The Mystery at Cherry Creek

Chapter 5: Found

I really always have been a terrible liar. When I was younger and I would want to steal candy before eating dinner, I wouldn't even make it three steps outside of kitchen door before running to my dad crying for forgiveness. Don't even get me started on how terrible of a poker player it makes me...

The soft clatter of my family's utensils can be heard as we all sit around the tiny wooden diner table, and eat Chinese takeout. I couldn't help but nervously glance between Selene and my dad all throughout dinner. The secret of what we were going to do tonight eating away at me. I guess I was starting to get a little to obvious because at one point Selene kicked me under the table in an attempt to stop me from looking like a deer in headlights.

"Claire are you feeling all right?" My dad worriedly asks as he sets down his plate of rice, and reached his hand across to feel my forehead. I glanced to Selene and saw that she was already giving me a pointed. "I um uh...I think that maybe I had a bad uh grilled cheese for lunch so I don't um... I don't feel so good" I finally squeaked out. The whole time I said it however, I refused to make eye contact with anyone until after I finished my dumb excuse.

Selene mumbles " oh my god" before she gets up and puts her dishes into the sink. I was also very aware of just how sweaty my hands were. With all eyes on me I felt like a spotlight was on me, and everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting on what I was going to say next. "Oh Claire bear why don't you go ahead and turn in early for the night... I don't want you feeling worse tomorrow" My dad gently says as he rubs my back.

I quickly say goodnight to everyone and rush out of the room. Once I've made it into the hallway I let out a sigh of relief thinking that the coast was clear, that I'd actually told my first lie. "Claire wait!" I hear Arden whisper from the end of the hallway near the kitchen. I slowly turn back around fearing the worst.
"Hey A whacha need" I try to say nonchalantly, obviously failing. Arden gives me a knowing look before whispering,

"You don't have to worry your secret is safe with me...Selene told me all about your plan. I just wanted to remind you two to be safe because, I hope to see your face on the front cover of the news and hear all about how you saved the day". Me and Arden laugh as she pretends to pose like a superhero. "Of course A... I'll be back here in the motel before you even wake up" I promise as I make sure to end it with a nice warm bear hug. She smiles and shakes her head before walking back into the kitchen.

I head back to the owners room to wait until it's time for me to meet Selene by the car around a quarter until midnight. The nerves start to sink in as the reality of what we are planning to do dawns on me. Hopefully I'm not making a mistake right?

....

I stand by the car and eagerly look at the time on my phone for the fifth time. We had about 15 minutes now to make it to the park and to set up the trap, but of course Selene was running late as always. I shivered slightly on this strangely chilly August night. The motel door slowly creaks open as a stunning Selene emerges with a tight velvet red dress and heels on.

"Okay I know you are supposed to be the one hiding and everything but... you look like your about to reboot the  spy kids movie franchise" she chuckles out while tossing me the keys to the hatchback. I look down at my black jeans and turtle neck, " you know this is a perfectly sensible outfit for the task at hand, I mean you on the other hand look like your about to go clubbing" I huff out as we both hop into the car.

"I'm supposed to be the bait right? How am I supposed to do that if I don't look this delectable" she jokingly says as she blows me a fake kiss from the passenger seat. After a couple of tries of me sticking the keys into the ignition the old car finally roars to life. And I try to speed down to the park in order to make up for the time lost. "So the plan...?" She starts as she checks her makeup in the side mirror.