Dual Minds: Deep Web

"Not yet Lacey.” The Word replied. “But I’m positive that the reptiles are behind this and it has to do with the water system.”

“Are you a freaking broken record man? All week with you it’s been Tiffany this and danger that and Shep’s working for the government.” Gale rolled his eyes.

Word gave his friends a flat look. “Do you two know the history of AIDS?”

“What?” Gale asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Answer me.”

“Um, shit man.” Gale sniffed. “I don’t know.”

The Word sighed. “The government got a perverted man to fuck their testing monkey and thus AIDS was created.”

Gale blinked several times. “Word I don’t thin-“ But he was cut off once the conspiracy theorist stomped his foot down. "And you ask why I'm paranoid? Cause when you fuck with government monkeys you get burned."

Gale turned to Lacey dumbfounded and mouthed the words. 'What the hell?'

"Y'all are a riot." Lacey said, running a hand through her hair. "Anywho, worryin' will get us nowhere. We gotta get the facts straight...too bad Harles ain't around for this stuff. Don't blame her really, that girl has got enough problems." Lacey's tone went soft as she looked away from them and spotted a car in the distance, parking on the edge of the street. "Well, maybe those two will have some ideas."

“Indeed.” The Word said. “Not sure if I trust this Jessica or this Joseph if that is their real names.” He and Gale followed Lacey towards the car both Lacey and Gale putting on friendly smiles, the latter even waving.

"Detective." The Word acknowledged Jessica as he went up to her side of the window.

 

"If I may speak my part." Said The Vampire.
"I consider a suicide act to assault a train with this kind of people" Her glance against Shep, Dexter and Lincoln.
"Part of this party seems to lack experience, self control and are even unnable to stand by themselves. How do you expect to even reach our target with such waste of breath?" Finished.
Despite ending her sentence with a offense, the woman carefully speaked in the most neutral tone and using a correct vocabulary that made her look out of place.

 

“I am inclined to agree with the little lady over in the corner.” Brice said walking over to the battered Lincoln whom was currently staining Woodrow’s floor. “When Dexter said heist I assumed a professional job.” He shrugged. “That Shep guy is a freaking nutcase.”

Brice sighed as he pulled Lincoln off the floor draping his arm around his neck for an easy drag over to the only other sofa in the room.

Once Lincoln was seated on the recliner, Brice let out a snorting sound as he examined his face. "Jesus." He said. "Huh, when we do this train heist thing I sure hope this guy's job wasn't a speaking role because his jaw looks broken to me."

Lincoln's face was already beginning to swell.

"This is bad news." He said. "How are we supposed to work with a psychopath?"

"You just will." Dexter coughed. "A lot is riding on this."

"Well I don't see why we can't just cut him out." Brice said and then turned to Woodrow. "Want to grab some ice?"

"Can't be done." Dexter replied. "For reasons I cannot currently say." Brice rolled his eyes. "This is gonna suck but ten million dollars worth a diamonds is a lot of money to be had."

 

There was a light wrap at Eliza’s door but she didn’t bother answering as it was already opened and in stepped the ever familiar Agent Charles Brown.

FBI agent by day and reality crime television host by night. "Howdy little lady." He greeted giving a sincere smile. "Hope you don't mind I left myself in, how you been my precious little hacker?" He said holding up a lockpick.

Eliza pressed esc on the keyboard she was working on, so the screen went to black, and turned to Charles Brown with an unreadable expression,"Agent Brown. Pleasure as per usual. Lately I've taken an interest in Mortal Kombat. I wrote the game producers about how they can make the game harder to win, in the future. No response back. So far. I am keeping hope though. I suppose you are here for information."

She showed no emotion as she spoke, and the last sentence was said as a statement more then a question. She sighed, looking the grundgy man over with distaste. She wished he was younger perhaps more good looking. He was the only man that knocked on her door and that depressed her in some sense.

"I'm off duty." He. "So decided to pay you a visit.....and yes I do have some information that needs looked into." Brown gave a golden grin. "For the greater good."

