"The name's Charter. What a nice garage you've got here. Good for privacy."
Charter stopped a few steps away from them, his eyes moving slowly around the garage as if he had all the time in the world. His hair was yellow, the colour of old parchment, and it was whitening at the temples and roots with the gradual creep of age.
JD remained seated, his posture relaxed, though his attention stayed fixed on the man in front of him.
"You've got some nerve walking in like that," JD said, his tone calm, almost casual, like they weren't in the middle of something they shouldn't have been discussing.
But really, he was cautious. The fact that he knew about their heist made his instincts sharpen.
Charter gave a faint smile. "I figured knocking would be a bit unnecessary."
Drayke didn't smile. His gun was still raised, steady in his grip, though the tension in his arm showed he was weighing his options. "You should've tried it anyway. Might've saved you some trouble."
Charter glanced at him briefly, then back to JD, like he had already decided who he was going to speak to. "I'm not here to cause problems."
"That's usually what people say before they do," Drayke replied, his voice flat.
JD lifted a hand slightly, not even looking at him, but it was enough to get him to hold back.
"What do you want?" JD asked.
Charter didn't answer immediately. He took another slow step in, the light from outside no longer cutting across his face as sharply.
"There's something I need done," he said.
Drayke let out a quiet breath through his nose. "Of course there is. Always something with guys like you."
JD leaned back a little in his chair. "Go on."
"There's a place," Charter continued. "Lux Lab."
Drayke frowned slightly. "That place? Isn't that open to the public?"
"Yes," Charter said. "That's why it works."
JD tilted his head a little, watching him closely. "What about it?"
"They've got a public wing," Charter said. "People walk in, move through different sections, look at whatever they've put on display, then leave. It's controlled, but it doesn't feel like it."
"Where are you going with this?" JD tilted his head to the side.
Drayke shifted slightly, lowering the gun just a fraction, though he didn't put it away. His eyes stayed hard. "And we're supposed to go in and do what exactly? You want us to play delivery boys?"
Charter looked at him for a moment, then said, "Pick something up for me."
JD's eyes didn't leave him. "What kind of thing?"
"A sample," Charter replied.
Drayke frowned deeper. "A sample of what?"
Charter didn't answer that directly. "Something small. You won't need to carry much, just take it and leave."
"That doesn't really explain anything," Drayke said.
"It doesn't need to," Charter replied calmly.
JD stayed quiet for a moment, his fingers resting lightly against the arm of the chair as he thought it through.
'He walked in here very confidently. That only happens when someone knows they're not the one at risk.'
"If we're walking into a place like that," JD said slowly, "we're not doing it blind."
"You won't be," Charter said. "You'll see what you need when you get there."
Drayke let out a short, dry laugh. "That's not how that works. We don't walk into jobs blind, not for nobody."
Charter didn't react to that. He just stood there, like he wasn't in any rush to convince them.
JD watched him for a few seconds longer.
"You're not giving details," JD said.
"No," Charter replied.
"On purpose."
"Yes."
Drayke shook his head slightly. "This is pointless."
JD ignored him, his eyes still on Charter.
"You came here alone?" JD asked.
"Yes."
"And you haven't said anything about us to anyone?" JD continued.
"No," Charter said.
There was no hesitation in his voice, no shift in his expression.
JD held his gaze a second longer.
'If he had, he wouldn't need to be here.'
Drayke glanced at JD. "You believe that?"
JD didn't answer right away.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"And if we say no?" JD asked.
Charter gave a small shrug. "Then I leave, and that's the end of it."
JD's eyes narrowed just slightly.
Drayke shifted in his seat. "I don't like how easy he's saying that. Smells like a setup."
JD stood up slowly this time, the legs of the chair scraping lightly against the concrete as he moved. He took a few steps forward, stopping a short distance from Charter.
"You walk in here," JD said, his voice calm but firmer now, "ask for something without explaining much, and expect us to go along with it."
"I expect you to think about it," Charter replied.
JD looked at him, really looked this time.
There was nothing careless about the man. Not the way he stood, not the way he spoke, not even the way he paused between words.
'He knows we can't refuse.'
JD held his gaze for a moment longer, then spoke.
"If we hear you out," he said, "that's it. No promises."
Charter nodded once. "That's fine."
Drayke looked at JD, clearly not convinced. "That's all it takes?"
"For now," JD said.
He turned slightly, pacing a step or two to the side, his thoughts running through it again.
He exhaled lightly.
He stopped, then looked back at Charter.
"We'll listen," JD said.
Drayke let out a breath, shaking his head slightly, but he didn't argue again.
Charter gave a faint nod, like that was all he needed.
"You don't need to rush," he said. "Just be ready."
"When?" JD asked.
"Soon," Charter replied.
JD didn't push further.
The conversation didn't end so much as it slowed, settling into something quieter.
After a moment, Charter turned and began walking back toward the door.
"Wait," JD said.
Charter paused but didn't turn around.
"If we decide to do this," JD said, "we'll need to see the place first."
Charter gave a small nod. "Then go see it."
That was all he said before stepping out into the light.
Drayke finally lowered the gun completely, letting out a breath he'd been holding. "I don't like this. Not one bit."
"You don't have to," JD said.
Drayke looked at him. "You're really considering it?"
JD didn't answer immediately. He stood there for a moment, his eyes on the door, before turning back.
"We're not doing anything yet," he said. "We're just not ignoring it."
Drayke rubbed his face with one hand. "That guy just shows up, says barely anything, and now we're supposed to go along with it. Doesn't sit right."
JD walked back to the chair, picking up his jacket and brushing it lightly before putting it on. Then he turned towards Drayke.
"Do you really think we have a choice in this, Drayke?"
Drayke looked at JD, still frowning, but confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you think he's blackmailing us?"
Drayke frowned deeper. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but decided against it.
"We'll look at the lab later today to figure out one or two things. In the meantime, I'll do a little research.
"And, please, Drayke, just dance to Charter's tune for now. We'll figure out how to get rid of him later on, if it comes to that."