Chapter 18: Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen.

Mark walked out of the Art for Children building, where he had been invited to give painting lessons, and entered his car. He had fun meeting kids who painted for the fun of it. They splashed colours at each other when they got tired of learning Mark's 'Fourteen art of Arts' theory.

Mark made sure he looked into the mirror to ensure he was not looking like some dude advertising water colours. After confirming there was no stains, he kicked his car to life and drove off.

He wondered what his guest was doing at the moment. Definitely not disobeying his rules. And if she was, because he had a strong feeling she would, definitely not entering his work room.

As he drove, he wondered whether to  go home or to visit the club house.

As soon as he sighted Mike in front of his house, he decided not to go home.

He pulled up in front of Mike's house and got down.

"Hey there." He greeted Mike who was looking at his phone.

He raised his head and said,

"Hey man. I was just about to call you."

"Why?"

"The sergeant called, said we should meet him at the office."

"Okay. Wait, aren't you meant to be at work?"

"My day off. Besides Helen has been getting mood swings, the pregnancy is getting the best of her."

Mark's eyes widened.

"Pregnancy?"

Mike looked at him puzzlingly at first, but when he realised what he meant, his lips formed a smile, making his curly hair bounce.

"Yes."

"Wow, congrats dude." He hugged his friend briefly.

"You guys have waited long enough. I am so happy for you."

Mike smiled at him, but the smile was accompanied by a look. A look Mark hated.

"Dude, don't give me that face."

Mike narrowed his eyes, as though saying he did not understand him.

Mark groaned.

"That look. That look that says, get married Mark."

Mike chuckled.

"You got it. But seriously, you should get married. You are so lonely." He said, forming a pout and a baby face.

"Drop it. I am not ready for that bull..."

Mike interrupted him.

"Language Mark. The baby is sensitive."

Mark looked at his friend and shook his head.

"You are so weird."

" That's why I am your best man my friend. So how is Jennifer?" Mike changed the question as soon as he saw Mark's face display slight anger. His friend's anger was not one to be celebrated.

"Not bad." He replied as they walked towards his car.

"What did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know you Mark, you must have done something."

"Well..."

"You set rules for her?" Mike asked, remembering Mark's past girlfriends and their similar complaints.

Mark responded with a huge grin, his eyes cringing.

"Why? Dude, that is crazy. She is not some person you can drive like that. More so, she needs a conducive environment so she can remember what really happened to her."

"I care about my privacy a lot dude, and you know that. Having her poking her head through every room will result into questions I would not love to entertain."

Mike stopped walking,causing Mark to do the same.

"And that privacy includes your neighbours right?"

"Are you some sort of witch?"

"Just shut up and make sure you kill your rules when you get home."

"Yes daddy. Now let us go to Corny's."

They grinned at each other and walked into Mark's car.

"Hey man, is your former laptop is still working?" Mark asked as he drove.

"Yeah why?"

"Jennifer asked for TV and internet yesterday."

"See why your life is boring?"

"Oh please. Anyways I just got a MiFi, just remains the laptop."

"I will give you when we come back."

"Thanks man."

The rest of the ride was mostly silent. Just a few sentences and laughter.

In no time, they got to the Sergeant's office.

As they got down from the car, they sighted the Sergeant in front of the white building, talking to a cop.

They walked closer to him and exchanged greetings.

"So, why are we here?" Mark asked.

"Well, I just wanted you guys to know that getting through to Bahama was a failure. None of the numbers went through. All we are dependent on is Jennifer getting back that part of her memory she does not remember."

"Well, that is not the case. She seems to be still stuck." Mark supplied.

"That leaves us to the last option. We can hire a private investigator. Our cops cannot go further with the investigation. Turns out Bahama city hates us lurking on thier websites. And further enquiry can cost some of us our jobs. So..."

"Hiring a private investigator is the option." Mike completed, his voice surprisingly steady compared to before.

"Yes." The sergeant said, his voice huskier.

"Wow. Who do you recommend Corny?" Mark asked when an uncomfortable silence was beginning to fall in.

"Not really. We cops don't work well with private investigators."

' Isn't that rather silly?'  Mark asked himself.

"I know one. Remember Ben?" Mike offered.

Mark and the sergeant gave him a puzzled look.

He continued.

"Ben. That funny guy with chocolate skin. The guy girls loved in high school mostly because he could sing."

"I remember!" Mark exclaimed.

"I do not." The sergeant said.

"Well, he works as a PI now, I met him sometime last year. He should be able to help. How about that?"

"Nice. You can contact him. Tell me when you get him." Mark said.

"Wait guys, " The sergeant interrupted.

"Before getting this Ben guy, you should ask Jennifer if it is okay by her to hire a PI."

"Is that necessary?" Mark said, a little irritated.

"Yes. This is her life we're dealing with, not yours." The sergeant replied him sharply. Mark sometimes could be annoying.

Mark raised his hands in surrender.

"Okay."

"So, is that all?" Mike asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, bye." Mike grabbed Mark's hand and speed- walked to the car.

"Hey easy. What was that for?" Mark said as they got to the car.

"Did you not see it? He was eyeing me throughout."

Mark sighed.

"Okay man. You know what? Just forget him. He is being silly. Now let us go home."

"You are going home?" Mike sounded surprised.

"Yes. Why?"

"I was expecting to hear you say you were going to the club house, but home? Wow."

"Well, since you are clearly not going, I won't. Just get in the car." Mark sat in the car, ready to kick the car to life.

Mike entered and closed the door.

Soon, the car was on the road.

As Mark drove, he felt weird, like someone was watching him. He looked briefly to his right, and noticed Mike staring at his neck.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"But you were staring at my neck."

"So? I said nothing."

Mark shook his head and faced the road.

-------------------------------

As Mark parked his car at his usual spot, he noticed a small party at Albert's house.

He looked through his car's front glass, watching how happy they were. The sight made him a bit sad, but things have to be the way they are.

As he got down, a familiar voice hit his ears. 

He knew it! She would violate at least a rule.

He closed his door and crossed to the other side.

"And I win again! " Jennifer said excitedly, oblivious for sometime to the silence that followed Mark's sudden appearance.

She soon looked up and noticed Mark standing at the table, his jaw clenched.

"Hey Mark." She said with a knowing smile displayed on her face.

She stood up and walked to him.

"You want to join us?"

"Home. Let us go home."

"Okay." She faced others.

"Bye guys. See you later."

"Bye."

"Of course sweetheart."

"I love you."

"My toilet needs to be fixed. Candy call the plumber."

They all replied and waved as they walked out except John who was greeting her absentmindedly.

"So Mark, how was your day?" Jennifer asked as they walked across the street.

"I told you no violating the rules."

"Uh, you are such a kill joy." She said and looked at him.

She told him to stay still, he did, and she  rubbed his neck, that too his sensitive part and that caused his breath to cease for a while.

"Paint." She showed him her thumb with red colour.

'Maybe that was what Mike was looking at. So stupid.'

Mark thought.

Jennifer walked ahead of him and into the house.

Mark sighed deeply as his neck tingled, his little friend threatening to respond to the call Jenifer had initiated and went to get the laptop and MiFi device  from his car.