seeing right before their eyes. 

“How in the world did you get this? This is way more evidence than we thought we had. We couldn’t find him any of the times we went looking.” 

Howl looked frightened to see the witness testimony that was pages upon pages. 

“I was just doing my normal routine when I ran into him. I had remembered you had asked me about that man. He was lingering nearby the company’s lobby at a café. He looked beside himself. His eyes looked devoid of life. So, I approached him.”

She suddenly stopped. It was clear that it was becoming difficult to recount the encounter she had with the man. When she continued, she recounted that the man had been desperate for someone to help him. As it had turned out he had been bombarded by threats from his former boss, the hedge fund manager. 

Being as deeply threatened as he was, he hid. He found himself being constantly watched and could not decipher whose intentions were good and whose were bad. When he’d heard from Tatum, he assumed she was working for his former boss. Having become completely paranoid, he shut himself in a new location and didn’t come out. 

He found himself at the café in the hopes that the person that had sent a message months earlier to meet would magically find him there. 

“We spoke for sometime. He filled me in on everything and told me he was willing to disclose all that he knew and be a witness. When I expressed that I would help him in any way I could, he was comforted.” 

She smiled weakly as she finished. 

“Anyhow, I was lucky because as he had hoped the woman he was waiting for showed. He seemed quite shocked that I wasn’t the one he was supposed to meet, but the woman was able to quickly handle the situation. She was incredibly kind to me and she explained to me that she was Tatum, your friend.”

“That’s my angel for you.” Howl replied with a glimmer in his eyes. 

“Then why aren’t you dating the angel?” 

We all looked up to see Howl’s mother lightly smack his head with a menu.

Of course, he started to bicker with his mother as she pulled both Astrid and him into the kitchen. I could hear them now discussing a new item on the menu that she had been helping him with.

I suddenly found myself awkwardly sitting with Emmie. She gave me what seemed to be a forced smile. 

“You don’t like me, do you?” 

Her question was blunt, but wasn’t completely wrong. I was also wary of her sudden appearance. She had their complete trust, but I was uneasy due to not knowing her motive.

“I don’t dislike you, I just don’t quite trust you.”

“I could tell. Crossed arms and narrowed eyes. You’ve been analyzing my every move since we got here. Should I tell you my story?” 

It didn’t seem like she had paid any attention to me when we arrived. I assumed I was an afterthought, however she was watching me as closely as I was watching her.

“I’d love to hear it.”

“Well, I’m a university student studying psychology and business administration. When I have any spare time, I recruit people to work at Bond&Park companies.”

She paused studying my expression. I was sure I was giving her quite the perplexed look. 

“You do this out of your own volition? You don’t actually work for Bond&Park?”

She simply shook her head and gave a simple smile.

“You see, Mr. Park saved my family.”

In that moment, the chaos that surrounded me was completely drowned out. The laughing that bellowed out from the kitchen and the screaming matches that occurred over a computer game, none of that could overpower that sentence.