Chapter 6

At the end of the day I was able to prepare Cleo's pizza and her drink and made my way over there as soon as I closed up shop. The job was easier said than done. I didn't have to do much. Grabbed her soda, got on my bike and I made my way to her apartment.

I knocked on her door but there was no answer. I turned the doorknob and it was unlocked. Did she expect me to just walk in? Well I did so and I still see her just typing away on her computer and I left her food and drink on the counter nearby.

"Took you long enough. Now give me the transmitter." She said to me without looking back.

"Umm okay."

I handed her the device and she simply plugged into the pc and a bunch of random programs opened up. I know enough about computers to work around it but man when she does work it's a whole nother level. I can't explain what I can see but it's just text, boxes, and typing everywhere.

"I'm getting this analyzed and I'm sending it over to the FBI. Then they could do what they want with it. I'm just making sure it's cleaned up and they won't hear your stupid ass in the file." She said unsarcastically.

"Wait what?"

She turned around and still sporting her usual outfit, she handed me a card.

Mike Turner. Acting Agent.

"Who is this?" I asked her.

"This is the guy who is going to contact you soon about an acting gig. He'll get you set up. I think he's working on the film with that famous actor who does all those action movies. I don't remember his name nor do I care but he's looking for people. "

This is the moment I've been waiting for.

"Wow, thanks!" I extended my arms out to hug her but unfortunately she slapped my arms back out.

"What are you doing?"

"Ahh sorry. Didn't mean to do that."

"You got a problem. Anyways. Come back tomorrow and I got more work for you to do."

"Wait what? I got more stuff to do?"

"Yeah. You think that was it? There's more to it than just recording their conversation."

"No, I'm good. I got what I wanted so thank you."

I was beginning to leave before she stopped me.

"You know he's not going to call you until I give him the word right? He doesn't even know who you are. You could find his contact information, drop my name, and he still won't help you. He needs to hear it directly from me. Now if you need this, you'll come back tomorrow."

"Oh my God. You can't be serious?" I furiously asked her.

"Yes." She replied so nonchalantly.

"Okay fine. What are we going to do?"

"You're going to deliver pizza to one of their locations."

"You have to be kidding me."

"Don't worry. We won't do that part until early next week. Tomorrow you'll meet the rest of my crew as they are out doing fieldwork collecting data for me. They will help you. I believe you met FireFlower already."

"I guess I don't have much of a choice if I want to keep moving on with my life. After this I'm done?"

"Yeah. After you complete this one other thing. You'll get the gig."

"Okay fine. Do I need to prepare for anything?"

"Not yet. You might expect another package with some instructions or maybe I can give them to you tomorrow. I'm not sure yet. First thing is you to hand me a slice of pizza and bring me my drink."

And just like that I obliged. She grabbed the slice of pizza and ate it pretty quickly while looking at her computer screens. She finishes it off by drinking a couple sips of her soda and then she turns back around.

"This is going to be huge, Simon. We nabbed this mafia crew and we are going to places." she said so convincingly.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just kidding."

She really was just kidding. God damn this girl.

"What?"

"You think I want to get out of this city? I'm not like you kid. I'm going to stay here as long as I can. I don't really travel much but I do have an Aunt that lives in your hometown. I haven't seen her in so long though. But that was pretty much the first and only place I travelled to. Travelling is boring. I don't see the appeal of it."

"You get to visit and see things you wouldn't see her you know."

"Boring."

"If you say so."

I guess I won't be good at reasoning with her so I either have to follow what she says or just ignore it. She is really smart and it looks like she knows what she's doing. I wonder if I have to meet the FBI Agent again.

I continued to survey her apartment while I grabbed her another slice of pizza. It looks pretty normal until up to this corner of the living room where all her equipment is. She doesn't have a job and she consults I believe on a daily basis.

"You said you didn't have a job right?"

"Don't need one"

"So what do you do for money?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Are you always this lonely?"

She stopped typing.

"Kid, does it look like I'm lonely?"

"I don't think so. But it seems like you don't have many friends as far as I know."

"You don't know me at all"

"Well that is true."

"How about you shut the hell up and let me continue my work."

