Ethan looked worried.
“What should I do?”
Marcus thought for a moment.
“Keep copies of every document.”
“I already have them.”
“Make more.”
“Why?”
“Because paperwork disappears.”
Ethan looked confused.
Marcus continued.
“And write down everything you remember about the people who approached you.”
Ethan nodded.
“I can do that.”
“And if they come back, don't meet them alone.”
Ethan looked toward his trailer.
“Okay.”
Marcus leaned back.
“You don't have to be afraid.”
Ethan gave a nervous laugh.
“Easy for you to say.”
Marcus smiled.
“I've been afraid plenty of times.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Really?”
Marcus nodded.
“Fear isn't the problem.”
“What is?”
“Letting fear make your decisions.”
Those words stayed with Ethan.
That evening, after the park closed, Ethan packed everything into his trailer.
Marcus and Sarah waited nearby.
Ethan locked the doors.
“Thank you.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You're welcome.”
Ethan hesitated.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you care?”
Marcus looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“You don't know me.”
Marcus smiled.
“I don't need to.”
Ethan looked confused.
Marcus pointed toward the trailer.
“You work hard.”
Then he pointed toward the park.
“You treat people well.”
“And?”
“And somebody tried to push you around.”
Marcus shrugged.
“I don't like that.”
Ethan smiled.
“I wish more people thought that way.”
Marcus looked at him.
“More people do.”
“They just don't always speak up.”
Ethan nodded.
“That's probably true.”
Marcus started walking toward his motorcycle.
Then Ethan called after him.
“Marcus!”
Marcus turned.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for standing there.”
Marcus smiled.
“Anytime.”
The next morning, Ethan arrived at the park earlier than usual.
He unlocked his trailer and began preparing for the day.
Everything looked normal.
Until he noticed an envelope underneath the front wheel.
He picked it up.
There was no name.
No address.
Just one sentence written across the front.
Last chance.
Ethan froze.
He immediately called Marcus.
Marcus answered on the second ring.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“An envelope.”
Marcus became quiet.
“Don't open it.”
Ethan looked at it.
“I already did.”
“What does it say?”
“Last chance.”
Marcus sighed.
“Okay. Take a picture of it.”
“I will.”
“And don't touch anything else.”
“Why?”
“Because if someone left it intentionally, we may want to preserve evidence.”
Ethan took several photographs.
Marcus told him to stay inside the trailer.
Then Marcus called Sarah.
Within twenty minutes, they were at the park.
Marcus examined the envelope without touching it.
“This is getting serious.”
Ethan looked worried.
“What do I do?”
“We contact the police.”
“You mean the same officers from yesterday?”
“No.”
Marcus paused.
“We'll ask for a different officer or supervisor.”
Ethan nodded.
A short time later, the supervisor from the previous day arrived.
He immediately recognized Ethan.
“What happened?”
Ethan explained everything.
The supervisor looked at the envelope.
“Did anyone see who left it?”
“No.”