Two girls she doesn't recognize appear in the doorway. Annabeth looks at them curiously as they in turn peer at her. The one of the left is the shorter of the pair, with bouncy golden ringlets framing coffee coloured eyes. The one of the right is sporting a heavy snowboarding jacket, her brown hair cut in jagged waves.
"Um, hello?" Annabeth calls out as they continue to flit around the entrance.
The pair freeze in the doorway. They glance at each outher, before the brunette takes a slow step forward. She smiles slowly, looking pained. "Hi, Annabeth," she starts. "I'm Piper." The girl continues to advance tentatively, one step purposely in front of the other, as if approaching a wounded animal.
Annabeth nods and turns her attention to the other girl. "And you?" she asks.
The shorter girl swallows stiffly and opens her mouth, only to shut it again when nothing actually comes out. By their cautious behaviour and the way the curly haired girl plasters herself to the door, nervous to enter, Annabeth knows that she must have known them before.
Her mother hadn't mentioned any friends. She only spoke of life at home, with herself and Malcolm. Biting her lip, Annabeth wonders what kind of friends she had before. The girl in the snowboarding jacket looks confident, though relatively un-coordinated with her mismatch socks and the pink Hello Kitty shirt sticking out beneath her snowboarding jacket. The other girl is easier to read, the anxiety written over her face and her shy flirt with the doorway speak for themselves.
"That's Hazel," the brunette says. Her voice startles Annabeth from her thoughts. "You really don't remember us?"
Pursing her lips, Annabeth shakes her head. "No." After another pause, she gestures to the pair to sit down by her bed. It takes a bit to coax Hazel from the doorway, but soon the two are seated comfortably on opposite sides of Annabeth's cot. The blond shifts in the silence for a moment before blurting out, "What was I like before? How'd I know you guys?"
Surprisingly it's Hazel who answers, "We're your roommates. First years at St. Lawrence University. We, uh, met at a counselor training course over the summer before grade twelve. We kept in touch and, well..." she trails off, unsure of what to say when the facts run out.
"Honestly?" Annabeth twists to look at Piper as she begins, "You were kind of a know-it-all."
Hazel lets out a quick laughs. "Are you ever!" she exclaims, the obvious tension finally leaving her body. The girl laying on the cot then decides she likes relaxed Hazel over whoever she was before. She also doesn't miss how they refer to her. Hazel in the present tense, and Piper in the past - like Annabeth is already gone.
***
"What do you mean you won't arrest him?" Athena explodes from her seat, glaring at the captain. "He's a murderer!"
"Sit down, Ms Chase," he instructs.
Athena's knuckles turn white from gripping the table in front of her. She's ready to explode, but she can feel everyone's eyes on her. The captain has gathered his squad in the briefing room and Athena knows every police officer's curious eye is trained on her. So she swallows hard over the lump welling up in her throat and takes her seat.
"Now, as I was saying, Gabe Jackson is suspected of murder. He has also been tied to a string of bank robberies as well as been arrested for assault. Normally we wouldn't hesitate to bring him in." Here the captain shoots a look at the private detective, making her feel foolish. "But these bank robberies are bigger then just one guy with a long rap sheet."
A TV in the front of the room flicks on, a picture of a man appearing on the screen. He's well groomed, curly black hair slicked back with a long, pointy beard that makes Athena shift in her seat. He's tall, at least seven feet, and has a muscular build beneath the tailored suit he wears - like any decent crime lord.
"This is Kronos. Someone with three times as many criminal charges against him than Gabe Jackson and the suspected ringleader of the infamous bank robberies," the captain introduces him. "Look, we've never been so close to this guy before and Gabe Jackson can finally help us slam Kronos, if we let him think he's free."
Athena's hardly listening to him anymore. Her brain has already jumped ahead several points. How in the world could Gabe Jackson - Ugliano? - possibly their 'in'? Possibilities fly through her thoughts in a matter of seconds before she lands on the most obvious answer just as the captain finally reveals his plan.
