The Criminal (Storms Book 2)

Chapter Eight

"What do you mean you were followed?" Mathias asked.

Slick involuntary rolled his eyes, "Didn't you hear me? Some asshole was chasing us through the hospital."

"Don't get smart with me, Jesse," Mathias replied. He sat down at his desk and smirked to himself. "I'm now incredibly intrigued. What was found about the girl?"

"Not a whole lot. An address across town for a grandfather or something," Slick said and handed Mathias the folder.

"Well, go check it out."

"Her grandfather is fucking dead. Am I going to talk to his corpse?" Slick chuckled to himself. He wasn't sure why he was being stubborn. Maybe, deep down he just wanted to argue with someone.

"People in the neighborhood will know him. They may know of a relation. Why are you fighting me on this? I thought you wanted to find out about the girl?"

"I do, but I don't understand why I have to be the one to drive all over the city and play Nancy Drew. Why can't it be someone else?"

"Because I don't trust anyone else," Mathias said. "This is a good learning curve for you."

"Yeah, you keep saying that."

"It's true. Jesse, I'm retiring in only a six months. I still have a lot to show you and I feel like I've taught you nothing."

"You've taught me enough. I won't do things how you do them. I've studied you but I'm not you and I'll never be you."

"I know. I can't hold that against you," Mathias said. "Regardless of what you may think I'm proud of you. You aren't my blood but you are my son."

"Yeah, I know," Slick muttered.

The ride across town was silent. Lately every time Slick had any conversation with Mathias it effected his mood negatively. He didn't want to take it out on Kylie. She didn't deserve that.

Slick involuntary flinched as they pulled up to her family's house. It was destroyed. The gutters falling off and the blue paint of the house chipped and wind stricken. There wasn't a person in sight. The entire street was condemned.

"It looks abandoned," Kylie whispered.

"I'm pretty sure it is," Slick agreed. They pulled into the driveway slowly and parked.

"What did you say my grandfather's name was?"

"George melgrove," Slick said and got out of the truck, Kylie following behind.

"I've never even heard my mother mention it."

"That's so strange she never told you your father's name."

"He must have been a real asshole," she laughed to herself. "Why come out here if it's abandoned? What are you hoping to find?"

"I don't know. A name or something," Slick said. They walked on the porch- almost afraid they'd fall through. "I'm still trying to figure this all out. It's like we keep hitting a dead end."

Slick reached for the doorknob and surprisingly it was open. Him and Kylie gave each other a surprised look and entered the home.

The living room was destroyed. Books laid across the floor and trash was spread everywhere. Kylie felt odd. She couldn't believe this house held a part of her family that she never knew. How much has she missed?

"This place is trashed," Kylie said and stepped over a pile of clothes.

A picture frame hung on the wall. It showed a woman on a swing. She was obviously pregnant. Was this Kylie's grandmother? It had to be. She delicately took the picture out of its frame and slipped it into her pocket. She wanted at least on keepsake.

"It looks like someone's been here already," Slick said. He glanced around the room and saw something scribbled on the wall. "Look at this."

"What is it?" Kylie said and followed behind.

"It's an address to a storage facility across town." This made no sense why would that address be written on the wall? Slick began to feel uneasy. He ran his finger across the small, red letters and realized that it was written recently. Why?

"Well, let's go," Kylie exclaimed.

"It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

"It's on enemy territory. I'll have to have someone who isn't affiliated check it out."

"So, we've hit another dead end?" Kylie said.

"It appears that way," Slick mumbled. His disappointment rising. "let's get out of here. I'll have someone double check the place but I don't think they'll find anything. It's been wiped clean."

This made no sense. Kylie didn't understand why everyone was keeping secrets. Her mom always said that her dad just left and that he had no family. Tears brimmed her eyes. She was hurt.

"What's wrong?" Slick asked.

"I've been lied to by my own mom. I never thought she'd do this to me."

"Yeah, family does that," Slick smirked. He pulled her into a hug and felt her tears stain his shirt. Memories of his father came pooling back. His father lied to him daily about his drinking habits. Slick would go days without eating because his father drank all their money. Slick lived far worse than Kylie ever did, but it wasn't a competition. Pain was pain. They both dealt with their heartbreak differently and that was okay.

"I'm not sure why I'm even crying," she sniffled.

Slick looked down into her eyes- their chests still touching. He smirked and wiped away the lonely tear.

"It shows we're human, I guess."

Her expression soften. Her heartbeat rose at what she realized she was going to do. Her fingers wrapped around his shirt and gently pulled him down to her level. Slick's eyes were focused on her lips. Their faces only millimeters a part. Why was she doing this?

"Do it," Slick smirked. That was all the conformation she needed. She pressed her lips to his.

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This isn't edited. I've been sooooo busy lately. I'm going on vacation next week and then my dad is having party. So everything has been in the air.

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