"Officer, I don't mean to bring this up, not while you are driving, but didn't that girl say, Mr. Falcon?"
"Correct."
"And you said Jim is not to be trusted."
"I know."
"But Mr. Falcon and Jim Bones are too different people."
"I know. That is why I said Jim is not to be trusted."
"How do you even know he'll show then? What if it's just Mr. Falcon there tonight?"
"Then we just use him to get to Bones. Don't worry. It's a win-win either way."
"Yeah! For us."
"Exactly, now dim your lights. We're nearing the house. Don't want to attract any unwanted attention that could be reported back to Bones. You stay here. I'll go talk to her."
"Ummm….we only have last stakeouts clothes still in here. Pizza delivery boy, and man; they smell."
"That'll have to do, for now. Wish me luck."
"YOU DON'T NEED IT!!!!!!!"
*Dingggggggggggg...dong*
"Coming!! Just give me a sec to get dressed."
"Take your time. I brought pizza."
"Pizza? I…I..I didn't order any pizza."
"You sure? Says so right here on the address."
"I'll be right down.
Hi…aaah….Hii. Oh, thank you. Have a nice day.
Umm…your foot is blocking the door from closing.
"I know, ma'am. May I come in?"
"Daddy says never cater to strangers."
"Here's my badge. F.B.I. David Broshers the name. You talked to my superior on the phone."
"FBI? Why didn't you say so in the first place? Hurry, come in."
"Ma'am, we try to keep a lo…you're not Ma'am. You're just a girl."
"So."
"But your voice. It sounded like."
"Like?"
"Much older for your age I'd say, but now you're back to you."
"Oh. I use that voice whenever I want something or to make myself sound more serious. Did it work?"
"Yes, but never do that again."
"Roger, officer."
"You can just call me David."
"So, why all the secrecy?"
"Jim has eyes everywhere. Can't be too careful."
"What do you want me to do then?"
"Stay here and stay out of sight."
"But officer…I mean David. I can be of help. Just let me."
"Just liked you helped your sister."
"That wasn't nice."
"Sorry. It just slipped out. Just that this is a big boy matter and I wouldn't want you getting hurt."
"I can take care of myself."
"What about others?"
"Well....I'm working on that day by day."
"Sorry kid. If you want to be of help, then you can answer me this."
"Anything."
"When do you think your family will be home from the hospital?"
"I don't know. Last time was an hour, maybe two, but it was so long ago and dad told us never to trick Jewels into doing it again without floaties. UUgh…I'm so stupid. I'm so stupid. I should've listened."
"Hey, it's not your fault….."
"Olivia."
"Olivia. Mistakes happen to all of us. Even me."
"Dad didn't see it that way. He said Jewels could've been seriously hurt, or worse."
"He said that?"
"Well, no...…but I wish he would've."
"Why"
"So I could punish myself even harder."
"Olivia, stop. Don't beat yourself up. Jewels will be fine, I promise."
"How do you know?"
"Doctors and Nurses are the best at what they do. Just look around you and you'll see. Our health is thanks to them. Now come here and give me a hug."
*Phsniif*
"I'm just…I…I could've done better."
"There, there. It's okay. No need to cry.
You said Mars took off when your dad yelled at him?"
*Phnissniff*
"Yeaa! And there is no way I can get him back. Only Jewels was able to talk to and understand him. Dad said I would get my chance but now that'll never happen. I lost them both….in one day."
"Olivia. It'll be ok. We'll get both of them back safe and sound. You wait and see."
"I know."
"How do you know?"
"Follow me."
"Where are we going?"
"Mars left his 'cycle behind. He can't ride a rope without it. Here it is. I know it's not much."
"Not much? Have any of you touched this while this was here?"
"Well, besides me just now...only my sister Annalise. The guy dropped it on top of Mars, so yeah."
"The guy? Did he look something like this?"
"Yeaah!!! Yeah. That's Mr. Falcon."
"We know Anela never touched his cycle, only Hezekiah, and that reports and eyewitnesses believe Jim Bones was there that night but no one has proof….until now."
"But Jim wasn't wherever you think."
"Huh? How do you know?"
"Bones had to pick up a late shipment that night of a baby bear. I love animals just as much as the next person but shh….I like to keep tabs on the others, and my sources say there was a new act coming, and Bones was first in line to pick it up."
"You little snake."
"They say snakes are great. Just trying to keep my daddy one step over the competition."
"I…..cannot help but smile at you. But remember…"
"I know. I know. Don't do it again. I promise."
"Good girl."
"This print may not be Jims, nor Hezekiah's, or Falcons, but Hezekiah says he always leaves it at the foot of Mars' gate and that the gate was pried open, Mars fled and took the cycle with him. So, if someone reached out and grabbed the cycle as he was fleeing…. then we'll catch him. Thanks, Olivia. You might've caught Mars Attemptee."
(I know I say this a lot but please like and comment. As I said, I'll be working on my 26 books full-time. That is if everything gets accepted. This means I won't have enough time to add a full-length book, only a small one like this. So, I am hoping to make this series go a long way. You can see it on the cover. Mars is old and walking the rope. Right now he is young, so we still have a LOOOOOOOOONG ways to go. I would really prefer your comments so that I don't get to chapter 200 or whatever and the first 6+ comments are all you should've ended this a long time ago, author. I don't see that as the case, but one never knows. Thanks for reading and staying with me even in these last 3 months when I've been silent. That means the world. I hope to rebuild and come back stronger than ever. *Huge virtual hug* Have a blessed day