“Just a girl from school,” I said in what I hoped was a casual manner. “She’s new to the city so she doesn’t get too many visitors.”
“Yeah, your uncle said something like that.” Vanessa gave a secretive sort of smile and a wink. “He also said she likes to look for trouble.”
I grimaced. She made Esmer sound like an adrenaline junkie or something. “Nah, she just doesn’t know how to pick her fights.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re making an effort to befriend her. I think you’d be a good influence on her.”
I raised my eyebrows. What did this lady think she knew about me that made her so sure I was a good influence?
“Trust me, I’ve known my fair share of college boys and you are by far the most decent.”
Thankfully, I was saved from having to answer by Uncle Vic who came walking up to us. His hair looked like he’d been running his hand through it repeatedly. That was never a good sign.
“How’d it go?” I asked.
“About as well as any sensitive conversation with a politician could’ve gone,” my uncle grunted. “I spoke with Mr. Ward for five minutes before he had to rush off to another appointment. He was ‘fully willing to cooperate’ while also ‘not at liberty’ to answer most of my questions. After that frustrating session, he left me in the good hands of his new press secretary. Those two names I gave you were the only useful information I was able to gather, Nessie. Did you get started on the BOLO?”
“Just sent it out.”
Uncle Victor nodded. “Good, good. Hopefully that’ll get us somewhere.”
“Who’s the BOLO for? Anyone we know?” I asked. I was thinking of Mr. Ward’s competitors, the peppy lady from Vancouver, the long-winded guy from Bellingham, and the clueless twenty-something-year-old from Olympia. None of whom seemed extreme enough to hire someone to go after Mr. Ward’s campaign staff. But people had done some pretty shady things to win elections in the past…
“No. When I asked the mayor if he knew of anyone in his current or past circle who could do something like this, he gave me the names of his oldest friends.” At my look of surprise, my uncle shrugged. “Apparently, they had a big falling out several years ago. He thought maybe this was their way of settling things. Although, why it would’ve taken them this long to act is beyond me. Mr. Ward was convinced they were involved somehow, even indirectly, so we have to look into it.”
“I couldn’t find any credit scores, medical histories, or even parking tickets when I did a general search of Jerald and Angela Smith.” Vanessa swiped a notebook off the desk behind her and began reading off her list. “Just a pair of birth certificates, social security numbers, and a Philadelphia vehicle registration for an RV back in the early two thousands.”
“Weird,” I said slowly.
“And potentially suspicious,” Uncle Vic added, tapping his fingers against his thigh. “Did you put a BOLO out on the RV too?”
Vanessa flipped her notebook closed with a smirk. “Just who do you think you’re talking to? A rookie?”
“Of course you did. Sorry.”
The gentle smile my uncle gave her made me sick to my stomach. I cleared my throat. That seemed to snap my uncle out of whatever moment he was having.
“Charlie,” he blurted out, swinging his gaze over to me. “You needed something?”
“Yeah. A ride to the hospital.”
He pointed at me. “Right. Is there anything else I need to do while I’m out?”
Stand in the freezing rain for a bit? I had to grit my teeth to keep from voicing the question out loud.
“Bring me some coffee?” Vanessa asked.
“Sure.” My uncle fished his keys out of his pocket as he turned away from his sort-of partner. “Come on, Charlie.”
I nodded at Vanessa before following.
“How was school?” Uncle Victor asked without looking at me.
Boring as hell. But he didn’t need to know that.
“Fine.”
“Jasmine’s recovering okay from the death of that lawyer?”
“Just like always.”
Uncle Victor held the door open for me. I hunched my shoulders against the cold and prepared myself for rain. It wasn’t pouring anymore, just sprinkling. I could’ve skated to the hospital if I’d really wanted to but it made my uncle nervous when I skated around in the rain. It was already dangerous for me to be on wheels since I could get a vision and potentially pass out in the middle of the street. Rain would only make it harder for people to see me. I was pretty sure I was the only nineteen-year-old kid in the state who didn’t have a driver’s license. Another reason to hate the curse.
We drove to the hospital in silence. The wiper blades ran seamlessly over the wet windshield. The heater didn’t even hum. My uncle’s Sedan was so much quieter compared to the cop cruiser. It made the ride seem awkward.
“Sorry if things got a little weird for you back there,” he finally said.
I shrugged. “It’s fine.”
“I never want to make you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t.”
“Nessie and I are just good friends.”
“Vic,” I said with an uneasy chuckle, “I know. And even if there was more going on, there’s nothing to justify or explain. You can do whatever you want. You’re a grown-ass man.”
He waited for me to elaborate, as if not willing to accept this answer right away.
“Jazz seems to think you don’t want to get close to anyone because you’re afraid of them finding out about the curse, but you can have a life apart from us. I’m perfectly okay with that and so is she.” I was also perfectly okay not hearing about whatever was or wasn’t going on between him and Vanessa.
“Right,” Uncle Victor murmured, but he didn’t sound convinced.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was always there whenever we needed him, even if it was inconvenient. It was almost as if he wanted to prove he wasn’t like our parents. As if we didn’t already know.
I
