Like To Be You ✓

twenty pt. one

"Hey, Houston." I wave at Houston Daniels, a member of the security detail at Mom's firm. He offers me his usual greeting--- a nod. Then he gives a once-over to the police officer next to me and turns back to the door he's guarding.

"So." Officer Johnson flips open her notepad and clicks her pen. "You didn't see anyone on the ground floor in the morning?" she confirms.

"No." I say. "The library was supposed to be locked and there's only one entry. I found it open when I checked after breakfast, and the book was gone."

Officer Johnson does a brief sweep of the library, particularly of the glass enclosure, and takes down notes.

"Do you know anybody who might have had a motive? Someone you had a feud with?"

Zayne and I share a look.

"Could you check out Randall Higley? His recent whereabouts and all?"

She furrows her brows. "Randall Higley? Your father's business partner?"

"Yes," I say. "We had a restraining order again him."

"Why?"

"Because I believe he killed my father. We felt unsafe."

She falls silent. All I can hear is the scraping of equipment on the roof and Zayne biting off a nail.

"Okay." She nods once and points to the glass enclosure. "I'll take this down to the precinct to check for any fingerprints. And I'll need to talk to everybody who's entered the house since morning."

x

The roof is filled with costumed teenagers. I briefly look at the crowd, stopping particularly on a dude dressed as a black cat meowing at his friend.

It's me. I'm the friend.

"Zayne, can you stop?"

"Meow."

"Well, then." I flick his ear, which is still very sensitive after Mrs Sanchez twisted it, and he jumps and angrily meows at me.

"Oh my God." Miranda Alderson, or now Edward Scissorhands, looks at Zayne in awe. "You look like a complete idiot."

Zayne takes offense. "Fuck off."

Miranda smirks and brings the contraptions on her hand towards Zayne's zip. He backs away. "Crazy! You're crazy!"

She laughs, then turns to me. "Hi, Mexican skeleton." She seems a bit confused at my outfit.

"I'm Hector." I say.

"Okay?"

"From Coco?" I look at her expectantly.

"Like, chocolate?"

"Oh God." Zayne looks extremely disappointed. "I'm just gonna leave."

We watch him walk away, the tail on his costume stiffly swishing. Miranda grins. "He's kinda hot."

I do not know how to respond to that, so I go with, "Cool. Want another drink?"

"I'm good." she holds up her beer. Her eyes go back to Zayne, who's standing at the bar. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a cat to seduce."

x

Tyler's here, and he's dressed as Nightwing, and my brain is going hot hot hot hot hot!
Bradley Grey, who's dressed as Batman, high-five's him.

"Cool batons, dude!" Bradley says, touching the painted on black thermocol sticks.

Tyler catches me looking and raises a hand in greeting. I nod back, then turn around. My skin feels prickly. Keep it in your pants, I'm telling myself.