Eliza watched him evenly before walking over to a pizza slice and taking a bite,"Well you know the price...for the greater good." She took another bite and a sip of leftover coke before continuing, "Give me a challenge this time please."

"How does the town's most notorious drug dealer sound?" Brown said. "And maybe some of his cronies as well."

Eliza perked up instantly, a smile crowning her cheeks as she stared at him wide eyed,"I'm interested. What do want to know specifically?"

"Well we have most back round information covered." Brown shrugged. "I want to know more about his movements as late, I could put a guy from the agency on it or stake him out but this is Shep Nelson and we are finally closing in on him."

He took a seat. "I want to take this guy down the brutal way, he's true scum of the Earth. I'll need his movements and see if you can dig any info up on his computer hard drive."

She smirked, crossing her arms over her, "Gig it Up!" t-shirt, and rubbed her legs over her blue plaid PJ pants."Done. I can track his cell and find out his movements in the past six months. The hard drive might be a bit difficult to crack, looking at his status, but I will break through it. Give me three days, and I expect my money deposited as usual. I doubt anyone can hack through my system, but you better have my back if this guy comes after me."

"It won't come to that beautiful." Brown winked. "He'll be in jail before the. The Bureau has been on his ass for the last year we just want to make the evidence we are gathering stick."

Her expression turned awkward and a blush marred her cheeks before she let out a breathy, "Well I can definitely get what you need. Just give me time and I'm sure I can find something to nail him to the wall. Everyone thinks that just because they hide there secrets within a screen it's safe. Pathetic, really. Oh and Brown, your late on your taxes."

He waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah whatever. You staying out of trouble Eliza? You're a good asset it would be a real shame if we had to put you away someday." He stood from his seat fixing his jacket. "Violent crime has been on the rise lately in this county, have you noticed?"

Eliza let her face drain of emotion before she responded,"Physical brutes the lot of them. They waste their time torturing and beating people for information, when it's so easy to find online. Once upon a time, I could steal millions whilst eating weak old tofu in wonder woman pajamas. The amount of stupidity the human race encompasses is beyond me. Hence why I like being above them."

"Above the human race by what? Sitting on your ass all day eating junk food and being anti social?" Brown asked. "Shit ever since that damn government war machine crashed here things have only gotten work, soldiers in the street helping with the clean up and what not."

Eliza's lip twitched slightly in anger, "I meant literally, and yes the soldiers presence is very...daunting. Hence why I don't travel any lower then the fifth floor. Laundry."

"Anyway Eliza." Brown said as he stood. "I must be off to get drunk and get laid. Its been a hard couple weeks some PI is asking questions around town with some kid giving my show and investigation a hard time."

He opened the door. "Hop to what I told you about and maybe it will get you paid faster this time." And with that the agent departed.

Eliza nodded, watching him leave before punching in a security code, and moving to the closest screen in her vicinity. She rubbed her hands through her hair, before opening a drawer and shoving a strawberry creme flavored lollipop between her lips,"First a little mood music."

She moved to her music file and pulled up some Family Force 5. "HOLD UP WAIT A MINUTE! PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN IT!" The beat got loud drowning out the puttering of the keys that would be the only continuous sound for hours to come.

 

"Hello, Word," Jess said, nodding from her position in the car. "This is my new apprentice, Joe. How have you guys been? Solved any government conspiracies lately?"

 

"...Government conspiracies...?" I mumbled quietly to myself trying to remember why that sounded so familiar... then I remembered... sometimes I passed by this weird guy that would always be spouting some nonsense about reptiles coming to take over the world or some other nonsense about the government doing all of these horrible things behind our backs. "Oh god not this guy." I thought, I managed to hide my real emotions and manage a polite smile and wave, not saying anything.

 

“You’re gosh darn right.” The Word nodded. “But this time its true. I saw it, Anita as well and Lacey told me she was there to.”

“You remember Shep?” The Word asked. “Drug dealer you wanted to him down?”

“Our friend Harley has been kinda at odds with him lately.” Gale said. “Word and Lacey here say that Harley’s mother kidnapped Shep.” The Word growled. “Damn it Gale it’s true.” He turned to Jessica. “There was a man there to named Dexter and, and, and, annnnd they were calling Harley’s mother by a different name.”

