Chapter 35

Tattoo And It's Mystery

John held the wrists tightly and stood up only to twist his arms behind his back.

"Mr. David?" John furrowed his brows, Kathie said she didn't expect them till late evening.

He last remembered popping the pills for the killer headache.

What was he trying to remember?

Cynthia. O' his mouth went o'

But what are David and Martha doing here?

Oh shit! This was their home.

He looked around the surroundings that looked a little foggy, the remnants of the migraine.

"You F##ker what are you doing here?" Mr. David who was wobbling like he stood on a floor ball. "So my daughter is f##king you. I can get some money for that," he said angrily "a man needs his booze"

He stretched again to reach to John's pocket but John dodged him easily.

He did have some money after returning from Japan but that didn't mean he could give it to some drunken man.

"Oh" Martha dismissed him "ignore him." She waved her hands kicking him on his ass lightly "go inside Kathie has hidden one of your bottles in the tank of her bathroom. Get it."

"How do you know bitch?" David spat.

"I smelled it you dog" she shouted back "since I am a bitch"

She smiled at John her eyes not moving "I watched her hide her" she smiled trying to wink but she was wasted "Look Kathie" she gulped "is not at home. I ..." she gulped again, her throat dry "I need medicines. Can you give me some money?"

When she saw indecision in his eyes she added "Kathie will return the money to you."

John did not want to, the lady looked weird but he'd stayed at their home uninvited. Could he say no?

'No need to give her any money" a loud and stern voice was heard and John was shocked to see this side of Kathie.

"Ah! my darling Kathie" her mom gushed "This friend of yours; such a gentleman" she cooed "was helping me buy my medicines.

"Your stock of medicine is full and in your cabinet. Now go inside." She commanded.

"Bitch" her mother cursed "Go F##k with him you whore" she said making Kathie close her eyes, her fists clenched tightly controlling herself.

Once out of sight Kathie turned to John "you said you'd leave in an hour"

"I am sorry" John stood and holding her fists in his hands unfolded them "I had headache, I did not realize when I dozed off till your dad..." he stopped. He couldn't say he caught her dad stealing money from his pocket and all the other bad things that a father should not tell about his daughter. He bit his tongue not wanting to spoil her already bad mood.

Now he knew why she wandered at Danny's most of the time.

She was running away from reality called her parents.

"You okay now?" she asked concern evident in her voice.

John chuckled. "You are worried about me?" he hugged her. "When your own life is a mess. How can anyone not like or love you?"

Kathie blushed redder than a tomato.

He Kissed her forehead 'Can I in anyway be of any help?" he asked although he knew

There was nothing he could do. They were her family and they needed help. There was nothing John could do.

They will have to help themselves first.

He pitied her

"I am fine" Kathie mumbled, butterflies doing salsa inside her tummy with that small kiss. She knew John liked and her and was attracted towards her.

She sighed loudly. Neither was he in denial.

He simply did not want to enter into a relationship.

"You think you'll hurt me if we are together?" Kathie could not help but ask.

"Its not when I am with you" John looked into her eyes. Everything in him calling him to kiss her like there is no tomorrow. But then this would all turn real. He could not hurt Kathie more than she was already suffering.

She needs a stable guy who'd marry her, give her family that is far better than her current one "its for when I am not there."

"Where are you going?" Kathie asked.

"Back to D's" John did not have in him to call their place his home.

"No" she refused to accept the answer "where are you going if you are not with me."

"I am with nobody" John stated firmly and honestly "wouldn't ever be."

"Your family?" Kathie asked but the change in color of his face made her shut up.

"I am sorry" Kathie apologized.

"I do remember then faintly" John said, his words indiscreetly choked.

"Want to catch up with some coffee?" Kathie offered.

John peeped inside the house unsure

"You are afraid of my parents?' Kathie mocked.
"A drunk guy and a stoned woman" John said shocking Kathie about his accurate judgment "I am worried about what they'll do to you after they see me again"

Kathie chuckled "Don't worry they are only words. Remember the saying Barking dogs seldom bite."

John chuckled back "strange the entire family relates and calls themselves dogs" he commented.

"So you have tasted the medicine called Kathie's parents" she joked.

'Yeah" John scratched the back of his neck

"We could go to Danny's" Kathie suggested.

"Danny's?" John debated "but his father. No I want to live. What is wrong with the parents of this street."

Kathie looked at her feet answering

John lifted her chin "don't be ashamed of your parents" he said "atleast you have them with you.'"

Kathie gasped looking at him with horrified expression

John nodded sadly "I lost both my parents and my sister." Kathie hugged him tightly "my tattoo studio?"

John immediately nodded. He'd opened up with Dr. markle but sharing his past with Kathie seems different. It makes him feel at home.

Kathie picked two paper cups and made instant coffee from the coffee machine.

