The Hollow Boys

Chapter 4

YES, AT SEVENTEEN, Will Dreycott was a superhero.

In his dreams.

Unfortunately, right now, Will was not dreaming. Right now, it was the next morning, and he was trying to do the hardest thing in the world. Well, the hardest thing for him.

nothimHe was trying to go outside.

Just go outside. Just step out of a car and meet a friend for coffee.

He sat rigid in the back of his limousine. Across from him on the opposite seat sat Adrienne Archambeault, business-like as usual in a navy pantsuit and crisp white shirt, short-cropped, blonde hair framing a round face. Adi—his confidante, legal guardian, and surrogate mother. And CEO of his company. She watched him, wearing an expression that managed to be both worried frown and sympathetic smile.

He gripped the car’s door handle as if it might detach itself and leap for his throat. Beyond the car’s tinted windows lay a typical street scene for a June lunch hour in downtown Toronto. That is, he assumed it was typical. He didn’t get out much.

As in, not at all.

A broad sidewalk spread before him, a concrete canyon beneath looming office towers. People filled the sidewalk—office workers with morning coffees, tourists with cameras, food vendors with carts, couriers with bikes, students with backpacks, street people with their hands out. Some scurried, some strolled. Some stood, some lounged on benches. Some looked happy, some angry. Or bored. Or lost. Or whatever. But none of them looked the way Will did in his reflection in the tinted window.

None of them looked terrified.

Sweat glistened on his lean pale face, plastering his long dark hair to his forehead. His mouth was a thin tight line. He trembled. His heart pounded. He was breathing so fast he wondered if he’d hyperventilate.

He tore his eyes from his own image. That brought his attention back to the hordes of people separating him from his goal. Ten steps away, in a row of street level retail shops, a Starbucks beckoned. Ten steps that might as well have been ten light years. Ten steps outside. Through all those people. All those people, all those—

“William…”

He turned, his fingers still locked on the door handle.

“You don’t need to do this,” Adi said quietly.

“Wrong. I do, but…” He slumped back against the black leather seats, releasing his death grip on the handle. “But I can’t.” He couldn’t get out of the car. He couldn’t cross a sidewalk into a coffee shop to meet a friend. Nothing wrong with his legs. Nothing wrong with his body at all.

bodyAdi pulled out her phone. “I’ll call Mr. Lyle.”

His pulse and breathing had slowed again. He wiped his sweating forehead on the sleeve of his David Bowie t-shirt. “It’s okay. Here he comes.”

The barrel-shaped figure of Harry Lyle emerged from the shop. Short legs pumping, he headed straight for the limo.

“And wearing that awful plaid jacket again,” Adi said, shifting over to make room.

Harry opened the door. A blast of hot, humid air laced with car fumes and street vendor hot dogs hit Will in the face. The air normal people breathe, he thought.

The air normal people breatheHarry sat beside Adi, opposite Will, his battered leather briefcase on his lap. Will dropped his eyes, embarrassed.

Adi tapped the glass separating them from the driver. The partition lowered. “Take us back to Mr. Dreycott’s tower, please, Jimmy.”

Jimmy nodded. The partition rose again, and the car pulled into traffic.

Once they were heading home, Will’s tension began to fade. His tower was only three blocks away.

“At least you keep swinging, kid,” Harry said.

“And striking out. Oh-fer this season.” Past eight seasons, Will thought. “Well, I’m trying to kick my coffee habit, anyway.”

Past eight seasonsHarry grinned. “They’re way over-priced.”

“Far too crowded and noisy,” Adi offered.

“And you’d make Adi here—” Harry began.

“Ms. Archambeault to you,” she said.

Ms.“—Adi here mix with the common hordes. That’d never do.”

Will laughed despite himself. “Yeah, I couldn’t handle a common Adi.”

“A problem you will never face,” she said. “We will continue, Mr. Lyle, to rely on your daily scribblings for our regular dose of common.”

commonHarry laughed. “Ouch. Well, I am the champion of the people.”

amPeople, Will thought, glancing outside again. Too many people. He shivered.

PeopleToo many peopleHarry nodded to where several copies of The Dream Rider #94 lay in plastic slip covers beside Will. “Hey, is that your new issue?”

The Dream Rider #94Will picked up a copy. The costumed figure of the Rider battled a swarm of giant beetle creatures. Behind him, a nightmare version of Toronto City Hall loomed against a red-tinged night sky.

Killer cover. Great issue, too. Still the one thing he could do right in the waking world. He handed the comic to Harry. “Yep. Here, take one for Dylan. Final issue in the Infestation series. Big reveal of who the Cockroach King is.”