His voice sped up as he relayed information to the two detectives. "Marie was there to and some creepy guy hit Dexter with molotov and Harley's mom started shooting and violence and I ran and it was chaos!" Word threw his hands in the air. "Its an attack on the water supply!"

 

Jessica leaned in, suddenly very aware.
"Where did they take Dexter?" she asked, voice hard. One hand, gripped to the steering wheel, turned white. "The nearest hospital?"

 

"...Dexter...?" I mumbled, why... why did that name ring a bell? I shook my head quietly after a little bit of thinking, I couldn't think of one reason why such a name would be so memorable. "Um... Harley's mother... she works as a librarian and a kindergarten teacher, right?" I asked, I looked down. "There's something about her that I don't like... I don't know what it is..." I said.

 

The Word paused giving her and Joe a flat look. “Not sure on the hospital, I don’t even know the guy.” He snorted. "All I know is he's named Dexter got blonde hair and blue eyes and got torched by some psychopath."

Gale put a hand on his shoulder. "Then as he and Lacey tell it Trisha dragged off Dexter shooting at Marie and some others and Shep escaped."

"Look." The Word said seriously. "If you want to know where the guy went and Trisha we need to monitor Harley, I don't think she can trusted considering her mom is obviously some sort of agent."

 

A puff of smoke.
A cigarette falling to the ground.
A feet mercilessly pressing it to prevent a fire or perhaps because it's used to it.
And the sound of another one pouring from a box.

Slow and lazy steps as a man dressed with brown pants and a black shirt with no tie around the neck. He was a tall person with brown eyes and a short hair that waved between light brown and orange yet he wasn't a ginger.

He stopped in front of the group composed by teenagers and an officer.

"Funny to see you here Jess, since when are you babysitting kids?" asked the man while litting his new cigarette with a silver coloured lighter.

After making sure it lit, the man produced from his pocket his identity card.

"Edgar Copperfield, police officer. Hope you don't mind kiddos that I ask you a couple of questions, I'll do it anyway if you do. Let's begin with your relationship with the girl called Harley Craftian, care to enlight me?" Asked in such a way that one would think he wasn't interested not even in the slightly in his investigation.

 

Disbanded

Okay….okay.” Dexter waved his hand his words barely audible. “That’s enough, everyone out, I’ll contact you all with more details in a day or two.” Dexter motioned for everyone to leave and they of course complied seeing as this meeting had been ruined....

Ironically ruined by the two men who orchestrated it, one being half dead and the other attacking his own men.

Best to reschedule when everyone had their head on more straight.

"Brice..." He muttered. "Take that asshole to the hospital."

Brice would have declined but he’d had enough arguments for one day and helped the dazed Lincoln from the chair and out the door.

All that remained was Trisha who hadn't budged from her seat when everybody else was told to leave, Dexter of course and the owner of the apartment Woodrow himself.

"Well....." Dexter breathed. "This is going to be fun. I'm pretty sure we know who not to trust, eh?"

"The entire group." Woodrow replied sullenly, taking another drink of his spiked tea. His cell vibrated and he pulled it out of his pocket. He read the text then called out, "Yes, Tina its safe to come down."

Rustling and bumping was heard in the attic above them, followed by pained grunts and muffled curses. Finally the grate in the kitchen opened up and Tina dropped to the floor, covered in the cobwebs and dust. She had an annoyed scowl on her face as she walked into the living room, glaring at Dexter and Trisha. "Well, this is a fine mess you lot have gotten yourselves into." She knelt by the blood stain on the floor and took a sampling with an evidence kit.

Trisha gasped, not hiding her surprise at seeing her. "Awww! Look at you, you've gotten so big! A grown woman!" She gushed. "How have you been, Tina?"

Dexter sniffed his gaze lazy on Tina for several seconds and then to Trisha after her friendly greeting.

Tina……

Tina?

Tina!

Right, she was the angry one that was always with the complaining and crying one. "Didn't you try to kill her?" Dexter raised an eyebrow and then looked at Woodrow. "Why is she here? Oh no, wait you of all people are doing this?"

