Partners In Crime

10 Strainuous Balancing Act

Abbetha was already home when Derick crawled through the front door. His dad was still being commissioned and was yet to be informed about his newfound responsibility, unlike his mum.

There was no way Derick was going to keep it a secret. It was out of the question. It's impossible to keep something of this calibre from them. Plus, he'll be no better than his folks who are keeping secrets from him from his uncle. And he suspected Chelsea wouldn't have done the same, as pompous as she is.

However, he was glad that his dad didn't know. Being a cop and all, and him doing his job is likely going to cause tension.

She took one look at him and her face fell.

"Derick! What happened? Where's your woolly hat?"
Derick grimaced. "Lost it."
It was the same excuse he made when he was confronted by the teachers back at school. But in reality, he knew where it was: the rubbish bin.

"How can you lose something that's on your head?"
"It's a long story."
"The investigation you've been doing..."

Derick went upstairs, ignoring his mother. When he went inside, he threw off his school uniform and collapsed on his bed. The soft pillow had helped him put his mind at ease. He still had recollections of what happened earlier. How could this happen?
He knew how. He and Chelsea had foolishly taken the bait. And it almost cost them their lives. Worst of all, he's been ripped from his dignity. Ever since his hat got tarnished he didn't feel like himself. That'll happen to you when your life's on the line. Suddenly you start to see a different perspective of things. If anything, he had to learn to appreciate each other a lot more, even if it meant he had gotten a lot more familiar with Chelsea than comfortable with, and vice versa.

This has gotten a lot more dangerous, now. And the two have to tread carefully from now on. He contemplated throwing in the towel right now. It can't be that worth it just to be admired. Plus, trying to juggle being a detective while still being a student and trying to maintain a personal life hadn't been easy.

But the mystery keeps getting more and more mysterious. Questions keep on popping up at every corner. It's getting too much and too big to ignore. So many unsolved. And he isn't the one to leave things unfinished.
The boy sighed, deciding he was going to have to do this for the long haul. No matter what. He was way out of his debt this time.
Now he knew how Spiderman felt!

Later on, the two had dinner. Abbetha cleared her throat.
"So...how was your day?" she asked heavily.
"Same old same old."
That was what Derick said ever since he recruited himself as a detective. Although the mother didn't approve and had to keep it a secret from others - Travis - for obvious reasons - even though it won't take a genius to figure it out - she understands why it was done. But the whole time she felt like all of this was some prank or dream.

But it was how Derick said it worried him, more so than usual.

"How so?"

Derick stiffened. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't comfortable telling her what went down. The case would be over before it even began. But he didn't want to lie either. He was trapped. All he could do was stare at his paster bake and cookie. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Hallelujah.

"I'll get it!" Derick cried. He rushed to the door, refusing to make eye contact with Abethha. It was Noah, one of Johny's closest friends.

Noah Mitchell is a short black-skinned boy with black glasses and black hair.
He's currently wearing a jacket. Inside is a blue shirt and below grey trousers and sneakers.

"What brings you here?" Derick asked, surprised he knew where he lived.
"We got a problem," he said wearily, letting himself in. His cheeks reddened.
"Did you run all the way here?"
"Yeah." he wheezed.
"But you live five minutes away..."
"I didn't come all the way here to be lectured. Noah snapped. He sat on the sofa, making himself at home. For him, he didn't see it as rude because his siblings and parents never let him take it easy. He figured since he's here, why not? He initially wanted to go to Chelsea's, but he didn't know where she lived and wasn't sure if the security would allow someone who was in the middle class. He could have just waited until tomorrow. But he just so happened to be in the neighbourhood and it was urgent.