InfestationHarry held up a hand. “Don’t tell me. No spoilers.”

Will raised an eyebrow. “You read them, too?”

“Uh, yeah. I get Dylan on weekends, so this gives us something to talk about. You know, something we share.”

“Sure. You’re just being a good dad.”

“Exactly.”

Will grinned. “Just let Dylan read it first.”

The limo slowed in front of a brilliant white skyscraper, the tallest in the city. Jimmy lowered the partition. “We’re home, sir.”

“Do you want to continue with Mr. Lyle inside?” Adi asked. “I’ll get us a conference room.”

He shook his head. Close to home again, he felt much better. “I’m fine in the car. At least this way I can pretend I’m outside. Jimmy, just keep circling our block, please?”

Jimmy nodded and raised the partition again.

Adi turned to Harry. “I assume you have a reason for meeting William beyond scoring a free comic.”

“Thanks for this, Will.” Harry tucked the comic into his briefcase. “Yeah, sure I had a reason. Two reasons. First, to thank you for the Lisa Carter tip. Police found the creep this morning at the address you gave. The kid’s safe and back with her parents.” He eyed Will.

“We heard. And you’re welcome,” Will said, ignoring Harry’s unspoken question. “And your second reason?”

Harry considered him, then shrugged. “I’m working on a new series. On street kids. What their lives are like. How they survive. Why they’re there. Find new ideas to get them a chance for a better life.”

“Sounds like a great series. Are you hitting me up for a ‘Give Street Kids a Chance’ fund?”

“Actually, I’m hoping you’ll help in my investigation.”

“Because of my deep and intimate knowledge of the streets? In case you didn’t notice—we’re not exactly best buds.” Will glanced at the crowded sidewalks.

“No,” Harry said. “I need you to do…” He shrugged “…whatever you do.”

Adi gave the slightest shake of her head. Say nothing. Like he needed to be told.

Say nothing“C’mon, kid,” Harry said. “How many times have you tipped me off? Given me a lead, a name, a place, something that cracked a case that’d stumped the cops for months? Or…” The reporter leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “…even told me about a crime before it happened.”

before“You’ve done rather well, Mr. Lyle, from those tips,” Adi said. “How many journalism awards is it now?”

Harry held up his hands. “Hey, I’m not complaining. Neither are the cops. They’ve even stopped grilling me about my mysterious source—who remains mysterious, I’ll add. At the paper, I refer to you as ‘Galahad’.”

Even Adi smiled at that. “The virtuous knight of Camelot.”

Harry turned to Will. “You like it?”

“I’d have gone with Merlin, personally.”

“Anyway,” Harry said to Adi, “you know damn well I’ve never mentioned Will.”

“Which is why William still contacts you. The first hint of his involvement is the last time you will hear from us.”

“I get it. Golden goose and all that. I’m not asking how you know this stuff. I figure you can afford a cracker-jack private investigation team.” Harry eyed Will again.

howWill nodded, happy to let the reporter believe that. “You’re right. I have my own PI team. When you’re famous, somebody always wants to sue you or use your stuff without permission or just cause trouble.” Which was true. But he also used his team to find information on cases the Rider investigated, giving him more to use in his Dream searches.

“Sure. You’re playing the good guy.” Harry nodded at the pile of comics again. “Like the Dream Rider.”

Will forced a smile. “Yep, that’s me. Just your everyday superhero—who can’t go outside.”

Harry laughed. “Hell, you’ll lick that someday, kid. Anyway, I don’t care how you play cop better than the cops…”

Yeah, right.

Yeah, right“…but I need that kind of help.”

that“What’s up?”

Harry waved a hand at the street scenes passing by outside. “I’ve met with lots of these kids. Took a while before they’d talk to me, but now some of them even sort of—well, I wouldn’t say, trust me. More like tolerate.”

“I can relate,” Adi said.

“Hey, you love me, and you know it. Anyway, recently I noticed a few weren’t around anymore. When I asked about them, most of the kids stonewalled me. But then two of them—a brother and sister act—told me kids were disappearing.”

“Disappearing? As in…?” Will asked.

“As in disappearing. Poof. Gone overnight. No trace. It’s a tight community. Even if kids aren’t friends, they know each other, keep track of who’s where. Each has their own turf. Corner for panhandling. Place to crash. Very territorial. If a kid disappears, it’s noticed.” Harry hesitated. “I think someone’s taking them.”

“Why would they?”

Adi and Harry exchanged a should-we-talk-about-this-in-front-of-the-children look. Harry shrugged. “Well, it’s tough to say—”

“Human trafficking. d**g mules. p*********y. p**********n. Thrill killings,” Adi said, her face set in hard lines.

