Chapter 8: interrogation
Hailey emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later wearing my mom's casual skirt and a plain white t shirt.
"You look nice," I smiled.
She rolled her eyes.
"We should get going," she said, "we should stop at my house first, then we can go and find Chris."
I nodded. Saying good bye to Jack Hailey and I got into my car and pulled out of the driveway.
"Where do you live?" I asked.
"Over on Maple crescent," she pointed across the park.
"Your foster parents are pretty well off then I guess."
She shrugged, "I guess so."
Once I turned onto Maple she pointed to a white house. I pulled into the driveway and got out. Hailey pulled a house key from under the welcome mat and opened the door.
Original…
She walked down a long staircase into what I assumed to be the basement. It was rather dark and I had to follow close to Hailey so that I wouldn't bump into anything. She stopped in front of a door and walked in. when she flicked on the lights I saw that we were in her room.
There was a small window at the top corner of her room, and the walls were painted a dark purple. About six bubble lamps hung from the ceiling and they lit the room with a dull light. In the right corner was a double bed with a lighter purple bed spread. There was a desk across from the bed with a laptop on it. The walls were littered with posters of bands and pictures of people that Paul didn't recognize. On one wall was a huge shelf full of CDs and DVDs.
"Nice room," I said.
"Thanks," she smiled, "now get out I have to change."
I could help…
She seemed to read the smirk on my face because she threw a pillow at my and shoved me out the door.
Hailey was quite fast. She came out wearing light denim jeans that were ripped at the knees and on the thigh on her left leg. A red studded belt was around her waist. She was wearing a white muscle shit with the words 'heartbreaker' in red across her chest. Her hair was up in a ponytail and it was still a little curled from the rain last night.
"Here are you mom's clothes," she handed me them, neatly folded.
I nodded.
She looked hot…
"Earth to Paul, we can go now," she waved a hand in my face.
Grabbing her wrist a pulled her toward me.
"Paul-"
I cut her off by pressing my lips to hers. She squeaked in surprise and elbowed me in the gut.
I let her go immediately and grabbed my stomach.
"Damn it Hailey," I coughed, "what the hell was that for?"
"Stop messing around Paul, lets go."
She didn't wait for me to answer, she just turned and walked up the stairs. I followed a few seconds after I was able to catch my breath.
It seems that each time I try to get close to her, I end up getting hurt. You think I would learn…
But when the hell have I been one to listen to reason huh?
Getting back into the car, Hailey popped in an evanescence CD that she pulled from her black book bag. 'Missing' started to blare through the car.
"You like this?" I asked, wrinkling my nose slightly.
Amy Lee is good but the lyrics are kind of depressing.
Hailey shot my one of the coldest glares I have ever seen, "You diss her, and I promise you that you will never reproduce, ever. Evanescence is my hero. Besides its probably better then what you would listen to."
"And how do you know what I listen to?" I asked.
"Let me guess, would 50 cent be one of them?" she smirked.
…………….she's good.
"How did you know?"
She laughed, "Because the only thing that that idiot sings about is getting some girl."
"So you immediately related him to me?" I exclaimed, shocked.
"Yeah pretty much."
Ouch.
My heart…
Am I that obvious?
Ignoring her I turned up the music louder and continued to drive. Hailey sang along with the music and I noticed that her voice actually wasn't half bad. Well from what I could hear over the music anyway…
Pulling into the school parking lot I turned off the music and hopped out of the car, Hailey following.
"Would Chris even show up for school?" she mumbled.
I shrugged, "we might as well start here. If he's not here then we can check at his house. He should be here though, cheerleading finals are today and I know he wouldn't want to miss that."
Hailey gagged, "men."
I sniggered.
Walking into the school I spotted Chris almost immediately. He was trying to hide behind a locker door while he was making out with some red head. I don't understand why people do this. The locker door is like six inches wide! There is no way in hell that two people could hide behind that I mean come on!
