Bad Ideas

20

Chapter 20

Shayla

1 year and 8 months later

***

"You're such a liar." Eddie shook his head. "We are supposed to be home right now."

He kicked the side of the brick building we were standing in front of lighting a cigarette. It was cold here. The snow was so high and thick there was no escape even if we could walk out of here.

"It's easy money." I chuckled, taking the cigarette from him.

"It was easy money at home too."

"We will be there by the end of the week. Calm down, Eddie."

"I bet the place looks so different now that it's clean."

"Clean?" I questioned.

"You know. Someone burnt down the mountain. Like the entire forest and drugs in the mountain. No more drugs. No more Maybelline."

"Hmm. When?" I asked, wondering why no one mentioned it to me.

"A few months after we left. I'm surprised your brother didn't tell you. For a while he was a main suspect. Not that anyone cared that opium burned up." Eddie laughed.

It wasn't a surprise to me that no one told me. I'd left. I'd run out on them. All of them, not just Cyn. She texted every day for a year until I finally answered her and told her. STOP. in all caps.

Now though it was time to go home. We were just waiting for the helicopter. I finished packing my bags and pulled everything outside. I could hear the loud propellers of the helicopter coming towards us and didn't know if I was excited or nervous. Or just ready for my own bed.

Coming to this secluded place and guarding its contents for a half million from a private investor wasn't a bad gig. It was just someone else's turn. I was done with the government for real. I had enough money and enough experience to move home and help my brother with his business. Just three more days in debriefing in DC. Then Friday morning we were going home to California. 

I checked the calendar. 

She was 18 now.

Would she still want me?

****

Stan

***

"Alright, babe. I bought everything. Are you ready for your date?" I asked Scott, kissing him on the forehead.

"Yes. I'm so excited she's letting me take her alone."

Scott and Cyn have had some problems getting along. Lately she'd been taking bartending classes and would come home and fight with him about how he was doing everything wrong. Then they'd each make a drink. His always were better and she would get really upset. Their one delight in life was still drag races. And tonight she was allowing Scott to take her to Max's big debut at a club in the city. I hugged them both goodbye then settled in with Netflix.

My alarm went off around 3pm. I jumped up, grabbed my keys and drove to the airport. Kam was at the gym working out his angst. There was a string of murders a few towns over and it was stressing him out. The last time I saw him like this was when we were at war with the local drug dealers a few Years back. That was a hard time.

I didn't tell anyone my sister was coming home. I sort of knew everyone felt abandoned by her. But it wasn't her fault. She had her own morals to abide by. I understood that. I pulled up in front of the airport an hour and a half later to find Eddie was there smoking. He jumped in the front after putting his suitcase in the trunk. Shayla got in the back laughing.

"That flight attendant was fucking hot." Shayla yelled, hitting my shoulder.

"She's been drinking since Tokyo." Eddie teased.

"I thought you were in Germany."

"We were in the Appalachian mountains." Shayla said with a laugh.

Her hair was long and shaggy now. Bleached blonde swaying down to the middle of her back. She had it flipped to one side, the undercut shaved with a tattoo by her ear that said, "To Thine Own Self Be True."

"I don't care if you were in the trenches in Norwalk. You guys are home for good right?" I hit the steering wheel in excitement pulling away from the curb.

"I'm in civilian clothes already. I burned all the camo last night." Shayla slurred her words and pointed a finger, falling down across the backseat. She was snoring in minutes. I think she was pointing at her black suit and purple t-shirt that said, #I'mGay. I'm not too sure really.

"She's nervous about the girl. She's hoping the birthday girl is shacked up with someone else so she doesn't have to face her fears." Eddie told me with a smile.

I laughed. "I'm not saying a word. They'll have to work it out." Was all I could say.