Visible Ghosts

15

Jeremy teased me until I finally threw a water bottle at his head. I parted ways with him because he was going to stay until his mom showed back up. On the drive home, I kept a conscious eye to make sure I wasn't being followed. I'm not sure if word got back to the Blackbourne Toma teams that we aren't to be bothered anymore.

Pulling into the driveway I see that Dad has already made his way here. Typical, that man somehow always finds a way to make it here for cowboy stew night even though he's going to be over tomorrow for dinner again. I think he's empty nesting.

I park in the garage since I do not plan on leaving again today. Opening the doorway into a small mudroom with the washer and dryer, Dad and Zane's voices drift to me. They're speaking in hushed tones so I can't really make out what they're saying besides that it sounds a little heated.

"Hi Zane, Hi Dad. I'm home." I call out to them to let them know I'm here and could have eavesdropped if I wanted to. But if it's something important they'll tell me.

"Hi, buttercup." Zane greets me cheerfully as I enter the kitchen. "How was the shop?"

"Hello, dear." Dad smiles and pulls me in for a hug. "Eventful week?"

I tighten my arms around him and bury my head into his chest. "Yes, but I feel better now." I murmur to him. I feel him kiss the top of my head before releasing his hug and pushing me back so he can examine me. He keeps his hands gently grasped on my shoulders as his doctor's eye scans me from head to toe.

His lips turn down a little when his gaze rests on my face. "You're not getting enough sleep." He scolds, then runs a finger underneath my eyes. "These bags don't appear overnight."

With a weak smile, I try to defend my sleep habits. "This mission is difficult, we're trying to wrap it up as soon as possible. Some days are harder than others and we don't get to bed until late."

If I'm going down so is Zane. In my peripheral I see Zane giving me the middle finger until Dad turns his disappointed parental gaze on him.

"You too?" Dad accuses. Zane drops his hand quickly and hide them behind his back as Dad takes a step closer to him giving him the same scan over I just received.

"We're fine, Dad.'' Zane says and then scoots a little further away from Phil's intense gaze. "We're making progress. You got the notification that we submitted a sample to the pharmacy last night?" He tries to redirect the conversation.

Dad's shoulders slump slightly as he takes a seat on a stool at the counter. "I did. Please tell me how you came in possession of an unmarked pill?" His voice is calm but with an iron undertone. Looks like we went from a dad questioning to a Phil inquisition.

I'm going to let Zane explain that one. Sending him a sly wink, I start to get the ingredients ready to make cowboy stew. The fridge is packed with fresh groceries, so Zane did go to the store today. Once all the required items are on the counter, I take out a pot and set it on the stove. A throat clears behind me and I turn to find Zane looking anywhere but at Phil.

"Are one of you going to explain to me how you came to have an unmarked pill that matches the description of the JH-14 drug?" He demands, his arms crossing in frustration.

"It's Sang's." Zane blurts out. Fucker.

"Sang." Phil starts with a warning. "Why do you have pills?"

"Stop being dramatic old man, it's not what you're thinking." Rolling my eyes, I throw a spoon at Zane for throwing me in the warpath of the Academy's Dr. Phil Roberts. "What this idiot meant to say, is that I was given it at a party that I went to last night." Pausing in my explanation since Zane is incompetent, I hand him the cutting board and point to the things he needs to cut up. It's the least he could do. Chagrin he gets a knife and gets to work.