Chap.3

"Ma'am, how old are you?" the officer asked in a slightly puzzled way. I looked him in the eye through the mirror and said honestly: "eighteen. Nineteen in a few weeks." His eyes got big. "What are you doing way out here?" I stayed silent. He didn't need to know. I wanted this to stay as quite as possible. He seemed to understand and let it drop. The boys were asleep now. But that was fine. They were so brave for being so young, and they had a hard journey. "Sir?" the officer looked back at me. "May I make a phone call?" he looked worried. "It's not going to get ugly; I just need to let someone know where I am, so they know we're ok and so we can take care of some business that needs doing." He looker relived. "Then by all means go right on ahead." I nodded my thanks. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. It was the best one out there-so to speak. The number I wanted was on speed dial. "Artemis LaBery. Talk to me." I smiled. "Hey art." "Tammy girl! I've been worried sick! Did you make it ok?" "Yeah, we made it fine. Listen, you need to get out here. Bring the family though. They've never been to New York, and I think they'd like it if they could go sightseeing. I'll call a flight for you ASAP, and I'll book the hotel. Two and a half weeks sound fine?" he was silent thinking for a moment. "Sure, we'll get packing. Where are you headed?" I blushed slightly. "Manhattan police department." silence. "I see. Book me ASAP and we'll get this sorted out, alright?" "Thanks Art. See you soon." "Ditto. Over and out." I simply pressed three next and the airport was on the line. "National airlines, can I help you?" "Yes, I need to book a flight for one Artemis LaBery and family, to new York, first class, also I need it asap, code number: 8320035/41187." There was a pause as the woman who was helping me sort throughout the information. "Mysteria. Yes of course. I assume you wish for them to have a hotel booked and ready for them?" "Yes, please. Book them in The Star for two and a half weeks if you will." "It will be done. Thank you for your business. Miss Mysteria. Have a good day." And the line went out. I put the phone away. Moments later we had arrived at the NYPD. "Ma'am? We're here." I nodded and started to rouse my brothers. "No need ma'am, I'll carry one of them." I nodded my thanks. He opened the doors and he picked up Roy, while I got Cale. We walked up the stairs together. The commons were packed to the brim. Scum from the streets to the high lifers of uptown was here. The officer motioned me to follow him, and so follow him I did. We were getting some pretty strange looks, but I didn't care. "Hey Bluestone! This your secret family?" I blushed lightly. "No. Get a life Norman. You know better." Norman laughed and went back to work. "Sir? Officer Bluestone?" "Actually it's detective." "Detective then. What's going on?" he looked back at me. "First things first. We're gonna get you and those boys fed, then I'm just going to ask a few questions. When that's all said and done, I'm going to find you a place to stay." "Thank you. If it's alright I'd like to stay here for eight to nine hours. A friend is looking for me and I don't think I can call him again to tell him there's a change of plans in where to find me. He doesn't know New York very well and I'd like to make sure I find him and he finds me." Bluestone nodded with understanding. "That's ok. Are they your brothers?" I nodded. "Hmm." Was all he said. "Hey do you like Chinese?" I smiled a sad smile. "Yes I do. These guys here adore it too." He smiled. "Sure. If you'd just wait here?" he had found us a room that was comfortable enough, so I nodded. He left presumably to go and get food. I set the boys down on the rooms couch and I sat on the floor next to them. I leant my head back and closed my eyes. It seemed like seconds, but it was really half an hour later that the door burst open. "What are you doing in here?" I opened my eyes and looked at the stranger. "I was brought here and told to wait by detective Bluestone. And I have kept to my word. I have been waiting." "Bluestone told you?" I nodded slightly. "If you're lying we're going to be talking, and not about food, but about cells." I narrowed my eyes. "We'll see about that officer…?" "Officer Thamason. Just don't wreck the place." With that parting note he left closing the door behind him. Wreck the place? What did he think I was? Some kind of lowlife? Then my condition and appearance came into mind. I sighed. At least I would not be mistaken for some rich kid city brat. Oh well. Moment's later bluestone came back. "Here you go. Food for the thoughts." He smiled when he saw how I launched myself at it. I picked up the chop sticks and dug in. "you know, I don't think I have ever seen someone eat as well as you do with chop sticks. I paused with noodles hanging out of my mouth, I giggled. Then he got down to business. "So you wanna tell me what happened out there?" I swallowed my food and went straight to it. "I accidently bumped into this guy, and I tried to apologize, but he wouldn't have any of that. He started to scream and yell, so when he took a swing at me, I retaliated. He was just lucky he didn't hit my brothers." "I see. That all?" I paused briefly considering whether or not to spill. I decided not. "Yeah. That's all." He sat back in a chair. "Now we just gotta find a place where you can bunk for a bit…hang on a sec, I'll be right back." And he sprinted out the door. Seconds later he came back in, with a woman in tow. She was tall with thick black hair. She wore a red leather coat with a black undershirt, and ankle boots with blue jeans. "What's the rush matt?" she paused when she saw us. I rose up to feet with a boneless grace. Her eyes narrowed. She walked forward and stuck out her hand. "Eliza Mazza, NYPD second class." "Briar Tamwood Mysteria, my brothers: Roy Andy Mysteria and Cale Rayan Mysteria. Nice to meet you ma'am." I shook her hand. Her eyes were wide and surprised so were his. "Mysteria? No way. Really?" I nodded in silent affirmation. "Wow." Matt Bluestone said softly. "Ditto that Matt. Ditto that."