crazy kid | r. buckley

15. lovebirds and lots of ricks

Gina looks at the ground, taking in all the information. Eddie killed Chrissy. But why? She knew Chrissy wanted drugs, but she never would've thought Eddie a killer. "You're saying Eddie killed Chrissy, aren't-"

"No!" Dustin yells, cutting Gina off before she could finish. "Eddie did not kill Chrissy. He wouldn't do that."

"He's a drug dealer," Gina replies almost immediately. "Anyone is capable of anything if they're high enough."

"But what about the lights?" Dustin counters.

"What about them? She said it wasn't weird!"

"What if it's back?" Dustin argues.

"What if what's back?"

"The Mind Flayer!"

Gina shuts her mouth, she doesn't want to remember that. Doesn't want to remember what happened last summer. Oh no, now she's thinking about it. Just don't think about it, easy.

After a few very awkward seconds of silence, Max speaks up. "Anyways, I might have a lead."

"Really?" Stephanie smiles.

Max nods. "Apparently, Eddie gets drugs from some guy named Reefer Rick, and sometimes Eddie crashes there," she answers, her tone confused and unsure.

"That sounds promising," Robin grins. "Where does Reefer Rick guy live?"

Max rolls her eyes. "See, that's the thing. No one knows, really. He's more of a...legend than someone that people actually know."

"Well, what about a last name?" Dustin shrugs.

"I don't know that either," Max cringes, Gina seeing her take a glance at Stephanie, who looks deep in thought.

"I bet the cops know the last name," Steve comments, making the other five turn their heads towards him, all giving a look.

"No, Steve," Stephanie shakes her head. "Just no."

Gina nods in agreement. "I agree with the blonde one. Cops are a bad idea."

"Few too many run ins?" Robin mutters, just loud enough for only Gina to hear. She only gives a glare back in return, failing at suppressing her smile.

"Yeah, cops," Steve continues, ignoring the girls and starting to organize the shelves. "I mean, listen, if this Reefer Rick is actually a drug dealer," Steve lowers his voice as he turns around and leans closer, sliding his arms across the counter. "I guarantee you he's been busted at some point. Means he's in the system."

"The cops?" Dustin steps closer to Steve.

Stephanie furrows her brows. "The same people we are trying to avoid?" She crosses her arms. "The reason we came here was because we didn't tell the cops."

Steve throws his hands into the air in a shrug. "I mean, I think at this point they should be filled in on what's going on."

"Maybe if Hopper were here, but he's not. We're not going to them." Stephanie frowns.