Late Night Detecting

Rusty rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Sleep was not coming easily tonight. He hated that he had let Keith rattle him so. Being a detective felt less fun than it had earlier in the day. He looked across the room at the envelope lying on the chair. After tossing it there when he'd gotten home, he'd done his best to avoid it. The temptation to peek inside was overwhelming but Rusty resisted. Once he delivered it to Drew he'd probably find out the contents anyway.

Rusty rolled out of bed and crept to the window. For the past few nights, he'd felt like someone was watching him. He even thought he noticed someone sitting in an older green Corolla looking toward his apartment. It was probably someone who lived in the building just getting home, he tried to assure himself. He began noticing the green car most nights, although it was usually parked in the shadows and he was unable to tell if it was occupied. Until his encounter with Keith, Rusty thought he was just being paranoid. He was relieved to find that the green car was nowhere in sight tonight.

Rusty sat back on the edge of his bed and tried hard to be a detective. Study the evidence, he told himself, let the facts speak to you. Rusty sat, staring blankly at the floor. The facts weren't saying much. Rusty began to wonder what exactly it was he was trying to detect. After all, he'd been trying to find Keith. He'd done that - or at least Keith had found him. So, was he done? Was that it? Case closed? No, Rusty realized. It was Brandi he was looking for.

Rusty's thoughts returned to the green car. It was out there every night except tonight - the night that Keith had confronted him. Maybe the driver of the green car was working for Keith. Maybe they had told Keith where to find him. Maybe their work was done now that Keith had delivered his message. Maybe that's why the car isn't out there tonight. Rusty grabbed a pen and his yellow notebook from his nightstand. He opened the notebook randomly, anxious to find a blank page. In big letters he wrote "Green car works for Keith".

Rusty sank back onto the bed, pleased with himself for having come up with a conclusion. He felt like a real detective and the feeling gave him courage. Knowing Keith, he would likely send the green car back to make sure Rusty minded his own business. If he did, Rusty would be ready.