The Investigation Club - An Amourshipping Story

Struggling for Answers

(Drew)

I put my phone down. The call was over. The person on the other end told me to meet them at the coffee shop deeper in town. His voice was a little shady and I instantly felt bad vibes, but I knew it was up to me to investigate what was on offer. This was either an illegal project I could bust up undercover or perhaps...could there be a connection to the reason we started the investigation club. There was someone in the bushes on that day, back then, which means that they probably know one or two of our faces. 

"Cautious, Drew, stay cautious," I told myself, looking in the mirror. I threw my jacket on and then put my hood up, heading back out onto the streets. 

The sun was just coming up, so I checked the watch on my wrist, reading the green numbers highlighted inside the glass showing me that it was coming close to 5am. 

I turned a corner and walked at a much faster pace down the street, the coffee shop coming into view. It wasn't open for another hour, but my mind was telling me that he would be there anyway and as I got even closer still, I could see the man waiting outside, sat in a chair.

"Early bird gets the worm, huh?" I asked him as I slipped into the chair opposite.

"In this case, Coffee," he made a quick ten-second call and within moments we had fresh coffee at our table, a waiter appearing from the shop, even though it was closed. 

I immediately gulped down the whole mug and left it empty on the table, looking at the guy before me, who was calmly stirring his coffee and adding more sugar.

"So, what did you give me your card for? Why me? What were you doing at that time watching me? Do you need me for something you are planni-" I started throwing questions like crazy and the man raised his hand, signalling me to stop, so I did just that.

"Too many questions," he said quite simply, sipping his coffee and looking at me for a brief moment. "I will answer your first question and that is all. I gave you my card because you answered me bluntly. You're quick on your feet and not scared of anything. That guy called you a psychopath, which proves my point. I want your help with something and as a teenager, you are just the right age to help me out."

"Then my next question is...what is the job?" I rested my hands on the edge of the table, gripping it firmly. I was ready just in case any hostility came before me. Flipping the table at him would buy me time.

"The job?" he laughed and finished his coffee quickly. "This ain't no job kid, it's a war." 

"War?" I asked another question without realising it.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" he shook his head. "In the "underground" areas, a lot of disputes are happening. The reason you can help me is that you can go into areas that my group can't and you won't be questioned..."

This seemed too dodgy. I needed to focus on May...the big guy said they had gotten her. As if the man could read my thoughts, he slapped $500 on the table and looked at me with a hard stare, right into my eyes.

"I'm gonna have to turn you down," I got up from my chair, refusing to break away from his stare. 

"Excuse me?" he cackled now and I knew something was up in that moment. He seemed too vague and that was giving me even more bad vibes. "I'm offering you good money here and you will learn a lot of things to protect those you care about...I heard the name May?"

I sat straight back down so fast that the chair and table shook. I looked at him dead in the eyes and my full attention was on him. 

"What can you teach me?" I was completely sold on this idea, the thoughts and feelings of wanting to protect May with my life blinding me.