My Undercover Life

Episode 10

“Really now?”

All I could do was stare at Demitri and Skylar as I heard Megan and my mom in the background. I could hear the sounds of metal keys jingling so I knew they were going inside to give us some privacy. When I focused my attention back on the FBI agents, I couldn’t help but wonder why they thought Bradlee was the killer. It was only the first day. At least wait a week or something to make that decision.

“We have reasons to believe he is,” Skylar spoke up when he saw the look on my face—disagreement. “When you told Bradlee your name was Avery there was a slight pause in his hand movements, and when you were having lunch, we saw him looking at you strangely, almost like he was trying to figure something out. Also, let’s not forget about gym class. It seems like he was glaring at you, almost challenging you in a way. I can’t help but think that he knows you’re up to something.”

“Yeah, but it’s still too early to tell,” I countered back with. Even though Skylar did made valid points, we can’t exactly accuse someone without hard cold evidence. And right now, it’s way too early in the stage to make a decision, even if it’s only a guess. “Let’s give it a month before making any conclusions,” I suggested right after.

“Lily,” Demitri sighed, the light in his eyes dimming. “We don’t have a month to figure this out.”

My eyebrow arched down in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Did you forget?” he asked, “the killer kills every first friday of the month. We only have less than four weeks before the killer makes another move and strikes again.”

“Oh s–t.” My eyes widened at that fact. “You’re right!”

He chuckled quietly at my surprised reaction. “Of course I am.” He laughed once again, before his face turned serious, the laughter gone. “Anyways, for the next few weeks, you need to get closer to them, especially Bradlee. With winter break coming up at the end of December you only have a little over two weeks unless you can get them to spend time with you over the break, otherwise that’s all the time you’ll have with them.”
“Great.” My eyes fluttered close in annoyance. “I totally forgot about winter break. Is there even enough time to build a strong friendship with them before then?”
“Well,” he started, “it looks like both Hunter and Ian took a fast liking to you. Like I said, you’ll just have to work on Bradlee, but I have no doubt in my mind that both Hunter and Ian will be wrapped around your little finger in no time flat.”
“But not Bradlee, right?”
“He’s definitely a little bit more difficult than the others . . .” Demitri muttered truthfully scratching the back of his head. “Especially since he doesn’t like talking to anyone.”
“Yeah, I know.” No matter what I tried this morning in College Biology, he wouldn’t give. But, I’m not going to give up just after the first day. Not now, and not ever. “I’ll work on him. He’ll crack eventually.”
Both Demitri and Skylar smiled at my attitude.
“That’s the spirit!” Skylar said, cheerfully. “You’ll do great.”
“Yeah, with that positive attitude of yours, you’ll be a great FBI agent and spy,” Demitri added with a playful wink.
I smiled back at them, though I ignored Demitri’s wink. “Thanks guys.”
“Welcome,” they both said in unison, before Demitri looked down at his wristwatch. When his eyes meet mine again, he told me they needed to go back to headquarters and report to their boss about everything they had gather today about the guys.

I nodded, giving them a quick wave goodbye. “You’ll be back tomorrow, right?”
“Bright and early,” Demitri said, as Skylar held his thumb up in response. “We’ll be here before you even wake up.”
“Alright, sounds good. Have a safe trip back.” I gave them a departure smile, as I watched them climbed back into their van. They smiled in return, before I saw Demitri leaning forward in the driver’s seat. When the car roared to life, and the guys were safely buckled in, they drove out in reverse. When they made it passed the silver gate, they honked their horn, before their black van disappeared from my line of view, zooming down the street in a blaze.

