Chapter 4:WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY "DEAD" FRIEND

Mike and I walked up the stairs to loft and headed inside to talk to Sam and Fiona. They kind of needed to know that we had patched things up during our talk outside. When we entered the loft Sam and Fiona were still in the same spots as I had left them in except Sam was now nursing a beer and Fiona was eating a yogurt; probably a blueberry one, my brother's favorite. They were definitely surprised when Michael and I walked in together without yelling at one another.

"So I guess this means that you two worked everything out and there's not going to be anymore yelling?" Sam stated and then proceeded to take a sip of his beer.

"Yes we did work everything out, but I can't promise that there won't be any arguing" I joked.

Fiona and Sam laughed at my comment. Then Fiona had a questioning look come across her face before she asked me the one question I hoped no one would bother to ask. "Hey Lauren I've been wondering, how did you know Mike was home or better yet at that garage? We never told anyone we were going there."

I sighed. I had to figure out how to explain that a friend of mine who everyone thinks is dead, is great with computers and managed to hack into the CIA's database and find out that Mike was burned. Then somehow found an active cell phone number for him and tracked him all the way to that garage. Great.

"Okay so when I quit my job, I went to New York to find an old friend of mine that I met when I was in college. I knew he had fallen off the grid, but I took a guess as to where I could find him. I found him and talked to him about my situation and tried to get some advice. He's good with computers so he hacked into the CIA database and found out that you were blacklisted and that they dropped you in Miami. Somehow he found the number of the cell phone you were using and downloaded a tracking app on my phone, taught me how to use it, and he sent me on my way here to find you."

Mike looked really confused. I was pretty sure he was confused by my whole explanation because I mean, it was a pretty far fetched idea and he didn't even know the half of it. "Lauren I am so confused right now. How did you meet a hacker while in college for criminal justice? That doesn't even make sense. And what do you mean fell off the grid?"

Sam and Fiona just stared at Mike and I during our little conversation. They seemed to be pretty confused by it all as well. "Well I kind of wanted to learn a little bit about computers and hacking in my free time and I happened to find Harold and by fell off the grid I mean everyone thinks he is dead, because he wants a whole lot of people to think he's gone. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself." I smiled as I told them the answers they wanted. I missed Harold when I went into the FBI and I remember how happy I was when I had found him and when he had offered me a job earlier this week. I guess I kind of miss him already.

"Well you're being unsurprisingly vague about your friend from New York, Lauren. Why don't you at least tell us his name or why so many people are out to get him." Mike looked like he was starting to get mad and annoyed.

"Uh, well his name is Harold and I can't really tell you why so many people are after him." This was probably the weakest answer i've given all day,or even probably my whole life, but there really was nothing I could tell them. Harold's secret was his and if I tell Mike and his friends, there's always the chance someone else will find out about Harold.

"Lauren, why can't you just tell us why he's in trouble? If you tell us we can help him." Michael just had to negotiate didn't he. Why couldn't he just let it go?

"Mike, I just can't tell you guys, Okay? Why do you have to push it so much? Look, if I tell you guys there's a chance the government will find out and hunt Harold down. I can't let that happen." I must of had a really sad look on my face or I sounded pretty panicky, because Mike just sighed in result of my answer.

"Okay Lauren, I won't press you anymore. It seems to me that this Harold means a lot to you and his situation is pretty serious if the government is involved." Mike sounded very understanding to my feelings for once.

Fiona actually decided to speak up since almost starting another sibling fight between Michael and I. "Mike I'm beat. I'm going to go, i'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Yeah Mikey, me too. Besides, Elsa is probably wondering where I am." With that Sam gave us one of those looks that told me Elsa was most definitely Sam's girlfriend.

"See you tomorrow Fi. Bye Sam." Mike waved goodbye to his friends as they turned to walk out of the door.

Sam and Fiona turned around and said goodbye to me right before they walked out of the loft. I finally had some time to talk to Mike alone. I was thinking about what I was going to ask Mike first, when I realized I had no where to stay. I turned to Mike and said, "Hey Mike? I haven't talked to Mom yet and I really don't want to rent a hotel room. I really hate to ask but, could I crash on your couch for a few days?" I gave Mike my famous puppy dog eyes that always seemed to work on him.

"Yeah no problem Ren. I'll take the couch and you can take my bed. And don't you dare argue the fact; you will sleep in the bed." He threw me a stern look that told me there really was no arguing with him.

Mike went upstairs to the little loft area in the loft to get changed and to lay down to go to bed. How ironic. I can only imagine what his face is going to look like after I ask him for some clothes to sleep in. "Hey bro you want to lend me some sweats and a t-shirt or am I going to have to sleep naked? I left my bag in Mom's garage earlier."

I started laughing as soon as the realization crossed his face. Mike rushed his words out when he responded, "Yeah yeah, sorry. There's pants and t-shirts in that drawer right next to you."

It was going to be fun messing with Michael for the next few days while I stayed with him