Chapter Twelve

I'm on my way to lunch when Veronica, who's coming from the other way, grabs my arm and pulls me toward the parking lot. I look over at the PCher table to see Eli looking at us in confusion.

Veronica may be small, but she has a hell of a grip. " You mind telling me why you're manhandling me? "

When we get to her car she lets go. " I need you to come with me to Neptune savings and loans. " She says pulling a small envelope from her pocket. " I found this in moms things. " She empties the envelope into her hand and a key falls out.

" A safe deposit box key? Why would she have one? " I ask.

She shakes her head. " I don't know but we're going to find out. Get in. "

It's probably nothing of importance but Veronica would never ask me to skip if it isn't important. I get in her Le baron and we head to the bank. It's a small hole in the wall. None of the wealthier people in Neptune would have any accounts here. Maybe that's why mom chose it.

We walk up to the woman at the front desk. " Hi, how can I help you? " She asks.

Veronica pulls out the key. " Our mom died last year and I just found this. " She also pulls out a very good copy of a death certificate.

I know who to go to when I need something forged that's for sure. The lady takes a quick look and leads us back to the room full of deposit boxes. She points out the one we're looking for and leaves us to look through it. Veronica unlocks the box and pulls out a huge white envelope.

Pulling its contents out I see that it's pictures of both me and Veronica from sometime last year. My hair is still brown but hers is still long. Nothing out of the ordinary... Except there are gun targets over our faces. Pictures of us with mom downtown, at school, out for lunch...

" All I need to know is who took these and why they were sending them to mom. " I say as we get back to Veronica's car.

She looks at me sadly but doesn't say anything. " What? Nothing to say about pictures that clearly were sent to her in warning? "

" Just let it be Tori. I'll handle it. " She says annoyed.

She's not getting off that quick. " So what, you're the only one that can know things? You weren't the only one in those pictures Veronica. "

" I said I'll handle it! " She says angrily. " Stay away from this. "

Great now she sounds like dad. Like I'm really going to just let it drop. Veronica isn't the only one who knows how to find things out. Sitting back in the seat I fold my arms and plot my moves.

That night Veronica goes to sleep earlier than usual and I take my shot. Using my super ninja skills I creep into her room and take the pictures out of her bag. Dad is still out with Miss James and most likely won't be back until the wee hours of the morning.

Locking the apartment up I go to my car and pop my hood. Dad made us promise to never turn the tracking devices in our cars off again, but this is an emergency. Once it's off I get in and head to Mars Investigations. I copy every picture in the bunch on the copier and put the originals back into the envelope before deleting the history from the copy machine. Dads' car isn't in his spot when I make it back home but there is someone waiting for me.

His bike is parked in the space right next to where my car usually sits. I totally forgot that I blew him off earlier. He's probably pissed. Getting out I lock my car up and hesitantly look at Eli.

" Hey. " I say softly.

He just stands there and stares me down.

" I didn't get a chance to talk to you before Veronica pulled me away. She needed my help. " I say hoping he isn't too upset.

He rolls his eyes. " That girl needs more help than any mental case I've ever heard of. "

I laugh a little. " I can't dispute that. "

" So what did she need your help with? " He asks while folding his arms.

I so do not want to tell him about this. Knowing him he'll try to kill first and ask questions later. " Nothing really. She found a safe deposit key in my mom's things and wanted me to go with her to look in it. "

He looks like he doesn't know what to say to that. Like I said, his mother left him too so he knows how hard these things are. " Are you okay? "

" It has been a long day. I could really use a hug. " I admit truthfully.

No more words are needed. He pulls me into his warmth and I feel myself immediately relax. The faint smell of motor oil and white musk fills my nostrils soothingly. I rubbed my nose into his neck absently and his grip tightens.

He kisses the side of my neck before saying, " you know I'm always here for you right? "

" Promise me that no matter what happens that we will always be here for each other. " I say pulling back.

He goes to say something but a car pulls in behind us, most likely dad. Eli looks from his car back to me. " No matter what. I promise. " He says giving me another quick hug.

Dad gets out and comes over to us with a less than happy look on his face. " Eli we gotta stop meeting like this. "

" I was just leaving sheriff. " He says before mounting his bike.

Dad puts his arm around my shoulders. " Come on honey it's getting late. " He says leading me to the stairs.

Something told me last night that Veronica is going to start investigating the photos after school today so I skip the first half of classes to get a head start. First up? One of the pictures of just me. It was taken at Payless in one of the many mini-malls downtown.

The angle from which the shot was taken is exactly at Wetzel's pretzels. When I get there the person working the cash register is a little surprised by my asking about a specific date last year. When I show her the picture that was taken she looks horrified. Promising she'd look thoroughly she goes into the back.

When she comes back she has good news. Luckily the person paid with a credit card. The woman wishes me luck and I head back to my car. Once I get in I finally have the nerve to look at the name.

Oh. My. God.

Buckling my seat belt I head right for Kane software.

It takes an hour but Clarence Weedman finally takes his lunch break. My camera isn't as good as Veronicas but it does the job I need it to do. If he thinks he can take pictures of me and put a gun target over my head with no consequences he has another thing coming.

After I get enough shots I pull off and go to my last three classes. Not that I can pay any attention. A part of me wants to show Eli the pictures. Then a part of me knows that involving him will make things worse.

I'm on my way home when I get a text. Stopping at Sac and Pac I see that it's from Veronica.

Heads up Miss James is cooking dinner tonight. I got out save yourself.

Oh god. I cannot deal with an uncomfortable dinner after the day I've had. I dial Eli but he doesn't answer. That's odd, he always answers. Why is it when I need him he isn't there and when I think I don't need him he's there?

Making a decision I head towards Angel's chop shop. If he isn't there at least I'll have some company until I'm sure Miss James is gone. When I pull up Angel grins and walks away from the car he's working on.

" Ahh, Tori it's good to see you. Eli is not working today though. " He says knowing what or who I'm looking for.

It figures. He's probably doing club business. " Thanks, I tried calling him but he didn't answer. " Oh well, uncomfortable dinner here I come.

Angel looks behind me when we both hear the roar of a motorcycle. " Looks like I spoke too soon eh? " He says with a hard tone.

Looking back I resist the urge to get out and raise hell. He didn't answer my call because he's with Veronica. I knew him not answering was fishy. Even when he's on his bike he always pulls over if anyone calls.

I watch Angel walk over to them and go into his gringo method of acting like he doesn't speak English. It looks like her boyfriend's car had come through here, but Angel will never give up the info and Eli should know that already.

Angel heads back to the car he was working on and Eli walks over to my car while Veronica takes a call.

" It's not what it looks like. " Are the first words out of his mouth.

I roll my eyes. " I was just asking Angel a few questions about my car. " I lie. " Now I'm just waiting for you to move your bike so I can leave. "

" Querida don't be like that. " He says sighing.

Reluctantly I look up at him. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get bitchy. Why didn't you call me back? "

" Because your sister is crazy. She's like a mini dictator... After this, my interest in her cases will be slim to none. I'm Mexican, not Cuban. " He jokes in all seriousness.

I laugh genuinely. " Good luck with that. "

He bends down and kisses my lips through the open window. " I'll see you when I drop her off? "

" Yeah just let me know when you're on your way. I'm not going home to my dad and his girlfriend, AKA Miss James. " I say sighing.

He looks like he wants to ask questions but Veronica comes and pulls him away. " You can have him back later. " She calls out.

" I'll fill you in later. " I call to him.

He looks back at me with an expression that says " yes you will ".