Woodrow's expression didn't change. He took another sip of tea. "Because, she's an experienced police officer and the only one I trusted."

Tina put the sample away and turned towards them, a hand on her gun and a stern glare on her face. "And I know your tricks. Trust me, both of you are going away for life as soon as the kid is out of harms way. Especially you, bit**." She glared pointedly at Trisha. "Actually jails too good for you. Maybe I'll just shoot you and let you bleed out slowly."

"Easy, Tina." Woodrow warned. "Like it or not, their allies for the time being."

Tina turned her glare towards her former teacher. "Sh** you're starting to sound just like Laplace."

"Chill out, Tina." Dexter said. "Its been over a damn decade, hell Trisha's been a pretty damn good mom actually." He chuckled painfully. "I already got it bad.....shit.....Laplace kept Vector Corp off your backs when he took it over."

"Dexter's right, you can't take me away from Harley." Trisha's tone grew stern as she stepped closer to Tina. "She needs a positive influence in her life and I'm the only one who can truly fulfill that role. So, think long and hard before you try to get rid of me." Her smile returned, flashing madly. "I do admire your effort though, Tina. Good job!"

"Alright, alright ladies." Dexter mumbled grabbing Trisha's arm and tugging her back down to the couch. "Put your dicks away, stop fighting and lets cut to the chase. Woodrow for as much as you tell me not to get people involved.....you know this isn't going to end well, right?"

Dexter sighed. "As for who to trust. I'd say Trisha here, Malcolm and Brice are on the level for this job but the others? We will need to keep an eye on." He looked at Tina. "And what exactly are you gonna do this time around?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Tina smirked, and with that she left the apartment. Thomas just shrugged and finished his tea.

"So...." Dexter said standing up, his legs shaking and his eyes meeting Woodrow's. "Is that how it is then?"

Woodrow didn't have time to reply as Trisha made a face at him and put her foot down, literally. Her high heel slammed on the carpet like a spoiled child. "Fine! We can leave too, come on Dexter!" She shouted and yanked his arm, dragging him to the door.

 

"Hello, Copperfield," Jess said, smooth and professional. "This is Joe." She gestured to the boy next to her. "My apprentice." She rapped her fingers on the steering wheel. "Word, where is Harley usually at?"

 

I looked at the officer. "Um... she's a classmate, but I don't know her personally, sorry." I said quietly. I turned away from him and resisted the urge to give the Word an odd look. "An agent? We're supposed to basically stalk a girl because he thinks her mother is some kind of agent...? Well... I guess private detectives do tend to do this sort of thing, I know that something's off about Trisha, but... I have a horrible feeling that if we get involved we'll be dragged down into something horrid." I thought, I looked at Jess and studied her, looking for any sign of disbelief, wondering if she thought this was as crazy as I did.

 

The man sighed with bore expression. He ignored Jess and continued with the boy.
"You aren't the smart kind right? If I'm asking you is 'cause I know you're classmates and friends. Don't throw me obvious stuff. What I'm asking is about little details, particulary about her tendencies and family." said with a bold tone.

He let the cigarette's smoke to escape his mouth before continuing.

"Dunno if you know, but that girl's file has enough to enter into a cell. Is just that there had been more important stuff around, like Shep's little play, so we didn't really give importance to that small fry. But hear, the plot twist is that she became important all suddenly. I'll let this one go, apparently her family is composed of criminals, dangerous criminals."

 

"As I said, she's just a classmate, I've never really talked to her or anyone for that matter, I just know that her mother works as a librarian... I'm sorry that I can't help you." I said. "Dangerous criminals...? Okay we really can't get into this..." I thought, I looked over at the officer. "Though he doesn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed... he might just have false information... but still, I'd rather not find out." I thought.

 

Malcom quietly watched the fight staying quiet smirking as he just didn't give a damn.
"hehehehehe... Oh man this is going to be fun." He started to leave as he chuckled stretching. "Well anyway this is going to be fun... I mean a heist with insanity... Now better get doing some card games... for some more money." He laughed quietly.
"to buy some weapons if needbe." He stretched smirking. "Hmm I wonder if I can get my oh wait they died..." He thought quietly. "I'll have to find some new card friends."

