I Spy With My Little Eye

Chapter 20

Grace:

“Come on people we’re going to be late!” Eli yelled as I finished braiding Izzi’s hair in a French braid so it wouldn’t get in her face as she played. I wasn’t sure why Eli was in such a hurry, we had three hours before the game started. Izzi tossed a jersey over her head and pulled it over the white tang top she was wearing as she ran out the door.

“Thanks Grace.” she called over her shoulder as she rushed about collecting the things she would need for her game. I sighed as got off my bed. I made my way to the door as Cammi skipped down the hall dressing in a short skirt and a tang top. When Eli saw her all he did was snap and point. Her shoulders slumped and she spun around heading back to her room.

Levi was sitting on the couch watching Izzi dash madly about in search of her mouth guard. She was throwing pillows up in the air and rifling through her sports bag as Levi tried very hard not to laugh hysterically at her. He looked at me and held a finger too his lips and held up her mouth guard. Unfortunately for him, Izzi turned around at that very moment and saw what he had done. She lunged. He scrambled over the back of the couch and ran into the kitchen. Izzi chased his screaming profanities, while Eli followed scolding both of them.

“I just love my family.” Cammi sighed coming to a stop next to me. She had put on black and grey argyle tights and a dark grey jacket to appease her brothers strict dress code.

“They are good for a laugh.” I said as Izzi backed Levi up against the cabinets and he held the mouth guard away from her. Oh, what it must be like to be tall.

“Give it back!” she whined pouting up at him.

“Give me a kiss first.” Levi smirked. Beside me Cammi beamed and tugged on my arm. I wondered if I should have gotten popcorn for this event. If Levi wasn’t careful Eli was going to shoot him.

“Dick.” Eli growled reaching up and snatching the mouth guard out of his grasp, “Stop being a dick.” and with that we left for the game. It was an hour’s ride to Fort Collins with all the traffic. I could suddenly see why Eli wanted us to leave so soon. After what seemed like forever, we pulled into a parking lot and made our way to the field where a bunch of girls were doing drills or something. Izzi gave Eli and Cammi quick hugs before dashing off to catch up with her teammates.

“Why didn’t I get a hug?” Levi said frowning.

“Cause she doesn’t like you.” Eli said as he went to find us seats. He pulled out his wallet, handed it to Cammi and pointed to a small food stand, “Go get us some Coffee and hot chocolates okay?” Cammi nodded and grabbed Levi’s arm as she made her way to the vendor.

“Alright, I want you to stay as close to me as you can.” Eli said in a low voice, “I don’t want anyone to notice us, or talk to us.” I nodded up at him and looped my arm through his. The wind was blowing, and it was pretty chilly outside, so I welcomed the warmth of his side. “You don’t leave my side unless you have to go to the bathroom, in which case, I get to stand outside.”

“Don’t you think you’re being a little paranoid?” I asked glancing up at him. Dang he was so tall!

“No.” he said flatly his eyes focused forward. I waited for him to say more but he didn’t I sighed and looked up at him waiting, waiting, waiting, nothing.

“I think you are.” I moved my gaze forward pointedly not looking at him.

“Hey!” someone called running up to us, “Hey hey you!” Eli turned sharply spinning me around coming face to face with a slightly balding man with ginger hair and a three-day old beard.

“Yes?” Eli asked his eyes cold.

“Hey, my car won’t start can you give me a jump?” the man asked. Eli’s arm tightened around mine and he discreetly stepped in front of me just a little bit.

“I don’t have cables.” He said with a shrug still trying to control his annoyance. I could understand where he was coming, there were at least a hundred people milling about waiting for the game to start why ask us? And naturally Eli was suddenly suspicious of anyone who talked to us that we didn’t talk to first.

“I got some, I just need a jump.” the guy said. Eli sighed, there was no way he could politely get out of this one.

“Okay.” Eli said his shoulders slumping. I followed along seeing as he still had my arm, “which one’s your car?” Eli asked as we got into his car. He walked me around to my side and held open the door for me.

“The grey mini van parked by the light pole.” the guy said pointing to his car across the parking lot. Seriously? Why us? Eli Nodded and got in his side and shut the door. The guy shrugged and started walking over to his car.

“Keep your side locked. Along with the back-door okay?” He said keeping his eyes focused on the man’s back. I nodded and pressed the lock button on my door. He popped the hood of his car and waited for the guy to get his jumper cables standing by my door while he did so. I reached over and pulled his door shut before he had a chance to ask me. The guy came up to him, jumper cables in hand. As he handed them over to Eli something black came into the man’s hand and was suddenly pressed against Eli’s stomach. I froze, Eli froze, even the man froze. I gulped as I watched the man c**k the gun and press it further into Eli’s stomach. Suddenly everything started moving again. The trees, the wind, the birds, the people in the background. I am watching with acute awareness as the man pointed to me and then would put pressure on his gun to make his point. Eli just shook his head, the rest of his body still. I could hear him breathing, that was the only thing I focused on. I didn’t want to hear what the man was saying, I just wanted to listen to Eli breathing. In out, in out. Slowly, evenly. Suddenly, his breathing sped up and he was moving. Grasping the gun with both hands and spinning. He elbowed the guy in the nose pulling the gun away from him and pointing it at him.

“Who are you and who sent you?” Eli demanded his voice hitting me with its harshness. They guy looked up at him his face passive.

“Who are you?” Eli demanded again. His voice shook as he thrust the gun closer to the man’s head. Eli shook his head and looked down at the man, then briefly back at me. He was watching me, watch him, as he pulled the trigger