Little Tooth

Chapter Nineteen

CVS

-...-

"Jackson..."

Jackson looked surprised to run into Felix yet again while walking around Savannah. He was a bit more surprised that Felix looked...upset.

Jackson sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't call. I got distracted by the others."

"No, I'm not mad." Felix faked a laugh. "I just needed to talk to you."

"Sure." Jackson replied. "About...what?"

"We saw the news article about Alyss." Felix sighed. "I wanted to ask you a few questions."

"Oh." Jackson had forgotten about the news article. "Sure..."

"I know we can't talk here, so how about we talk while we head towards my place?" Felix asked with a small smile on his face.

"Sure."

Jackson followed felix as they walked down the sidewalks of the Savannah streets. The trees above and the houses kept them in the shade. It was a school/work day, So no one was on the streets. Jackson had taken a few days off, but had to return to work tomorrow.

"So, what do you want to know?" Jackson started the conversation.

"Well." Felix looked at the space in front of him. "The article said you didn't know that much and couldn't give any further information. But...Something tells me that's a lie. I hate to be intruding, but I think you know more then just what was stated."

Jackson paused. He nodded his head. "You're right."

Felix felt a bit proud of himself. "Now I must ask, What do you know?"

Jackson watched Felix for a bit, not knowing how to reply.

"Felix...why do you seem so determined to know?"

Felix took a deep breath. "Because I've noticed things that...that kind of scare me."

Jackson felt concerned. "Like what?"

Felix shook his head. "About Little Apple."

Jackson could feel Felix didn't think back on Little Apple as a happy place. This made Jackson a bit surprised, but he went with it. He didn't either.

"I'll tell you what I know, but...may I ask first what you've noticed?" Jackson asked.

Felix took a deep breath. "I don't know. I could just be me. But I've noticed that a few people related to Little Apple have either died or gone missing. Considering how much Norm loved us it's pretty obvious that he wouldn't ignore us. Something happened to him. And Alyss, her too."

Felix slowly looked up at Jackson. "Mrs. Hamilton went missing not long after Little Apple went down."

" 's gone?" Jackson felt horrible.

"I've had trouble getting in contact with a few others, but they are the only ones i'm certain about." Felix explained.

Jackson waited for Felix to go on, but realized he said all he knew. Jackson breathed in and out, the cold air being sucked in and pushed out. He then told Felix everything. From his first feeling of suspicion to the night he ran away. By then, Felix had stopped infront of an apartment complex, which Jackson only noticed when he ended his story. They stood there, infront of it.

"Hey, This is my apar-"

"I'm sorry." Felix said, not noticing Jackson started to speak.

"Hm?" Jackson looked at Felix.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that by yourself. I wish I wasn't so oblivious."

"You people." Jackson let out a long breath. "That's just what Baby Tooth said."

"Well, I really don't know what to say in reply." Felix said. "I don't have anything to say. Only that I knew something was wrong."

"You don't need to say anything." Jackson said in a soft voice.

"But." Felix looked up at Jackson. "I have no doubt from what I heard that Mrs. Overland and the other employees have something to do with this."

"Only question is where are they and why. And Are they going to do anymore damage."

"I wonder if I even want to know." Felix sighed. "Anyway, my apartment is on the top floor."

Jackson smiled. "I thought I was going crazy when I noticed where we were. I live on the second floor."

Felix smiled back. "What an odd coincidence."

-...-

"We're home!" Felix called as he and Jackson entered the apartment.

"Hey!"

Marzia sat on the couch and, walking into the front room, Cry stood at the other doorway. Jackson gently pushed the door closed behind them. Their apartment wasn't facing the front of the building like his, but was hidden inside in a warm, comfy hallway. There were no windows, but it was bigger then his one-person place.

"Hello Marzia." Jackson nodded at the woman, then turning to Cry. "Hello..."

Cry cracked a smile. "Just call me Cry."

"Hello Cry."

Cry walked back into the room he was last in, being the small room with the two computers in it. Felix lead Jackson into that room and the two sat at the back of Cry as Cry sat in the chair. Cry started pulling things up.

"So. Jackson." Cry started. "I was told you knew things. You seem a bit tired so I won't ask, but is it true?"