"His stepson, Percy Jackson, has been arrested and his lawyer has assured us they are ready to cut a deal. I will be talking to him in a minute. Our plan is of now to release him in order for Percy Jackson to go undercover and make contact with Kronos," the captain concludes. "You may all leave."
Before the captain can even attempt leaving the room, Athena corners him. "You're using him as bait?" She phrases it as a question, but it's an accusation.
The captain licks his lips. "Essentially."
"He's just a boy," she argues.
Now the captain shakes his head. "That 'boy' is eighteen years old and is facing serious time for theft as well as kidnapping; kidnapping of your daughter if my memory serves. Now, I'm going to go talk to this Percy Jackson. If you like you can watch behind the glass. Nothing more," he warns her. When she looks affronted and opens her mouth to rebuke him, he quickly amends his statement. "You are a good detective Ms Chase, no one is denying that. But you're much too close to this case. Take a step back and let someone with an objective view take a stab. Namely me."
With that, the captain turns and walks out of the room, leaving Athena alone in the empty room. She takes a deep breath, trying not to let the captain's words to heart. But she knows he's right. Her son is dead and the same man is responsible for putting her only daughter in the hospital.
Gods above she just wants to punch someone.
***
Percy grumbles. He's been waiting in the interrogation room for what feels like forever. The hard, metal chair he's sitting on never gets anywhere near comfortable and the handcuffs are starting to chaff his wrists. He looks over beside him at his lawyer. Mr. D seems to be oblivious to the boy and hums quietly as he sips another can of Diet Coke.
Suddenly there's a click and the door opens. Percy glances up, confused when it's not Detective Chase, but a man. The man has graying hair and creases are starting to form at the corner of his eyes. He looks steadily at Percy, holding the boy's gaze as the door clicks shut. "Percy Jackson, you are facing serious time here for kidnapping as well as robbery."
Percy just rolls his eyes. "Like I didn't know that already," he murmurs under his breath.
The man hardly spares Percy a glance as he sits down across from the boy and continues, "But I'm ready to cut a deal with you."
Percy shoots up in his seat. "A deal?" he asks. "What kind of deal?"
For once Mr. D has the answer. "It's a deal to renegotiate the charges against you," he explains.
"But I didn't kidnap her," Percy persists.
The man waves away Percy's comment, ignoring him. "Percy, you've been cooperative and I'm ready to drop all criminal charges, if you help us get Kronos."
Percy raises his eyebrows. "Kronos? Who the hell is Kronos?" he asks.
"He's the one who's been orchestrating all the bank robberies," the man replies, giving Percy a moment to lull the information over before going on, "We need you to infiltrate the gang. Your stepfather is already a member so you'll have the best luck."
Percy snorts. "There's just one problem in you master plan. Gabe hates my guts."
The man stares at him. "Jackson, if you don't want to be in a cell the rest of your life, I would find a way to get back on your stepfather's good side," he warns.
Percy looks over at Mr. D. Surely this can't be completely legal. But, per usual, Mr. D is sitting and drinking his Diet Coke, unaware of anything else.
Sighing, Percy turns back to the man seated across the table. "So, I infiltrate a bunch of robbers, feed you intell and you in turn let me go?"
The man nods. "That's the watered down version, yes."
Percy taps his hand on the table. "I have one more thing to add to that list," he says.
The man rolls his eyes. "Ask me first. I'll decide if it goes on the list."
Taking a deep breath, Percy answers, "I want to see Annabeth."
The man squints. "The girl you kidnapped?"
Percy shakes his head. "I didn't kidnap her," he insists.
"But you want to see her?"
"Yeah."
The man leans back in his seat. "So your name is cleared and you get to see your girlfriend? Hardly seems fair."
"You're getting Kronos," Percy reminds him. "He's like... a super bad guy."
The man rolls his eyes. "Okay, Jackson. I'll see what I can do."
*starts hyperventilating* OMG! Percabeth next update!!! And hello DOUBLE UPDATE!!!!!!???? WHOOP WHOOP! So just keep on going ➡️
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