Walking up to him I was about to tap him when Hailey nudged me.
"Shouldn't we wait?" asked quietly.
"Do you want to question them, or join them?" I asked.
Please say join them, please say join them…
"Chris!" she called out.
Damn it!
Chris jumped about a foot and jumped away from the girl who I recognized from my algebra class.
"Hey Paul my man," Chris smirked when he saw me, "where you been?"
"Around," I said, "can we talk to you for a minute man?"
"We?" Chris looked over my shoulder to where Hailey was leaning up against the locker, "you with her or something? Is that why you been missing?"
Hailey fumed while I just smirked.
"Come on man," I asked.
He nodded and just walked away from the girl. The red head frowned and her cheeks flushed. I could tell that she was begging to regret making out with Chris. She probably thought that he actually liked her, but Chris was never serious about any girl. For Chris it was just some game, a game I use to take part in…
Lading Chris outside to the parking lot the three of us stood by a wall that was covered in graffiti, Chris leaned against it.
"What's up man?" he asked me.
"We want to talk to you about the Zodiac," Hailey cut in.
Way to be subtle Hailey…
Chris's eyes got wide, "what the fuck do you know about that bitch?"
Hailey balled her fists and took a step toward him, "I know more then you could wrap your dumb ass mind around ass hole."
Chris took a threatening step toward Hailey, but she stood her ground. I put my arm in between then and pulled Hailey back.
"Come on you two. Chris we just wanna ask you a few questions about a guy who was killed in Chicago," I said.
"Why the hell would I know about some guy from Chicago?" Chris asked.
"Because we have reason to believe that he came here and joined the Gemini," Hailey said, "he was part of the Scorpio for a while. Him and another guy got in a fight over some ring and now one guy is dead."
Chris eyed Hailey up and down, "How do you know all this? You part of the system or what?"
Hailey laughed, "No. let's just say that I have a direct contact that told me that the guy who killed Kevin has now transferred into your territory."
"What makes you think I'll help you?" Chris asked.
I could feel Hailey's power begin to build.
"What are you doing?" I whispered in her ear.
She ignored me and concentrated on Chris. Suddenly he was thrust up hard against the wall he was leaning on by an invisible force. He cried out and tried to escape, but Hailey held on.
"Tell me about the guy and I'll let you go," Hailey hissed.
Whoa, this was not good. We so do not need anyone knowing about our powers right now.
"Hailey stop it!" I grabbed her arm and her concentration broke.
Chris took the chance and ran away as fast as he could. When he was long gone Hailey turned to me, her eyes on fire.
"Why the hell did you do that Paul?" she yelled.
"You can't use your powers like that! He could tell anyone now!" I yelled back.
"Who would believe him Paul?"
Hmm… that's a good point.
But still!
"You don't have to beat him down o get answers, and besides, I could have done that!" I yelled.
"Look I'm sorry but he knows about the guy I can feel it!"
"We'll figure this out, just give it time," I said.
Hailey sighed and slumped to the ground and leaned against the wall, "You don't get it Paul. Kevin has been after me for years now. The sooner I get that ring back, the sooner he disappears, and the sooner I can go back to feeling like I don't have to constantly watch my back!"
I sat next to her on the ground and put my arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry ok?" I said, "you are still worn out from your injury and I don't want you over doing it with the power ok?"
"Stop acting like my mother Paul."
I chuckled, "hey, you said you were going to teach me how to do that. When can I expect my lesson?"
She sighed, "I am so gonna regret agreeing to this. How about tonight? I have a feeling that Kevin will reappear soon and we should be ready. My foster parents still aren't home so we can do it at my house."
Sure, we can…do it…anywhere she wants…
Ahem..
I smiled, "Alright, tonight at your place. It's a date."
She rolled her eyes, "that would be wishful thinking Slater."
I shrugged my shoulders. I'll win eventually, I always do…