My Excuse? Its part of the mission *8*

I tried not to think about him, unsuccessfully. But I didn’t mention him to anyone, especially Evan. When I got home, the first thing I did, before I answered any questions, I carefully took off the extra stuff plastered to my face, put in soothing eye drops, and hopped into the shower. It felt so good to be me again.

I sat at the table and sighed. “Okay, ask away.” Marie and Jack interrogated me for about forty-five minutes. Marie was older, in her fifties or sixties, and her job as an official was documentation. She was like my grandma, but a federal secretary at the same time. Jack, a man in his early forties, had to report back to headquarters with whatever I came up with. He is bi-polar or something. When he’s working, he’s absolutely serious. When he isn’t, he’s like the cool uncle everyone is always wanting. He laughs so boisterously, that anyone around him can’t help but crack up as well. I’m really glad he got assigned to this job.

“So are you going to go tonight?” He asked me, his face expressionless and his voice monotone.

“Yes of course. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to lay down some ground work, let them trust me you know?”

“Honey, it might be dangerous.” Marie prompted with her soft worried tone. I was glad she had never seen me fight, then she would never let me go anywhere, for the other people’s safety.

“Don’t worry about me, Marie. I’m a big girl, I think I’ll be able to handle myself.” I smiled. She scowled at me. Jack on the other hand peered down at me with warning.

“Don’t let your guard down Chelsea. And all the drugs you buy tonight need to be given directly to me. All of it.” I looked at him in surprise.

“Just because I’m dressed like a junkie doesn’t mean I am one Jack. Have a little faith.” I hissed and walked away. I walked to the room I had been given, trying not to stomp childishly on the stairs. I bumped into Evan, and for once, I wasn’t disgusted. “Evan, I need you to drive me back to the school tonight at seven.” I may be sixteen, but I haven’t gotten my license yet, I’m just kind of lazy. I regretted my procrastination now. He grunted in acknowledgement and tried to walk past me. I grabbed his arm. “Seriously I do.” Then I tried a different approach. “Did you find anything today?”

“No.” He sounded tiered. “I found one of the head honchos of the operation and followed him, but he lost me.”

“Oh, bad luck.” I replied trying to be sympathetic. “But if you drive me to school, I can help you land another lead.”

He rolled his eyes. “As if.” He muttered. There went his attitude again. He walked back to his room mumbling about how some girl wouldn’t bent down far enough for him to get a good look at her ass. Perverted jerk. But at least he remembered what I asked. I guess he didn’t want to risk losing his job.

When we arrived at the school, the night lights were on and the broken fountain was bubbling feebly. I told Evan to park with some distance and he listened to me without saying anything in retort. Definitely an upgrade. I took off my seatbelt and double checked my red eyes and plaster forehead. Perfect. “Just wait for me okay? I’ll try to make this quick and painless.”

He rolled his eyes and waved me out of the car and put the radio on. I ignored his behavior and walked over to the fountain, hands casually in my pockets. In reality though, I had both of my fists clenched, one of them around a roll of twenties. But no one was there. I checked my watch. Exactly a minute till seven. A teenager stepped into view as soon as my minute hand hit seven it seemed. He was tall, thin and wiry, but at least he was punctual. He looked like he hadn’t had a good nights sleep in many a day and his back was hunched, like an old person’s.

“You the new girl?”

“Yeah, I’m…”

“We don’t do names. You’re new girl and I’m seller one. Understand?” He asked pointedly. I nodded. “Alright then, before we start, pat her down.” He spoke to someone over my shoulder. I spun around, trying to keep my cool. “That’s security two.” He motioned to the large man behind me. I swear if I wasn’t looking as drugged up as my disguise suggested, I would have sworn that ‘security two’ was enjoying patting my clothes and checking for any hidden weapons. I glared at him when he was done. I turned my attention back to ‘seller one’.

“Done?” I asked, venom in my voice. ‘seller one’ smiled disgustingly. “Alright then, you got the goods?” I’ve always wanted to say that, but now I wished I wasn’t in a situation that let me use it.

“What did you want?”

“For now? Two bags of coke.” I replied smoothly. He held it out to me, just out of my grasp.

“Who’s the flunkie?” He motioned towards the car Evan was sitting in.

“My funder.” I lied quickly, showing him the cash. He whistled.

“Why? Isn’t he man enough to buy his own.”

“He likes his privacy.” I shrugged. “And I get 40% of the goods for dealing with transactions.”

“For free? That’s a good deal.”

“I know. Now hand over the bags so I can give you your damn money.” He gave me the bags, wiry smile still in place. I stripped off a couple twenties for him and walked back to the car. All the while I was resisting the urge to turn around and pound ‘seller one’ until that wiry smile was electrocuted off his face.