Three hard, steady knocks on the door. The doorbell camera lit up, but we knew they never checked it. We waited a few seconds, and I proceeded to knock once more. We heard someone stand up, and footsteps started towards the door.
"Awright! Awright! Christ almighty!" Nora Dean, Vincent's grandmother. An unmistakable voice. She opened the door with an angry look on her face, but it softened when she recognized us.
"Oh, hello boys. Are you here for Vince?" She asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Dean," I said, smiling. "We have a school project that we need to put some finishing touches on. Is Vincent home?"
"You just missed him. The boy had to 'run out for a while'." She said, looking at both of us.
"Well Mrs. Dean, thank you," Mayhem said, smiling too. "We'll see you around." And with that, we had another suspicious moment. Vincent never left his house, so why now, right when we needed him? This was all looking worse and worse for him.
"Of course, the one time he's not home," I said walking back to the truck.
"Well, you know Vincent Dean, 'ahways gone when ya need him, always here when ya ain't!' " Mayhem said in Nora Dean's voice. I laughed out loud at this, something I don't do too often. I needed some humor right now. That went for both Mayhem and me.
"Where else would he be right now? Bradley's?" Mayhem asked.
"Okay. Let's try there." I returned.
"If not there, most likely not the safe house, but where else?"
"I don't know right now. As I said, let's try Bradley's house."
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the Dixon residence. Also known as the Dean's cousins. The son, Bradley, was like a brother to Vincent. They had the same birthdate, although Bradley was one year younger than Vincent. Still a menace, however. We heard the first pop of the rifle as we exited the car.
"Gah, dayum brother! That woulda' taken a goddamn head off!" We heard as we approached. Bradley Dixon, if he wasn't counterfeiting children's toys and saying "goddamn" in every sentence, he was shooting his rifle with Vincent. We turned the corner of the house, and Bradley saw us first.
"Well, hey there guys! We was just poppin' this goddamn shit off!" Bradley said, laughing. I groaned, which made Mayhem laugh. Vincent turned around with the semi-automatic BB gun and froze when he saw us. We walked a little faster in case Vincent tried running.
"H-hey guys, I was just-" He was cut off by my grab. I pulled him to me by the shirt and brought him to my face. We were almost the same height, but I was able to exert more dominance over him. I could see a tear beginning to form. We got him.
"Vincent, when were you last at the safe house, hm?" Mayhem asked. Vincent's eyes grew wider than before.
"I didn't do nothin! I didn't!" He was shaking his head violently. I grabbed the side of his head and brought my face closer to his as if we were about to kiss.
"When were you last at the safe house, Vincent? It's a simple question." I asked, my eyes nearly closed. Bradley walked forward with his hands up, but I pointed at him and said, "This ain't about you, brother."
"Okay! Fine! Shit!" Vince said. "Last night, like around 10:15 when you all were still at the meeting." I glanced over at Mayhem and raised one eyebrow.
"Pretty convenient timing, am I right, Alex?" I said, almost smiling.
"You're right on that one, Clancy." He returned, almost smiling as well. I turned back to Vincent, no longer smiling. "So, why were you there that late, I know I got there late, but then again, I pretty much live there, right? So what were you doing there?" I said lowering my voice. Vincent looked like he was going to cry now. Suddenly, Mayhem started laughing. I looked over at him in disbelief and anger.
"What's so funny, Alex?" I yelled. He was still laughing. I threw Vincent down and moved to Mayhem, and grabbed him similarly. "I said, what is so funny?"
Mayhem pointed to Vincent's shoes. He pointed to Vincent's boots. It then came to me. That's why Ash's shelf had been disrupted.
"I- Oh-" I started, but couldn't because I started laughing as well. Using Mayhem for support, I stood up, but we both fell, still laughing. Vincent stared at us with the widest eyes I have ever seen. Looking like an insane person, he smiled a very strange smile and laughed dryly.
"You're not going to be laughing later when Ash finds out!" I said as I was coughing. Over at the other side of the yard, Bradley watched in shock. He started laughing too.
"Goddamn crazy motherfuckers!" He smiled and aimed his rifle back at the glass beer bottle.