 

Lacey chewed her gum slowly as she boldly stepped up to the officer. She held distaste for the man. She never liked cops, especially not the ones from around Graves. But, being the mayor's daughter she had perfected a fake kindness towards them.

"Hi there, Mr. Copperfield. How ya been?" she said, giving a polite nod. "I've known Harley and her mom for years and years. We're best friends, actually. Shep bullies her, they got a rivalry between them that started awhile ago. All she's been tryin' to do is stand up to him. Ya know, typical teenage angst. No big deal."

Lacey placed a hand on her hip and looked at the sky in thought. "Harley's family? Well, lately her mom ain't been...all there. If ya get what I mean. Poor woman is goin' through mid-life crisis or somethin', but criminal? Nah. Y'all are jumping to conclusions too fast."

Her gaze flicked over to Word and Gale, a silent warning to keep their mouths shut. Harley's mom had shown suspicious behavior, but the county police didn't need to get involved. They could deal with it on their own. They already had a PI in on it after all.

She smiled sweetly at the officer. "Anythin' else you'd like to know?"

--------------------

Dexter grit his teeth blinking away tears, he could feel the melted and scabbed skin of his healing and scarred flesh tear and split as she dragged him down the steps.

“Ugh…” He choked. “Ar….hospital….should go back to the hospital. No more thinking, I need drugs.”

"Aw, you poor thing." Trisha said as she tightened her grip and crossed the street to her rental car, a 2012 yellow Volkswagen beetle. Since her other trusty bug had been squished by a tree, it ironically was in the same condition as Dexter and had to be put in repairs.

Trisha opened the passenger door and pushed Dexter inside, before hopping in the drivers seat."We can go to the hospital...but, we have to make a little detour first."

Trisha started the engine and bumped down the radio volume. "Don't worry, it's not too far."

"Fucking hell....Trisha! Jesus." He let out a vicious snarl. "No fucking detours please, you can freaking kill me or torture me or cut off my head later but please just hospital first or give me any freaking drugs in your purse.....ugh! Ohhh this is gonna get infected...."

"Shh, relax Dexter. You'll be okay." Trisha said while digging through her purse. "Here's some aspirin!" She threw the bottle at him and then took the wheel, driving out of Woodrow's neighborhood. Dexter didn't bother the pleading anymore and simply sent a scowl her way before downing half the bottle of Aspirin. He squeezed his eyes shut as the car rolled along.

Trisha drove through bumpy back roads for about twenty minutes until she made a final sharp turn and slowed to a stop. When she put the car in park, she shook Dexter's shoulder. "Dexter, are you asleep? Wake up! We're here!"

Dexter stirred, his eyes opening red and puffy. A large bubbling sound roared from his stomach as he pushed himself up from the seat, focusing on what monstrosity Trisha had brought them to.

It was…..

It was…..

An amusement park….

Wha?

Weird place to kill a man or well it would have been if it wasn't her, killing someone in an amusement park seemed fitting. “So…so you’re gonna drown me in the tunnel of love or what?” He sniffed, his face pale.

His eyes narrowed on the rusted and scraped up metal sign. "Smallworld."

Trisha laughed. "No, silly! But, there is something very special about this place. That's why I brought you here. I wanted you to see it with me!"

“Get to the damn point!” He screeched in pain from both his now lava hot stomach mixed with the tear of his chest, shocking him into submission. "Jesus, Trisha.....I'm gonna die."

"Nope! I won't let that happen." Trisha said, patting his shoulder. "Just look at it, Dexter." She pointed at the scene before them. "This is where we would've gone on our first date if we would've had a date!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What?" Dexter asked. "Don't understand."

"When I took Harley here as a little girl, that's what I used to tell her." Trisha said softly. "You and I came to Smallworld on our first date."

"That's....beautiful.....just.....fucking.....bea-" Green slime with mixtures of undissolved asprin and his lunch spilled from his mouth to the dashboard and floor of the car. The thumping sound of Dexter’s head slumping onto the spit covered dashboard made Trisha’s eyes go wider than they already were, his face ghost white and covered in sweat, his mouth open but eyes glazing into the back of his head.

