I thought I'd start the chapter off with a quote by Brooke Davis:
"People, who are meant to be together, always find their way in the end"
Enjoy….
Chapter Sixteen: My very own James Bond
Ring, ring.
Both Brooke and Lucas turned to face the phone.
"I think you should get that" Brooke said, still not able to move.
"Yeah" Lucas said nodding as he got up and walked out into the corridor, over to the phone.
"Hello" Lucas answered.
Brooke sat up on the bed, running her hands through her hair. Oh my God, oh my god, OH MY GOD!! Just breathe, just breathe. Brooke just noticed that she had been holding her breath for what felt like forever. What just nearly happened? What was that? Wait I know what that could have been… but no… I'm glad. Nothing happened, we could have kissed but we didn't, because we… Brooke wanted to tell herself that it was because it was wrong, because he was still with Peyton, and that it would make her just as bad as her boyfriend stealing ex-best friend… but something inside told her it wasn't that.
"Wait, slow down one second" Lucas said over the phone.
Brooke got up off the bed and walked into the hall. Is everything okay?
"Alright… I'll try now… okay, bye" Lucas said putting down the phone.
"Is everything okay, Luke?" Brooke asked
"It's my mom"
Brooke's heart nearly stopped "Is she alright?" she asked dreading the answer.
"Well that was Clare from the café, she said that my mom hasn't been in all day and isn't responding to her calls. Clare was meant to have finished her shift an hour ago." Lucas said, running his hands through his hair.
"Okay, well lets try and stay calm" Brooke said more to herself than Lucas "Did she tell you where she might be?"
Lucas shook his head.
"Erm…" Brooke muttered trying to think "What about… Dan. Try calling Dan she could be with him"
As unhappy as the thought made Lucas he had to agree that was the most likely explanation "Yeah, you're right" Lucas nodded.
"Okay, so call Dan and then your mom. And I'll go down to the café and sort things out. I'll be back in like ten minutes" Brooke said reaching over to hug Lucas "Don't worry, she's probably with Dan"
Lucas nodded. "Thanks Brooke"
"No problem" She said grabbing her keys. "Call Dan, okay" she called before leaving for the café.
Lucas nodded to himself as he searched for his mobile. Dan, I'll call Dan. She's bound to be with him.
Brooke hurried down the footpath and into her car. She knew she had told Lucas that Karen was probably with Dan but at that very moment all she could think was… Please let Karen be okay, please let her be safe, please let her be as far away as possible from that murdering bastard.
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It had been ten minutes and Brooke returned back right on time.
"Lucas?" she called as she entered the house. "Any luck with Dan or Karen"
"No, I tried like ten times" Lucas said as he appeared from his bedroom. "What am I going to do Brooke? She's not picking up, she could be…"
"Lucas, nothing has happened to her okay. She's a fighter, she couldn't have gone through everything she went through and not be a fighter"
Lucas nodded. He didn't know what he'd do without her right now. "I've called everyone Dan, Deb, Nathan, Haley… I'm running out of ideas here"
Think Brooke think. If you were a middle-aged, pregnant lady where would you be? "Why don't we try Dan's house, have you got a key?" Brooke asked
"For emergency's yeah"
"Okay, good, let's go" Brooke said, as Lucas grabbed his car keys, following Brooke out the house.
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Mouth placed his hands on his hips, taking one huge breath. You'd think after all these months of painting this stuff; I'd have gained some upper body strength. He looked up at what he'd written:
I know you killed Keith… soon everyone will.
For some reason the words always seemed more powerful in his head and rather insignificant on the wall. Let's face it, his messages weren't strong enough, if they were Dan would have confessed or at least shown a little anxiety, instead; Mouth would come back a few days later to find his words painted over and have start all over again. He needed something that would scare Dan into confessing. Mouth glanced up again at his words… that definitely wasn't it.
I like big butts and I can not lie…
Mouth looked down at his phone, reading his caller ID… Brooke? What did she want?
You other brothers can't deny…
Mouth thought about whether he should answer it, considering how their conversations always ended when he was painting words such as "Murder" on Dan's wall he thought it best, he leave it.
When a girl walks in with an ity bity thing and a round thing in your face you get…
Mouth cancelled the call.
ONE NEW VOICEMAIL
Mouth opened his cell, to listen.
"Hey Mouth, it's Brooke. Luke and I were just wondering if you might have seen Karen… random I know, but if you have could you please get back to us, it's important. Okay, bye"
Mouth paused for a moment, wondering what was going on. Why had Brooke rang him, of all people asking about Karen… unless something was up, maybe she was hinting at something she didn't want to ask straight out. As he started to think about it, he noticed that Dan hadn't been in either.
Mouth gathered his things quickly, after hearing Brooke's message he knew something was up. Doing up his rucksack, Mouth headed out the window he came through. As he walked down the back of the house towards his bicycle, he got his cell out his pocket and began dialling Brooke's number.
"Hello" Brooke answered
"Hi Brooke, I got your message. Is everything okay?"
