Olympus Drive Book 3: According to Plan

Chapter 33

Detective Stamos

I never actually know what to expect when I walk in 392 Olympus Drive, but it's usually something weird. This time, it's the kidnapper having a dance party with all the impressionable small children the kidnapper should not be allowed to supervise. I was only coming to pick up one of the children, but damn I may have to pick up all of them now. They are dancing to the song 'Jacqueline the Ripper' by Kid Moxie. I only know that because these kids are perpetually in my car slumming for the aux cord, which I hand them while saying 'you better not play weird shit' and then they play punk Disney and other weird shit for the duration of the ride.

"Hi," I say, loudly enough for them to hear me. Luna, Dara, Elena, Juno, and the kidnapper are all dancing while Isa mans the boom box and makes all the cutlery and several robots dance. Officially the eighth most normal thing I've ever found them doing.

"Hello, Detective, we were trying to summon the other twin," Rhea says, cheerfully. He looks like he's been doing something idiotic I feel it in my bones. He's too damn cheerful.

"He's not showing up though which is weird he usually does when we play music without him," Elena says.

"Where's your dad?" I ask. Basil picked all of them up but now he's gone.

"Arguing with mom upstairs," Isa says.

"Why?" I ask. "Lately?"

"She wants to sell me, and he says no."

"Reasonable," I sigh.

"It's my fucking house you stay if I say you do," Rhea points out.

"I'm just going to assume you stole whatever proceeds you used to get the house but we'll move on," I say, as Dara runs up to hug me.

"How did it go with the Walls?" Luna asks.

"I questioned them of course nobody knows anything. Forensics got Erin's blood off the car. In 48 hours I'll have a warrant to get DNA from Troy Walls and his friends," I say.

"I extracted a confession."

"Of course you did, that's not admissible in court. Give me forty eight hours and I'll have them behind bars," I say.

Luna glares.

"Luna. Come on. I can't let you go and kill this kid. Let me do it right, we'll arrest him, he'll go to trial, then he'll go to prison where he gets raped and tortured by the inmates, the American justice system is a beautiful thing," I tell her.

"Fine. You have your forty eight hours," Luna says, slumping down on a  chair, "After that we go to my justice system."

"That's all I ask," should have given myself seventy-two. Nah we can do this. I sigh, and then cough. I've felt sick all morning. Maybe it's from not sleep or eating properly and chasing about a dozen kids around. Could be other reasons. "Where's Gale?"

"Over there—come, here, come," Rhea shakes a little bell. The boy zips in, arms full of---jewelry??? Which I do not recognize???

"You're training him to come to a bell?" I decide to go in order of ridiculous things.

"It's working shut up—there you are nice little child, give the metal to your brother and you can have the jewels---oh you're gonna play with all of it that's nice okay---"

"He steals stuff," Elena says.

"I told him not to but he still does," Juno elaborates, "He keeps running in people's houses and out with their things."

"Shit," I sigh, leaning against the wall. I'm feeling worse. My stomach feels like it's on fire and the pain is creeping up to my chest.  I would be less concerned if I thought I could actually die and get some rest.