It was 7:50 p.m.
Rain fell thick and fast over Philadelphia's Old City.
Outside 19 Saint John Street, Billy stood at the edge of the leaking eaves, half the shoulders of his hoodie already soaked. He clutched the business card, its corners softened by sweat and rain.
The house number plaque was old.
On the black wooden door, there was no clinic sign, no name reading "Dr. Yang Ming."
Only a half-broken wall lamp.
Billy raised his hand.
He didn't knock.
"I knew you'd be standing here spacing out."
The sound of a crutch tapping the ground came from behind him.
Freddy limped over from the street corner, holding an umbrella. His trouser legs were spattered with mud, and the umbrella had a hole in it. Rain dripped through onto his curly hair.
Billy didn't turn around.
"Who told you to come?"
"Just passing by."
"Your house is in the other direction."
"I take a pretty freeform route through life."
Freddy tilted the umbrella over Billy's head, still talking. "Besides, I need to make sure that shady doctor in the suit doesn't lure you inside, then take out both your kidneys and sell them to aliens."
"Get lost."
"Sure."
Freddy sat straight down on the doorstep and laid his crutch across his legs.
"There. Got lost all the way over here."
Billy looked down at him.
Freddy tipped his head back.
"Stop staring. I'm not leaving."
The door opened just then.
Yang Ming stood inside, still wearing that dark suit, his cuffs immaculate. He glanced at the two drenched boys outside and stepped aside.
"Come in."
Freddy looked up. "You don't have an underground operating room here, do you?"
"I do."
Freddy went pale.
Yang Ming added, "But I don't have time to harvest your organs today."
There was no