Captured: Luke's Perspective

Chapter 4: Going Solo

After walking home from the grocery store, I put the food back in the cupboards and placed two bottles of wine in the freezer. I crumbled the brown bag and tossed it in the trash.

I checked to see Mom and Dad, sleeping peacefully on the couch. Just then, I started sneezing uncontrollably. While I was gone, they probably didn't even bother to dust the furniture.

Mom said something incomprehensible then laid next to Dad, who was drinking Coke out of a bottle. When he saw me, he grimaced. "What are you looking at?" he grunted.

"The wine is in the freezer," I explained. "I also put away the groceries. As soon as I am finish with my homework, I'll heat up some spaghetti for you guys."

Dad rolled his eyes and pointed the box right next to him. "Something came for you in the mail," he said. "Probably from your girlfriend." Blushing, I took the box into my room and walked over to my desk to do my homework.

Physical Science, Business Math, and American History was pretty easy, especially when it comes to memorizing things. After filling the blank sheets of paper with my scribbled handwriting, I put them in my folder and left it on my desk.

I took out the frozen plate of noodles from the fridge and placed it in the microwave. I pushed the flat buttons on next to the door then pressed Start.

After dinner, I took a shower and gazed at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My brown hair was tossed and turned like the clothes of the laundry machine, my eyes shone green, and my body was showing some signs of strength.

I turned my head to the left and pressed my finger against my temple. The scar from my sixth foster home was healing quite nicely. The only thing that I need to do is to resist the urge to scrape the scar off.

Suddenly, my eyes started to itch. I peered at the mirror and pulled out the contact on my right eye. It had brown with some flecks of green.

I laid the contact near the sink and ran my fingers through my hair. The case was bothering me for some reason. That old man, Alexander Hilton, was never meant to be trusted. I didn't even care that he was rich or nice, that man was suspicious.

If Cole was here, she would shook her head. Despite her kindness, she was very stubborn and reckless when it comes to listening to me.

Speaking of Cole, I wanted to call and see if she was okay. After punching the number on my Verizon, I held up the phone to my ear. "Hey Luke," Cole said. "Hey," I answered back. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she replied. "How about you?" "Great," I said nonchalantly. "I have been thinking about the case, and I have decided to take it." "You are?" Cole asked in wonder. "Yeah," I answered. "I think maybe on the weekends or something, we should go to Alexander's house and try-"

"That's fine, but I forgot to mention that I have dance competition this weekend." Cole said. "How about next weekend?" I asked. The silence means no. "I am so sorry," she moaned. "I know this happens so suddenly and I feel such a moron for not telling him."

"It's fine," I answered calmly. "I'll do it on my own, along with some help." "Are you sure you want to go on your own?" Cole asked. "The last thing I want to do is worry about your safety. "

"I'll be fine Cole," I reassured. "Worry about the dance competition, I'll solve the case. In the meantime, tell me all of the details, okay?" "Alright," Cole exclaimed. "But if you're in danger, please call me or the police."

"I got it," I replied. "And please don't do anything stupid," she groaned. "I won't," I insisted. "Do you have my phone number-" Cole began. "I will be fine, Cole." I sighed. "Don't be such a worry wart."

"Tell me about the case if you have time," Cole said. "If you want, I could give you some pointers." "That will be great," I said. "But stay focus on the competition."

"Fine," Cole moaned. "See you tomorrow." "You too," I answered. After I hung up the phone, I put the contact back on my right eye and strolled off to bed.

The next morning, it was the same routine. I had to wake up at six o'clock, get ready, make breakfast for my parents, leave a note for them on the microwave, and clean my room.

My bunker lab was already clean from top to bottom, so I didn't worry about it that much. I took out the diaries of Alexander Hilton and his wife's and skimmed them.

"Luke!" Mom cried. "Where is-" " the breakfast is in the fridge!" I shouted. I kept skimming the pages of Natalie's diary until I paused at something in the middle of the paragraph.

Dear Diary, she wrote. There is something strange going on with Alexander's sister. When I was coming to visit them, June barely looked at me. I wonder if she knew my family's secret.

One time, while I was reading in my living room, I caught June arguing with Alex. She told me that she doesn't want to see me anymore, but Alex did not understand why or how come. But nonetheless, Alex continued seeing me.

I bit my lip then dialed Alexander's number. "Hello?" said a woman. "Who is this?" "My name is Luke Hamilton," I answered. "I am one who is taking your master's case." "I'll give the phone to him," she whispered.

"Hello?" Alexander asked. "Is this Luke?" "Yes sir," I answered. "What happened to the young girl?" He meant Cole. "She has some work to catch up at school." "Oh," he said. "I understand. I was into after school activities when I was your age."

"Can you tell me a little bit more about your older sister?" I asked. "It says in your wife's diary that June hates her." "No," Alexander said. "June has some issues, but she doesn't hate Natalie. She even appeared on our wedding ceremony."

Right, I thought. "What do you mean, issues?" I asked. "I have no idea," he said. "One day, she is happy, the next she is depressed and angry, and soon after she forgets everything." "Bipolar," I sighed. "Excuse me?" Alexander asked.

"She is suffering from bipolar," I stated. "And also dementia." "Must have slipped my mind," he chuckled.

"Does she ever hit Natalie?" I asked. "No, not at all." Alexander insisted. "Whenever she's angry, she goes upstairs and have a tantrum all day until she calms down."

"How often does this happen?" I asked. Great, now I sound like a doctor. "Mondays," he answered. I nodded very slowly. "Where does your sister live now?" I asked. "In a retirement home," he answered. "Can you tell me the address?"

After he told me the address, I tell him thank you and hung up on him. I rose up from my chair and go to the corkboard. I wrote down the names of Alexander's family on separate sheets of paper and attached them with thumbtacks, along with the photos and information.

Like my mom always says, catching mice will be harder unless the cat comes up with the plan. I never understood what she meant, but Mom was never wrong. And neither was Dad.

After school, I am going to find information, regarding June Hilton. If Cole was here, she could have uncovered some clues about the parents or mostly Alexander.

But now that she's training for the competition, the best thing I could do as a friend is have her stay out of the case unless I ask her for some advice.

I checked the time on my phone. It was six thirty-five. I quickly got up, grabbed my backpack, and climbed up the latch. I lifted my window and slid out of my room.

After jumping from the roof, I ran to the school parking lot, hoping that I showed up earlier than I thought. I groaned as I saw a group of kids swarming in the front entrance.

"Come on," I moaned. Just then, someone tapped on my shoulder. I almost thought it was Cole for some reason until I turned around. It was Madison, giving me that stupid smug look on her face.