Chapter 5 Still On the Case
"If only I was Sherlock Holmes. I deduce the fuck out of this mystery." Nora sighed with a pout as she skimmed through a tiny bound novel in her hand.
It was a small short tale of one of many Sherlock's adventures. She had always heard of the famous detective through movie reference and it wasn't until after she saw Robert Downey Jr in the Sherlock Holmes movie that she really dove into the books. But she wasn't searching for an escape from reality. No her life at the moment was so alive that mere fairytales felt normal. Granted, most tales didn't involve demons or three dimensions- well not any book that she ever read. None of that matter now; what she was trying to accomplish is to gain the skill of a detective by reading every paper-filled binding in the store that was remotely related to crime work.
The dark haired girl was slumped with her back against the stand with shelves decorated with colorful spines. A small stack of paper-backs grow like a flower next to her. Kane's Books was a decently sized bookstore in the downtown area with two levels. Summer had convinced Nora to go out on the town to liven things up. Things were shaken up a bit at the school for the current moment with that strange attack. School officials weren't really sure what to make of it and the police didn't help much either. Rumors already exploded among the students even the security guards were gossiping like hens. It range from the principle was an ex-criminal/molester and was getting is monkey going on teenage girls to the history instructor was having a fling with female students. Half of it made no sense and didn't even relate to the incident.
She knew though what it was but the who and the why she had to figure out. The guys had kept her out of all their investigation, relaying the similar message that she be safer if she didn't get more involve with the case at least. All of them still talk and work together in class but whenever she casually attempt to leak a bit of info out of Yusuke or Kuwabara she hit a wall. Yes she couldn't even outwit the idiot with the oddly-shaped hair to slip up. Now that was a shame all on its own. Even all the ice cream and chocolate in the world couldn't sway the red-eyed fire demon, not even a Snicker Bar Ice Cream. That ate through her 20 buck allowance and she had nothing to show for it. Life was unusually cruel. She didn't even attempt to bribe or outsmart Kurama; her –a sixteen year old humans- versus Kurama –a super mastermind hundred year old demon- nope not a chance in hell.
So what? Admit defeat, wait on the sidelines and cheer the boys on their search? Not a chance in Spirit World. They never said she couldn't do her own little investigation by herself and what they didn't know wouldn't hurt, right. So with a new set of determination, 50 bucks she borrowed from her dad, a note pad and pen, she was ready to solve the whole damn case. Then of course earn some apologizes from the boys for kicking her out of the team. Yes, she couldn't wait for the day Hiei got on his knees and pleaded for her forgiveness.
Nora emitted a chorus of evil giggles at the image of it. "One day soon, Hiei. One day soon." She chanted with a smile.
"I was about to ask if you were ready to go. But I think it better to ask if you've lost your mind." Summer stood over her with a bewilder face. Nora prayed what she said didn't come out as creepy as it sounded. She watched her friend. Yup. It did.
"You got a thing for Hiei?" Summer asked. Nora diffused that question quickly. "No. I was just talking about how I'm going to make him pay for what he did."
Her plump friend sighed irately and occupied a space next to Nora. "Don't tell me you're still doing that?" Summer whined, pushing back her brown curls in a gesture of annoyance.
"Yes I am. Why shouldn't I?" She retaliated.
"Well," Summer began, "how about the fact that it none of your business and it their job. Not yours. Why don't you apply if you wanna be in it so badly?"
Okay so Nora had omitted some of the facts about the boys. Summer had no clue they were different or the real reason they transfer to their high school. All she knew was they were a part of some agency that trained teens in the criminal field. It couldn't be further from the truth. But Yusuke warned her to keep it all secret; he was already pushing it by revealing everything to Nora. He couldn't chance another human knowing. Nora didn't want to get Yusuke into anymore trouble that he usually is and finds himself in; so, the young girl was always careful when speaking or bitching about the guys.
"Um.." She raked her brain for a reasonable answer. "They are not taking anyone in right now. "
"So? Just wait then."
Damn. She needed Summer on her side. "It that whole macho guy thing. They don't think girls make good detectives."
Summer's eyebrow twitched. "Excuse me?" She erupted, standing up from the floor, hands balled into angry fists. Summer was a bit of a feminist. "No way. Uh-huh girl. You have to kick their ass, Nora."
Nora jumped to her feet. "Now that's what I'm talking about." The two anger-filled girls high-fived.
"What do you need?" Summer asked with a earn glint in her eyes. "I'll help you."