“—or maybe not that tough,” Harry finished.

“Alien abductions,” Will said. They both stared at him. “Oh, c’mon. You can’t leave that out.”

that“William, be serious,” Adi said.

“Hey, just trying to lighten the mood after you low-balled the human condition.”

Harry sighed. “Unfortunately, the real reason is probably on Adi’s list.”

“Okay. Sorry. You think Lisa Carter’s a*******n was related?”

“Nah. She’s no street kid, and she’s happy at home. Plus, all the missing kids are boys. Not one girl so far, from what I’ve found.”

“You told the police?”

Harry snorted. “Yeah, but they’ve been no help. In their defense, it’s hard to prove these kids are missing. None of them has any fixed address. Most don’t have parents—or don’t want the ones they have. A lot are on the streets because of problems at home. If they have parents, those parents never see or hear from them. And most don’t care if they do.”

At Harry’s mention of “parents,” Adi gave Will a worried look, which he ignored. Harry caught it though. “Sorry, kid. Didn’t mean to stir up bad memories.”

Will shrugged. “They’ve been gone eight years. Long time ago. I’m over it.” Yeah, right. Totally over it.

Yeah, rightTotally over itAn embarrassed silence fell. He stared out the window, hoping the topic of his parents would end. From a poster on a bus shelter, the hooded figure of the Dream Rider stared back at him while wrestling a giant winged snake on the top of a skyscraper. Last month’s issue. Better make sure Marketing changes those to the latest cover.

Last month’s issue. Better make sure Marketing changes those to the latest coverHarry nodded at the poster. “You’re everywhere.”

You have no idea. “The Rider’s everywhere. My range is a little smaller.”

You have no idea“Dylan has Rider pajamas, sheets, comforter, even underwear,” Harry said. “You ever figure it’d get this big?”

Will shook his head. No, he’d never expected it would. He’d never expected his little comic creation would become—as Time had called it—the “most recognizable popular culture creation in history.” He’d never expected to be a billionaire at seventeen.

TimeBut then, he’d never expected to be an orphan at nine, either.

“So…” Harry said, pulling him back to the moment.

Most of these kids don’t have parents, Harry had said. “I’ll help. At least, I’ll try. Give me what you have. But no promises.”

Most of these kids don’t have parentsHarry grinned. “Thanks, Will.” He pulled out his phone and tapped a few times. “Just sent Adi my notes. Pretty well organized if I do say so. Call me with any questions.”

“May we drop you at the Standard, Mr. Lyle?” Adi asked.

Standard“Nah. I can use the walk.” Harry rapped on the partition, motioning Jimmy to pull over. The limo stopped. Shoving his battered briefcase under his arm, the reporter considered Will for a moment. “I know I shouldn’t check out mouths on gift horses…”

“You’re mixing your metaphors. I’m a goose, remember?”

“I’ve always wondered. Why me? Why’d you pick me for your tips?”

Will thought back to when he first realized his powers in Dream. He’d wanted to use those powers to help people. He shrugged. “I liked your articles. You’re smart. You’re honest. And you care about people.” Plus, he and Adi had figured Harry would ask fewer questions than the cops. Questions about how Will knew the things he knew. But he didn’t tell Harry that.

Harry smiled. “Thanks, kid. I like you, too. And I’m not saying that just because you could buy our paper with your spare change.” He squeezed Will’s arm. “You’re good people.”

The reporter got out, then leaned back in. “You could ask the Rider, you know.”

Adi shot Will a look he ignored. He swallowed. “Sorry?”

Harry grinned. “About these missing kids. If we were in your comics, you could just ask the Rider to find them in Dream. The Carter girl said that’s who found her.”

Will forced a smile. “Hey, great idea. Yeah, I’ll get DR on the case.”

Harry laughed and slammed the car door. Will watched him walk away. “Well, we wondered when he’d start asking questions.”

“William—”

“Will.”

“Be careful. Harry Lyle is smart.”

“You don’t think we should help him?”

“No. We should. These poor kids…” She shook her head. “But he’s been an investigative reporter longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t let that buffoon image he cultivates fool you. He knows a lie or a cover-up when he hears one. It’s his job. He knows we’re hiding something. Something bigger than any story we’ve given him so far.”

“I know he does. But I trust him. And I like him.”

“That’s why I’m warning you.”

“Adi, if I listened to all your warnings, I’d never leave home. Oh, wait…”

“Very droll.”

“Send me Harry’s notes. Looks like I have homework before Dream tonight.” He tapped on the glass. Jimmy lowered the partition. “Jimmy, take me home, please.”