“This is it.”
Ethan looked nervous now as we entered.
A receptionist greeted us. “Can I help you?”
I showed her the gold bar and explained the situation.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Oh. Walter is expecting you.”
She led us into a conference room.
A man in his 60s entered a few minutes later.
He wore a gray suit, silver glasses, and had a professional smile.
“I’m Walter.”
“You’re a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“Who sent us here?”
He smiled slightly. “I’ve been asked not to say yet.”
I folded my arms. “I’m not comfortable with that.”
“I understand.”
“My 12-year-old received a gold bar inside a cake.”
Walter nodded. “I know.”
“Is it real?”
“Yes.”
“Who sent it?”
“Please give him a little time.”
“Him?”
Walter smiled again.
“You’ll understand soon.”
I almost left.
Then Ethan said, “Can we wait?”
So we waited.
Twenty minutes later, the conference-room door opened.
A man stepped inside.
It took me several seconds to recognize him.
He was clean-shaven.
His hair had been cut.
He wore dark pants, a pale blue shirt, and a new-looking jacket.
Buddy wasn’t with him.
But the eyes were the same.
Ethan stood. “Malcolm?”
Malcolm smiled. “Hey, kid.”
Ethan’s mouth fell open. “What happened to you?”
Malcolm laughed. “A lot.”
He shook Ethan’s hand, then hugged him.
I stood slowly. “You sent the cake.”
“I did.”
