“But you can’t control what happens to … the product once it leaves here,” I said
apologetically. “I mean, at some point, some street thug will try to push drugs on kids.”
Pops crossed his arms over his belly and crossed one leg over the other. “Kids don’t decide to
start taking drugs because of some pusher they don’t know on the street. They’re convinced
through peer pressure, through family and friends. You know, children are more likely to start
by looking through their parents’ medicine cabinet for drugs that won’t cost them anything.”
It sounded a little rehearsed. I quickly realized that Pops was looking for a sparring partner
on the topic. I didn’t know if I could deliver. I wished that I had paid better attention in my
high school political-science class when the issue would have probably been debated.
“Yes, but drugs lead to violence,” I argued.
“Violence in the media has been the leading cause of violence. Illegal drugs might cause bad
people to do bad things, but so do alcohol and licit drugs,” the old man argued back.
“But drugs do increase crime.” I had no idea if they did, but it definitely sounded good.
“Most of the drug crimes relate to the sale of drugs. If selling drugs wasn’t illegal, then
you would free up the court system and jails.”
Pops waited with delight for my next claim.
I searched for something, anything. “Drugs are just really bad for you. People can die if they
take drugs.”
“People do all kinds of things that are bad for them, like eating fast food and smoking,” he
said with satisfaction. “You know heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. More
people die from fast food and cigarettes than they do from anything else.”
Cameron and Hawk looked like they were about to come to fisticuffs. Whatever Cameron said had
set Hawk on another vulgar dissertation, and both were angrily facing off. I looked at Pops for
his intervention, but he just smiled at me.
“My son has a hot temper,” he explained. “He doesn’t trust the crows. Though … I think his
opinion may change about this one after today.” He winked at me and then he glanced back at the
businessmen and got up. “I’m afraid there isn’t much that I will be able to do with the one
they call Spider. There’s something false about that boy.”
Pops made his way to the barking men and calmly put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Give him
what he wants, Hawk,” he ordered in English.
Hawk was incredulous. “What? Why would I do that?”
“Because I said so,” Pops answered with authority.
Cameron was just as surprised as his sparring partner, but took advantage.
“And the plants?” he asked Pops, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
“Only the best ones.”
Cameron and Hawk stood there. I imagined that their jaws would be agape, if they had been like
normal people. Everyone in the grotto had gone silent at this development. All I could hear was
the swishing of the stream’s current.
Pops broke the tension and turned to Cameron. “If there is nothing else, then I suggest you
take this young girl home. I’m afraid I have taken enough of her time, and she will soon grow
tired of me.”
Arm in arm, Pops and I made our way back through the underground maze, with Cameron and Hawk now
quietly, reflectively in tow. I could feel Cameron’s eyes hammering into me. We walked through
the stinky greenhouse, and I permitted myself to make a casual comment.
“Your electricity bills must be insane,” I said, surreptitiously eying the torrent of
fluorescent sunlight substitutes.
Pops caught my meaning. “Hidden solar panels on the surface,” he clarified with a warm grin.
We left Hawk and Pops at the elevator doors, but not before Pops whispered in my ear, “I hope
we will see you again, young Emily.”
I didn’t look at Cameron’s face as we stood in the elevator. I already knew that I was in
really big trouble. We headed back where we had come from and met Griff at the top of the barn
stairs.
“Have a good day, sir. And madam,” Griff added with emphasis, bowing with a grin on his face.
Cameron walked at a quicker pace, his shoulders tense and erect. I figured that I couldn’t get
in much more trouble than I already was. I genially grinned back at Griff before sprinting to
meet up with Cameron at the motorcycle. He handed me my helmet without looking at me. I snuggled
in behind him on the bike, but the trick didn’t work its magic this time. He remained on edge
as we sped off in a cloud of dust.
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Broken