Jackson nodded his head. "We think that Mrs. Overland and whoever else worked there had something dark planned. They seemed to want us dead, and considering Norm and Mrs. Hamilton's disappearance, it's not just some coincidence anymore."

"All you need to know," Felix told Cry, "Is that Jackson ran away that one night because they tried to kill him too."

"So 4 known victims, only one obviously alive, huh?" Cry asked. "What actions do we take now, captain?"

"Oliver asked If i'd take this to court...but I feel like we'd have to locate Mrs. Overland first." Jackson sighed.

"Nah, all you have to do is get evidence to prove she has something to do with it. The police can track her down afterward." Cry imputed.

"If there was any DNA evidence at Alyss' crime scene or even on her, they would have found it already. And Norm nor Mrs. Hamilton have crime scenes at the moment so how are we going to link her to it?" Jackson asked.

"I hate to say it, guys, but..." Cry turned around in the chair to face them. "Unless we actually hunt her down, which could result in either us being killed or her calling the cops on us, is that we wait for her to strike again. That is, guessing she's planning to take another Little Apple down from the tree."

Jackson shivered. "I'd hate to find she's out for more of us."

"So really, all we can do is sit and wait." Felix sighed.

"What if nothing happens? What if Mrs. Overland is done with us. Forgotten us."

The three turned to see Marzia at the doorway. She looked concern.

"Then we're being hostile for no reason whatsoever." Cry crossed his arms.

"We still want to take her to court, don't we?" Jackson asked. "Letting Norm and Alyss die for nothing? Nobody will remember they ever existed after we all shrivel away."

"I bet within a few years no one will remember us."

Jackson let out a rude laugh. "With that subscriber list you and Felix got going, they might as well write you two in the history books."

"Oh, Come on." Felix huffed. "We're not here to argue."

"Sorry." Jackson calmed down.

"So." Marzia walked over. "If you guys want to start anywhere without staying put, you can see if Alexis knows anymore about her mother before she went missing."

"She does still live here. Finishing up her last year of high school if I remember correctly." Marzia added.

"I guess that's all we can do for now." Jackson turned to Felix and cry.

-...-

It wasn't hard to find Alexis' home, however getting her to talk about her mother was. She didn't like three strange men coming in, asking her about her gone loved-one. Her father was at work and she had just gotten home from school.

"Why should I? How do you people even know her?" Alexis hissed, jumping onto her couch and flipping on the TV.

"Alexis, I know we've never met in person, but it's me. Felix." Felix explained. "I've talked to you on the phone before about her, though I understand that was awhile ago."

Alexis stared at them, then realized who they were. "Oh! You're three of the children she helped raised at Little Apple. Got it!"

"So, will you help us?" Felix asked.

"Yeah, sure, but why do you all seem so suddenly interested?" Alexis narrowed her eyes.

"It's a long story." Jackson sighed.

"Hmm, well, I'll help anyway." Alexis sighed, shoving a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. "You guys can sit down, you know."

The three sat down in the chairs facing Alexis.

"So, basically, all we want to know are a few simple things. Then we'll be leaving." Cry started. "Did you notice any strange behavior in your mother following her disappearance?"

"Hmm..." Alexis paused. "She went to sleep almost as soon as she got home instead of staying up for a late dinner or whatever. She seemed worked up over Little Apple being taken down and the children being moved. She cared a lot for you guys so was broken be told she'd have to stop taking care of them."

"..."

Alexis went on. "I remember her looking for a new job, like a substitute for an elementary school, but other then that, she seemed normal. She acted the same on weekends as she has every other time I remember."

Cry shuffled in his chair. "Do you think your dad remembers anything?"

"Mom kept to herself a lot during the time Little Apple was going down...I want to say that I probably know more then him. He works a lot so doesn't notice when she acts just the slightest out of place."

"Hm." Cry leaned back in the chair. "Do you think her disappearance has anything to do with Little Apple?"

Alexis stared at them for awhile. "I never thought about it, but you people sure seem to ask like that's what's to believe."

"Do you know if your mother ever kept record of the phone numbers of her employers?" Jackson suddenly asked, the other two looking at him with surprise.

