Artist's Thefts

Chapter 1

I had no idea trouble was brewing until Chase busted through my back door at sunset one Thursday during summer vacation.

Hey, don't think that because I didn't have my thumb pressed to the heartbeat of Scottsdale's criminal activity, I'd been slacking off at my job. I'm not a criminal, and I'm not a detective. My job starts after the crime has been committed, when the victim comes to me and a slice of fruit cake. That's when I sneak in and retrieve the stolen object from under the thief's nose.

But I had tried to pay more attention that summer. If I'd been more attentive during school, I would have known that Steven Hopkins was a dirty criminal posing as an innocent, sweet victim. He was not someone who needed my help.

The silence on the underground wasn't odd or worrying. Summers are generally chill for me. I had biked, camped, and played video games with Chase and Hack. Then Chase went off to meet Elaine Trojan at Star Sorbet, a sorbet parlor that he frequents as it's a good place to find clients from all over Scottdale. I avoid it because Jessica Mill, the tiny sized yet terrifying private detective whose goal was to see me in detention for life, knows about this fact.

Fast-forward to an hour later, when Chase burst into my house without knocking, eyes wild.

"Dude," I said. I had just sitting near the door, waiting for a job if one came along, so I was there to greet him. "Next time, just kick the door off its hinges, don't hold back."

"We have a problem," He said, slamming the door behind him.

"Yes," a voiced said. "A 14-year-old, wearing a shirt stained with blood and a shifty look, just infiltrated our house through the back door." My seventeen-year-old brother, Ken, had made a appearance by coming in from the kitchen with a can of beer. "yet another illegal 'project' for our Dr. Mayhem, and I appear to have stepped into the middle. Oh my, what should I do?"

"How about shut up and go away?"

"How about no?"

"J," Chase said, peering out the window. "We don't have time for this"

"It's summer," I said. We have all the time in this world."

"She's right outside."

I went to the window and looked. Jessica was in my backyard, arms folded, grinning at Chase and me through the window.

"I'm sorry man," Chase said. "I didn't know she followed me."

"I expected better of your criminal friends, Jack Wilson," she called. "Your forger should have known not to come straight here."

Ken gestured to the window with his can. "Isn't that Officer Mill's daughter? You are in trouble."

"Nope. I can handle her." Jessica was still outside. I'd hoped she'd leave, but it looked like she wasn't moving until she got what she wanted. I groaned and opened the back door. "Come on, Chase."

Jessica smirked at us. "Greetings, Wilson. Seems like you are still waiting for your first growth spurt."

I ignored the jab at my less than generous height. "What do you want?"

She ignored me at looked around the yard. "So this is why I never seen you take jobs from home. They all come here. I will have to watch you better."

"This is my house, and I believe that means you're trespassing," I said. " Not good for a law-abiding detective like you."

"Is that what you say to your clients? If they are allowed, then I'm allowed to come talk to a pair of criminals."

"We aren't criminals!" Chase said.

Jessica evil smile grew. " I knew you did it. Chase coming here proves it."

"Proves what? I have no idea what you're talking about.But I can't wait to tell everyone that coming to a friend's house is a crime." I said while pushing a raging Chase back inside and closed the door.

"You can't hide forever!" Jessica called, but I ignored her again.

"She's leaving." Chase said as his face pressed into the glass.