Incognito

All Good Things

"So, how's the news this week?" I say, pouring myself a glass of orange juice and taking the chance to look up to the two males in the room. Ryder decided to take interest in the news also. I could care less about the news honestly, but a part of me, aka my mother's effort, feels obligated to say something.

"The police found a body burned by what looks like lightning out near Port 17, which I think might be an interesting case to look into." Dad replies as I sit down next to Ryder which, mind you, goes unnoticed. But in my defense, there's only four chairs at the kitchen table, and the two chairs at the island don't count.

"I heard that there's been three or four other sightings of the same kind of case." Ryder joins in, his look gloomy and reminiscing. I take it from that that he's seen it first hand. Without even thinking about, I know what and how this is happening. It couldn't be any more obvious in my head. It could be because I've been hanging out with DI while he trails the suspect, but without a doubt it has to be Strike. I mean, come on, these cases are recent, and guess what's also new in town? Strike.

"I'll be damned if I don't say this, but someone or something has to happen to stop this. I can't stand hearing about these deaths and knowing that people are just getting accustomed to it." Dad continues, shaking his head in pure disappointment. I know what he is thinking. He's a retired Special Forces veteran, serving as a civilian and his entire life has just been about protecting people. There's no way that he couldn't be disgruntled. "Has the League addressed the issue yet?"

"Nope." Ryder speaks for the both of us. And if you are wondering, yes, my parents have known about my trips to the League and they treat it as any other regular meeting. Like Helping Hands for instance. "After the mess that happened last time we went though, I think that they'll definitely give us a heads up. I mean, that is for the people that live under rocks. It wouldn't be any surprise to me."

"What mess?" Mom chimes in, confused and worried, but nonetheless cheery. I give Ryder a dirty look, but all he returns is a guilty shrug. I had "forgotten" about the mess. It was a week ago, and by now I thought I had gotten away with it. Now both my parents were eagerly awaiting for an answer.

"I'll take it from here." I pat Ryder's shoulder, seeing redness grow up his neck. God I hope he feels embarrassed. If I don't present this right, I'll be screwed. "Honestly, it was nothing. It's just that during one of the tests, a little mishap occurred while the monitors weren't there- but it's okay, Ditto Incognito saved me."

There. Mentioning DI's name must calm them down. Besides, if Mom stays distracted then the next pancake is going to be burnt to a crisp.

"Saved you?" Mom scoffs, disbelief written on her face. "It had to be something bigger than nothing if he had to physically save you! Honey, tell us what happened!"

"Alright, Mom, this isn't really a conversation I want to have right now." My voice constricts, and divert my eyes to Ryder. I hope my nonverbal communication works. It would be so much easier to just tell her telepathically.

"If not now, then when?" Dad sasses, obviously annoyed at me cutting off after peaking his interest. I bite my lip.

"Later." I answer after a moment of thinking. I grab Ryder's hand and tug on it to leave. "Now, I suspect that this guy has a few words to tell me before he ended up eating at the table with us. So, we'll be off doing that, okay?"

In the midst of leaving, Ryder thanks my parents for their welcoming behavior and I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him as he continues to suck up to them. They just nod, but obviously don't care since they are distracted with the release of my danger in the supposedly safest place in the state.

"Ugh, you have no idea how much I hate you right now." I seethe, once we are outside and away from my parents' hearing.

"Well I'm sorry for letting them know what actually happened last week! And how did you manage to keep them ignorant about it if you were in severe pain?"