"C-Craig... What are you doing h-here?" Jennifer asked with a little stutter.
"I think that should be my question to you." Looking over his wife's shoulder, Craig saw Justin and Molly. Justin had an arm aound his sister's shoulders, tying to offer her comfort. They both looked uneasy.
"Why aren't you and Molly at home?" Craig demanded with anger.
Squaring her shoulders, Jennifer took a deep breath. "I came here to warn Justin about what you were planning. I'm tired of standing back and letting him get hurt by you, Craig. I'm his mother and I refuse to do it anymore. I refuse to be afraid of you anymore."
Craig raised his eyebrows. He couldn't believe that his wife was talking to him like that. 'How dare she?!' he thought with fury.
Bracing his hands against the heavy steel door, he pushed. Jennifer tried to stop the door from sliding open further, but couldn't. Within a few minutes, a very angry Craig Taylor was standing inside the loft. With a feral grin, he turned and slid the door closed, locking it.
OUTSIDE--ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE LOFT
Daphne had stopped by Emmett's on her way to Brian's loft. Her and Justin had become great friends and she really liked Justin's exuberant cousin. Since they were both planning to go to Brian's loft, to spend a couple of hours with the Taylors, they had decided to go together.
They were across the street from the loft when Emmett saw Michael just ahead of them. Michael was just standing still and staring across the street at the building. He was staring so intently that he didn't seem to realize that Emmett and Daphne were walking upto him.
"Hey, Michael!" greeted Emmett when he and Daphne were right beside the short dark-haired man.
Michael jumped and spun to look at them. Emmett saw the fleeting look of guilt that crossed Michael's face. 'What's he upto, now?' Emmett wondered silently. Daphne just remained quiet. She had quite a dislike for Michael and she couldn't see that changing in the near future.
"What are you doing... here?" Michael asked in a higher pitch than normal.
"We came to visit with Justin. Why are you here, across the street?" asked Emmett.
Michael shrugged, looking nervous. "N-Nothing. Justin hanging out, you know."
Emmett gave Michael a small smile. "Well, come on up. I'm sure Justin won't mind seeing you. If you remain civil, that is."
"No!" Michael answered quickly. A little too quickly in Emmett's opinion.
Sighing, he looked Michael square in the eyes and crossed his arms across his chest. "Alright, Michael, what the hell's going on?" Emmett demanded.
Michael stayed silent for a few minutes. Under Emmett's and Daphne's steady gazes, Michael seemed to wilt. Finally, he said, "It's nothing." Sighing, he continued, "Justin's dad is up there with him. Trying to talk him into going home. That's all!"
"That's all?!" screeched Daphne. "You idiot!"
"What? I just let the man know where his son was..." Michael trailed off when he realized what he was revealing.
Daphne was furious. She was about to reach over and wrap her hands around the man's scrawny neck when Emmett grabbed her gently around the waist, holding her in place. Looking sadly at Michael, he whispered, Michael, what have you done?" Pulling out his cell phone, Emmett quickly dialed Brian's work number.
After waiting a couple of minutes, for Brian's assistant Cynthia to put his call through, he heard Brian's voice.
"What's the matter?" Brian demanded in greeting.
"Brian, you need to hurry and get home. It's Justin!"