Jack's expression changed.
“What kind of trouble?”
Daniel paused.
“Someone has been watching our house.”
Jack said nothing.
“We've noticed the same vehicle several times,” Daniel continued. “At first, I thought it was coincidence. But last night, Emily saw the same car again.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“They said they can't do much without more evidence.”
Jack understood.
“What's the vehicle?”
“Dark-colored SUV. No front license plate.”
Jack looked toward the highway.
“Where do you live?”
Daniel gave him the address.
Jack immediately recognized the area.
It was about an hour away.
“I'll come by tomorrow.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
Jack ended the call.
The next morning, he rode toward Daniel's house.
When he arrived, he didn't immediately go to the front door.
He parked farther down the street.
He watched.
The neighborhood appeared normal.
Children played outside.
People walked their dogs.
Cars moved through the streets.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Then Jack noticed a dark SUV parked near the corner.
He watched it for several minutes.
The vehicle started.
It drove slowly past Daniel's house.
Jack memorized the license plate.
Then it disappeared around the corner.
Jack waited.
Ten minutes later, it returned.
This time, Jack took out his phone and recorded it.
He didn't confront the driver.
He simply collected information.
Then he walked toward Daniel's house.
Daniel opened the door.
“Jack.”
Jack nodded.
“Where's Emily?”
“Inside.”
Emily appeared from behind him.
Her face immediately brightened.
“Jack!”
She ran toward him.
Jack smiled.
“Hey, kid.”
She stopped in front of him.
“You came!”
“I said I would.”
Emily looked at his motorcycle.
“Can I see it?”
“From a safe distance.”
She laughed.
Daniel smiled.
For a few minutes, everything felt normal.
But then Jack noticed something.
Emily was still carrying the same little drawing she had given him.
“You kept it,” she said.
Jack touched the wallet in his pocket.
“Of course.”
She smiled.
Then her expression became serious.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we in trouble?”
Jack looked at Daniel.
Daniel didn't answer.
Jack crouched down.
“I don't know yet.”
Emily's eyes widened.
“But I'm here.”
She nodded.
That afternoon, Jack spoke with the police.
He provided the information he had gathered.
The officers reviewed it.
One of them recognized the vehicle.
It belonged to a man who had recently been questioned in connection with several incidents in the area.
The police began investigating.
Jack did not interfere.
He stayed nearby.
For the next few days, he checked on Daniel and Emily.
He never frightened them.
He never made promises he couldn't keep.
He simply reminded them to stay alert and contact authorities if anything unusual happened.
Then, one evening, something unexpected occurred.
Jack was sitting outside the diner when his phone rang.
It was Daniel.
“Jack, the police are here.”
Jack sat up.
“What happened?”
“They found the SUV.”
Jack listened.
“Where?”
“Parked two streets from our house.”
“Did they find the driver?”
“No. The vehicle was empty.”
Jack looked toward the highway.
“Stay inside.”
“We are.”
“Lock the doors.”
“They are.”
“Good.”
Jack stood.
The waitress looked at him.
“Everything okay?”
“Not yet.”
He grabbed his helmet.