Chapter 2: The Secret Wizard Left Behind
The paper shook slightly in the man's hand.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he knew he had our attention.
Tom stepped closer.
"What does Wizard have to do with this?""
The man's eyes moved across our group.
"You knew him?""
Nobody answered.
We didn't need to.
The anger in the air answered for us.
Wizard wasn't just a friend.
He was family.
The man folded the paper again.
"My name is Victor Hale.""
I recognized the name immediately.
So did several others.
Victor Hale was a businessman.
A rich one.
The kind of man who appeared in magazines wearing expensive watches and shaking hands with politicians.
But rumors followed him.
The kind of rumors nobody could prove.
Tom crossed his arms.
"And why is a little girl afraid of you, Victor?""
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Because someone has been poisoning her mind.""
Emma stepped out from behind Tom.
"No.""
Her small voice cut through the entire parking lot.
Victor looked at her.
"Emma.""
"You're lying.""
The little girl was shaking.
"My mommy told me never to go with you.""
Everyone went silent.
Victor's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked less like a powerful man.
He looked angry.
Tom noticed.
"Where's her mother?""
Victor didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I walked closer to Tom.
"Something isn't right.""
Tom nodded.
"I know.""
Victor pointed at the bicycle.
"That child was taken from my property.""
Emma cried out.
"I wasn't taken!""
Victor ignored her.
"Someone kidnapped her and convinced her to run away.""
Tom looked at him.
"And you chased a six-year-old girl through the city at midnight?""
Victor didn't respond.
The silence made the situation worse.
One of our younger riders, Jake, stepped forward.
"Funny way to rescue your daughter.""
Victor stared at him.
"You boys have no idea what you're involved in.""
Tom's eyes hardened.
"Maybe explain.""
Victor looked toward Emma.
Then toward the paper.
"Wizard was investigating me before he died.""
Those words hit like a punch.
Nobody spoke.
Wizard.
Investigating.
Tom took the paper.
Victor allowed him to.
Tom unfolded it carefully.
I stood beside him and read over his shoulder.
It wasn't a normal document.
It was a handwritten note.
Wizard's handwriting.
I knew it immediately.
The first line said:
"If anything happens to me, protect Emma.""
My blood went cold.
Tom kept reading.
The note was short.
But every word felt heavy.
"Victor Hale is not who he claims to be. Emma knows the truth. Keep her safe.""
Tom looked up.
Victor's face had changed.
"You stole that," Victor said.
Tom looked at him.
"Where did you get it?""
Victor didn't answer.
That was when we heard another sound.
A phone ringing.
Not from one of us.
From Emma.
The little girl reached into her pajama pocket and pulled out a small old phone.
She looked terrified.
"I wasn't supposed to answer.""
Tom crouched.
"Who gave you that?""
"My mommy.""
The phone kept ringing.
Everyone stared.
Emma looked at Tom.
Then pressed the button.
A woman's voice came through.
But it was weak.
Scared.
"Emma?""
The little girl's eyes filled with tears.
"Mom?""
The woman breathed heavily.
"Listen carefully. You can't trust Victor. He knows where you are.""
Victor suddenly stepped forward.
"Give me that phone.""
Every biker moved instantly.
Tom raised one hand.
"Stay where you are.""
The woman on the phone continued.
"Emma, find the bikers. Find Wizard's brothers.""
Emma looked at us.
"They're here.""
A pause.
Then the woman's voice broke.
"Good. Because they are the only people who can stop what is coming.""
Tom frowned.
"What is coming?""
The woman didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
"Victor wasn't the one chasing you.""
Everyone looked toward the darkness beyond the parking lot.
The woman spoke again.
"There is someone much worse.""
The phone went silent.
Emma stared at the screen.
May you like
Then she said the words that made all thirty-two of us look back at the road.
"He found us.""
