Chapter 10: Dawn at the Garage
The morning sun cast long, golden rays across the concrete floor of Henderson’s Garage, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air. Jax stood over an open engine block, a wrench in one hand and a rag in the other, listening to the rhythmic scratching of colored pencils coming from the corner workbench. Lily was sitting on a wooden crate, entirely absorbed in coloring a new picture, using every crayon from a brand-new box Clara had bought her the night before. Her scuffed sneakers dangled a few inches above the floor, kicking back and forth in time with a tune she was humming under her breath.
The heavy roller door was pushed open, letting in the fresh morning breeze and the sound of distant traffic. Julian Sterling stood in the threshold, looking entirely out of place in a rumpled designer shirt without a tie, carrying a cardboard box filled with legal files. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning the grease-stained walls, the rows of spare parts, and the battered vintage motorcycle resting on a hydraulic lift. He looked exhausted, the dark circles under his eyes evidence of a sleepless night spent reviewing asset forfeiture logs and victim restitution claims.
Jax didn't look up immediately. He wiped a streak of grease from his forearm with the rag, letting the young man stand there in the uncomfortable quiet for a long beat. "You’re a long way from Park Avenue, kid," Jax finally said, tossing the wrench onto a metal tool chest with a sharp clatter. Julian swallowed hard, stepping fully into the garage and setting the cardboard box down on a metal workbench. "My father’s lawyers tried to shut down my trust fund this morning," Julian said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. "They told me I was committing professional suicide by associating with the firm's victims."
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Lily stopped coloring, peering around the edge of the crate with wide, curious hazel eyes. She clutched her green crayon tightly, watching the newcomer with cautious vigilance. Julian noticed her gaze and offered a small, hesitant smile, kneeling down so he wouldn't tower over her. "Hey, Lily," Julian said softly. "I wanted to apologize for what my dad said... and for what he did. It doesn't fix anything, but... I’m returning these." Julian reached into his box and pulled out a stack of medical records and social services files stamped with confidential seals.
Clara stepped out from the apartment above the garage, holding a mug of black coffee. She watched the exchange with a critical, calculating eye, seeing the genuine remorse in Julian’s posture. "Those are the adoption and foster records Richard sealed twenty years ago," Clara noted, her voice sharp as glass. "The ones proving Sarah was never a ward of the state, but the legal heir to the property your father seized." Julian nodded grimly. "My dad spent millions paying corrupt judges to bury those files. I found them in his personal safe last night while the feds were executing the search warrant."
