PAGE 4 — THE MOMENT EVERYTHING FALLS APART
Marcus was standing beside the woman’s car when a little boy approached him.
The boy looked at Marcus.
Then at the suitcase.
Then at the police officers.
“Are you a bad guy?”
Marcus crouched down.
“No. I’m a good guy.”
The boy nodded.
“That’s what bad guys say.”
Marcus stood back up.
“I give up.”
Then the elderly woman’s grandson finally arrived.
He ran toward the car.
“Grandma!”
She hugged him.
Everyone relaxed.
Marcus smiled.
“Thank goodness. Maybe now you can explain what happened.”
The grandson looked at Marcus.
Then at the wire.
Then at the suitcase.
Then at the crowd.
“What did he do?”
Marcus nearly screamed.
“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!”
The grandson looked confused.
The elderly woman explained everything.
The grandson burst out laughing.
“So you were trying to help Grandma?”
“YES!”
“And you used a piece of wire to open the car?”
“YES!”
“And you carried her suitcase?”
“YES!”
The grandson started laughing even harder.
Marcus didn’t find it funny.
Then the grandson opened the suitcase.
Inside were dozens of expensive watches.
Everyone stopped laughing.
Marcus slowly backed away.
The neighbors stared at him.
One person whispered:
“Maybe he really is a criminal.”
Marcus threw his hands into the air.
“I DON’T EVEN KNOW THIS FAMILY!”
The grandson quickly explained.
“The watches belong to my grandfather. They’re antiques.”
Marcus pointed at the suitcase.
“Then maybe you should stop carrying around a suitcase that looks like it belongs in a spy movie!”
The police officers were laughing now.
Even Marcus finally started laughing.
Then his wife arrived.
She stepped out of the car.
She looked at Marcus.
She looked at the police.
She looked at the neighbors.
Then she looked at the wire.
She closed her eyes.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“Please tell me you didn’t get arrested again.”
“I WAS NEVER ARRESTED!”
“Good.”
She opened the car door.
“Get in.”
Marcus looked at everyone.
“Thank you all for your support.”
Nobody said anything.
Mrs. Johnson finally smiled.
“Well… at least we know you’re not a criminal.”
Marcus nodded.
“Thank you.”
She added:
“You’re just very suspicious.”
Marcus stared at her.
“That somehow feels worse.”
And then he got into the car.
He thought the nightmare was finally over.
It wasn’t.
