Ransom (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Ransom - Chapter Two

While driving to school with Delphi, Brad realised his mom's cell was in the car. He took it and shoved it in his schoolbag anticipating using it to call his boss at lunch. He had forgotten to check his work schedule for the week.

While he stood in line at the pop machine, the cell rang in his bag. Not that Brad heard it since the table where he was sitting was across the room and the noise level was deafening. But his best buddy, Parker, always there to lend a hand, picked up for Brad.

"Hello," Parker answered, trying his best Brad imitation.

"Brad, it's Sophia. Are you at school? I can barely hear you."

Parker couldn't hear her much better. Inside the school, in the best of times the reception was bad, and in the worst of times the signal was inexistent. "Same here."

"Just tell mom I'm staying in Paris for a few days."

"You're in Paris?" Parker didn't know that.

"Yes. Just tell her I will phone in a few days. Bye."

Parker hung up and returned the phone inside Brad's bag.

"Did you know your sister was in Paris?" inquired Parker, once Brad was back at the table.

"Of course." Brad rolled his eyes. "Mom drove her to the airport last night. Why? Did you talk to my sister?" he asked, remembering Parker chatting with Delphi in the parking lot.

"Yah. She said she was in Paris and would phone your mom in a few days...I think."

"Sounds about right," he said, recalling the conversation he briefly caught between Sophia and his mom the previous day. "I need to phone my boss," he remembered, changing the conversation. "If I'm not flipping pizza tonight, wanna catch a movie?"

"Can't do, man, I have a physic exam tomorrow, and I need to study."

As it was Brad was needed at the pizza place for the evening.

~ * ~

Like Sue predicted, walking over water would have been easier than escaping Lucy's keen sense of observation, especially since her best friend was having breakfast when she came in.

"Last night clothes?" She raised her brow at Sue's appearance.

Without reason, heat rose to Sue's cheeks, not that she had anything to be embarrassed about.

"Start talking, girl," she insisted, intently staring at Sue. "Where did you spend—"

"Luce, it's not what you think," Sue quickly corrected before Lucy's imagination ran away from her.

"Even if it's only half of what I'm thinking it's still good," giggled Lucy.

"Luce!" Sue laughed despite herself.

"So? How was dinner?"

"Nice. We talked a lot...about work," Sue recalled, Lucy rolling her eyes. "And about the play and the weekend."

"You do realise Jack didn't hang around the high school because he was reminiscing about his teenage years," Lucy pointed out wisely.

"Maybe," Sue conceded. He acted differently this week, but she still couldn't read him.

"Only maybe?" She smiled. "What happened last evening...to let you stay up all night?"

Sue's glowing face froze.

"Tell me it wasn't a stakeout, please?" Lucy's romantic hopes dissipated rapidly.

"Worse," Sue admitted. Maybe she should be embarrassed after all. "I fell asleep on his couch after dinner while he was cleaning the kitchen." She lowered her eyes. "And didn't wake up until this morning."