When Caylen and I get home, we try to explain the situation. Shauna was upset that she didn't get her groceries, but when she found out why we didn't have them, she was very concerned. Rob instructed us to describe the situation in great detail on our tablets to keep as records. Since there was nothing to inspect, they didn't make a big deal about it. And probably because they've accepted the fact that I get in a lot of accidents, even though that wasn't always true. They believe we are getting closer to getting The Red, though. I sure hope so.

But I know for sure, that next time a man tries bags my face, I'm going to get him.

And he won't get away with it.

---------------------------------------------

Monday goes mostly normal, except that Kian doesn't talk much at all. Whenever I say something, it's like he's closed up again. It fills me with an overwhelming sadness. And Hayden doesn't even talk to me at all. I don't know why. It's extremely unusual.

The one time I mention the incident with the man on Main Street to Kian, he says, "Don't talk to me about it."

I open my mouth to speak again and he says, "Just don't, Natalie. I don't understand what happened this weekend any more than you do." He sounds truthful, but he sounds cold, and it's tearing me apart.

✯ ✯ ✯

On Tuesday morning, a little after 4:00 AM, which is hours before I'm supposed to get up, Rob and Shauna wake Caylen and me up.

"We need to go inspect a crime scene," Shauna explains.

"What?" I ask, my voice cracking since I just woke up.

"The Red murdered a woman in a nearby town a few hours ago. We need to check it out."

"What about school?" I ask as I crawl out of bed.

"You'll have to miss it today."

I frown. Kian didn't want me to miss anymore school. And how will I explain this to him? Well, it's not like he doesn't keep secrets.

After I get ready, it's about 5:00 AM. I meet Rob, Shauna, and Caylen in the living room. Lenny has been sent to Krista's house for the night, and my Family is going to meet Mark in the town at the scene of the crime. I'd much rather go to school.

No one says much on the drive. We're probably all too tired. It takes about an hour to get there. For the last few minutes of the drive, Caylen and I have woken up enough to make small talk.

Rob pulls up by the town's bank, where there are many police cars. The policemen fill the sidewalk, as does the yellow crime scene tape that is strapped on the poles. The sun still rising, so it's a little dark.

We climb out of the car and find Mark standing close to the building.

"Ready?" he says.

I nod smugly, because I am ready, even if I really don't want to do this.

Mark opens the door and we walk into a large circular room, with more policemen milling around. Mark proceeds to the front counter, and speaks as he does so.

"She was working the night shift," he says. "That's really all we know, because there was one coworker in here with her, and he was in the restroom. He came out to find a large amount of money gone, and this." He's walked behind the large counter, and he's gesturing to a grotesque body lying on the ground.

I almost lose my insides. The woman has a knife sticking out of her chest, her blouse soaked with blood. I can see the sticker stuck to her cheek. I almost don't want the sun to come up any further, so I don't have to see her any clearer.

"Natalie?" Mark looks to me. "Work your magic."

"Why me?" I ask. "I'm not the only detective here!"

"We're trying to find out if you're really the best. Say something."

"Okay," I say, looking at the scene before me. "The Red probably knew that there was someone else in the building. So, they couldn't use a gun because that would make a loud bang that would alert anyone else inside. I'm guessing that to pull off something like this, there would have to be at least three or four or maybe even more people. It could take multiple people to gather the money quickly, and multiple people to get her to remain quiet during the murder, and even multiple people to keep watch. But that's not definite."

"What else do you see?" Mark presses after I fall silent.

I pause before saying, "The vault door looks intact, meaning they stole the key to get in. But it was also left open, and the papers on the desk are scattered, so they must have jumped the desk in a hurry to get out. They even left the knife in her chest. The phone has been ripped from the desk and thrown on the ground, probably to buy some extra time so the coworker couldn't call the cops right away."

I look toward my Family. They are all nodding, and they look to be in deep contemplation.

"Where's the coworker?" I ask. "I'd like to speak with him."

