by Catori, Ava
Cree caught her breath. After calming herself the best she was able, she muttered, “I don’t have any friends.”
“Listen, can I let go of you? We need to sit and talk. I’m an investigator. I don’t want anything out of you but information. I don’t have time to fool around.” He’d grown frustrated. He thought this would be easy. Foolish mistake.
“You couldn’t just come out and say that?” She glared at him. “I have nothing to say and I don’t have any friends.” Why the hell did he grab her if he just wanted information? Why not just say, I need to talk to you about something? It felt off. Something didn’t feel right.
“She goes by Crystal. I need to find her.” He said, exhausted from the situation.
“Crystal?” Cree couldn’t hide the shock in her voice. She clammed up. “I can’t help you.”
“I was told you could.” He watched her eyes.
Cree watched his eyes, looking for clues. “By who?”
“That’s not important.” He needed to keep control of the conversation.
“I can’t help you.” No way would she rat out one of her only friends. Screw that. He could ask somebody else.
“This is urgent.” Carter sighed. “If she’s your friend, you’ll talk.”
“Who are you working for?” Cree turned her head, looking at the door. If she ran for the door, she could get out. He might catch her in the hallway, but maybe somebody would see and get help. How did he find her? What did he know about her? She obviously couldn’t stay here anymore. Her overpass was always a safe spot. She should have never left it. It was going to be hard to adjust to living outside again. He’d outrun her, she was sure of it. She’d simply shut down and say nothing. He’d get tired of waiting for her to talk.
“I can’t say.” He bluffed, though not really. It’s not like he’d tell her anyway.
“And I don’t know anything. I think we’re done here.” She bit her lip, chewing it, trying not to show fear. She didn’t trust him.
He sighed. “Listen, she’s the key to an important case. She’s in danger. I’m in a race with a bad guy, and I need to get to her first.” He wanted to bang his head on the wall. Why did they always make it look so easy on television?
“How do I know you’re not the bad guy?” She said, eyeing him sideways.
“I’m not.” He huffed, growing more frustrated.
“Oh, and I should take you at your word?” I don’t trust you, buddy.
Carter shook his head. “If you care about this girl, if she’s your friend at all, you’ll tell me. If they get a hold of her, you won’t see her again.” He threw in that last bit out of desperation.
Cree’s hand shot up to her mouth. She couldn’t hide the gasp.
“We’re about to crack open a big drug bust. She’s a key witness. They want her gone. She was talking and then she disappeared. We need to find her to keep her safe. You could be the person that helps me find her before someone else does.”
“If you’re who you say you are you’d have a badge. Cops have badges. And you wouldn’t have grabbed me like that.” Something still didn’t feel right. Her gut was throwing up red flags. Working on the street she’d had more than a few run-ins with cops.
Carter sighed. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his wallet. “I’m an undercover detective. I’m working with the task force.” Flashing his badge, Cree relaxed a little. Badges usually left her uneasy, but at least she knew he wasn’t here to hurt her. Wait a minute…she’d seen plenty of badges. That wasn’t right.
“You’re not a cop,” she said, calling his bluff. “What do you want from me? Are you going to hurt me? Will you hurt Crystal?” Anxiety started to course through her veins at the reality that something was seriously wrong here.
Carter shook his head. “I don’t work for the locals. This is a big case. You can either trust me, or someone much worse may come looking for you for clues. Word got out that you knew this Crystal girl.” Would she buy it?
“If that’s true, why didn’t they just show up on my corner? I’m not buying your game.” She grew more confident by the moment. If she acted tough, maybe he’d back down some.
Carter groaned. “Fine, I’m a private investigator. I don’t work for the task force. I need to find the girl, okay?” This girl was impossible!
“I don’t trust you. You need to leave, and leave now!” She’d had enough. She tried to find the courage to push him out, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Not until we finish talking and we’re not done yet.” He was firm on that point. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Cree paced. “I’m no rat.” What is with this guy? First he says one thing, then another? What does he want from Crystal, and why is he so desperate to find her?
“Crystal is in trouble, okay? There are some bad people looking for her. She took off with money and some drugs…and she called a friend of mine desperate for help. I need to find her before they do. I’m going to help her, but I can’t if you don’t tell me where to find her.”
“If she wanted help so badly, why didn’t she tell her friend where she was?” Cree was growing more brazen with her questions. This guy was a wannabe. He didn’t know what he was doing. Her fear started to back down.
“You’re impossible. Do you want to help your friend or don’t you?” Carter ran his hands through his hair. “I’ve got a job to do. If you’re not going to help, you’re wasting my time.”
“Umm, you broke into my room, strong armed me, and demanded answers. I’m wasting your time? What’s in it for you?”
“A pay day, okay? This is what I do. I find people.” Of all the people in the world he had to deal with, he had to meet this girl. She was hardly the help he’d hoped for.
“Well, if this is your method, it’s not working very well, is it. Now if you’d be so kind as to leave.” Her tone bit at him.
“We’re not done here.” He stood firm.
Cree dropped onto a chair. “What do you want from me? I don’t know where she is. And we’re not even that close. She wouldn’t tell me where she is.”
