Family: Out of Business

Agreed

EJ's pov

"Agreed," Claire's friend responded back. "Parents are super irritating."

I positioned myself in the doorway so I could see who she was talking to. I think that's our former stablehand Chris's little sister.

Confirming my theory, a male voice could be heard now, "Samantha Jean, I thought I made it very clear to you to finish your chores before you'd be allowed to do anything else."

Yep, that's him. Removing any doubt, I could see him behind the girl on Claire's phone screen now.

"Big brothers are too," she said.

"Hang up now!" Chris shouted.

"Claire, I gotta go," she replied hurriedly. "And, uh, it looks like you've got your own sitch to deal with too," she said, pointing in my direction as she could see me in the background, since I had stepped fully into Tony's room. "Later," she called out, as Chris could be heard in the background shouting incomprehensible threats.

Disconnecting the call immediately after replying, "Later," Claire whipped around to face me. "Uh, Uncle EJ, it's not, um, what it looks like. I was just making Dad's bed and I heard a phone ring from under the pillow and it scared the crap outta me and then I thought I better get it cuz it'd be rude not too answer and I even thought maybe it was Dad and he was trying to contact me cuz it might be an emergency or something and he told me to make his bed so..."

"Enough, mia nipote (my niece)!" I barked sternly, as I cut her off. "Good God you can stretch out a lie. You know you really ought to consider a career as an attorney."

Slipping her phone back under the pillow, she timidly asked, "Are you gonna tell Dad?"

"That depends," I replied, raising one eyebrow.

"On what?" she asked cautiously.

"On whether or not you answer my questions honestly and without attitude. Capiscimi (Understand me)?"

"Si, Zio, yo capisco (Yes, Uncle, I understand)," she responded, without being a snot for once.

Cutting to the chase, I asked, "Where is your aunt?"

"I don't know," she answered instantly, almost automatically.

"Why did she leave?" I asked.

"I don't know," the clueless twit replied.

"What did she tell you before she left?"

"I don't know. Lots of things. Why?" she replied, with attitude.

I slowly removed my cellphone from the breast pocket of my dress shirt.

"Not off to a good start," I said. I pressed one button and held the phone up to my ear.

"W_wait! Wh_what are you doing?" Claire asked nervously.

"I'm calling your father."

"No, Uncle EJ! Don't!" she blurted out suddenly. "I'll tell you. I'm sorry. Please hang up," she begged.

I hung up on my voicemail. Good to know the twit's still as gullible as ever.

"Start talking, piccola ragazza (little girl)," I stated flatly.

"But Aunt Lexie..."

"Look," I said, holding up my hand to stop her. "I already know she took off with that ape she calls a fiance. I just want to know if she told you where she was going, brat. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"She really didn't tell me that, Uncle EJ, I swear," she replied emphatically, crossing her heart.

"When did she say she's coming back?"