Andrew on the other hand had prepared himself tea and watched the whole thing unfold akin to watching television however no look of pleasure or discomfort could be traced on his visage.Lara had slouched into a corner, her faint sobs audible while the man stared intently at the camera.
"Andrew?" Clara's voice echoed making Andrew end the call, his figure rising and taking off the loads off her. "Yes?" Clara let out a sigh of relief as she was relieved of the burden of her bags, tea and donuts already made for her arrival. "Thank you Andrew." Clara's tone soft, unaware the same flat face was the same that watched her own daughter be tortured.
"You're welcome Aunt Clara." A look of contentment etched it's way onto Clara's face. "I told you that you can just call me Auntie, no need to be so formal with me." A pause before his response. "Understood however I find it preferable that I call you Aunt." Clara parted her lips before shutting them.
'Regardless of how many times I've told you to call me auntie, you always call me aunt. Stubborn as ever Andy.' Memories of a younger Andrew flocked her mind, how he would wear and ear to ear smile when coming over or playing with Kevin.
"By the way, where is Kevin?" Clara asked as she looked around, the weight of her son missing. "He's yet to make it back but I'm sure that he's not far." Kevin as if coincidentally walked through the door, his face haggard as he crashed onto the sofa.
"I've had a long day." His words muffled by the sofa, shoes still on. "I get it but take your shoes off!" Kevin kicked them without care, one flying onto the table and the other into the kitchen. "Can't you a bit more mature Kevin? You're already an adult and yet you act no older than twelve."
Kevin groaned, shifting his figure that he lay on his side. "You mean to act more like Andrew?" His words laced with unspoken resentment. Clara narrowed her eyes as Andrew picked up Kevin's shoes and placed them on the shoe rack.
"Besides what's the point if he's just going to pick them up and put them in their place as he should?" Kevin's low chuckle the final straw for Clara. "That's it Kevin, I thought that you would have sobered up but looking at you right now, you haven't bothered on changing one bit? Don't tell me you're still jealous of Andrew."
The subject droning back and forth, untouched by the topic in the air. "I'm not jealous of Andrew, if anything I couldn't care less of how perfect he is. Be it his cooking or studies. It's you, mom, that's making the comparisons." Clara palmed her face, letting out a low groan. "I'm not going to bother with you right now. If you can't understand your own flaws even after multiple corrections then I guess you'll have to experience your short comings then."
Kevin however seemed distant, his legs now resting on the sofa handles, his hand reaching for the remote. 'Well I'm not some person who's under constant watch because he's linked to a string of disappearances.' He mused, a faint smile forming on his lips as the television blared.
Clara gave a long look at Kevin, his carelessness before shifting her gaze to Andrew who was busy with the dishes. 'Maybe I am the one comparing them a bit too much but still, that doesn't give him the right to act like a slob.' She didn't bother with him and made her way to her bedroom.
"So Mr, Perfect, how did you fuck up a perfect relationship between Eliot and Claire.?It's been a rumor that's been circulating around school for a while now." Andrew now seating on the dining table looked at Kevin, his gaze plain. "Eliot held himself back from confessing to Claire and I helped speed it up by telling Claire. His actions past that are entirely his to blame."
Kevin narrowed his eyes, a chuckle leaving his lips. "You really don't know how to read people yet, huh? Sometimes it's needed to hide the truth from those around you, it might be safer for them that way. Besides who knows how they might react?" Andrew looked at Kevin, the latter unaware that his older sister who was kidnapped was mere moments ago being tortured.
Andrew didn't bring it up, his closure to the conversation something Kevin had anticipated. "Understood." Before going back to looking at nothing. "Understood…yes…no. Don't you think it's about time you expanded your vocabulary and chatting skills? After all there is a reason as to why you're learning English as a subject Andrew."
This time it was silence, Kevin didn't bother before shifting his focus to the television. "What a creep." Kevin's murmur audible to him alone as he switched in between the channels.
. . .
"I got here as fast as I could uncle Connor!" Claire panted, letting her school bag fall to the floor. Connor had a grim expression, his work laptop turned to face Claire. "There's something I need to tell you Claire. It's about Andrew." She was shocked when her uncle brought it up. "I thought you told me to forget all about it three months ago." Her eyes narrowed.
"Did you find something huge about him?" Her figure taking a seat next to her uncle who slid the laptop over to her. "No but his case has escalated to proportions I had underestimated. The FBI are now looking into his case." Her calm face replaced with an incredulous look.
"The FBI?! Why the fuck would they look into Andrew?! Sure he's off but why them?" Connor paused, a deep breathe leaving his dry lips. "As you know how I think that he could be related to the incidents of the kidnappings, so have they and they will be taking the lead from now on."
