Little Coop (A Twin Peaks Fanfic)

On The Case!

Me and my friends met Toby at a table at lunch, we ate and talked.

"Why do you take your bike to school anyways?" I asked.

"Mom works nights and sleeps all day, Dad just works all day, doesn't come home until after dinner. I gotta have some form of transportation to get to school, the  bus driver that's on my street is an absolute bitch, she slams on her breaks, stops in the middle of the road to punish us, so...my bike and I are all we have."

"She's the lunch lady too," Zach said.

He pointed the bus driver out, it was Carla, I saw her name tag while getting my lunch earlier. She looked old enough to be my great aunt and she looked mean and unapproachable but I wanted to ask her if she seen anything suspicious.

When I finished my lunch, I walked to a window Carla who was washing trays and silverware.

"Mrs. Carla, can I ask you a question?"

"Is there anybody behind you!?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"Make it quick."

"You know Toby Baker?"

"Yep."

"His bike got stolen yesterday evening or this morning, I'm helping him search, brainstorm, possible witnesses. You drive the route on his street. Did you see anything-"

"Nope...sorry, now back to your table, a kid's behind you."

I looked behind me to see Zach wanting to dump his tray and give it to Carla. I waited for him to finish, we started walking back to the table.

"What did she say?"

"Nope...sorry," I impersonated her.

"Ah poo, come on."

"You guys were right, she is a bitch."

We sat down.

"Toby, any classmates live on the same street?" I asked.

"Yeah, I have Andy Nelson next class, he lives right across from my house."

"Ask him if he's seen anything while waiting for the bus or something."

"Ok Cori, but Mr. Childers has a no talking unless given permission from the teacher policy."

"Before or after class."

"I'll try."

Lunch was over.

*Toby's POV*

I walked all the way home from school. Mom was awake drinking a cup of coffee, dressed up for work in her nurse's uniform.

"Hi Mom."

"Come here Toby."

I sat at the kitchen table with her.

"The house phone woke me up this morning, you've showed up late to school again. Why is that Toby?"

"My bike got stolen a couple days ago, I've been walking."

"You walked miles to school, third day in a row I got woken up by the school-"

"I'm sorry, we need to report it to Sheriff Truman."

"We're not telling him diddly squat, and we're not getting you another bike neither, and you are grounded, that'll teach you not to leave your bike out in the open in the yard. You're taking the bus...I'm tired, I'm fucking tired Toby."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah you are, wait til your father gets home!"

I took her hand.

"Mom, working nights is getting to you."

"I love my job honey."

"I know, talk your boss into letting you work days again."

"I can't Toby, I tried once and she asked if I wanted to get fired."

"Look for another nursing job but this time first shift."

"We really need both contributing to our bills, food. You might need to get a job too?"

"If I had a bike, I'll get a job as a paperboy."

"Shut up about the bike and don't get smart with me. You know what, go to your room."

I went to my room.

*Cori's POV*

I was eating dinner with Daddy in the hotel dining room. I was curious whether or not he owned a bike as a kid.

"Daddy?"

"Yes my little pumpkin pie?"

"Did you own a bike growing up?"

"Yeah."

"Have you ever rode it to school?"

"No, why?"

"A couple kids ride theirs to school, just curious."

"Let me tell ya a little story, when I was around your age, there was this other boy who I lived next door to and went to school with, his name was Bradley. He owned the coolest bike I ever seen, he rode it everywhere. But, it got stolen...by a street gang."

I gasped.

"An actual violent gang?"

"Yeah honest to God. Earlier on Christmas, I got my first tape recorder, recording things like I still do to this day. I tried to help him get it back but the gang stole my recorder. The only thing the police managed to get from them was my tape recorder."

"I'm sorry Daddy."

"Aw that's ok, Bradley got a new bike and all was well."

"That's good Daddy!"

We saw Audrey walk in the dining room.

"Audrey, could you come over here for a minute?"

She walked to us.

"Hi Agent Cooper, hi Cori."

"Hey Audrey, tomorrow I have to work late with Sheriff Truman, Albert, and everybody. Do you mind watching Cori, pick her up from school, make sure she gets her homework done if she has any,  and make sure she doesn't get in trouble."

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Thank you so much Audrey, it means a lot to me. Cori trusts you."

"Aww Cori, I'll help you with your homework and we'll have fun."

We smiled.