It was early, too early for a Saturday, but you were already buckled in the passenger seat of Mike’s old car, still yawning as he pulled out of the driveway. The streets were empty, bathed in that pale, early morning light, and the whole city seemed half asleep.

Mike glanced over at you, sipping coffee from a thermos as he drove. His security guard uniform was hanging in the backseat, ready for later. For now, though, he was heading to a job interview—the first of two today—and had asked you to come along, more for the company than anything else. You agreed because you knew he needed the moral support, even if he didn’t say it out loud.

First stop: a small office in the industrial part of town. Mike straightened his tie in the rearview mirror and gave you a quick, almost apologetic look before heading inside.

“Won’t be long,” he promised.