G III: Chapter 26

Brian went to pick up Rachel for their very informal date. She was dressed in her very formal clothes again, Brian briefly wondered why - it was still very early in the morning. Either way, he complimented her on how great she looked and asked if she was ready to go.

"Well, naturally I have to change, but that will only be a moment." Rachel had been out late looking for a bathing suit. Apparently it was late in the season and most places were picked clean. When she got home she was so tired of walking she just fell asleep in her dress on top of her blankets. While she changed into her suit, Brian sat on the couch.

At the pool Rachel challenged Brian to a breath holding contest. She stayed down as long as she could, but he still won. She broke the surface of the water and took a huge breath. Then she waited for him to come back up. "Show off," she mumbled, but smiled. He came up for air but didn't intake as desperately as she did. Rachel waited though, until he was fully aware of his surroundings. Then she splashed a huge wave of water in his face and laughed.

"You're supposed to let the girl win!" She reprimanded lightly.

Brian rubbed the water out of his now reddening eyes and chuckled. "Oh yes, right. Sorry I'll remember that in the future."

A little while later, Rachel had to say goodbye. She was headed to an interview for a job in the Political career. Brian got a call just after she left, it was a client looking for help. He accepted it and went off to meet them.

At home, Dylan was finally telling Daphne that he was planning to move to Shang Simla for a while.

"Don't you like it here with us?" Daphne asked. She was almost crying. She didn't want her family to be broken up, especially with one of them so far away. "I mean..."

"Yes, of course I do. I'll just be moving there to study for a while. There are many distractions here, and I can't seem to keep on the track that I want to be on. I'll be back, there's nothing that would keep me away."

Daphne sniffed. "I get it. I do. I'll just miss you that's all. When... uh, when are you leaving?"

"That I'm not sure about yet. Not quite ready at the moment, but I'll want to go soon."

That was the end of that conversation for now, Daphne wasn't sure of what else to say. Neither was Dylan.

The client that contacted Brian had an odd request. He needed to search someones home and get fingerprints to compare to a recent robbery in town. Brian guessed that his client was on the police force but couldn't get the information in a legal way - so he consults a PI.

Brian accepted the job even though it was 'outside the lines'.

He arrived at the house and took a deep breath. Big house, huge actually. These people were rich, why would someone here have to steal anything?

"Okay," Brian sighed. "Let's do this."

Brian knelt in front of the door, talking to himself made it feel less like he was breaking the law, though he wasn't sure why. "Alright, this one goes here... this one here... annnnnnd twist like this." Click. "Alright, I'm in, I am so the best."

Silently, just in case someone was still actually home, he opened the door and crept inside. The house had wood floors, which wasn't good, but there were space rugs so that made it better.

He made his way to the dining room table. Everyone in the household touches the table, a guarantee to get the prints of everyone in the house.

When he was finished he packed up his kit and snuck back outside.

Just as he was stepping off the porch and letting out his breath in a sigh of relief - he looked up. There was someone walking up the yard.

It only took a second. The man looked up and saw Brian sneaking off, and he didn't hesitate. He jumped Brian.

The fight was over pretty quickly as well and Brian won. The guy stood up after being thrown on his bottom and looked at Brian.

"Get off my lawn, I don't know what your here for but GET AWAY before I call the cops!"

Even though a surge of adrenaline was still rushing through him, Brian did as the guy suggested. He didn't want to involve the cops. He was the one breaking the law here, that guy didn't know the extent of it.

Brian drove to the local police station so he could scan the prints he'd acquired and compare them. His client was there as well. Brian found out that he was right to assume that he was on the force.

One of the prints matched up positive. It turns out the man that jumped Brian was the thief. Brian turned in the evidence and the guy was arrested a few hours later.

James and Daphne were at the house talking.

"So Dylan said he was moving, had he told you that?" Daphne asked, she had been crying and James could tell.

"No, but I had suspicions, I think everyone did." James admitted. "You know he won't disappear."

"Yeah, yeah I know, I guess I am just not ready for one of my babies to move. Yours is still just a teen," Daphne laughed. "You don't have to worry about that yet."

"Yes but I'll have to worry when she meets a boy you know, I'll worry about her all the time. It's quite alright Daphne, this will be fine."

Daphne nodded, "I'm going to go make dinner. Is spaghetti okay?"

James nodded and patted Daphne's shoulder, "Sure, sounds great."

Daphne her own grown tomatoes and onions from the fridge and started cooking. Soon the scent was permeating the house , and it smelled delicious. Before long the whole family sat down at the table and finished up every bite.