Time seemed to tick by slowly as Trisha stared in shock, reality sinking in. "Dexter, NO! No...no...NO! You're not allowed to die like this, you hear me?!" Trisha grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back on the seat. "Stay with me, Dexter!"

Trisha slammed her foot on the gas and swerved out of the park, headed straight for the hospital.

 

"FUCK YOU EATURMOM245! YOU FILTHY DICKMUNCHER!" Eliza swore into the mic as she glared at her dead little soldier. A snivelling little twelve year old gave a chuckle,"SUCK MY DEEEECCCCCKKKK!! THIS IS WHY GIRLS, DON'T PLAY VIDEO GAMES BITCH. BECAUSE THEY SUCK!"

Eliza felt her eyes twitch,"YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET THAT YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT!" She swore, pulling off the headphones as she tried to calm herself down,"He's young..immature...it's fine. You're not going to to hack him. You are not going to..."NOTHING TO SAY GRANDMA..THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO BUSY WITH MY BALLS IN YOUR MOUTH."

Red Rage, was like a tether, as Eliza plugged in her keyboard and got to work. A few minutes later, her phone was in her hand and she began dialing. After a few rings, a young woman answered the phone, "Hello?"

Eliza spoke in soft tones, "Mrs..Morgan...I just want you to know that I have been waiting at Plan Parenthood for an hour, and that Timothy is going to be a dad whether he likes it or not. Anita Jessica Morgan is in his future, so get ready grandma!"

She hung up, placing the mic and headphones back on her head whilst she continued to spam this young boy's facebook page with gay porn. As the yelling ensued, Eliza picked up the Ben and Jerrys and took another bite of the cookie dough Icecream, considering her work a job well done. "YOU GOT A GIRL PREGNANT! WELL TELL YOU WHAT YOUNG MAN. YOU ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS KID. WE ARE GONNA SELL YOUR XBOX, YOUR STEREO AND YOUR TV, AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNTIL YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE EVERY WHIM AND NEED THAT CHILD DESERVES. HAVING A KID AT TWELVE! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?!"

"NO MOM..I DIDN'T! I SWEAR!"

 

"Jumping to conclusions too fast? Being a liar is a good skill for the mayor's daughter no missy?" Replied Edgar.

"I heard you talking before about this Dexter, wanna know the story? The man convinced a bunch of kids around your age to go into a big suicide mission. Not only some of the kids died but they did kill people. 'Tis guy is now roaming the town freely and is your little friend's daddy. You put the girl in more danger for remaining silent." The man expelled smoke again.

"I'll ask this in a different way. You kiddos better tell me where the girl is. Don't worry I wont put her in jail for now. I wanna leads to that criminal"

 

The Word raised an eyebrow at the chain smoker.

This man, this man, this man, this man, this man…….must have been a damn fool to believe that they’d trust an obvious spook. Like seriously are the reptiles and their government lackeys getting lazy?

Chain smoking?

Appears out of nowhere?

Obvious spook!

Obvious!

The Word eyes shifted to Lacey and Jessica and back to Edgar. “We …W..we aren’t at liberty to dispense that information.” He gave a nervous smile.

---

"Harley! Harley!” Doreen crowed as she wheeled herself into her granddaughter’s room. “This place is filthy.”

Doreen snorted. “Where is your mother? Doesn’t she have any rules about keeping this poor excuse for a house clean.” Her eyes narrowed at Harley. “Do you know what keeps a family together, Harley?”

She was relaxing on her unmade bed, transfixed by the television screen on the wall. Anger darkened her face and the presence of her grandma only put her in a sourer mood. "My mom had to go to a meeting or something. We're both busy, no time for cleaning." Harley muttered, not looking up from her show. "And, I don't know."

"An organized pantry." Doreen breathed. "And I was looking through it earlier for my third lunch and guess what? No organization."

"Well, go ahead and organize it if you want. Mom wouldn't mind." Harley said. "You could restock it too while you're at it."

