No Good Deed

Nathan glanced at his battered timex watch with a patinaed leather strap as he waited patiently for the x22 public bus. The watch belonged to his deceased veteran grandfather, he sat proudly remembering him. It reminded him of his strength and resilience, a man of character. He stood to his feet walking to the corner, the sky was overcast ready to downpour at any second. A woman wearing a bright pink suited waiting for the bus as well, she was busy consoling her young child, soothing the uncontrollable cries for sleep.

He wiped the small droplets of rain from his face wondering to himself what was causing the delay. He couldn't be late for this final interview, as he had worked so hard to get this one. He reached into his briefcase pulling a small black leather notebook, a careful place for any fleeting thoughts he may soon forget.

Suddenly a black mercedes pulled beside the sidewalk, a hooded man with a large build jumped out. He grabbed the woman in pink's purse from beside her stroller. The woman too shocked to respond, let out a small gasp of air. Nathan quickly jumped to his feet as the man and the mercedes took off. He jotted the license plate quickly XDL3225 into his notebook, his blood boiling he threw his pen after the car. A small crowd started to gather trying to console the woman with her child as Nathan called the police. "Are you okay?" he asked the shocked woman, she could barely respond as a distant sound of sirens could be heard. The area quicky filled with blue uniforms.

"You the one that called?", one officer asked from a standard lincoln towncar as he slowly opened the door. The lights from the officers car strobed around them. Nathan nodded and explained in detail what happened while also providing the make, model, and license plate to the vehicle. "You acted quickly" the officer pointed at the notebook, "handy you had that around".

"Yes sir, its useful" Nate responded, suddenly realizing he was going to be late for the interview he grabbed his briefcase. He gave his information to the officer, and quickly called an Uber. Already close to 15 minutes late, he ran to the corner as the application showed him the driver was close. "Midtown, please hurry" Nathan directed the driver looking back at his watch. The driver quickly started to weave through the maze of streets ahead of him. Nathan rubbed his fingers around his temple, and took a deep breath thinking about what unfolded earlier, hoping the woman and her child were okay.

A tall skyscraper came into view, as Nathan started to prepare himself to explain why he was late. The driver pulled to the front and he jumped out, jogging into the large building. "I'm here for the interview!" Nathan exclaimed to the man stationed at the lobby, pointing to the computer he had in front of him.

The man looked annoyed and without looking up asked "Which floor?". "That would be the 12th floor" Nate replied. "Sorry sir, your interview slot has passed, unfortunately you won't be able to proceed" he said.

Frustrated Nathan walked out from the lobby and as if on que, rain starting pouring powerfully. Nathan held the briefcase above his head, shaking his head as his phone started to ring. Looking down it was a number he didn't recognize. Picking up the phone, it was the officer from the earlier incident. "Hey guy, your information led to the arrest of a wanted criminal. Looks like that notebook of yours was more than handy, you have a $20,000 reward waiting for you". Nathan lowered his briefcase in shock. " Are you serious?" Nathan asked as he couldn't believe it. He didn't know what to say and was reminded of his grandfather again. No good deed will go unnoticed he used to say, Nathan thought to himself as he slowly smiled and glanced back at his watch.