Awry

61

Scarlet entered Laura’s bedroom while Gabriel and Heather stood watch downstairs. Laura wasn’t supposed to be home for another two hours, but they didn’t want to take any chances.

Scarlet carefully opened drawers and cabinets and shamelessly riffled through Laura’s things.

Sexy shoes, sexy bras, sexy underwear….the only thing Scarlet was uncovering about Laura was her sexiness. Which was not new information.

Moving on.

Scarlet headed to the closet and started looking for things that would confirm that Laura was evil, or maybe Raven in disguise. She searched for any tell-tale signs; wigs…colored contacts…name tags that read “HELLO My Name Is Raven”…but no.

Laura’s closet was even bigger than Scarlet’s and completely overrun with business suits and scarves, but no Head Ghosts or Bluestone weapons.

Scarlet was starting to lose hope when she spied the black suitcase from Laura’s trip peeking out from behind a group of hanging dresses.

Without hesitating, Scarlet pulled out the suitcase and unzipped it.

The yellow flower was still there, tucked into the black Styrofoam casing. Scarlet contemplated removing the flower altogether but what if Laura opened her suitcase tonight and saw it missing?

No, that was a bad idea.

Scarlet pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and snapped a few pictures of the flower, being sure to get all the details. Maybe Nate could look it up online.

After grabbing her pictures, Scarlet shoved the suitcase back into place and exited the closet. Taking one last look around Laura’s room and not finding anything else useful, Scarlet made her way back downstairs.

“Wonder Woman?” she heard Heather’s voice say from the kitchen.

“No.” Gabriel’s voice responded.

“The Great Blondini?” Heather asked.

Scarlet descended the stairs and found Heather and Gabriel in the kitchen. Heather looked excited. Gabriel looked bored.

“No.” Gabriel shook his head at Heather. “I am not going to call you by any code names.”

“But what if you get to have a code name too?” Her eyes brightened. “Maybe something like Fierce Jaguar?” She made a clawing motion with her hand.

Gabriel stared at her. “Fierce Jaguar?”

She wagged her eyebrows. “Or what about Hot Archer? Would you take on a code name then?”

Gabriel pursed his lips.

“Okay guys,” Scarlet said, walking into the kitchen. “I didn’t find any incriminating evidence, but I did get some pictures of that flower thingy in Laura’s suitcase so, we’ll see. Let’s get out of here before Laura gets back.”

Scarlet hurried to leave her house. It felt weird exiting the front door. Like she no longer belonged there.

But maybe she never had.