He Had $17, One Broken Guitar, and Nowhere to Sleep — Then America’s Biggest Band Called His Name
CHAPTER 2
The stranger introduced himself as Daniel Cross.
Ethan didn’t recognize the name.
That surprised Daniel.
“You don’t know who I am?”
Ethan shook his head.
“Should I?”
Daniel almost laughed.
“No.”
He looked at the guitar.
“Your father taught you that song?”
“Most of it.”
“Most?”
“He never finished it.”
Daniel’s eyes remained fixed on him.
“What was the title?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Midnight Again.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
That was the title.
The unfinished song Samuel had written shortly before disappearing.
Daniel had spent twenty-five years trying to forget it.
“How much do you want for the guitar?”
Ethan frowned.
“I’m not selling it.”
“I’ll give you five thousand.”
“No.”
“Ten.”
“No.”
Daniel smiled.
“Good answer.”
Before Ethan could respond, a young woman approached.
She was carrying a camera.
“You two know each other?”
Daniel looked at her.
“No.”
Ethan said:
“Apparently we’re discussing my guitar.”
The woman smiled.
“I’m Maya.”
“Ethan.”
She glanced at the guitar case.
“You made enough money tonight to eat?”
Ethan looked down.
Thirty-two dollars.
“Maybe.”
Maya laughed.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“I know a place that gives musicians free food.”
Daniel watched them walk away.
He remained under the awning.
Then he pulled out his phone.
One call.
“Victor?”
A voice answered.
“What’s wrong?”
“I found him.”
Silence.
“Found who?”
Daniel looked toward Ethan.
“Samuel’s son.”
The next morning, Ethan woke in a cheap hostel.
Someone had left an envelope beside his bed.
Inside was a business card.
THE MIDNIGHT SONS — MANAGEMENT
Ethan stared at it.
Maya looked over his shoulder.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
“What?”
“That’s the biggest band in America.”
Ethan shrugged.
“Never heard of them.”
Maya stared at him.
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
She grabbed her phone.
Their latest stadium tour had sold out in minutes.
Millions of records.
Hundreds of awards.
The band had been together for twenty-four years.
And Daniel Cross was their guitarist.
Maya looked at Ethan.
“Why would someone like that want you?”
Ethan looked at his father’s guitar.
“I don’t know.”
He flipped it over.
There was a small symbol carved into the wood.
A crescent moon.
He had seen it his entire life.
But that morning, for the first time, he wondered what it meant.