"Can I go home now?"

"Not yet."

"Wait, why?"

"I need one more slice of pizza before you leave."

Damn it. I know she's making me do stuff for her. She can be incredibly lazy I guess.

"Is there anything else you want me to do?" I asked her while I was making my way out the door."

"Nope. Just lock the door before you close it and we'll continue work tomorrow."

I closed the door and I walked down the stairs towards my bike. What a crazy girl. I took out the card that she gave me and I scanned it again. I hope this Mike Turner person is really good. I don't think I heard of his name before. I only have gone through acting agencies but never directly with an agent like this.

I got on my bike and started riding my way home. It's nice tonight. I would assume it's probably around 65 to 70 degrees fahrenheit. It's not too hot and also not too cold. I got to a stoplight and I can't help but notice a black car just parked on the other side of the street. It's just sitting there. I don't know why it jumped at me but I felt very suspicious about it.

I continued across the intersection when it was safe and my hunches were right. The parked black car decided to turn around and slowly follow me.

You gotta be kidding me. Am I going to get mugged tonight?

I don't know what to do. I figure I could just ride around every possible block and road I can see and hopefully make them tired enough to stop pursuing me. But what if I'm paranoid and they just happened to turn around? Well there's only one way to find out.

I posted a U-Turn at the next light that came up and turned into a residential street. My hunches were correct. They are following me but they are kinda far back where they don't look suspicious. But man I already know they are following me.

I stuck with my original plan to just ride and turn at every possible street to throw them off and hopefully I can get lucky enough to flag down a police officer or someone that could help. It's late and usually cars are never around. Why does it have to be around this time? It's been about 30 minutes and I should have been home a long time ago. I'm running out of spaces to turn into without it looking like I'm circling everywhere.

I decided to just ride through my neighborhood and hopefully try to juke whoever is following me out of the way and I can duck inside into my apartment. I was getting close to my apartment and I remember there was a gas station nearby. I slowly made my way up to the entrance and locked my bike near the door and went inside. I looked back as soon as I got to the back of the store to see if they are still following me and they were. It didn't look like they were getting out so I decided to get out through the back and pick up my bike later.

I peered through some crates hoping I could find one with a hole where I could see the parking lot. I couldn't see anyone inside due to their tinted windows but it looks like they haven't noticed that I'm already gone. I ran as fast as I could away from the gas station and just a few minutes I was able to make it home. I walked up the stairs towards my apartment and went to the edge to see if I can see their car anywhere near here. I could see the gas station but not very much as I could only see the sign as well as a bit of the back. I think I'm safe.

I unlocked the door and went inside. Looks like my roommate isn't home yet or just hanging out with her boyfriend. I'm pretty sweaty so I decided to take a shower before heading to my room.

Afterwards, I decided to get on my computer to see what kind of information I could find on Mike Turner. As soon as I got connected to the internet, I received an email. I opened it even though it came from an unknown sender. It must have been Cleo.

I see you.

That's all what the message says and it was enough for me to feel uncomfortable in this setting. I wonder if it has something to do with the car following me but how are they seeing me. I don't think there are any cameras around here. I tried to see who sent it and where it came from but nothing. I forwarded the email to Cleo and hoped she could help me out. Just a few seconds later I got a reply.

Wow you must have made someone mad. I'll see what I can find out. Update tomorrow.

I hope she can help me out and see where it came from. I don't want nobody finding out who I am and what I'm doing to help you out Cleo! Damn it, I hope I didn't get into anything serious and I'm just going to play this off as a joke. I didn't feel like using the computer anymore so I decided to just turn it off. I went to my window and closed my blind and I looked out to see if anything suspicious was out there. Right now, at this exact moment I hate my life.

I decided to lie down on my bed but I'm too nervous to fall asleep. I know I have work tomorrow and I have to see Cleo tomorrow. I think I heard the door open but I heard Julie singing to herself. Sometimes she does that when she comes home. I don't think anyone knows I live here. Except maybe Cleo knows how she gets her information now. I began to freak out. I guess there's nothing left for me to do right now but I'm just sitting here trying to figure out who is following me and who is sending me that email.

What did I get myself into?