"Okay, but remember, he doesn't know about the agency," Mark says.

I nod, and Mark walks outside to where the policemen are. A minute later, he comes back inside with a man who's probably in his thirties, slightly overweight.

"Talk to her," Mark pushes the man toward me.

"You're not police," the man says, panicking a little.

"It doesn't matter who I am," I say. "I need you to tell me everything you saw from the moment you walked out of that bathroom."

The man looks behind him, where a policeman is nodding, motioning for him to talk to me. Even though the man probably doesn't understand why, he tells me everything he saw.

"I walked out of the bathroom, and I saw this mess. I looked out the door and saw a shiny black car driving away. I went to the phone, but it was destroyed. So were all the other phones. That's all. I don't even really understand what's happening. How does this pertain to you?"

My breathe catches in my throat. A black car. I turn around to look at Caylen, who is as wide eyed as me. That must have been the exact same car that we saw last weekend, meaning that there is a woman in The Red. The same woman from that day on Main Street. Maybe the sticker isn't just to fool us, but to play with us and see if we believe what it shows. But why would they totally give themselves away like that? They probably wouldn't.

"Thank you," I tell the man. I look at Mark, letting him know that he's the one who decides what's next.

"Okay," Mark says. He looks at the Family. "Got your observations?"

They all nod. So Mark continues. "Are your tablets in the car?"

This time only Rob nods. I guess he picked them up without me noticing.

"Alright. I want you guys to record your observations on the way back. Shauna and Rob will have to take turns driving while the other records."

Mark starts walking back to the front door, so we follow him, leaving the coworker man behind us looking slightly confused.

The sun is all the way up now. We couldn't have been in there for more than half an hour.

"What time is it?" I ask.

"Almost seven," Rob says. "We'll take you guys somewhere for breakfast.

That means we won't get home until school has already started.

"Why don't we just show up a little late to school?" I ask.

"Because," Shauna says, "you have to provide a reason for being late."

"You have to give a reason for absence too," I counter.

"Well, we can say you guys weren't feeling very well today. You can't show up late because you were sick. Just stay home."

"We could make a creative reason for not going," I say. "Like I lost my backpack and Caylen was helping me find it or something."

"Natalie," she says, "it's really not good to go to school right after seeing a crime scene. You have to process it or something might slip, okay?"

"Fine."

Rob and Shauna take us somewhere to eat, where we record our observations on our tablets. The public probably thinks we are a little too attached to our electronics.

"Rob?" I ask.

"Hmm?"

"Can I use email on here?"

"Yeah. Click that little icon there."

"Okay." I click on it, and a sign in box pops up. I have to think for a second to remember my password, because I haven't used it in years.

My inbox pops up. At the top is a message from Robin. There's two emails from my aunt. One from three years ago and one from a few months ago. There's about ten emails from my old school friend, Donna.

I start from the bottom. The one from my aunt.

Are you okay, Natalie? I've tried reaching you but nothing's working! Contact me as soon as possible!

I feel really bad that I never answered. I had other things on my mind. Donna's emails remind me that I never emailed her, or called her, or said anything to her. I guess I just have a talent for leaving my friends without warning. Her latest email was sent three months ago.

Natalie, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I miss you. Things haven't been the same since you left. Now I have no idea where you even are.

I click reply. She deserves that much. I tell her that I'm fine, and sorry for not responding. What more do I say?

The latest message from my aunt says:

I don't now if you'll ever receive this, but I want to know where you are and how you're doing. It's like you've disappeared. Where have you gone, Natalie?

I never thought of anyone when I left. How could I?

I respond and tell her I went to the orphanage, then got adopted. It feels really weird emailing her after all these years.

Finally, the message from Robin.

Hello. ;) Let me know if this gets through.

It did. So I reply to tell her. I'm not in the mood for many words right now.

Because I'm getting closer to discovering The Red. I know now, for almost sure, that there is a woman involved. I'm one step closer.