"Ugh." Doreen sighed, raising a thick finger at Harley. "If your mother ever talked to me like that at your age I'd of tanned her hide with her father's belt." Doreen smiled. "I bet she is off entertaining that failure of a father."

Harley broke away from the TV and shot a glare over at her grandmother. "Do you think I care?"

Teanna appeared in the kitchen doorway wiping her hands on a rag, her hair up in a bun. “Mother we’ve talked about your overeating.” She said sternly. "You almost lost a leg last year.....remember?"

"I read an article on the internet." Doreen replied, her glare still on Harley. "Overeating once in awhile can be a good release on stress."

"Mother." Teanna stared.

Doreen sent a scowl at her daughter which Teanna happily took with a bubbly smile. "Are you hungry Harley? Would you like me to fix you something?"

"Yeah, that would be great." Harley said and managed a slight smile as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "You want any help?"

“That would be lovely.” Teanna said and went back into the kitchen, her niece following.

“Sorry about your grandmother.” She apologized quietly. “You know how she can be.” Tea gave a toothy smile at Harley. "You're doing just fine and I'm sure your mother is too, how was school this year?"

"It sucked, but I passed all my classes. Got an A+ in Chemistry. Other than that, I was forced to go to a dance, broke my pinky finger, watched my best friend graduate, and my fitness teacher hated me because I said chocolate was a vegetable." Harley said as she leaned against the counter. "So, how's the new book coming?"

Teanna let out a loud chuckle. “Well aren’t you just little Miss wild child.” She said pulling out a chair and taking a seat at the kitchen table. “You are a lot more like your mother then you think. She had a mean streak in her too."

She ran a hand through her dark curly hair. "And the book? Very excited about this one, I'm doing another picture book its going to be inspired by the classical folklore and fairy stories. I've become very inspired by them recently."

"Cool, I'm sure it will be a best seller! Like always." Harley said genuinely. "I do hope I'll be getting a signed copy when it's out."


Teanna leaned forward, giving Harley a gentle pinch on the cheek. "But unlike your mother you're also more of a softie then she was." Teanna settled back in her seat, her face becoming serious. "That was....um... quite the introduction to your father last week, is he recovering well?"

"I don't know." Harley shrugged and dropped her gaze to the floor. "Don't exactly want to see him again anytime soon."

"That's understandable." Teanna said. "But its not good to hold bitterness in your heart forever. Trust me, holding hatred and resent in your life is a bad way to live or at least that's what Oprah says." She snorted a laugh.

"Yeah, if only we could all live like Oprah." Harley grinned as she put her arms around Teanna in a hug. "Thanks, Aunt Tea."

"Any time kid." Teanna replied returning the embrace before the sound of the door opening and Doreen nagging voice went off not soon after. "Trisha you're finally home!" She said with obvious fake happiness. "I've got some things to tell you about how rude your daughter can be...."

"Oh?" Trisha said her voice sounding flat. "Sorry was dropping a friend off, what happened with Harley?"

Teanna stood putting a hand on Harley's shoulder. "Why don't you go and relax in your room, I'll try and smooth some things out."

 

Edgar felt something vibrate within his pocket.
He took his cellphone while saying to The Word.
"Please, for god's sake, shut the fuck up you maniac"

He pressed the device against his ear and listened while mumbling words like "Mhm. Yeah. All right. Got it." with a monotone tone of boredom.

"Hah! ironic" he said turning to the group again.
"The kid arrived her house, thus I was just wasting my time here" stated while leaving.

"Don't stick too much with the kiddos Jess. Unless you want to became accomplice of one or two things like some of them" finished without turning to face her.

 

“Not a maniac!” The Word yelled. “I just know the truth, you’re spook!” He turned to Jessica. “Guy is a spook. Come on you have to of noticed to, he knows we were on to something.”

"Or maybe he was an actual cop." Gale pointed out. "I mean if what you say is true then I'd certainly be looking to make some arrests." The Word scoffed at Gale. "Oh? Yeah that's what police officers do just appear out of nowhere and act all mysterious, guy was a damn spook if I ever saw one. He probably wants to probe Harley or some shit."

