Chapter 308
**Tom**
The voice behind me wasn't exactly what I'd call friendly conversation material.
"Excuse me?" I turned, finding myself staring down the barrel of a very real, very not-amusing police weapon. The officer's stance was rigid, his expression hard as granite.
Hudson sat frozen across from me, his coffee cup suspended halfway to his mouth. His eyes were wide with a mix of shock and what I could only interpret as vindication. After all my threats about Antarctica, karma had apparently decided to pay me a visit instead.
"Thomas Blackwood," the officer's grip tightened on his weapon, "you're under arrest."
I set my coffee down carefully, trying to process this surreal moment. Here I was, in a Sydney café, being arrested. Father would love this headline.
"Mind if I ask why? And more importantly, do you have a warrant?" I kept my voice level, though my mind raced through every possible reason. Had Leo finally snapped and reported me for stealing his comic book collection when we were twelve?
"Yes, we have a warrant."
"Show me," I held out my hand, keeping my voice steady despite the gun still pointed at my chest. Hudson looked ready to faint, his coffee forgotten and probably getting cold. What a waste of perfectly good caffeine.
The officer reached into his jacket with his free hand, pulling out what appeared to be an official-looking document. He thrust it toward me with all the ceremony of someone handing over a parking ticket.
I took the paper, unfolded it carefully, and...
Wait.
I blinked. Then blinked again.
The "warrant" in my hands was a café menu insert. It was one of those paper placemats covered in terrible jokes and random trivia that restaurants use to keep customers entertained while they wait for their food.
I stared at the menu insert, a terrible joke about a chicken crossing the road staring back at me. My tension dissolved into disbelief.
"Really? This is what passes for a warrant these days? I must have missed that amendment to the constitution." I waved the paper at the 'officer.' "The coffee stain in the corner adds a certain authenticity."
Hudson was still frozen in his chair, looking like he might pass out at any moment. Poor guy probably saw his career flash before his eyes.
"Mr. Blackwood, you have the right to-" The officer's voice cracked slightly.
"Harrison, put the damn fake gun down." I folded the menu and placed it neatly beside my coffee cup. "And for God's sake, stop terrorizing my assistant. Look at him - he's about to have an aneurysm."
The café had gone silent. Every patron sat stock-still, phones raised to capture what they probably thought was Sydney's crime of the century. Great. Just what I needed - social media footage of this circus.
Harrison's professional facade cracked. "How did you-"
"Your Instagram profile picture gave it away," I smirked, watching his shoulders slump. "Leo's always showing me his friends' posts. You're in half his photos from that fishing trip last month. Nice catch, by the way - though I suspect the fish was already dead when you posed with it."
Harrison holstered his fake gun, his face flushing. "Damn it. The prank was perfect until now."
"Well, except for the café menu warrant." I held up the paper. "Though I have to admire the creativity. The coffee stains really sold it."
Hudson finally remembered how to breathe. "Sir, you... you knew this was a prank?"
"Not at first," I admitted, sipping my now-lukewarm coffee. "But cops don't usually wave guns around in crowded cafés. Plus, Harrison here kept fighting back a smile."
"I did not!" Harrison protested, dropping into an empty chair at our table.
"You did. Right corner of your mouth. Dead giveaway."
Harrison ran a hand through his hair. "What a waste. Could've made it more convincing. The menu was just for show, really." He slouched in his chair, looking dejected. "Didn't think you'd actually ask to see it."
"That's exactly why I asked." I took another sip of coffee, enjoying his disappointment a bit too much. "The moment someone waves official paperwork at me, I want to see it."
Hudson's color was finally returning to normal, though his hand still shook as he reached for his coffee. "Sir, I nearly had a heart attack."
"Sorry about that," Harrison grinned. "Leo called about thirty minutes ago and said he wanted to give his brother a proper Sydney welcome. Asked if I could help scare the living daylights out of you."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh yeah, I'm terrified. Really got me there, buddy. My heart's still racing and everything." I placed a hand over my chest in mock distress. "Brilliant performance. The whole 'you're under arrest' bit? Oscar-worthy."
Harrison's grin widened. "Almost forgot - your brother's in town."
My coffee cup froze halfway to my mouth. "Wait, what? Leo's here? In Sydney?"
"Landed this morning, I think." Harrison shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "Didn't tell you?"
"No, he didn't tell me." I set my cup down, already plotting revenge scenarios. "That sneaky little... What's he doing here?"
"No clue. But hey, how about we grab drinks later? Catch up properly without the whole arrest scenario?"
"Yeah, sure." I nodded, still processing Leo's surprise appearance. "What do you actually do here anyway? Besides terrorizing innocent businessmen in cafés?"
Harrison laughed. "Actually, this is my place."
"You own this?" I glanced around the cozy café with new appreciation. The warm wood accents, carefully curated artwork, and impossibly comfortable chairs all screamed attention to detail.
"Yep. Opened it two years ago. Usually, I spend my time making lattes, not fake arrests." He scratched his neck, looking sheepish. "First time playing cop, actually. Probably my last, too. I mean, a café menu? What was I thinking?"
"At least you didn't write the warrant on a napkin," I smirked, finishing the last of my coffee. "Though that might have been more convincing."
"Leo said you'd fall for it." Harrison shook his head. "Should've known better than to trust that troublemaker's judgment. He still thinks putting plastic wrap on toilet seats is the height of comedy."
"Ah yes, the sophisticated humor of my dear brother." I rolled my eyes. "Did he also tell you about the time he tried to convince our entire family I was adopted? Spent weeks fabricating fake adoption papers. Even hired an actor to play a long-lost biological parent."
"No way."
"Way. The poor actor showed up at Christmas dinner crying about wanting to reconnect with his son. Meanwhile, Leo's hiding behind the Christmas tree filming the whole thing."
"Did anyone buy it?"
"Our grandmother threw her shoe at the guy." I chuckled at the memory. "Said no grandson of hers would have such terrible posture. The actor ran out before dessert."
Harrison burst out laughing. "That's... that's actually worse than my attempt today."
"Don't feel bad. Leo has a special talent for elaborate failures." I gestured to my empty cup. "This coffee, though? Far from a failure. Might be the best Americano I've had in Sydney."
"Now you're just trying to make me feel better about the warrant fiasco."
"I'm serious. Though I might be biased - anything's better than the hotel coffee. Pretty sure they just run tap water through burnt toast and call it espresso."
Harrison grinned, standing up. "Let me get you another cup. On the house - consider it an apology for the attempted arrest."
"Make it to go?" I checked my watch. "Got a meeting across the street in five."
"Coming right up. And hey," Harrison paused, "next time you're in Sydney, stop by. No pranks, just coffee. Promise."
"Deal. Though maybe keep that fake badge handy - never know when you'll need to arrest another unsuspecting businessman."
"Never again," Harrison laughed, heading toward the counter. "I'm sticking to my day job. Less chance of accidentally starting an international incident."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
