Alpha Tablet

     Chapter 1

      A black 67' Chevy Impala rolled down the rough asphalt and into my neighborhood. I leaned closer to the window with my blonde hair toppling across my shoulders. I glanced at the clock and saw that I had two and a half hours before I had to go to work.

      So I came to the conclusion that I would go invesigate the Impala I had seen. Throwing on a sweatshirt and sneakers, I waltzed up the street in the brisk autumn air, until i spotted the unusal black car ahead at my neighbor's house. Curiousity sparked through me.

      My neighbor's house was broken into a couple of days ago, and their babysitter was murdered. Stabbed right in the stomach. At first I was terrified, thinking I would be killed, thinking I wouldn't even feel safe again. What's worse is that I went to her house a few hours before to help rake leaves. And the thought that a murderer had missed me being there by a few hours unsettled me. But for some reason I had began to calm down and everything was slowly going back to normal.

      I continued to approach the house and spotted two men in suits exiting and locking the car. One was very tall and had semi-long brown hair. The other had light brown spiked hair and brillant emerald eyes that distracted me when he looked my way. Both we handsome and looked like they were on business.

      I crept around a clump of trees and hid behind a trashcan near the front porch of the house. The duo knocked on the door and flashed badges at the woman who opened the door. The badges had "FBI" written across. Her name was Mrs. Hall and it was her babysitter who died. Straining my ears to listen, I leaned farther behind the trashcan. She sighed and murmured, "How can I help you?"

      "Sorry to bother you, ma'am. We just need to ask a few questions about what happened here Tuesday." The shorter one politely replied.

      "Alright, come on in."

      Now, one thing you should know about me is that I'm constantly looking for adventure. And two FBI agents invesigating a murder on my street was too tempting to let me pass up. Besides, I knew my neighbor well.

      I rushed home, grabbed a box of chocolate chip cookies, and sprinted back to Mrs. Hall's house. After I caught my breath, I rapped the door with my knuckles. Mrs. Hall opened the door and looked shocked.

      "Anna, what are you doing here?" She asked.

      I held up the cookies. "Is it a bad time? I wanted to see how you were feeling." I felt guilty lying to her, but I really wanted to meet those FBI agents. Besides, I had wanted to check up on her.

      "So sweet of you, but I'm not sure right now is a good time..."

      "Is that one of your neighbors?" The tall guy peered through the doorway.

      "Yes. Why?"

     "Well, asking her questions as well will be very useful."

      "Well, alright. Is that okay with you, Anna?"

      "Yes, of course." I replied cheerily.

      I stepped inside of the warm, well-lit house. It smelled like pumpkins and cookies, and the fire place was blazing with an orange glow. The living room had a basket full of pinecones and fall leaves. Reality hit me like a well-aimed punch in the stomach. I could sarcely believe something so horrible happened just days ago in this normally happy home.

      "Okay, Anna, is that your name?" The short one asked.

      "Yes." I replied timidly, suddenly feeling like I shouldn't have come here.