"Didn't exactly have time."
Martinez looked toward the rows of motorcycles.
Tom expected an argument.
Instead, Martinez reached for his radio.
"I'll handle it."
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Martinez looked at him.
"If Miguel asked for scary men, scary men are what he's getting."
Tom smiled.
That was the first bridge.
A small one.
But enough.
Within fifteen minutes, police and bikers were standing around car hoods covered with route maps.
Martinez pointed toward intersections.
Snake suggested spacing.
A traffic officer explained which streets could be blocked temporarily.
A biker from Steel Phoenix offered radios.
Another rider volunteered to coordinate the rear of the procession.
Men who would normally avoid each other were suddenly discussing lane closures.
Nobody said how strange it felt.
They did not need to.
At 9:14, Elena Rivera's Toyota entered the cemetery.
Tom recognized it immediately.
Miguel sat in the back.
This time he wore a tiny black suit.
The Superman cape was still there.
Bright red.
Backward.
And balanced on his head was his father's police cap.
It was far too large.
The brim almost covered his eyes.
Elena parked.
She stepped out first.
Black dress.
Hair tied back.
Face pale with exhaustion.
Then Miguel climbed out.
He looked toward the motorcycles.
Stopped.
His mouth opened.
Three hundred riders.
Rows and rows of them.
Leather.
Denim.
Boots.
Beards.
Bandanas.
Motorcycles stretching farther than a five-year-old could probably count.
Miguel shouted.
"THE SCARY MEN CAME!"
Every head turned.
Miguel ran.
Elena called after him.
"Miguel!"
Too late.
He crossed the parking lot as fast as his small dress shoes could carry him.
His father's cap bounced over his eyebrows.
Tom barely had time to bend before Miguel slammed into his legs.
"You came!"
Tom put one huge hand against his back.
"Of course we came, warrior."
Miguel stepped back.
His eyes scanned the motorcycles.
"All these are your friends?"
Tom looked around.
"Some of them I met this morning."
Miguel seemed impressed.
"That's a lot of friends."
"It is."
Miguel lowered his voice.
"Daddy's going to be safe now."
Tom swallowed.
"Yeah."
He rested his hand on Miguel's shoulder.
"He's got plenty of company."
Elena approached slowly.
The crowd opened around her.
She stopped in front of Tom.
"I'm sorry."
Tom shook his head.
"For what?"
"I told him not to bother anyone."
"He didn't bother us."
She looked at the bikers.
"My husband arrested riders."
Snake stepped forward.
Elena continued.
"He was strict about speeding."
Snake nodded.
"Probably should've met me fifteen years ago."