"How did you end up with a tattoo parlour?" John asked eying her top to bottom "you haven't inked yourself.

"My sister Prada." Kathie stated and then kept quiet.

"Where is she now?' John asked.

"She is dead." Kathie said sadly.

"She taught you to make tattoos?" John was digging answers.

"We can talk about Prada some other time" Kathie switched the topic "talk about yourself."

"I am remembering in bits and pieces." John said, "I am not even sure if it is true or a night mare."

"What do you mean?'
John closed his eyes and stretched his neck. "If I believe in my visualizations then my parents are dead." He choked "they died in twin tower attack."

"You are not sure?" Kathie asked and when he shrugged she said excitedly "its human brain it always thinks the worst of circumstances. Your visions are what you think right?" she asked
"Dr Markel has this theory" John said.

"So you are thinking worst. May be maybe your parents are alive. Be positive."

John could tilt the edge of his lips upwards. The girl was so positive and optimistic

"I remember joining the agency after my parents passed away. I wanted to fight terrorism because my family, my sister and both my parents got killed in that twin tower attack.

John's hands fisting tightly my now, his ears turning red

Katherine rubbed his fists softly "I trust you John"

"Sure John is your actual name?' Kathie asked

"Yes I remember mom shouting "John darling dinners ready, John get ready for school and my sister teasing " Johnny the loser, Johnny the funny, Johnny with fat belly"

"Aww! Your pet name was Johnny" Kathie cooed "and you were fat?" she chuckled.

"No that wasn't my pet name, Susie the pussy used to tease me. I had no pet name Dad used to call me Jo followed ennnn whenever he was stern about something.

"Your sisters name was Susie?" Kathie smiled "nice name"

"It was Susandra" John clarified "I used to tease her Susie"

"Ah!" John was excited "I remember Susandra's name on my own. Wow"
Kathie followed his excitement "yes you did. So it is real, your visions were true."

"Yes they were" John smiled happily.

"Your parents name?" Kathie asked.

"I do not remember" John was upset again "what kind of a son I am to forget my father and mothers name?"

"Don't beat yourself. You will remember gradually. You love them." Kathie tried to calm him
"I do and they left me" John said dejectedly.

"Not everyone is going to leave you John" Kathie said teary eyed as she hugged John

"Promise?"

Promise" she mumbled pulling him for another hug.

"Nice place" John commented "must have been designed by your sister"

"Yes" Kathie answered in monosyllables

"Yeah doesn't shout like a shy you. looks like someone who is.."

"Free spirited? Kathie finished for him.

"Yeah I was going for very care free but free spirited goes too" he said " where is she?'

Not wanting to talk about her sister since he had recently talked about how happy amd loving his family were she averted the topic "don't you have work to do" she looked at files and bags he was holding "make yourself comfortable. No one will disturb you here."

"Thanks Kat" he made Kathie blush at the pet name "you are best"

And he made himself comfortable with a huge flow chart that he was preparing to study about the so hyped up attack.

He opened the huge flow chart that he had prepared wondering why he went to Ayoka in first place.

Ayoka worked as a recruiter in Japan and she was recruiting people for the Big games.

Since she was an undercover agent, she was making sure that only right people were recruited.

There weren't any suspicious recruitment at the games arena.

But she'd highlighted the airport authorities or he did. He remembers them working together.

What had they concluded

He looked at the blank diary closely. All the pages were blank.

Why would she give her a blank book?

He looked around the cover.

He even checked the pen that he'd broken earlier if it wa sna invisible ink pen.

But that was too obvious. She wouldn't use that old trick.

Hey Klumsy Kathie" John looked up after almost tow hours of being involved in his study process

"Danny?"

"John" Danny hugged him in his own typical bro code way though ironically he was a gay "you are everywhere where Kathie is. What is cooking up?' he wriggled his brows at Kathie who'd been busy looking into her account books.

"How can I help you Dan" Kathie who was still recovering from her blush asked "hey this is my friend Seth. He desires to get inked. So" he shrugged "I brought him to best place in town."

"Thanks Dan" Kathie smiled "You do know that I love you."

"I love you too clumsy Kathie" Danny winked back earning cough from John.

Danny simply rolled his eyes at the jealousy John who is not ready for commitment yet is jealous of even a gay.

"Hey Dan are you sure she's a tattoo artist" Seth cornered Danny "since' he lifted his shoulders uncertain " she doesn't have a single one on her."

Kathie licked her lip "a doctor doesn't ever operate himself, still you go to him for a surgery." Kathie smirked knowing well that she'd made her point clear "between I do have a tattoo on my body, its just that it is not on display.

Although ears on Kathie's mysterious tattoo, John was deeply concentrated on the diary. he had finally solved the puzzle, the book had certain pages missing which was message by Ayoka.

Yet he couldn't hold his curiosity and he stood all of a sudden "really where do you have that tattoo and what is it....