"So do it." this time it was Caroline on the phone with Jason: "They are idiots who might die. And we'll be there to protect them. I can go with you, and you owe me one."
"No Way! That is way too dangerous! Have you forgotten what happened at the Prime Royals Hotel?"
"Well, not all 'haunted' are like the Prime Royals Hotel." Caroline clenched her phone on the right side of the shoulder and helped Alex, her nephew assemble a model train : "And you worked so hard for that little channel, even though you have no audience and sponsorship."
"Well, you do know how to inspire." Jason chuckled, "Yeah, I wanted to ask Boss for his opinion, but then he rarely cares about this kind of stuff. And these idiots want to go as soon as this Saturday… they moved the supposed schedule again."
"You can ask for tips for going into haunted houses. And of course lots of Demon Suppression Sigil and the incense… whatever their names are. Do it as preparation." Caroline gently shrugged so as to not drop the phone: "Just let me know when you're gonna do it. Don't ambush me though, I want to spend more time with my brother and lovely nephew."
"Yeah… I'm gonna ask Boss first and decide. Thanks!"
"And remember, if they're going no matter what you decide, it is better we be there. At least we can handle ourselves plus some tagalongs." Caroline smiled and said: "Alright, talk later. My nephew's model train is done and we're gonna try some old school toys."
"Thanks Caroline, text me some pictures of that model train."
"Is your friend an influencer?" Alex gently put the model train on the model rails, and flipped the switch. The model train started moving through the rails, making really life-like steam horn sounds.
"He has a channel with his friends. But he works behind the camera, as a writer and animator." Caroline fluffed Alex's hair and said: "So you could say he's half an influencer."
"That's cool. Most of my classmates want to be influencers." Alex said, sounding a little down: "But Dad said I need to dream bigger and smarter."
"And you'd be correct. I met some influencers. They are the dumbest people I have ever met." Caroline lowered her body to watch the model train go with Alex: "And you, my dear Alex, are the smartest kid I know. So being an influencer will be such a waste."
"Thanks, Aunt Caroline." Alex watched the model train go and smiled, with a sense of maturity rarely seen from anyone with his age.
"So do you like it here?" Caroline asked: "It's different from home, no?"
"Yes, but people here are really mean." Alex shook his head: "They smile, but they can't wait to push you away and they don't care."
"I am so sorry Alex. To know this at your age." Caroline sighed: "What do you want to do when you grow up? Not an influencer right? You're too into the model trains for that."
"I want to build a business. I want to make a lot of money. So Dad won't have to go everywhere and would stay home and spend more time with me."
"Well, I'm sure you will some day."
"Does my dad work with dangerous people?" Alex suddenly looked at Caroline and asked.
"No! Of course not." Caroline denied immediately, "Who told you that?"
"I learned that from the internet. They say private investigators deal with shady people everyday, and a lot of them are shady people themselves. Dad's not shady, right?"
"Of course not." Caroline couldn't help but hugged Alex: "He's a good private investigator. He helps people. And I'm sure he's here helping other people as well. You don't know because he doesn't like to talk about it, and it is also a rule in his job."
"Hey, I'm back with cake and drink! How's my boy?" just this moment, Kane opened the door and entered the house, with two plastic bags in his hands.
"Dad!" Alex jumped up and welcomed Kane with a hug.
"Hey, buddy, you've been good today? Didn't give aunt Caroline trouble, did you?"
"The only trouble he gave me was that he got the model train too perfectly." Caroline smiled: "So, how was your day?"
"Boring, but okay." Kane did not answer the question directly in front of his son: "And thank you for keeping Alex company."
"Not a problem..." Caroline also hugged Kane, but she noticed that there were traces of black smoke on Kane's shoulder, so she swiped Kane's shoulder with Xuanli concentrated on her palm, while acting as if she was trying to clean up his clothes: "Where have you been? There's dust on your shirt."
"Oh, really?" Kane also swiped his shoulders out of self-consciousness: "Just the city hall getting some records. Not sure where the dust came from."
"I just re-assembled the train in 15 minutes. My best record, Dad!" Alex excitedly pointed to the model train still running on the model rails.
"That's awesome! Buddy, you are a genius!" Kane held Alex up and spun him around: "What'd you guys have for lunch?"
"Rib soup, matcha cake, stir fried greens and berries from the inn." Caroline shrugged: "Unlimited food in the fridge, another perk of working at the inn."
"Chinese food? How was it buddy?"
"Very delicious. I want to go eat there next time."
"Kane, a word?" when Alex got back to his model train, Caroline asked Kane and pointed to the side.
"Alright, Alex, give me and aunt Caroline a second okay? We'll go have some pizza later!"
"Actually, can we go for Chinese food?"
"Nice, Alex, you are growing your taste." Caroline laughed and dragged Kane to the side, "Where have you been? I can tell that you already got mixed up in some nasty business."
"Geez, Caroline… where did you get that idea..."
"Buh buh buh buh!" Caroline shushed Kane before he could come up with an excuse: "Think about Alex, okay? What have you got yourself into?"
Kane let out a long sigh: "Dammit Caroline, you're the one with the hunch. It's nothing serious, I am just tailing a creep here. It's the job."
"Following a creep?" Caroline almost yelled: What the hell!? How is that not serious?!"
"No! No! It's not what you think." Kane immediately explained: "The client, he's a concerned father and he's worried about his daughter getting involved with some unsavory group. So the job is to tail the boyfriend and dig up some dirt if possible."
"That still sounds really bad! I just told Alex that you are not the shady kind of PI!" Caroline scratched her head with both hands frustratedly: "And this job pays enough for you to come here?"
"The client is loaded. He'd pay half a mil for a drug or gang affiliated photo." Kane laid his right hand on Caroline's left shoulder and said: "And I need this money, I need it to buy a house in the good school district, and for Alex to go to a good school. I mean I can teach him now, but high school? He's already smarter than me when I was 20."
"Okay." Caroline also sighed: "But are you done yet? Just tell me you are done and the paycheck's on its way."
"Almost. I'll probably wrap things up by the end of this weekend. For additional evidence..." Kane tried to wiggle out some room but immediately changed course when he saw Caroline's facial expression: "But this weekend! Just this weekend and that'll be all! I promise."