Smoke Break

“I’m taking a smoke break.” Wyatt called to his coworkers, waving to the couple of them and slipping into the storage behind the bar. Tonight had been a very busy night for his little side-business, and though he felt bad leaving them to handle the normal crowd of customers so much, he really needed a smoke. He knew he’d become prickly without one, with how stressful the shift had been. 

He opened the door to the alleyway at the back of the lounge. It was chilly out. Dreadnought didn’t get snow, but the cold season still crept in. Wyatt counted it a blessing, as the lounge could get warm with all the moving bodies. He lit up and relaxed against the cold brick. It was still only the beginning of the night. He had hours left, ending barely before the sun prepared to rise. He wanted to go home already. Maybe he needed a day off.

“Um, excuse me?”

Wyatt looked up from the orange glow. Three teens were sitting in the alley to the side, two boys and a girl. The red-headed boy had been the one to call to him, and the other two seemed to notice him as he did. Wyatt frowned, no longer leaning against the wall.

“Is something the matter?”

“Well, no, not really, we’re just looking for someone.” The boy said.

“We’re not allowed in the bar.” The girl added. 

Wyatt relaxed just a little, though he still felt a little nervous. Perhaps he was just being paranoid. 

“So… you waited out here for an employee?”

“Yeah, ‘cause the guy who can help us works here! Or, at least, we’re pretty sure.” The one brunette of the three said, smiling.

“Wyatt Keyes, I presume?” He ventured. The kids nodded. Even on his break, couldn’t catch one. He leaned back again and brought the cigarette to his lips. “That’d be me. You said you’re looking for someone?”

“That’s right.” The first boy said, all professional for someone so young. “Our mother. We know her name, but we can’t find a way to contact her at all. We were wondering if you might know where she is.”

“And we can tell you all about the gossip around Como! Everything we know.” The girl told him.

Wyatt stifled a sigh. These kids had no idea what they were doing. He honestly wondered where they’d even heard of him. But, he supposed, they must have been desperately curious. That could lead a  person to strange and dangerous places, he knew. 

He decided he could humor them, if only to keep them from chasing things deeper than just him. 

“What’s her name?”

“Piper Ewing.”

Oh.

Oh shit.

Wyatt carefully did not react. He pretended to think about the name. Really, he had the rug pulled out from under him for once in this god-forsaken business. A personal policy was that he never divulge information about his personal acquaintances, no matter the circumstances. A category that Piper Weston certainly fell under.

“How did you learn her name?”

“Our dad.”

“Also, my uncle is related to her. He doesn’t know where she is, though.”

Was the girl related to Isaac? She certainly looked it. God, Wyatt only knew two of them and yet he was already well-aware of what a mess that family was. He rolled his cigarette between his fingers, thinking up a way to keep them out of trouble. 

“Sorry, guys, I don’t know her. Maybe you’d have better luck talking to a lawman. People around here won’t be able to help you much when it comes to family affairs.”

The teens’ faces fell, and Wyatt couldn’t help feel a little bad. Part of him wanted to ask their names, but then, it wasn’t really any of his business. 

“Alright, well, sorry for bothering you, sir.” The red-headed boy said, and Wyatt gave him an apologetic smile.

“No big deal, kid. Don’t you three make a habit of hanging around dark alleyways late at night, now.”

The trio made their way for home, and Wyatt finished up his cigarette. He tossed what was left onto the cold cement at the bottom of the stairs and headed back inside. He would never sell out his friends’ info, that was his rule. He didn’t have any qualms about passing on what he heard from others to them, though. He’d be letting Piper know about what he’d learned tonight.