Legend of Kataria (Draft Version)

Chapter 4

Greeny sighed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly. But what had he been expecting? Her to actually listen to him? The odds of that were lower than Amicus learning how to waltz. He stood up abruptly and turned to face her, noting the surprise and the joy on her face. "What is it?" he questioned, hurrying over and kneeling beside her. "Did you find something?"

"Maybe," she responded. She pointed to a set of tire tracks that led away from the square. "Does that seem incriminating to you?"

Greeny followed where she was pointing. "It does. Do you remember anything about the escape vehicle in the official report?"

Leah shook her head and snapped a picture of the treads. Overhead, another growl of thunder caused both teens to look up nervously. "No," Leah said as an answer to his question. "No one saw anything and the department wasn't able to make a positive ID on the make and model. Why? Do you have an idea?"

Greeny studied the tracks. "Well, I can tell you right off that this was a smaller vehicle. Possibly carrying no more than four passengers. Electric."

She stared at him. "How can you determine that?"

"Here. Look," he replied, pointing out key factors of the treads. "The marks are thin which would suggest a smaller means of transport. And, based on the size and weight ratio, there's no way this vehicle could have been carrying more than four passengers or the imprints would have been deeper from the addition of weight."

"And the electric?"

"No visible leakage."

Leah frowned. "That doesn't necessarily mean anything," she argued. "Maybe the car just didn't leak."

Greeny shook his head. "Any gas vehicle leaves behind a stain," he explained.
"This one didn't, thus, it must be electric."

"All right, let's say you're right. Can you narrow down the type of car as well?" Though she was trying to hide it, she was obviously excited to have a lead.

Greeny stood back up. "Not just by looking. I'd need something to match the tracks to. Another car of the same variety. But," he added, seeing her disappointment, "if you send me those pictures you took, I might be able to do something when I get home."

Leah nodded in understanding. There was nothing else that could be done now. But they'd gained an important piece of information that the police had missed, and that could make a big difference in finding the boy who did this. Though why Leah cared, Greeny was unsure. He supposed she wanted to prove herself to her father. And, if he were being honest, he wanted to prove himself to her. That was the reason he'd agreed to all of this madness, even knowing the consequences could be severe. He wanted her to know that he was there when she needed him. And, even if this wasn't the way he'd have liked to do it, he knew it was the only way she'd ever take him seriously. As a friend or...maybe...perhaps...as something more.

Another rumble of thunder, this one sounding almost like motorcycles.

"Leah," Greeny told her. "I know how much this means to you, but I think we really should be getting back. It looks like it's about to rain and your father will definitely be suspicious if you come back soaked." He felt bad about cutting off their search so quickly, but he knew they'd get even less done from a jail cell.

Leah frowned and turned to look up at the darkening sky. "Yeah, you're right," she said with a sigh. "I just wish we could have had a little more time to study this." She looked longingly at the empty street.

"I know, but, look at it this way, we did find something. And maybe it doesn't seem big right now, but don't the biggest clues to cracking cases come from the most seemingly insignificant places? Come on." He gave her a small smile. "This investigation is far from over. It just is on hold. Okay?"