---

“So, what did Demitri and Skylar want with you?” a voice asked as soon as I walked through the front door. Jumping an inch up in the air, I yelled, twisting around at the sound of Megan’s voice. I narrowed my eyes at her when I saw her standing next to the staircase for scaring the crap out of me.
She bit her lips innocently, giggling softly.
In return, I purposely made her wait for my answer as I took my blazer off, folding it neatly in my hands. When I unzipped my bookbag, I placed the piece of clothing inside, humming a tone I’d heard yesterday. When I heard the impatient tap of her foot, I couldn’t help but hold back a laugh.
Deciding to put her out of her misery, I headed over towards her, bag in hand. Taking a seat on the cold metal step, I waited for her to join me before I spoke. “They just wanted to tell me who they think the killer is,” I said, putting air quotes around the word killer.
“Let me guess.” The corners of Megan’s lips curved upwards, “they think it’s Bradlee?”
I groaned, running my hands toward my hair. Styling my dark locks back in place, I uttered, “Not you too.”
“What?” She smiled knowingly. “He is the most suitable candidate out of the three suspects.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s still too early to tell,” I reasoned for the second time today, even though I knew for a fact that a blind cat would even pick Bradlee as the top suspect. Ian and Hunter just didn’t seem like the rape and murder type of guys. But then again . . . Bradlee didn’t either. But compared to them, Bradlee would probably be labeled as the ‘bad boy’ or ‘troublemaker’ out of the three.
She shrugged. “Can’t argue with you there,” she said agreeing with me. “But you have to admit that Ian nor Hunter seems like the guys to actually go out of their way to kill someone, you know?”

“I know.” I sighed sadly. “How did these guys even make it onto the FBI’s list?” I questioned, mostly talking to myself.
“I don’t know . . .” Megan answered anyways, “but like your wise older brother once said, ‘no one is too nice.”’
I eyed her in confusion. “What does that have anything to do with this?”
“I’m just saying,” she started to explained, “don’t let their niceness deceive you. You never know, it just might be Ian.”
My eyes widened, as I gasped in shock. Ian? The killer? No way. He wouldn’t even hurt a puppy let alone kill eight girls. He’s just too congenial to actually be a blood-thirsty killer. I couldn’t even imagine him going to parties, let alone seducing two girls, and then raping and killing them. Plus, he’s way too innocent—so there’s no way, right?

Before I could even defend my newly made friend, Rockers started blaring loudly throughout the air interrupting our conversation. I held a finger up, telling Megan to give me a minute. Snatching my phone out of my pocket, I tapped the green button before I even saw the number on the screen.

“Hello?” I asked softly.
“Baby!”

My eyes immediately lit up, as I sat up straight. I automatically ran my hands through my hair even though he couldn’t see me through the phone. Whenever he called, I had the urge to look perfect for him. Ignoring the slight groan coming from Megan, I could literally feel her eyes rolling at me. From that reaction alone, I could tell she knew who I was talking to.
“Dennis!” I copied him.

He chuckled, his laughter causing me to shiver in pleasure. Even though I’d known Dennis since I was ten years old, the slightest sound or touch from him could cause me to turn into a pile of mess.

“How’s my baby doing today?” he asked, as I pictured his face—dimples showing and all.
“I’m doing great!” I told him eagerly. “I just got done with school. And you won’t believe where it was at today.”

“Ahh, in your kitchen?” he guessed, as I heard a light chuckle coming from him.

“No!” I giggled. “It was at Woodway Prep!”
“That Prep school where Isabella and your annoying brother went to?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. My brother John and Dennis never exactly got along well. Let’s just say never make-out with a guy who’s five years old than you on the couch when you know your overprotective brother is coming back home. Especially if you know that those said guys would probably butt heads with one another as soon as they saw each other. To this day, John still doesn’t know Dennis and I are dating, and I’ll like to keep it that way as long as possible. Who knows what he’ll do.

“That’s the one!”
“What were you doing there?” he asked, his tone bewildered, but also curious.

“Going to school,” I said, in a duh kind of tone, as I smiled. “I just enrolled there yesterday.”
“That’s—” He paused for thirty seconds before he spoke again. And when he did, he sounded a bit breathy; his voice raspier. “—great,” he finishes.

Thinking nothing of the strange pause, I lowered my head in a nod. “I know! I finally got to experience private school like my siblings did when they were my age. Walking through those halls knowing that they both—”

Before I could even finish my sentence I heard a faint gasp coming from the other side of the line, followed by a loud bamn, and a voice that didn’t belong to my boyfriend, Dennis.