Chapter One
In a three-story Tudor style house in Arlington Virginia, there was young teenage boy of a bout 15 with brown hair and blue eyes. He was in the makeshift gym in the basement of the house punching and kicking a large punching bag.
He had just nailed the bag with another roundhouse kick when suddenly his mother called down the stairs.
"Jason, you have a visitor!"
"It's a girl." Teased his 9-year-old little sister Jessica 'Jessie' Whyte.
Jason Whyte rolled his eyes, stopped his workout, then grabbed his towel and his water bottle. He came upstairs as he took a swallow of water. When he reached the kitchen, he was more than a little surprised to see Ashley 'Ashe' Lake one of the most popular girls in school sitting at his kitchen table.
"Ashe," he said confused
"Hi, Jason," she said, "I guess you're wondering what I'm doing here."
"Well yes," Jason said nervously, "I wasn't expecting to find the most popular girl in my school in my kitchen.
"I need your help," she said, "Can we talk, In private?"
"Sure," said Jason, "Come up to my office."
He led her upstairs. One of the nicest things about this house was the size of the Five bedrooms. They were huge. One of the bedrooms was Jason's office. It's where he did his school work. But there was another reason he had it.
Ashley sat down in the extra chair next to Jason's desk. She took a breath before she started her story.
"Everyone at school says that if you need help go see Jason Whyte he will help you." she started
Jason smiled at this.
"That's what they've been saying alright." he chuckled
"We'll I need help." Said Ashe, "Here's why. Three years ago, my father was sent to jail for killing his secretary and I was sent here to live with my grandparents. None of us have ever believed that he was guilty, but every time I or anyone else in my family went back to my old hometown of Willow Creek to investigate and try to find anything out, we get stonewalled by everyone who was involved with the case. Please will you at least try to look into this for me. My Dad doesn't deserve to rot in jail for something that he didn't do."
Jason took a breath and spoke.
"Let me ask you this," he said, "Do you firmly believe in your heart of hearts that your dad is innocent?"
Ashley didn't even bat an eye at the question.
"I know in my heart of hearts that he didn't do it!" she said firmly
"Then yes," said Jason, "I'll help you."
"Thank you," said Ashley. "I have a cousin in willow creek who will help you as much as she can. Her name is Stephanie but she prefers Stevie."
Ashley paused and wrote something down on the pad that was sitting on Jason's desk.
"This is her address." She said handing him the pad.
"Thanks," he said
A little while later after Ashley had gone. A freshly showered Jason was standing in his room loading some stuff into his triangle backpack. They included a magnifying glass, his tablet, a flashlight and a change of clothes.
Just as he was putting the strap over his shoulder his mother came into the room.
"You're off on another case, aren't you?" she asked
"Yes Mom." He said.
His Mom sighed, and shook her head,
"When you told your Uncle the FBI agent that you wanted to be a private investigator, I didn't think that he'd actually be crazy enough not to mention able to get you a P.I. License the very next week!"
"Yeah," chuckled Jason, "some very powerful people must have owed him favors."
"I fail to see the humor in this." Said his mother worry in her voice.
Jason sighed.
"Mom," he said, "I know you're worried, but try not to, I can take care of myself. And believe me I am doing what I love to do."
His mother nodded. Jason gave her a hug, then, he stepped back and closed his eyes and vanished and a silver-electrical flash of light!
Instantaneously he rematerialized at his destination Willow Creek.
"Advantages of being able to teleport," he mused, "Distance is no object."
He turned and started down the street. His next stop Stevie Lake's house."
TO BE CONTINUED… Please Review