The Mysteries of the Q Files #2: Screens are Cursed Windows

Chapter Four - The Annoying Boy

Brandon Jackson was a potato with toothpicks for limbs and a pepperoni pizza for a face. His voice was also entirely misplaced, like the dub for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Hercules movie. He looked grumpy when he first opened the door, and when he saw naomi, Trick was certain that his jaw would have dropped to the floor if it could have. Naomi seemed to get message really fast that her female charms were working a little too well on this guy. Chances were, any girl at this boy's front door would probably have elicited this reaction.

Trick then noticed that the weather was getting even warmer. The clouds were parting and the sun was shining brilliantly. Utah was a weird place... He just wanted to get inside, where the atmosphere should be relatively controllable.

But the boy at the door would not be easily bypassed, "What do you guys want? I'm interested in playing along with anyone's pranks today! I have enough on my plate! So unless you have something you actually want to discuss," he gave Naomi another eye up and down. "Then I must ask you to kindly leave."

"Actually, we do have something we want to discuss, with you and your family," Conturbatio butted in easily, flashing his FBI badge. "I am agent Conturbatio from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, these two, Patrick and Naomi, are accompanying myself and my two partners Agents Miles and Brown."

"Let me have a look at that badge again," Brandon demanded rudely.

"Sure thing," the Sphinx said with a small smile.

"Hmpf! It appears to be in order. But I still think you're just an act. No federal agents bring teenagers along," Brandon said imperiously.

"In special cases we can," Conturbatio began to explain.

"Oh, and am I one of those special cases? Do you guys think I'm nuts enough to have an entire entourage and some sympathetic peers to try and bring me along quietly? I'm not a nut, and I'm not going with any of you!"

"Relax kid," Trick mother said impatiently. "We have court approval to come here and search the premises and to ask you and your family questions. We are investigating your claims about the attack at the movie theater."

Brandon flushed a little, but did not give any ground "Let me see your permission," he demanded once more. "I'm certain that people would love to a good laugh of me if this is a trick. I won't come crawling!"

Trick was impressed with the guy's brazenness, but he was also annoyed over the moon with how he was behaving. It was so unseemly. Trick's nostrils were also assailed by the scent of a youth who hadn't applied deodorant or probably hadn't showered in a few days. That combined with his appearance and attitude made him very repugnant.

"Dude, just calm down a little bit! Believe it or not, we have reason to believe what you-" Trick began to say, but Brandon cut him off.

"Oh that's very rich! You say you believe me, right!? Ha! Saying that tells me you don't! No, if you did, you would be much more conspiratory and empathetic to what has been going on in my life!"

"Brandon! What are screaming at the door about!?"

A shrill woman's voice now assaulted their ear, and a man with an unbuttoned shirt and very round belly sauntered in behind Brandon.

"Quiet back there! What's all this about?"

The man looked grumpy and ill mannered, but Trick immediately noticed the dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. There smells of work, booze, and stress hovered over him. Trick suspected that this guy, unlike his son, actually had a reason to be short tempered.

Conturbatio fixed a small smile on his face, but it was Miles who spoke, "Mr. Jackson I presume? We are agents from the FBI. I am agent Miles, and these are my partners Agents Conturbatio and Brown. And these are two assistants of ours. We are here in regard to your unusual complaints for the last few months and how we feel that they might tie in with the statement your son gave the police and Homeland Security after the local theater was attacked. May we come in and talk about this in a more comfortable setting?"