Amateur Hours

Chapter 2

The people at the computer store didn't say anything when I showed them my laptop, or even when they handed me a new one (which of course I still had to pay for myself). They simply implied it had to be some malfunctioning error and I was on my way.

That didn't stop me from noticing the sheer bewilderment on their faces when they thought I wasn't looking though.

Trust me, it freaked me out too. But for an entirely different reason.

A flicker of movement a few feet away from me catches my eye and I tense.

What I really wished I DIDN'T notice though, was the person following me. The same one that's been following me for the past three days since the email. Always wearing a beanie, non-distinct clothing, shoulders hunched. I stopped trying to figure out what they looked like at this point. They were too far away to tell.

I wasn't stupid, I figured out after my initial panic attack that the only way anyone would have known I was looking for my father was if they were watching me.

And that they had to be at least a little worried that a 17 year old girl came close-not once, but three times-to discovering what they were hiding.

But the more important question at hand was why.

My father's job did put him in a position where he could dissect a crime scene and track things, like fingerprints, blood and such. He was good at it. But that was it...at least I thought so.

What the hell do these psychos want with my dad?

I shake my head to clear my thoughts as I stepped out of the store.

I had an idea. A stupid one, a really, really stupid one. But one I was willing to try nonetheless. I just had to pick up a few things at the craft store first.

•••

"So are you going to tell me why you needed me to buy these for you?"

I walked over to where Carter was seated in his abuela's basement, the TV paused in front of him. Carter was Carmen's not so little brother. He was only 14 but very tall, almost taller than me. Which was surprising since I was pretty tall myself. But being that I was still taller and liked to hold that against him as long as I could, I ruffled his hair while looking down at him like I've seen other older siblings do, and plopped down beside him on the couch. The practiced lie flowed easily from my mouth as he glared at me, fixing his hair.

"My mom needs them for some repairs we're doing on the bookstore. But I had to stop by the store to buy a new computer, so I had you get them for me. Since you love me so much."

He knows very well that I could've bought them myself, but doesn't say it. Instead, he rolls his eyes at me, trying but failing to hide the faint smile on his lips. Carter's still not used to affectionate teasing unless it's Carmen, so he doesn't retort back.

I clench my hands into fists, trying to will myself not to run upstairs and pummel his mother to a pulp for everything she's done to them, for the broken but sweet boy in front of me, and take a deep breath before I can face him again.

I decide to break the silence before he notices my still clenched fists. "I promise I'll pay you back later, okay bro?" Deciding to make a swift exit, I lay a fat kiss on his forehead, ruffling his hair again and sprint back up the stairs.

His feeble protests sound from behind me as I head to my car, grinning from ear to ear. I knew that would get a rise out of him. But as much as I love hanging out with Carter, I had to cut this visit short.

As if on cue, my smile falters a bit as I notice the sleek black car sitting idly down the street. Watching.

I keep walking to my car, trembling slightly.