Expect The Unexpected

Chapter 7

We went inside right before it started storming, and now I'm sitting on the couch with my feet on the ottoman on my laptop, trying to dig up whatever I can about Ben's Mom.

The only problem is I don't even know her first name. He doesn't even remember her, so he doesn't either.

"What're you doing?" Alex asks.

"Working." I say, not looking up from my laptop.

"Like, on a private case?" he asks, his eyes widening. "About what?"

Everyone looks curious, and Ben is just looking at me with what looks like curiosity to everyone else, but to me, I know it's panic.

"It's called private for a reason." I say.

"You really can't tell?" Mr. Slater asks.

"No. I seriously can't."

They give up.

I'm gonna go looking around the house tonight, and then if I still can't find anything, I'm breaking into Ben and Mr. Slater's house.

It's perfectly legal because of my profession.

Luckily, I went town to town in foster care, and every town, I practiced karate with teacher's I found all over.

I'm what's considered a black belt, only, I don't have the belt.

I don't need it.

I can kick ass though, if I have to.

I wanna see how long it's gonna rain, so I go on ABC news.

The headline causes me to pause.

Man murdered. FBI identified him as Harrold Gray.

What?

I click on the page.

He was found murdered in a warehouse in Connecticut.

I frown

My gut is telling me to look him up.

So, I use my login to the FBI's website and I search Harrold Gray.

Related to Austin Gray, Michael Gray, and Matilda Gray.

Michael and Matilda Gray died twelve years ago.

Twelve years. That's as long as I was gone.

Confused, I click on Michael Gray. A photo of him pops up.

"Where did you find that?" Dad demands.

He sounds angry, really angry.

"Why?" I ask.

He rips my laptop from my hands and slams it shut.

"Don't ever look that up again!" he yells at me.

"Why?" I demand. "Who is that?"

"That's Geoffrey Gray!" He yells.

I frown.

"That's impossible." I say. "I thought you said he died."

"He did." Mom says quietly. "Stephen, stop yelling at her."

"Uh, according to the FBI, his name is Austin and he's very much alive."

Silence.

Take my laptop back and open the lid.

"No, Elizabeth, you need to stop." Dad says.

"Fine. Let my put my computer on the charger."

He hands it to me and I walk into my room.