Gale stuck out his tongue. "Um...ugh....that is not a comfortable image dude."

"It shouldn't be." The Word shook his head. "I don't trust that man, do any of you?"

 

An Unexpected Twist
​

Woodrow sat in his now empty living room. He'd done his best to scrub the blood off his carpet, but it was still noticeable. No doubt he'd have to get rug to cover it. The ex-teacher stuck his hands in his pockets with a deep sigh. His left hand was met with a piece of crumpled paper. A phone number? Ah, right...Trisha said this was from a friend of hers. Like hell, I'd want to be associated with any friend of Trisha's. Woodrow stood and went over to the fireplace.

He just about tossed the paper in when a thought crossed his mind. What if she's just an innocent woman expecting a call? It would be rude not to at least tell her I'm not interested. He sighed again and picked up his cell.This whole thing is gonna get me drinking again. I knew I should've never let Dexter in. Hell follows him wherever he goes.
He lifted the phone to his ear and it began to ring.
"Hi, hi, unfortunately Anne is not here at the moment please leave a message after the tone beeeeeep, or more like this is me joking! Who is it?!!!" Exclaimed the extremely hyperactive voice at the other side of the tone, fitting for someone who happens to be a friend of Trisha.

Woodrow automatically regretted calling the number. "This is Thomas Woodrow. Trisha passed along your number."

"Trisha? I know no Trisha." Replied the voice with a confused tone.
"Unless you mean Tiffany, yeah I think she also goes by that name. Are you by any chance the guy that showed up at the library like a week ago? Handsome well dressed adult man?"

A light bulb went off in Woodrow's mind. Anne...the cute librarian. Wow, that moment seemed like ages ago. "Yes, I am. You're the librarian, right?"

"Yup, thought I'm just helping there. Anyway, thing is that Tiffy told me she knew you, and well you're cute and all so I asked Tiffy to give you my number. I mean, we may be old adults but that doesn't stop me from trying to pick a handsome guy no?" Replied the woman excited through the phone.

"Ah...." Thomas replied, a sudden lump in his throat. "I...well, I'm not sure I'm interested in...well starting a relationship at this time. I'm afraid things are bit....complicated."

"Oh that's well bad luck I suppose. Hey, but at least you should concede a lady a date don't you think?" said with a playful tone.
"I mean, in a the time you can get a rest perhaps..... oh wait, are you married by any chance? Should had asked that since the beginning, how fool of me"

Woodrow chuckled lightly. "No, I'm not married." He looked his calendar. "I guess it would be rude of me to decline a lady without at least having a cup of coffee with her. How about tomorrow at 9 in the morning? Is there a place you prefer?"

"Yeees!" exclaimed the woman excited just like a kid through the phone.
"Uuum a place in particular, mmm not sure, there are a lot of nice spots here. Oh, got it, there is a good one three squares to the north from the library"

"Human Bean. Good place. See you then." He hung up, a small smile on his face. Well, this is a twist in my story I didn't expect."

 

"An hour lecture from my father, another hour from my mother, two hours from Zyra. How much is that?" Anita counts in her head for a moment as she slips out her room window. "four, our hours of my life I will never get back. FML." She mutters. As she hits the ground and heads down the street she mimics the conversation in a high pitched mocking tone.

"That isn't how a woman is supppoooosed to aaaccccct."

"You're disgracing your self."

"Why can't you be more like your sister?"

"God is not pleased with you."

Anita makes a disgusted face as if the very scolding's where a repulsive curse word. "Then they ground me, for what? Because I don't act more like my sister? AKA the great tormentor of the devil him self?" She goes silent for a moment as if pausing for some big reveal.

"FFFFFFUUUUUCCCCKKKK that." She adds calmly yet in defiance. and at that she reached the place of her rebellious outing, Words garage.

"I'm here....unfortunately. And I'm only here because I need to keep an eye on the rampant, dangerous and wild stupidity of that guy." She points to Word looking un amused. her stament, the best way she could convey that she was in fact, worried for him.

"Please tell me you didn't do anything foolish while I was away."