Chapter 15
“What do you mean?”
“They want me,” José says.
“Who? Who are they?”
“Don’t worry, you’re safe.”
I don’t like how he ignores my question. And how can he be sure that I am safe? “Who is after you? Tell me, are you some kind of government spy or something? Do you work for the CIA?”
He sounds amused. “Did Lisa put that in your head?”
My theories sound a bit far–fetched and ridiculous and his words just let me dwell on that briefly. There’s no way my brother is an undercover agent, I tell myself.
“Yes, it’s Lisa.” Admitting it is almost embarrassing.
José laughs. “She’s cute.”
With my fear steadily seeping out of my body, I am getting annoyed by the second. He still hasn’t given me any answers.
Maybe it’s funny that I think he’s some undercover agent. Maybe. But he still hasn’t said why there are people after him.
I echo my question.
“I have information on some family that is top secret in a flash,” José responds. “They are angry and they want it back. And they probably want me too.”
I’m quiet for some time.
Given the nature of my brother’s job, I know he finds out a lot of natsy secrets on rich people. Heck, the basis to a detective’s job is to figure out what the average person won’t know, so this makes a lot of sense. And oddly, this is less scarier than my wild imagination painted the situation.
1/4
Chapter 15
It’s just some rich, angry people trying to find my brother so they can bribe him. This won’t be the first time. And I know José will stay in hiding until the hearing- whatever one is happening currently- is over. That way, these people are already well in jail before they can bribe him or do anything else. Not like he would take their bribe anyway.
My brother is the most honest person I know.
I sigh. “I hope it won’t take long for it to be over.”
“It won’t,” he promises me.
A feeling snakes its way up, past my spine and I tense up at once. It doesn’t help that I
think I see a man’s shadow pass my slightly open door. It would take me another few
seconds to realize that it’s fear.
José hangs up and the fear settles over me afresh. I know I won’t be able to sleep knowing
there’s probably someone in my house. And so, when I drop my phone on my desk, I slide
out of the covers and make my way to the door.
At the edge of the hallway, I see the figure of a man dressed in all black. Quite tall, with a
noticeable broad back. Calm and quiet, he slips past the edge of the hallway before I can
say anything.
Say what? My brain seems to ask me. Call him back? To finally kill you?
I’m not stupid enough to say a thing. The guy’s freaking tall and huge and knowing his
skills with locks, that seems like a prelude to other crimes. He could break me in two with
minimal effort. As embarrassing as the fact that I could be subdued with little fight is, I
agree with my brain cells‘ best effort for my self–preservation.
I finally get a bright idea which is not to call back the figure that’s stalking away. I dash
into my room and get the dagger that my brother gave me.
I head down the hall, knife in hand and search the rooms. He’s not there. His scent is
everywhere though, mocking me, asking me to come find him. Something woody and wild, like wild trees…It lingers in my nose as I search the other rooms and closet. I then go
downstairs to the living room and kitchen. Nothing.
I hear a sound from upstairs and my head snaps up.
2/4
Chapter 15
He must be mocking me.
I rush upstairs and continue my search but I turn up with nothing.
There’s a note on my kitchen table when I’m back.
“You might not like danger. But danger loves you.”
Now I’m not going to go all stupid and think something like “I am not in danger; I am the danger.” Because this is a direct threat and all I have now is a dagger I’m not sure I would
have the composure to be able to use maximally when faced with a threat.
The doors are still locked when I check them. But I have a feeling he’s gone. I just know.
The man who broke into my house is gone. Was he the one that was watching me in the darkness while Lisa and I were out for dinner earlier? I don’t even have the energy to
make any connections.
I don’t believe José. This is more serious than even he thinks and I need to talk to
someone about it.
I try calling him, but he ignores my calls again. I call Lisa.
Lisa is at my house as soon as she’s back from her mother’s. It doesn’t matter if it’s the crack of dawn. She’s that dependable.
“My brother thinks you’re cute.”
She pauses in her action of setting her ass down on a couch. There are several questions
on her mind, I’m sure. You finally contacted José? What did he say about your current
situation? When is he coming back?
I’m pretty sure she’s burning to ask: Wait, he thinks I’m cute?
But she doesn’t ask that even though I can see that she wants to. She just goes: “You look lost. What happened last night?” with the deepest level of concern in her eyes.
And that’s why she’s the best.
3/4
