CHAPTER 7 : WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT FRIENDS

Victoria's POV

As my father and I entered the house we were intoxicated by sweet aromas coming from the kitchen.

"Afternoon mom." I greet as I enter the kitchen.

"Afternoon love." My father greets.

"Afternoon lovies, Vici won't you come give me a hand?" My mother asks.

"Sure, let me just go put my stuff in my room." I reply before I go to my room.

I quickly place my backpack next to my desk before I head back to the kitchen to help my mother.

"So what can I help you with?" I ask as I step into the kitchen.

"Would you please peel some potatoes?" My mother asks.

"Okay." I reply as I grab a knife and some potatoes.

"I heard you told dad that he should let me go on my friendly meeting with Jaydan." I say as I started to go to work on the potatoes.

"I simply mentioned that you needed to get out more often and to explore the world out there. He can't lock you up in this house forever."

"Thanks mom, I thought that you wouldn't agree to let me go."

"Don't be silly darling, of course I would let you go, and besides Jaydan is quite a catch."

"Mom, Jaydan and I hardly know each other so there is nothing between us."

"May a mother not wish for a lovely son-in-law?"

"Mom I'm not even 18 yet and you are already looking for a son-in-law."

"Rather too early than too late I always say, now hurry up with that potatoes." My mother says and I take all my frustrations out on the poor potatoes. I'm beginning to regret that I ever agreed to meet Jaydan for coffee.

After I finished the last of the potatoes, I handed it to my mother.

"Anything else I can help with?" I ask.

"No thank you darling, I'm good now, thanks for your help." My mother says and with nothing else to do I go to the living room.

I scanned through the channels as I lay sprawled out on the couch. This was one of the many perks of being on holiday, you had absolutely nothing to do. You can do whatever you want when ever you want.

After scanning through some channels I finally settled for Rookie Blue. It was one of my many favorites.

"Yes, you must please clear his apartment next week.....I know your busy but we need to be certain no stone is left unturned....yes you can do it first thing Monday morning....okay see you bye." My dad says as he climbs down stairs with his phone in hand.

"Who was that?" I ask curiously.

"Just forensics, I asked them to search the apartment of Michael Roberts." My father replies.

"Who's Michael Roberts?"

"The Shadow's partner." My father says.

"Oh that one, when are they going to clear his apartment?"

"Monday, I have to go take care of some things, see later honey."
My father says as he kisses my cheek.

"Bye love, see you later." He greets my mother before he leaves.

I quickly rush to my room. Closing the door behind me I take the Bluetooth device out of my drawer before clicking some buttons on the radio.

There was a clicking noise before the Shadow came through.

"Hey Sherlock, did you miss me so soon?" He asks.

"Don't flatter yourself, Shadow." I reply.

"So why else would you call your dear friend?"

"Because I had business to discuss with you."

"Sounds interesting, what's up?"

"Well my father talked to the forensics team and they are going to clean the thief's house first thing Monday morning."

"That means we need to break into that apartment as soon as possible."

"Yup, so you better bring all your gear Sunday night."

"Sure I'll be ready, do you have any idea what we're looking for?"

"No clue, but I still think I should go with you, as backup."

"Sorry Victoria, but that is not going to happen and besides I don't need backup."

"Fine, but I hope you have a way for me to see everything that is going on."

"Yes I do."

"How?"

"Well, I was thinking about a camera."

"A camera?"

"Yup, I will install the program on your laptop and attach the camera onto my clothes so that you will be able to see everything that I can see."

"If this is the only way, then I guess it will work."

"Of course it will work, it was my idea. Have you been able to get into your father's office?"

"Not yet, I will look for the address as soon as I get home Sunday afternoon."

"Good, I have to go, see you Sunday night."

"See you." And then there was another clicking sound and I was cut off again.

I returned the Bluetooth device back to my drawer. I couldn't help but wonder what the Shadow would find Sunday night. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of him going in alone but I knew it was for the best.

Even though I won't tell him this, he had a point, if he got caught I would still be free, but if we both got caught I would be in serious trouble. All this thinking made me tired and before I knew it I was engulfed in darkness.

When I woke up my room was a bit darker, I looked at my alarm to see that it was five o'clock. I have slept for almost two hours and I still felt tired.

I took a look at myself in my mirror only to see that my clothes were all wrinkled and unpresentable. I fetched some new clothes to wear.