“When was the last time you saw her?” If he could find even a shred of a detail, it might help locate her.
“Not since she overdosed, and maybe a few weeks before that.” Cree thought for a minute, but the words were out before she could stop them. The truth is that she saw her right before she moved in here, just about two months ago. “You’re not very good at this are you?”
“What do you mean by that?” His guard went up.
“You don’t lie well. I’ve been out on the streets for years. You’re still soft.” Now she’d take control. This was nonsense. It was time for this guy to leave.
“What makes you say that?” He was offended. He thought he was handling himself well enough. Well, at least until she made a mess of things. If she’d just answer his questions, it would have been easier.
“Well, if you can’t even get information from a hooker…” she trailed off. “You know how they work, right?”
“You want me to pay you for the information?” Unbelievable! She wants me to pay her?
“Maybe you’re smarter than I thought. You’re catching on. Now, if you were truly a cop, I’d have to give up that information freely, but you’re not. And for the record, I’d find a better badge. That phony one you have doesn’t pass the muster.”
“Hey, I paid good money for it…” He was embarrassed he even tried it. He bought in on the internet, but figured even if he had to flash it that it would be a quick thing and look legitimate. He figured she’d naturally be afraid of cops.
“How is that working out for you?” She couldn’t hide the snap of sarcasm in her voice.
“Look, do you know where she is or don’t you? I’m not going to pay you for bad information.”
“How much is it worth to you?” She liked where the conversation was going. Now she was leading and he was chasing her for the information, willing to pay good money for it.
“Forget it.” Carter
had had enough. “I’ll find her myself.”
“Good luck.” She laughed at him as he turned to walk away.
“Dinner. I’ll buy you dinner.” He spun back around to watch her reaction.
“Dinner? That’s how you’ll pay me? You think I’m some cheap date? Cash is my preferred method of transaction.” What a moron. He thinks he can buy me dinner and I’ll sell out my friend? This guy is a piece of work.
“You’re a real peach,” he snapped sarcastically.
Cree shrugged. “Looks like the tables have turned.”
“Listen,” Carter sat. “I need to find the girl. It’s important, okay. She’s in too deep and I can help her get out. If she’s your friend…” He tried another method, maybe softening her would work.
“She is my friend. Well as much as you can be friends on the street. It’s hard to trust people.” She almost felt bad for the guy. He was really bad at this.
“I’ll buy you dinner and tell you more.” What did he have to lose? He tried everything else he could think of, and violence wasn’t his game.
“I don’t want information, I want cash. I don’t want food. I want cash.” Does he not get the ‘I want cash’ part?
Carter shook his head. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” He stood and left her room.
Cree followed him. “Wait a minute. You get to push into my room, bully me into giving you information, and you offer me dinner in return? Who are you and what do you truly want? Be straight with me and I’ll tell you what I know.”
Carter stared at the girl. They stood in the hallway, neither wanting to give an inch.
“I’m her brother.” He finally said.
“Then why are you telling me all these other lies? Why not just say that?” Cree wasn’t buying it.
“She doesn’t want me to find her.” He was running out of bullshit stories.
“Then why do you think I’ll help you.” It was almost becoming fun to spar with him. She liked watching him make a fool of himself.
“She needs help.” Carter glared at the girl.
“You’re a lying man. Don’t you think telling me the truth would have been easier?” Cree shook her head and turned around.
“We’ve been searching for her…” Carter’s frustration grew. This girl was impossible.
“You’re not her brother.” Cree stopped. “This conversation is over. Until you come clean, I’ve got nothing to say.” She turned and went back to her room, locking the door. She wedged a chair under the doorknob for extra security.
Carter let himself into his room. This wasn’t going to be easy. He thought…well, it didn’t matter what he thought. He was wrong. How could he tell her the truth? And yet, without Cree he didn’t have any other leads. He’d have to betray somebody, the question was who? He had a job to do, but maybe it was more trouble than it was worth. If only it was that easy.
He needed to find her. It would get his ass out of trouble. They said they’d let him off the hook if he found the girl. They’d caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. They offered him a deal. She was more important to them right now. Crystal was an important key. Carter had no idea how to find the girl, but he had no choice. He was lucky to find Cree as it was. That happened by pure dumb luck.
Cree paced. Who was Carter and what did he truly want? He was trouble; she felt it in her veins. In the dark of the night she slipped out of her room with a few belongings and headed up to her old embankment. She hadn’t been there in a while, but it was the one place she felt safest. She’d blow off work tonight and hide out. Security is what she needed more than anything right now. That and time to figure out what the hell was going on.
She only intended to stay for a day, but frozen to her false sense of security, she stayed tucked in the rafters of the overpass, just like old times. He’d get tired of waiting on her eventually and leave. She didn’t know who that guy was, but she didn’t trust him. Something about a guy who doesn’t know how to speak the truth left her uneasy.