"Well." Alexis had to think about it. "My best guess is that dad has them, and that only means god knows where. But that's guess she actually did keep them."

Cry, Felix, and Jackson said nothing.

Alexis shifted in her spot. "I can look into it, but other then that I have nothing more to say."

"I think we're done here too."

Alexis looked at the clock on the wall. "That was fast."

"We really didn't plan out an interview." Cry sighed.

"Well I hope you guys have luck in whatever you're doing." Alexis sighed.

"Here. Just in case you find anything." Felix handed her his apartment phone number.

"Thank you." Alexis said quietly.

They left after a small goodbye. It really didn't get them anywhere. And even if Alexis were to find the numbers of her employers, it's possible they've all moved. Would anyone pick up? Would it be wise to call them in the first place?

-...-

The next day, Jackson had to report to work at an old Japanese restaurant. A small one, the first he'd ever gone to as a kid. When he returned home, he was met with Baby Tooth, who had just gotten off from school. He was surprised, but she knew where he lived and he didn't mind the company. Baby Tooth would sit at the coffee table in front of the TV and do her homework while Jackson would make them a snack.

"How was school?" Jackson asked, setting a plate of amature-made sushi on the coffee table.

"Gooooood." Baby Tooth smiled and took a bite of the sushi Jackson made.

"I know it's not the best, but my boss is teaching me so I thought i'd practice." Jackson smiled.

Jackson heard a knock at the door and smiled, getting up to answer it. Waiting patiently was Mary, the nurse who had cared for him so long ago.

"Hello." Jackson welcomed her in.

"Good afternoon, Jackson." Mary smiled, stepping inside as Jackson closed the door behind her.

"Oh, hello there." Mary noticed Baby Tooth.

"Hello!" Baby Tooth smiled.

"Mary, this is Baby Tooth. Toothiana Time." Jackson introduced. "Baby Tooth, this is Mary, the nurse who took care of me."

"Nice to meet you." Mary nodded her head.

"So what brings you here?" Jackson asked.

"I came to ask you a favor." Mary turned to him. "I need to leave the state to take care of another patient. You don't mind dropping some things off at the hospital, do you?"

"No, I'll take care of it for you." Jackson said polietly.

"I'd do it myself but i'm running late this morning. Should have left a half hour ago and I really need to see them." Mary sighed.

"Don't worry about it." Jackson smiled.

"Thank you so much, darling." Mary smiled. "I have them in my car, i'll go get them. It's just a few small boxes."

"Let me come with you." Jackson offered, slipping on some shoes. "Make it go by easier."

"Thank you so much!"

-...-

Baby Tooth shoved her work into her backpack, chewing on the last bite of Sushi. Jackson sat on the couch, watching the TV, and on the other side of the coffee table was three boxes. Jackson watched Baby Tooth put the plate away into the kitchen and come back. The time was around 4:30

"What time do you need to be home?" Jackson asked.

"Oliver said as long as I get back before dinner, I'm fine." Baby Tooth said.

"Well I was thinking about taking the boxes to the hospital and get It over with." Jackson stood up. "Would you like to come with me?"

Baby Tooth actually had to think. "Actually, you don't mind dropping me off at the shopping district? I need to get a few more things for school tomorrow. If I get it over with now I won't need to bother Oliver later."

"Can you get home after that?" Jackson asked, slipping on his shoes and grabbing the boxes.

"If you drop me off by the CVS then I can take a bus to my house." Baby Tooth informed him.

"Alright."

-...-

Jackson dropped Baby Tooth off in front of a CVS, which was a small store that had a bunch of different things. A convenient store. Baby Tooth smiled goodbye and walked inside, her book-bag on her back. She wondered the aisles and found the school supply area. She went to buy a few more paper notebooks and mechanical pencils. She paid and walked out, a bag of supplies in her hands.

Walking down the side walk, she noticed the sky getting grey. Rain, probably. She'd grown to like rain so she didn't mind. It seemed really quiet on the street, hardly anyone else in sight. She hummed to a song and ignored it all, heading towards the bus stop.

"Ah-!"

She didn't notice until it was too late, but a pair of hands grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows, the bag dropping from her grip and into a newly forming puddle.

-...-