Barcrow's: Codename K9

Chapter forty six - Night-time

Another notification popped up. Zack.

(Ash) -HEY!

(Ash) -ITS ME NOW

He sent a selfie (looking smug).

(Ash) -GOOD JOB BACK THERE, I COULDN'T DO MUCH CAUSE KAL PINNED ME TO THE FLOOR.

-sounds fun

Ellie smiled.

-Where'd you send him?

(Ash) -ONLY ACROSS THE CITY.

(Ash) -HE'S GONNA BE SOOOO PISSED

-The girls think I should move there

-what do you think?

(Ash) -...

(Ash) -WOULDN'T THAT MAKE THINGS WORSE?

-ask them, not me.

'You're gonna move?' Marty asked, concerned.

'Dunno yet. Maybe. It's time to sleep now.' She patted his head and put her phone down.

The darkness enveloped them.

'I don't want you to go.'

'I'd come visit you, like how we visit grandma and grandpa.'

'Every week?'

'Maybe not every week.'

*

'Going for a walk?' She caught up with him outside the building.

'Oh, hey. How come you're not sleeping?'

'I needed a change. Staying up past my bedtime's no fun, but going outside at night is. The stars are amazing.' She threw her head back with a smile, her breath floated off in a cloud of white. 'Where ya headed?' She skipped along beside him.

He sighed. 'The other side of the city I guess. It's chilly, you should have put on a hat.'

'I don't like hats. I've got a hood. I'll put it on if I'm cold.'

They walked along in silence for a while.

'If you're going that far, shouldn't you take the bus?'

He laughed. 'It's just like you, not even asking why I'm going. I found out Zack's been in touch with Elaine...'

'...And?'

'...I may or may not have borrowed his phone to arrange a meeting with her?' He pulled up his shoulder with an apologetic smile.

She smiled.

'What?' He asked cautiously.

'Nothing.'

'There is something, why did you smile like that?'

'Why shouldn't I?'

'That's your creepy smile, when you're up to something. What-?'

'You'll let me tag along won't you? Please?' She interrupted and smiled her creepier "creepy smile" where she showed more teeth.

A typical tactic. Telling the target a credible reason for how you act while the actual reason is something much more simple. And they won't ask about it again.

'I- I guess.'

'Yay!' She ran a bit ahead playing airplane.

He watched a while with a creeping smile pulling at his lips. 'You...'

She turned and walked on backwards, facing him.

'You're so... free.'

'Only 'cause there's no one around. Which bus are we taking?'

*

'This should be the place.' He put his phone back in his pocket.

Celeste skipped over to the swings and started swinging.

'It's too cold to sit down.' He told her with a frown.

She put on a pouty face but got up anyway.

They walked around slowly as the breeze continued to gently swing the swings.

'Do you think she'll come?' Conan asked.

'Nah.'

'Why not?'

'You really don't know what she's like. She wouldn't show up at an abandoned playground at this time of night.'

It wasn't strange that she talked as if she actually knew her, she really did just know things about people she'd only seen on photos.

'You know you could have told me sooner. This was a wasted trip.'

'Are you mad at Zack?'

'You know the answer, why ask?'

'Sure but I don't trust myself. I may know a lot but I'm not all knowing.' She paused. 'I can't separate my imagination from proper information.'

'You always get things right.'

'No I don't! I've made lots of mistakes!'

'Really? When?'

'You want an example? Let me think.' I won't say the time I accidentally caused myself to get sick. 'How about the time with the guinea pig? I was sure he'd be fine and get better. The next morning he was dead.'

'He did get better. Just, not in the way anyone expected...'

'Mrr.' She walked alongside him.

'So? Answer the question.'

He thought. 'Am I angry at Zack? Of course! He kept it a secret all this time. But really, I'm just happy to know she's doing well. Ben's also got a bright future ahead of him. I wonder if we'll ever meet out on the field.' He glanced at her. 'Will we?'

She kept quiet for a bit, then nodded.

She doesn't seem to be too happy about it... or maybe it's just 'cause she's concentrating. Yeah it's probably that. She never smiles when asked stuff.

There was a loud bang and shouting coming from a street over.

They quickened their pace and held hands (a habit leftover from when they were younger) to feel safe.

Not meddling in other people's business was the best way to not get killed.