Sunlight beams down on the siblings as they step into an alley hidden between two mall sections. The nearest street or parking lot is far from view, and there is no camera in sight. It''s a sizeable blemish in the mall''s security. Don takes a mental note of the location as it is the perfect place not to be seen – not that he would do anything illegal.
The downsides are the two filled dumpsters and the group of men and women surrounding them. Each person tries their best to look threatening, some going as far as cracking their knuckles and spitting in front of them. Each has a matching kangaroo patch sewn onto one article of clothing.
ALY
This can''t be real.
A man walks forward. His hair is slicked back, but his beard is unkempt. He is muscular, athletic and much taller than Aly, overshadowing Don. When you look at this man, you can''t help but think leather jackets and cheap cologne were made for him. The way everyone turns to him when he speaks makes it clear he is the leader.
LEADER
You two have grabbed our attention. I have a few questions for you.
ALY
Oh god, this is real. You guys
look like the teens from Grease if they
joined the scouts. I mean the patches are
overkill if you ask me.
DON
Kinda cliché, don''t ya think?
I mean the whole alley shtick.
Don examines his surroundings.
LEADER
Was that supposed to sting, Detective?
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Don and Aly''s eyes jolt to look at him.
LEADER
That''s right. I know who you two are.
The new dumb detectives in town.
I feel that ''dumb'' is too weak of a word.
Who opens a detective agency in a mall?
ALY
Not you too. Don''t you think the
established flow of people in the mall might
increase our chances of getting work
and make us easier to find?
RANDOM WOMAN
She has a point, Boss.
It was easy finding them because
of where they were. Took us like
a minute to get it done.
A woman chimes in from the back. The man beside her decided to throw his two cents into the pile.
RANDOM MAN
Aren''t malls dying, though?
LEADER
Please shut up. What matters is
who you are. You attacked
one of our men.
Out of the crowd, Berry walks out. There is a red mark on his forehead, matching Aly''s finger.
BERRY
Bet you didn''t see this coming.
Both siblings scrunch their faces as Don shakes his hand in the air, predicting seeing Berry snitching a mile away.
DON
Ehh. Kind of figured you would have
squeaked to your boss.
Though not this quickly.
LEADER
Shut it!
He walks up to Don, and closes enough for Aly''s nostrils to be burned by his pungent cologne. His hot breath hit Don''s face.
LEADER
As the leader of the Roos,
I don''t like it when people attack my members.
Why don''t you tell us who hired
you to follow that man? Was it a Dynasty?
DON
Sorry, but I can''t do that.
We have a strict privacy clause in our contract.
If we started talking about our clients,
we would never get work.
When you hire us, you get the best
of the best. We''ll work any case,
no matter how weird.
LEADER
Look around you, potbelly.
DON
Potbelly?
This hurt Don''s pride.
LEADER
You aren''t in a position to deny me.
Are you with Dynasty?
The man clenches his fist, but this fails as the intimidation tactic has no effect on either Isabela sibling. Aly leans her head close to Don to whisper.
ALY
You said you wanted excitement.