Brooke looked over at Lucas who was driving "Hopefully" she answered "We can't get hold of Karen and we're just wondering if you'd spoken to her recently"
Mouth stopped walking, suddenly it dawned on him "You don't think…?"
"I don't know, I'm just…" Brooke looked over at Lucas again who was now looking back at her. She smiled nervously knowing that she couldn't say what she wanted to say. "I'm just wondering if you've spoken to her"
She can't talk… she's with Lucas. Mouth figured. "Where are you guys?"
"We're on our way over to Dan's. Why?"
"I'll meet you guys there" Mouth said
"Mouth by the time you get there on your bicycle it'll be like tomorrow morning… we can just pick you up?"
"No!" Mouth said quickly
Brooke paused for a minute, she recognised the same anxiety in his voice she had heard that night when she rang him from outside the café.
"Sorry, its just I'm already in the area, my mum wanted me to pick some things up for her, plus I don't want you guys wasting time going to my house when I'm not there. I'll see you guys there"
"Okay, bye" Brooke said still a little suspicious.
"Who was that?" Lucas asked
"Mouth, he said he wants to help us and that he'll meet us there"
Brooke smiled at Lucas before turning and looking out onto the road. Something wasn't right.
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Brooke and Lucas stepped out the car, heading towards Dan's house. As they approached the front door, Lucas got the key from his pocket.
"Wait" Brooke said "Do you think he's got an alarm?"
"This is Dan we're talking about the guy doesn't even trust me, I'm sure he's got an alarm"
"Charming" Brooke muttered "So what are we going to do then?"
"I've broken into Dan's safe before, I'm sure I'll figure it out" Lucas said confidently
"Wow, my very own James Bond" Brooke teased in a seductive voice.
Lucas laughed, shaking his head as he turned the key. They entered slowly; surprised to hear there was no alarm.
"I guess he doesn't have an alarm after all" Lucas said looking around
"Pity, I was looking forward to watching you get all 007"
Lucas smiled "I don't think anyone's in" He peered into the kitchen "Mom!" he called but there was no response "I'll go check upstairs you stay down here"
Brooke nodded as Lucas went upstairs. Brooke slowly walked round into the kitchen, looking round to see Karen's cell phone on the counter, she picked it up, seeing that there were more the ten missed calls, she looked around to see the kettle on… either Dan had just left or…someone was in the house.
Just then the doorbell rang.
Brooke jumped, placing her hand on her heart as she walked over to the front door to answer it. "Hey Mouth, you nearly gave me a heart attack" Brooke said as she opened the door.
"Sorry, are you alright?"
"Yeah… I found Karen's cell phone…" Brooke said, handing Mouth the cell phone "And look…" Brooke said walking Mouth through into the kitchen "The kettle's on, Dan and Karen must have been here earlier or… there was someone else in the house"
Mouth laughed nervously "I think you're getting a little carried away here"
"I'm serious" Brooke said nudging Mouth. "Look!" Brooke pointed to the living room window which was open.
Crap, I really have to work at this whole breaking and entering thing! Mouth thought to himself. "Brooke, that doesn't mean anything, Dan might have just left his window open, okay. Maybe we should go now, I mean Karen's obviously not here…"
Brooke ignored him, walking through into the living room coming face to face with the red writing on the wall.
"Oh my god, Mouth, come here!"
"What?" Mouth asked knowing perfectly well what Brooke had seen.
Brooke read it aloud to herself "I know you killed Keith… soon everyone will"
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"So Lucas didn't pick up?" Rachel asked as she typed up some work on her laptop
"Not that it's any of your business, but his cell was busy" Peyton said as she began shuffling through her bag trying to find the cover for one of her CD's.
"Sorry did you just say he was getting busy?" Rachel teased
Peyton picked up one of her CD's and chucked it at Rachel's head, Rachel ducked instinctively leaving the CD to hit the wall and fall straight into the bin.
"Well…" Rachel said "Something we agree on, your music is definitely garbage" Rachel stood up and walked over to her player, ejecting Peyton's CD and throwing it in the trash.
"Hey!" Peyton said walking over the bin "That was an import, don't throw MY stuff away"
"Don't throw your junk at my head" Rachel replied as she began typing again "So what do you think Brooke and Lucas are doing right now…"
"I swear I'll throw this at you again and I won't miss" Peyton warned collecting her CD's.
"Wow, Malibu Barbie's jealous"
"You know, I actually came here to get some work done but all you've done is make sarcastic comments" Peyton said, packing some of her books away.
"And all you've done is try and check up on Lucas every five minutes, so don't make out you were actually doing any work" Rachel replied quickly
"Why don't you get a life of your own instead of traipsing around trying to get involved in other peoples lives" Peyton said loudly.
"And why don't you get a life of your own and stop trying to live Brooke's" Rachel fired back.
"You know I expected this kind of bullshit from Brooke but not you"
"Oh really what the hell did you expect?" Rachel shouted, challenging Peyton.
"I guess I expected you to be a brainless, bitchy, little slut, instead you're a brainless, bitchy, annoying, HUGE slut!" Peyton shouted back.
