The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 30
“Mom!”
The hospital room door was shoved open, and a young man rushed in. Mrs. Michael, who had been resting on the bed, straightened at once. He stepped to her side and pulled her into an embrace, worry and lingering fear written across his face.
Early that morning, he had already spoken with the police. They had told him about the attack on his mother the night before. Fortunately, the neighborhood guards had arrived quickly, the criminal had been scared off before he could do any real harm.
After a night’s rest, Mrs. Michael had calmed down. She had given a description of the man’s appearance, and the police, having concluded it was likely a crime committed by someone familiar with the household, believed Young Michael might have seen the suspect before.
With that in mind, and because the family had to be notified, Young Michael had left school at first light and rushed over.
The moment the concern faded from his face, it was replaced by something else, anger, edged with a hint of ferocity. “I’ll find him. I swear I will.”
Mrs. Michael clearly had no intention of letting her son put himself in danger. She held his hand, gently smoothing his soft golden-brown hair. He had inherited his coloring from Michael. In dim light, it looked dull, almost brownish-yellow.
But under strong light, it turned into a rich golden brown, striking to look at.
“The police are more professional than you. We should trust them. Look at me, I’m fine. I don’t want anything to happen to you either.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “I’m alright. Stay out of this.”
She still remembered the weapon in that man’s hand, and the brutality in his eyes. She did not want her son to become the next victim.
But parents’ words did not always reach their children, especially not boys of sixteen or seventeen.
They believed that having a body like an adult meant they possessed an adult’s judgment and experience. They wanted respect. More of it. And more often than not, they ended up making a mess of things.
In that cycle, they grew even more desperate to prove they were grown, independent, beyond their parents’ control. And to prove it, they would do exactly what their parents warned them not to do.
Young Michael reassured his mother, promised that he would not pursue the criminal, and agreed, at least on the surface, not to inform Michael for the time being.
After all, his father was still away on business, and reportedly facing certain risks. If this matter distracted him and led to consequences that could not be undone, Mrs. Michael would never find peace again.
That, in fact, was precisely what Young Michael intended to avoid.
He would resolve this before his father returned. He would prove that he had grown up, that he no longer needed to be restrained.
After visiting his mother, Young Michael was invited to the police station. They showed him the wanted notice currently being printed.
“Ever seen this man?” The captain in charge of the case held a cup of coffee in one hand and pointed at the notice pinned to the board.
Ordinarily, a case like this would not require a captain’s direct oversight. But Michael was a licensed federal employee. Cases involving such households were handled with greater attention. It sent a message outward, to the public, to the Internal Revenue Service, that the matter was taken seriously. It also served as a deterrent.
Young Michael frowned at the notice.
He did not recognize the man.
The connection between the boss and Michael had always been kept discreet. And beyond that, there were other matters intertwined, matters neither side would ever make public, certainly not involving Young Michael.
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