But tonight felt different. We went out for dinner, had a few drinks and talked. Some serious stuff, but mostly just daily life, like always. It wasn�...��t what we said that gave our time together a different mood. It was partly what wasn’t said, and partly the way you looked at me. And I guess the way I looked at you. It was almost as though we saw something that we’ve either ignored all these years, or just really never saw before. For me, I saw a man I felt I could trust with my life. Yes, you. “I don’t need any.” There was a gasp from behind me. “I’ll use yours when your done with them.”The guys hesitated. It wasn’t what they were anticipating hearing. They figured we were easy targets, only one guys and all the women in a dark alley.I looked at all five of them, then turned to the one who had been talking. “You’re the leader, huh? Scar on your left cheek, bushy eyebrows that almost come together making you look Neanderthal. Are you the tough one? Maybe you should take the bat from. With that, Michael signed off of AIM. He was a wirey seventeen year old, as many of them are, with a messy brown mop of hair and hazel bedroom eyes. At least Vanessa and Allison, two girls he had dated, had called them bedroom eyes. He was excited to meet someone else his age who also made fun of Joe for his grammar. Instant messenger grammar snobs weren't all too common around these parts.That night he got a text from Joe reading 'mall tomorrow at 4. emily will be there.'When Michael arrived. Cars, like almost all other manufactured goods, were imported from all over the world.Howie had just made it to a van on his way to the taxi pointed out to him by the doorman. Two men hopped out of the van, grabbed him, and with surprising ease wrestled him into the van. A large black hood was thrown over his face while his hands were quickly tied behind him. Howie was left on the floor of the van sightless and helpless.He cried out, “What’s going on here? I demand that you release me, right.