The other girl smiled slyly, retrieving two books from the ground. "Well, I need these." Then she paused, what else did Summer have that she didn't? "And I need to talk to Jessica."
Summer grinned raising her left arm, a silver ring with shiny keys jingled. "I got you, girl."
Listening through six whole tracks of Lady Gaga, Summer parked her blue Ford pickup into a lot located near a club called the Candy Shack. Nora peered out the window taking in the cloudy afternoon sky laced with swirls of blue, pink, and purple. The sidewalks littered with people of all ages and sizes. As they drove by she could already see the long line forming along the sides of buildings. The Shack was a new club recently built a few years back in effort to prevent teens from sneaking into overage bars/clubs. She wasn't the party girl type; she loved to dance as much as the next chick but that scene seem so dirty to her. Boys and girls literally dry humping each other on the dance floor and that was how normal teens dance. Don't get her started on the new dance moves emitting from hip-hop and pop videos. Nora made a face.
"It's not that bad." Her friend assured. "Jessie comes here all the time. So if you want a chance to talk to her now the time. You won't see her at school anytime soon."
"Why is that?" she asked.
Summer adjusted her black booty short in her seat, pulling the hem of the shorts downward. "From what I was told her parents are going to home school her until the police find the creep that attack her."
"It's barely been like a week." Nora stated incredulously. "I know but that how her father is. He super protective."
"Did you tell your parents?"
Summer signed and ran a hand through her curls. "Told my dad. He gave me pepper spray. I didn't tell my mom- her psychologist said it be best not to. She's making progress so he doesn't want anything that can screw her up."
"Sorry." Nora apologized sympathetically. "Don't be. You?"
"My dad taught me some moves." She answered.
Summer smiled. "Well at least he useful for something." The girls both laughed; neither of them had the ideal father but they could always lean on the other when it came to crappy dads. Their mothers were both absent in each other lives but while Sum's mom was always in and out of the mental institution: Nora's mom traveled the world and after her parents divorced finalized and her father won custody she saw her even less. Emails, texts, phone calls, and IM chat served as their form of connection to each other.
"I email my mom." Nora finished.
"And what did she say?"
The green-eyed girl smiled. "To get a boyfriend and a crowbar." The girls got of the car and Summer locked it with a press of a button on the remote key chained on the silver ring. They strode their way over to the club. "I don't know where she expects me to keep it?" Nora continued.
"The boyfriend or the crowbar?" Summer retorted sarcastically.
"Shut up. I don't have a man, remember?" Summer grinned wickedly at her. "True but you got four new guys in your life."
She smacked her friend lightly on the arm. "I swear. Man it like you're a damn cat in heat."
"My urges are natural." She defended.
Nora muttered quietly behind Summer as she walked up to the bouncer, "Heat-crazed bitch." The bouncer looked exactly as one should 6ft tall, bulky upper body, thick arms rippling with muscles; his shirt was on the brink of tearing apart as it stretched across his wide chest. The club owner definitely hired the right guy for the job; his stone expression didn't change as Summer said hello. He muttered something to her but it was overcome with loud music as the black door behind the burly man opened. A tall blonde girl jerked her chin at the duo then the bouncer and the man permitted them through. Following the blonde's lead they entered the club.
Nora couldn't believe how dark the hall was, dark lights illuminated the dark passage way, the wall was marred with bold writings, a few couples were pressed together groping each other in certain regions. Music rippled through massive space serving as the dance floor, this part of the club was a bit brighter as a sphere hanging in the center on the ceiling sprayed colors all over the room. She could feel the vibration emitting from the huge black amps that were stage behind the DJ, who was place on the farthest wall away from the entrance. A group of girls in very skimpy dresses passed by her, glancing momentarily before whispering to one another, Nora examined her outfit. She wore a white knee length spring dress with thing straps and a pair of black slip-ons. The dress bare her chest and back and her bust line looked great thanks to her new bra; and the top portion of her hair pulled back by a clip with the lower half down and loose. Maybe it wasn't high on the slutty radar.
She search for her friend and found her sitting at a small round tall with the blonde from before. Summer was leaning forward engage in a deep conversation with the other girl. Or she should say engaged with her rack as she realized the blonde had a huge bust. And that was all natural too she knew the blonde was wearing a glittering halter top with no back held all together by a measly sting. Nora approached the two chatting girls.
"Oh. " Summer chirped, noticing her glaring friend. "Nora. This is Sonya." Sonya smiled at her and Nora jaw dropped.
"Sonya?" she asked dubiously. Sonya laughed lightly, turning in her chair to face Nora.