Henry ashed out his cigarette.

He was glad to find out that, just like when he was fourteen, smoking through the bedroom window was still a good idea. It was comfortable and it didn't stink up the house, which, in turn, didn't alert his parents. Although that hadn't changed, the important things had.

Mom and dad hated each other and John was missing.

His phone vibrated. It was a text from Sam, his older brother. Well, half older brother. His mother had been married before when she was really young. The man ended up dying from AIDS but he left behind one baby boy. That baby boy had grown up to be rejected by Henry and John's dad, got a scholarship to study chemistry in America, married a white woman and got himself a green card.

Consequently, Henry and John didn't talk to Sam that much if at all. But after news got to him, Sam had been trying his best by constantly checking up on them and asking if there had been any progress.

Hey bro, anything new with John?

Nah nothing, will keep you posted.

There was a development, but Henry wasn't confident enough to label it such, much less tell anyone else about it.

Two days prior, Henry started talking to Donald and Clinton. He already knew Clinton; he basically grew up with John. This Donald Steinfield however was a mystery character who claimed to be Johns' girlfriend's older brother.

His baby brother kept to himself so much that Henry couldn't doubt nor confirm it. He thought about the time when two of John's teeth fell out (around the age of seven) and they only found out about it three days after it happened.

The time was five minutes to ten.
Henry opened the laptop and logged into Zoom. John had left his account open so he used that.

He saw a meeting with someone named Franklin Felix. An old white guy who looked like a Doctor or something. He had also found Prozac in his brother's closet. When he asked his mother about it that's when he learnt that John had a mental breakdown two months before and was diagnosed with agoraphobia.

Seems like mental instability is a family trait for the West's.

The night before, Henry had finally asked Donald if he had any idea what SimuDate was. After several typing attempts, Donald finally set up the current meeting Henry was waiting to start.

Clinton joined the call,

"Henry!" he said, "How're you doing big bro?"

"I'm good," said Henry, "Damn kid, you're all grown up now"

"Time spares no one I guess"

A bell sound chimed in, signifying Donald's entrance.

"Hey guys"

"Wassup man," said Clinton.

"Hey Donald"

An awkward silence ensued before it was broken by Donald's detailed explanation of what happened to his sister and what he knew about SimuDate.

"Yo," said Clinton nearly speechless, "That's crazy"

Henry had been pushing back the thought. But at that moment it bulldozed its way through into his conscious mind. Him and his little brother used to be really close growing up.

His father had told him when they came back with a newborn John from the hospital that it was Henry's duty to protect him and watch over him.

But instead of doing that he ended taking heroine and alcohol while his brother was out here doing something just as life threatening.

A large rift had formed between them because of his psychosis induced bursts of anger. It was obvious that he had failed as an older brother, as a son and ultimately, as a person. But at least he was just on the weed and alcohol now, he had beat the hard stuff. And as much as that didn't mean anything to a sober person, it was progress for him.

"That's not all that happened though," continued Donald,

"A few days after John went missing. This huge guy, he was dressed in all black head to toe. He came with a duffle bag full of cash, said it was about 50 thousand. He said it was to make the grieving process easier but it was obviously hush money"

"Did you take it?"

Clinton looked genuinely interested to hear Donald's answer. But Donald seemed like Henry had just insulted his entire family line and morals.

"Did you hear what I just said?" spat Donald, "Wesly Frost took away, probably killed my sister and offered me money to forget about it"

"It's just a question"

"Well, it's a stupid fuckin question"

"Why you getting so defensive?"

"Okay guys look," intervened Clinton,
"Let's remember who the bad guy is here right?"

Donald sighed and rubbed his temples,

"Yeah," he said, "yeah you're right"

"I'm sorry" said Henry, "Did he say anything else?"

"No," said Donald, "When I declined the money he asked me for the SimuDate gear. I gave to him and he left. Said I should come up to their offices and talk to Wesly Frost whenever I was ready. "

"What did he look like?" asked Clinton, "Any defining features?"

"Like I said before he was dressed like he was prepared for a burial or something."

"We have to do something about this," said Henry

"Have you tried calling the police ever since?"

"Yeah," said Donald, "They ended up blocking my number and every time I go in person, the superintendent is always out 'working on a case'"

"Well their obviously on Frost's payroll" said Henry, "We have to take this into our own hands"

"I don't know" said Clinton, "I miss John too, but do you think its wise to endanger ourselves as well?"

"You're just a friend," said Henry, "I'm actually related to the guy"

Clinton looked visibly offended by the comment, but Henry didn't regret it.

"Henry's right," said Donald, "There's no way I can sleep knowing that Kap might still be out there and I could be doing something, anything, about it"

"Okay," said Clinton, "So what do we do?"

"Well," said Donald, "I'm pretty sure I can get a meeting with Wesly if I say I've reconsidered the money thing."

"Perfect" said Henry, "If we can have chat with that motherfucker, it would be a great start"

NOTE FROM AUTHOR:
THANK YOU SO MUCH DEAR READER FOR STICKING AROUND. PLEASE VOTE AND LEAVE ANY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IF POSSIBLE.

-EMOLYON