A look of relief etched on Claire's face. "Okay, that's good then. Maybe they could get to the bottom of this."Connor cleared his throat, his hands typing the laptop before the sheets were now presented to Claire. Her jaw dropped, stunned with what she was looking at.
"This…When?" Her tone dripping with shock and disbelief. "I know that I said that you wouldn't be involved with Andrew but for this whole operation to work, you're required for this." The page of her being used as proxy coming into her vision. She pushed the laptop back, now rising to her feet and marching back and forth.
'Oh my good! And here I thought that my uncle was just paranoid. The fucking FBI are investigating him. Given that they have plans, they must have been watching him for some time now.' Thoughts rushed into Claire's mind, still trying to process what was presented to her.
"For how long?" Her throat dry. "About four months now." Claire's breathes grew shorter before using the table as support. "And when were you going to tell me this? If I knew that it would be this serious then maybe I would have taken it far more seriously!"
Connor rose and placed his hands on her shoulders trying to calm her down. "There's no need to worry, he's seen as a suspect so the matter of arresting him is a completely different topic I get that you've grown close with him as a friend but because of your relationship with him is required for this operation."
Claire took a seat, her hand supporting her head. 'To think that Andrew would be this infamous.All I wanted was to make him at ease in school. But Eliot, I haven't properly made amends with him yet. He won't like it when he sees me with Andrew given that he already doesn't want to see me already.'
A deep low groan filled the air, something as simple as making a kidnapping victim was now on the FBI's radar. 'Maybe I should have told him that I didn't want to talk to him.' Connor sat next to her, his hands taking hers.
"I get that this might be a bit too much for you Claire and I'll leave you to digest it all but you have to promise me that you have to agree with this. I know that your relationship with your friends isn't good right now but I need you to put it on hold. For this case."
Her eyes darted from the laptop to her uncle, numerous thoughts storming her head. Some wished to scream at her uncle, tell her that he was depriving her of a normal life, others wishing that she could break down and cry. Some still processing what was going on. In the end, a response left her lips, barely loud enough for Connor to register them.
"I'll do it." Her hands in the care of her uncle. "Thanks a lot Claire, I know how much you're sacrificing for this but I promise you that it will be worth it." Claire recalled how many families were torn apart, using that to console herself that she was doing the greater good. Connor was on one knee, his hands caressing Claire's.
"Then I'll leave you alone.I'll tell you the rest tomorrow morning." His figure heading towards his room. 'Andrew, I hope that you aren't connected to any of this mess.' A thought flickered through her mind as her focus dragged back to the laptop.
. . .
Andrew arrived in class, English Literature before Claire poured in as well. This time she didn't bother taking the initiative and he didn't bother asking why. After rushing yesterday, the two didn't chat. Claire took a quick glimpse at Andrew before taking her seat. 'I still can't believe so much is happening with him.' Her position behind him making her comfortable to glare at him as much as she pleased.
"Do you have a crush on him or what Claire?" A voice threw her out of her thoughts, revealing to be one of her classmates. Before she could shoot back, the teacher walked in and handed the class papers. "A surprise C.A.T?" The complaint dying as more papers flowed through the entire class. A timer began, the teacher surveying her class before the time rang out and collected her papers.
After her wordless departure, Claire quickly packed her bags and tailed Andrew. "Hey Andrew, how did you find those questions? Personally I haven't been able to catch up with my studies so I think that I may not pass." Andrew didn't respond, the two marching through the buzzing halls. "I could give you some tutors if you're free."
His response away from the noise. "Oh, that's pretty considerate of you Andrew. In that case then you better make sure that I never fail another test ever again. Mr. Perfect Score." Andrew paused and looked at her, his gaze functional. "Kevin called me something similar to that yesterday." Claire's awkward chuckle died in her throat, recalling the name from the laptop.
"I'm sorry if I offended you then." Her tone turning meek before they ran into Eliot. "Hey Elio-" Claire before she could call out to him, Eliot briefly caught their presence before focusing elsewhere as if not seeing them and left. "I still can't believe that he's hung up on that. I've tried to apologize but he won't listen."
Andrew butted in. "Why are you sorry? He's simply unable to deal with change. Blinded by jealousy and rage." She took a long look into Eliot's retreating figure as she thought about his words. "You're awfully chatty today. Why aren't yo like this on a regular basis? You could have more friends you know."
The two kept on walking, Claire thinking with the silence that misspoke. "I have no use for friends other than you. I'll be seeing you later." His figure heading for his other class while Claire was stunned with his bold declarations. 'Other than me? Is it because I took the initiative back then or is there another reason?' She didn't have much time to contemplate about it as she had other classes to get to.