Chapter 6

Once again, Annabeth and I hopped into a cab and sped down the road, all the way back to the middle of New York City. The lights weren't as flashy as in the nighttime, but it was still as noisy as ever. Every second block we heard a honk! or screech! from cars passing by.

We turned onto Fifth Street, rumbling down the road until we reached a garage with sparkling letters over it that read Leo and Calypso's Auto Repair, and a metal dragon next to them as the mascot.

Annabeth paid the driver again (she had loads of money) and we hopped out before entering the building.

Inside, it smelled of motor oil with a strange hint of tabasco sauce. Cars on raised metal platforms were around the room, and tables littered with tools were here and there. Just before I was about to call out for someone, a very pretty girl with long cinnamon-coloured locks and warm brown eyes came out of the back room.

"Hello," she said, smiling, making her look even prettier. "My name is Calypso. What can I help you with?"

I must have been staring, because Annabeth elbowed me in the ribs before she spoke. "We're not here as customers. We need to find out about an old criminal, Gabe Ugliano, who once tried to steal car parts from you."

Calypso's face darkened. "I'll get my boyfriend."

She disappeared out of the room again, then came back seconds later with an elfish-looking Latino boy, who had curly dark hair. "Hiya," he said. "You want to hear about Gabe Ugliano?"

"That's right," I replied. "We're looking for him, but we need information from you so that we can locate him properly."

"Cool," the boy said. "I'm Leo, by the way. And I guess you've already met my gorgeous girlfriend here?" He motioned to Calypso, who blushed a deep red.

Annabeth and I nodded.

"Then our story shall begin," Leo continued dramatically. Then he stopped. "Wait, are you guys police?"

"F.B.I.," I answered.

"And you're like, what, around my age -"

I sighed. "Long story."

"Just get on with yours," Annabeth grumbled to Leo.

"Okay. I was young when it happened, about eight years old. I was working in the shop, hammering something, when someone came in. I looked up to see a man in a dark cloak. I didn't like men in dark cloaks, so I was a little worried, but asked him what he wanted.

"He said he was just looking around, because we sell car parts and tools here, just so you know, it's not all repair -"

"Leo," Calypso urged.

"Yeah, so, he went up to one of the tables while I was hammering. He must have stuffed one of the car parts into his cloak, or something, but the next thing I knew he was running out of the shop looking much fatter than before. "Hey!" I had yelled, but he was getting away, until my… my mom caught him. He fought back but she had soon called the police, and he was taken away for theft."

I noticed that Leo had a distant look of sadness in his eyes after he had mentioned his mother. Then I wondered why he was running a shop when he was only my age, but Annabeth asked about it before I could.

Leo sighed. "It used to be my mother's shop, but I continued it after she died. Then I met Calypso here" - he smiled at his girlfriend - "and she joined me. Ever since, we've called it Leo and Calypso's Auto Repair."

"If you don't mind my asking," I said, understanding what Leo must have felt, "How did your mother die?"

"In a fire," Leo answered. "The same night that Gabe Ugliano attacked our shop."

"Well, isn't that a coincidence," Annabeth said. "Do you think Gabe had something to do with the fire?"

Leo shrugged. "There's no proof. And when it happened, I wasn't really thinking about him, I was thinking about my mom…"

"Well, then that's a whole other case," I said, "but I'll talk to the general about it. Anyway, do you have any other information?"

Leo shook his head. "That was it. So, you guys must be looking for him because of what happened the other day, right?"

"Yeah, he tried to rob my -" Annabeth stopped herself, her eyes widening a little.

"Your what?" Calypso asked.

"My father," Annabeth decided to say. "Yeah, I don't really work for the F.B.I. -"

"You're Frederick Chase's daughter?" Leo asked, his eyes wide. "Dang, you must be rich -"

Annabeth huffed. "Is that really how everybody knows me?"

Leo smirked. "Guess so."

"Anyway, I guess we should go," I cut in before Annabeth got really angry. "Nice shop you have here, Leo -"

"Thanks. Come in anytime."

And so, after saying goodbye to Calypso too, Annabeth and I walked out of Leo and Calypso's Auto Repair. "Well, what do you think?" she asked as we walked down the street.

"I think that Gabe Ugliano is very stupid," I replied. "I mean, to steal a car part just like that..."

"In front of a child, too. I guess he thought that Leo wouldn't notice. Do you really think he killed Leo's mother?"

"I don't know, but if he did, he'd be in big trouble." Just then, I noticed something shiny on the ground, and bent low to pick it up. I saw that it was an old and rusty lighter marked CENTRAL PARK GIFT SHOP.

I glanced around. It had been lying right outside the shop's door.

"Hey…" I said, showing it to Annabeth. "Do you think this had anything to do with the fire?"

Annabeth frowned. "It could be from Leo's shop."

"I don't think he uses lighters."

"Still, it could have come from anyone's pocket…"

"I think we should examine it," I decided. "Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Alright. But where?"

I grinned. "My home, of course. I need to call General Corral anyway. Oh, by the way, Annabeth, this is probably the only time you'll be allowed to enter secret F.B.I. headquarters…"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Come on."

By the way, Percy told Annabeth his name sometime in between chapters. I forgot to mention that. And YES! I put Leo and Calypso in the story! I hope you liked their little cameo. And please review!