Should she try to get ahold of Crystal? Did she know people were looking for her? Was any of what he said the truth? Or were they all lies. The drugs, she knew Crystal dabbled in drugs, but she used them as an escape more than anything. She’d clean up her act and then spiral into a depression. Once she hit a point of no return, she’d start using again. Cree was grateful that was one thing that she and Kendle never touched. They watched too many people get messed up, and promised each other they’d stay away from the drugs. They were easy access on the streets, but the lives they destroyed...isn’t that a joke. As if her life isn’t messed up enough.
Kendle. A smile spread across Cree’s face. At least she found some happiness. Graham ended up being a good guy. She was happy for her sister. I guess not all men were horrible. Most were. This Carter jerk was, that’s for sure. Who did he think he was anyway? All lies. Men lied. They hurt you, used you, and didn’t care who they stepped on. She was sure Carter was exactly the same.
And what did he want with Crystal? And how did he find her, or even know that she knew who Crystal was? She hated the not knowing, but it was better to let go. Pretend like none of it happened. She didn’t owe anybody anything, and she liked it that way. Cree slid down the embankment and headed to the local gas station. It’s been nice having hot water again. It would suck to have to get used to only cold water at the gas station again.
She felt like a hostage, unable to go back. It’s not like she couldn’t, it’s just that he was there. And he was trouble.
Chapter 4
Carter rummaged through the few receipts he found in Cree’s room. She still hadn’t come back. He popped the lock and went inside to look around. She had to come back eventually. Pulling the nightstand drawer open, he found a book and leafed through it. A battered piece of a picture fell out. Two girls, young, innocent…he recognized the eyes of one of the children to be a younger version of Cree. Who was that? Her sister? Maybe if he tracked down her sister, he’d track down Cree or Crystal.
It was his greed that pulled him down. He thought he could get away with it. He should have known better. It was a family business after all. When they caught him with his hand in the cookie jar, he was cast out and threatened. Nobody skims from the top, nobody, not even family. He learned the lesson the hard way, pinned to the wall, his uncle’s arm pressed to his neck, a knife popped open before his eyes.
“You think you’re better than the rest of us? You think you earned that extra cash? What are you, some kind of fool? I’m going to tally up how much you took. You’ll have a choice to make…you either pay back that amount with interest or you do me a favor. You find me someone. And when you do, consider the cash you’ve already stolen as your payment. Otherwise you owe me that much doubled, and I don’t think you have that much hanging around. You got that? And Carter, don’t come back without the girl. I don’t need the Feds breathing down my neck. Be lucky I don’t take you out right here right now. You may be my brother’s boy, but you’re no family to me…not anymore. You piece of shit. Stealing from the family.” His uncle dropped the knife down, but left his arm up on his neck. “There’s a girl. You find me the girl I’m looking for and bring her to me. Understood?”
…he didn’t know much more, but he certainly couldn’t go home without her. It was him or Crystal, and it was going to have to be her.
Carter slipped the picture into his pocket and let himself out of Cree’s room. She’d be back eventually. She wouldn’t have left one of the only personal things she had here. The room was definitely lived in, but you’d never know who lived there. There was no identification. There was nothing to say who she was, just a receipt from a convenience store, one from the second hand thrift shop, and another handful for take-out.
Who was this girl and where was she from? He knew his focus should have been on this other girl, Crystal, the one his uncle wanted him to find, but his mind slipped back to Cree instead. In his room, he took the picture from his pocket and ex
amined it closer. She was a cute kid, but something changed. Her eyes were hard now, not soft and dancing like in the picture.
Sometimes he wished he could just run away from it all. He had plenty stashed. It’s just that if he didn’t find the girl, he’d have to give that back plus more. He knew his uncle wasn’t fooling around though and Carter couldn’t run. The family business didn’t work that way. Carter dropped his head into his hands. What was he thinking? He was a fool to think he could get away with it. It just seemed so easy at the time, like nobody would notice. Only they did. They knew where every penny went. They also knew who threatened the family business. Apparently, her name was Crystal.
She knew more than she should. She was just a drugged out hooker. It shouldn’t matter. She shouldn’t be credible, but she’d grabbed his uncle’s list, snagged his information, names, numbers, accounts…he should have known better. Carter’s uncle should have never trusted that whore. It was his fault for having a weakness for street hookers and then getting hooked on one in particular, a young woman named Crystal. He promised her better things…instead she took his money, his drugs, and his list. He wanted to love her. She shit on him in return, betraying him. He should have never taken her home. He should have never threatened her that night…should have never told her he was in love with her. He was a fool. It was a mistake, one that would cost him dearly.
Carter fingered the ragged edge of the photograph. If he could find Cree’s sister, he might find the girl again.
Chapter 5
Cree thought she had the answers. She thought this was it. There wasn’t much more. It was hard to remember her past wants and dreams, the ones she thought of as a child. But maybe she could want more. Kendle did. Kendle courageously made a change. She seemed happier.
Cree ran her hand through her hair. How had so much time passed? When they hit the streets, she never thought she’d still be out here. It was just until they could get by, but then she got comfortable in the routine. It was ugly, but she was untouchable. It chased the nightmares of her father away some of the time. He couldn’t find her, he couldn’t touch her, and out of the house they were both safe. Kendle lived the same hell she did, their father coming into their rooms at night, doing things fathers shouldn’t do.
