Chapter 3 – Bam
Chapter Three
BAM
In all my imaginings about Josie, I couldn’t have come up with the story she just told, and I don’t even know if it’s true. Caves, jail breaks, wanted posters. Those seem out there, but her delivery was so good that I wanted to believe.
The shock on her expressive face is almost comical.
“Where do we start?” I finish the dry fries. “Do you need to get home?”
She shakes her head vigorously. “Dad’s on the road until Friday so no, but how about you? What’s your family sitch?”
“You’re looking at it.” I spread my arms out wide, one set of fingers reaching the window.
I drop my arms as a subtle but familiar expression shifts on Josie’s face.
It’s pity, which I hate. I hold up a hand.
“Wait, no need for that look. I get to eat ice cream for breakfast and game until two in the morning with no one checking on me. It’s all good. ”
She quickly schools her face so that it’s blank. “I never said it wasn’t. I have those days, too, so I know they can be fun.”
“Great, we’re on the same page.” Even if she’s just saying it to placate me, I’ll take it. I don’t mind danger, but sympathy can stay in the pocket. “Let’s circle back. What do you want to do?”
“I should look at the body. Investigate the scene. You say someone took you there? How did he find it?”
I schnick my tongue against the back of my teeth. “You ever see a dead body before?”
“On TV.”
“It’s not the same.”
“How many dead bodies have you seen?” She crinkles her nose.
“More than one, less than a dozen. I’m not a fan.” The first dead body I came across was my old man’s. The next one was my mom’s. Those were not great experiences.
“If I’m going to be a real investigator, though, I have to. I can put Vaseline under my nose if you’re worried the smell will bother me.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
She flutters a finger beneath her nose. “Some pros put petroleum jelly under their noses so the decomposing bodies don’t get to them, but I’ve read that it’s not always effective and that the smell is not that bad.”
“I can’t say.” The bodies of my parents were fresh when I found them. The only smell I remember was like old pennies. “I took photos. You could take a look at those and see if you need more.”
She wiggles her fingers in a gimme motion. I unlock my phone and push it over to her side.
“You don’t mind if I go through this?” She starts flicking.
“Don’t have much on there.”
“No social media apps? No games? I see you do have Netflix. That saves you from being a sociopath.”
“Does it, though? Maybe I’m watching shows to figure out how to better mimic human behavior.”
“To be honest, your friend—with the shaved head—” She smooths her hand over her hair. I love how she is always gesturing, always talking with her hands. I could watch her for hours and not be bored. “He seems like the type to watch shows to mimic humans but not you. Your smile is too real.”
A grin breaks across my face. “You like my smile, do you?”
She purses her lips and lifts her chin, not wanting to admit anything. “I said it was real.”
“Real good.” I wink.
She rolls her eyes and then grows serious as the photos of the boy I took appear.
“Cole,” she murmurs against her fingers.
She looks at the images for so long I start thinking I made a mistake.
Tears well up, and a sob catches in her throat.
I snatch my phone back, but she waves me off.
“No. I’m okay. It just caught me off guard.
I think I should see him in person. Then what do we do?
If we report this to the police, we’ll never get to see the crime scene.
Or I won’t. You were already there.” She hops up and starts gathering her materials.
I take her notebook and pens and tuck them away in her bookbag.
After slinging it over my shoulder, I motion for her to exit before me.
“You sure about this?” I ask once we reach the sidewalk.
She stops and swings around. “Yeah. I’m an investigator, and that means sometimes I’m going to face difficult things. If I can’t visit a crime scene, if I can’t view a dead body, then I have no business poking around and solving these mysteries. You gonna stop me?”
Her chin juts out again. I pinch it and shake my head. “Nah, but you have to promise that you’ll never run around by yourself. As your assistant, I’m required to be with you at all times.”
“All times?” Her brow arches.
“All times you’re outside of your apartment or class unless you’re with your dad.”
“How about—”
“No,” I cut her off. Without a trace of humor in my voice or on my face, I shake my head. “No bargains here, spygirl. You either take me along everywhere or you stay home.”
“Who’s going to stop me?” The chin lift again.
This time when I take her little jaw between my fingers, I don’t let go. “Me, rebel. I’ll stop you, and you won’t like the way I do it.”
She jerks out of my grip. “You’re being mean.”
“Cautious.” I tuck my hands into my pockets. “Let’s go see the dead body. Why are you so into this anyway? You have feelings for Cole?” That makes me scowl.
“No. I barely knew him. It’s just that crimes around here go unsolved.
People disappear. People die. People get hurt, and the police don’t care because we’re poor and lack power, but everyone needs closure.
I want to give that if I can. That and because solving mysteries is fun.
” The bright look in her eyes reappears.
“If you mean to keep an eye on me, better catch up.” And with that, she takes off running.