When I was more presentable I went down stairs to the kitchen to see if I could help my mother with anything.

"Hey mom." I say as I take a seat at the island table.

"Oh hey darling, where have you been, I thought you were watching television?"

"Oh I took a nap, so is dad back yet?"

"Yes, he's in his office finalizing our things for Sunday."

"When are you coming back?"

"We will be back by Friday next week."

"Maybe it can be like your second honey moon?"

"I doubt that, it's a police convention it's hardly a holiday."

"It can't be that bad, can it?"

"Believe me it is that bad, boring speeches through the whole day, can't get any better."

"Maybe it will be better this time, at what time will uncle Caleb be here?"

"At six, will you set the table?"

"Okay." I reply as I get plates, knives and forks before heading to the dining room next to the kitchen to set the table.

When I finished setting the table I went to the living room to watch some television. To my surprise my father was sitting on one of the coaches watching Castle. I took a seat next to my dad, this was our favorite television show.

After the first episode there was s knock on our door and my father jumped up to get the door.

"Good evening Caleb, so glad you could make it." My dad says as the Chief Inspector walks in.

"Glad to be invited, now where is that lovely girl of yours." He asks as he looks at me and I rush to greet him with a hug.

Even though he wasn't technically family he was an uncle to me that I adored. Since he didn't have children of his own he treated Alec and me as if we were his own children.

"Hello Victoria, how have you been?"

"Good thank you." I say as I step away to give my mother room to greet him.

"Annabeth, so lovely to see you."

"Likewise Caleb, how have you been?" My mother asks.

"You know me busy as usual, thank you for inviting me." Uncle Caleb says.

"Please come take a seat, dinner will be ready soon." My mother says and my father and uncle Caleb heads to the dinning room and my mother and I go to the kitchen to fetch the food.

After we placed the food on the table my mother and I took our seats. The food smelled amazing and I couldn't wait to dig in.

"The food is wonderful Annabeth, you've certainly out done yourself." Uncle Caleb says. He always enjoyed my mother's cooking since he hardly ate any home cooked meals since his wife died.

"Glad you enjoy it, so how is work these days?" My mother asks.

"Well I'm busy with a few murder cases at this moment, we believe that they are all linked somehow."

"It sounds interesting, why do you believe they are all linked?" My father asks.

"All the murder victims have same kind of tattoo." Uncle Caleb replies.

"Maybe gang related." My father says.

"We thoughts so too, hopefully we will find something to help us." Uncle Caleb says, "How is your investigations going? Your investigating the Shadow if I'm not mistaken?"

"Yes, but I've found no leads. The guy is like a real shadow that cannot be caught. And nobody knows anything about him, but he is bound to make a mistake." My father says hopefully.

"I heard about him, quite a character if you ask me. What does his partners say about him, they must have sold him out by now."

"That's the problem, all of his partners claim that they have never met him before."

"Do you think he has a hold on them?" Uncle Caleb asks curiously.

"Might be, but we'll never know for certain." My father replies and I try my very best not to snort. If only they knew what I did.

"What do you think Victoria?" Uncle Caleb asks me. Even though my father didn't want me to become a detective, uncle Caleb always believed in me.

"I think that he is not everything he seems to be." I say.

"Why do you think so?" My dad asks.

"Because none of his partners know who he is, isn't that strange."

"Yes it is quite, but I think we will get the truth sooner or later." My father replies.

The rest of the conversation went on and after dinner I helped my mother with the dishes while my father and uncle Caleb talked in the living room. When the dishes was finished my mother and I joined my father and uncle Caleb in the living room.

We talked and laughed just like old times and it was good to see them both smiling again. Even though my father never talked about Mike's killer, the White Hawk, I knew he was still hard at work trying to find him. Finding the White Hawk would mean everything to my dad and if I can help find him by helping the Shadow, why not.

When the clock struck ten o'clock uncle Caleb announced that he had to leave. After saying his goodbyes he left and I also said my goodnights to my parents before heading for my bed.

I got dressed in my pajamas before I fell down into my bed. Sleep came to me immediately and I was once again in dream land.

____________________________________
Hey guys

My exams are finally over and I can get back to writing again. And just because you had to wait so long I decided to give you two chapters. Hope you enjoy it.

Please comment and vote.
And thank you for your support I really appreciate it.
-Amorie