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"Brooke? Good news" Lucas called as he came down the stairs
"Quick, Lucas can't see this. Come on Brooke let's get out of here" Mouth whispered
Brooke didn't respond instead she stood there; still unable to believe what was in front of her. Mouth shook his head, pulling her into the hallway, to meet Lucas.
"Hey Luke" Mouth said quickly
"Hey Mouth, when did you get here?"
"A few seconds ago" Mouth replied
"Have you heard from Karen" Brooke asked, recovering from the shock of what she had just seen.
"She just rang, she said Dan surprised her by taking her out shopping for loads of baby stuff, she said left her cell phone at…"
Mouth handed Lucas, Karen's cell phone. "Ah, she left it here, that's why we couldn't get through to her and she said she thought she would have been back in time to take over Clare's shift but they got held up so…"
"She's okay" Brooke said with a sigh of relief
"Yeah she is" Lucas smiled looking at Brooke.
Mouth looked between Brooke and Lucas; they were doing that thing again with their eyes, when they looked at each other as if they knew they had so much to say to one another but just couldn't find the words.
Mouth coughed obviously, breaking the gaze between Brooke and Lucas.
"I've got to head back to the café" Lucas said "You know, help out till my mum gets back, do you want a ride home" Lucas asked Brooke and Mouth.
"I can't I've got my bicycle but…" Mouth said looking at Brooke.
"I'll walk with you" Brooke said, before turning to face Lucas.
Lucas nodded, a little disappointed. "Thanks for everything Brooke" he said leaning over to give her a hug.
"No problem" She smiled "I'll call you later"
"Cool" Lucas smiled "And thanks to you to man"
"Sure" Mouth smiled "We'll lock up, you go on ahead"
"Okay" Lucas said handing Mouth the keys "Bye"
"Bye" Both Brooke and Mouth replied.
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As soon as the door shut, Brooke grabbed her bag and demanded they leave too. "This house gives me the creeps, can we go?"
Mouth agreed; it did have an eerie feel to it. Mouth locked the front door as; Brooke wheeled his bicycle to him.
As they walked down the road, Brooke began to skip happily.
"What are you so happy about?" Mouth asked.
"Well… we found Karen and… someone else knows about 'you know what'"
"Brooke I'm not sure…" Mouth began, as Brooke interrupted him.
"Well, I'm sure. I was right all along; someone was in the house Mouth"
"What?" Mouth said, trying to focus on a way to control the situation.
"The kettle, the open window… the paint, it was still wet, I touched it. Don't you see Mouth this is great"
Mouth turned to look at Brooke, confused.
Brooke continued "Well, not great like great, great but don't you get it? We're not the only ones who know. We can finally tell Lucas and Karen and…"
Mouth just watched Brooke as she got excited, if only what she was saying was true. He wanted to tell her, he really did but he couldn't. It wouldn't make things any better, if anything she'd tell him to stop what he was doing. She'd say it was too dangerous, not to mention it was illegal. No, Brooke couldn't find out it was him and she definitely couldn't tell Lucas or Karen.
"Brooke, stop!" Mouth shouted. Brooke stopped, turning to face him. "We can't tell anyone" Mouth continued.
"Not this again Mouth" Brooke said completely frustrated by everything "Why Mouth, tell me why we can't say anything. You saw the writing, someone else knows and soon everyone else will. We'd being helping this person. Something has to end this; we can't keep carrying this secret around"
"Do you mean 'we' can't or 'you' can't keep this secret?" Mouth asked quickly
"Don't go turning this around on me Mouth. Today was just an example of how bad things could get"
"Dan would never hurt Karen" Mouth said completely convinced.
"How can you be so sure about that" Brooke snapped back "The man killed his own brother and all we're doing is walking around with his secret. This person could be what we need to stop Dan"
"Do you think that's the first time, that person's done that?" Mouth asked.
Brooke shrugged her shoulders, "I honestly don't know but…"
"Which means Dan must come home every, what, three times a week and see that and paint over it."
"But…" Brooke began
"He comes home and paints over the writing and doesn't even flinch…"
Brooke slowed down her usual pace, listening intently to Mouth.
"When you see him, does he look scared; does he look nervous, does he even look like he's having a bad day?" Mouth asked.
Brooke shook her head.
Mouth continued "Imagine when we just thought he was carrying around the guilt of murdering his brother and we were shocked how calm he was, now we know that he's carrying around that guilt and the fear that someone else knows. He thrives off it Brooke, it's like an adrenaline rush, the riskier it gets the more he rises to the challenge."
Brooke thought back to that night in the car, when he grabbed her wrist and turned around and told Lucas and Karen a completely different story, how he answered every question immaculately, how he grew calmer, more confident with every question, with every challenge. Brooke looked up at Mouth, she knew he was hiding something but she also knew he wouldn't tell her. If she wanted something to change with Dan she'd have to do it herself, even if that meant lying to Mouth.
"Okay, I won't say anything" she said.
Mouth sighed with relief "It's for the best, until we think of something"
Brooke nodded.
For the rest of their walk, they didn't say anything to each other, they were both tired. Tired of keeping the secret and tired of lying to their friends, to each other and worst of all, to themselves.
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