The Sixth Catch

Chapter 20: Something Fishy Boiling

Once Luke made his way into the room. He began pacing the floor.  Not quite sure what to think where his mind was wandering right now.  There was a possibility of just overthinking.  But what if he wasn't?  Did he warn his mother in the risk of getting yelled at for sneaking out and suddenly being dove into dangerous waters?  All Luke knew for sure, was that he needed to tell somebody.  His eyes laid on the top drawer of the nightstand.  Lucy wasn't quite home yet.  Was that to mean that Jewel and Garrett placed his parents in harm's way?  Should he dial for the cops and hint to them that his parents might be in trouble?  Or should he dial for Jame's number and tell him what he learned.  Or think he learned?

Making sure Jewel wasn't making her way to his room.  Luke approached over to the nightstand.  Pulling the top drawer open and grabbing his phone.  Where he hid it from Lucy, thinking that she'd take it away from him.  He let his fingers fumble over the buttons, trying to hurry in case she was still following him up here.  To dial for Jame's number.  "Come on, pick up."  Luke mumbled into the phone.  Getting rather anxious.

Luke let out a small sigh hearing the phone going to voice message.  "James!  Call me back as SOON as POSSIBLE!"  He said quickly into the phone emphasizing a few words.  "I have some new information you might want to know about."  He called out into the phone just as there was a knock at the door.  Luke quickly put the phone back into the nightstand shoving it shut.  "Come in."  He responded, as he closed the top drawer.

"Luke..  I think there is something we need to discuss."  Jewel commented.  Luke's head turned towards the direction of the door as Jewel was making her way into the room.  "What is there to discuss?"  Luke asked.  Pretending to look like he didn't suspect a thing in Jewel's part of all this.  "I'm not exactly sure.  But if I accidentally said something to off set you.  That was not my intent."  Luke shook his head.  "No misunderstanding at all.  I'm sorry I took off so suddenly.  Just had a bit of a rough day."  He explained.  Hoping Jewel would buy his act. 

"Does this have to do with you seeing your mom meeting your dad?"  Jewel asked, remembering that Luke asked if she knew they'd be meeting that morning.  Luke hesitated before responding, then nodded.  "Yes..  I didn't even know they were talking.  Do you know how long they've been meeting?'  Luke was hoping by this question, maybe Jewel would somehow accidentally reveal some of her involvement.  Maybe at least he'd get some answers of reasons why.  Some things he was still confused about in everyone's involvement in all of this.  At first, he thought it was just him, Beth and Garrett involved.  Just some silly, dumb little issue of teenage drama coming from Garrett given he and James were brothers.  And Luke stole him away.  But perhaps he changed all that when he told Patrick.  Had his dad been working with Lucy since then?  To get this sorted?  She was a lawyer after all.  Maybe they were working to put Garrett away.

The only thing that didn't make sense was why Garrett was silent for all these years.  But perhaps the reason was he had found out about Lucy being his mother.  And from then on, stayed quiet long enough to plot everything.  Then after that, he would finally be able to follow through with whatever revenge plan he had against Luke and Jame.  Perhaps involving his father with Beth's accident.  Telling him about Garrett,  He'd placed more people than he meant to, in harm's way.  Luke's head was swimming.  He'd even already forgotten that Jewel was in his room.  Until he felt a hand rest on his shoulder giving a gentle shake.  Jewel had started telling him what she knew about Lucy and Patrick.  Until she'd realized Luke was zoned out.

Luke jolted and pulled back from Jewel a little quicker than meant to.  "I know everyone is concerned about what is going on with you.  With that classmate of yours."  Jewel started.  Once she thought Luke's attention was back on her.  Luke took a deep breath.  So I was partially right.  Lucy does know about Garrett.  But is she working for him?  Or against him?  Luke wanted to think that she was working against him.  Though he was aware his parents had issues.  And his mother never really took interest in coming to see him till Garrett showed himself to her.  Luke still hoped that she wouldn't go that far to work with Garrett against her own son.  Who would do that?  Even if you didn't really see each other?  Unless Garrett was slick and Lucy didn't know the full deets.

As Jewel mentioned Garrett.  Luke's body tensed.  He knew of course that since she was working with his mother.  Lucy could've probably told Jewel some things.  Though with new things coming to light.  Luke hoped she didn't reveal too much.  Because if Luke's instincts were correct.  Lucy just possibly unknowingly handed Jewel loads of information to one of their enemies.  "I'm not sure how long they've been meeting each other.  But I do know they're working together to fix the situation."  Luke did his best not to respond to the answer she gave him.

Hoping that the reason why she knew was because, given the fact she worked with Lucy.  Lucy was Jewel's friend.  And of course, Lucy thought she could trust her in telling what was going on.  "And before you ask.."  Jewel started, noticing the distant look on Luke's face, as if he was deciphering the next question.  "I accidentally ran into your mother talking on the phone with your dad the one night to meet him today.  She was just finishing the conversation.  Saying Patrick's name when I came around the corner.  She wasn't very pleased that I happened to walk in.  But then again, she shouldn't have been sitting in the living room where I would be able to walk in and hear the conversation."  Luke noticed the small smirk on Jewel's face as she said that comment.

Luke went quiet again as an idea came to her.  He wasn't sure if he bought Jewel's story one hundred percent.  But there was a way he could test this little hunch out.  "Do you know when they'll be meeting next?"  "No..  I don't.."  He noticed the curious expression at the question.  Jewel's tone had a hint of skepticism  "But, I can find out."  Luke had thought if there was another day where his mom would be gone for a good few hours.  Meeting his dad.  He could cross over to Brookside.  See Beth again.  The last time he spoke to James.  It was mentioned Beth felt a bit left out that Luke only called James to give updates.  So the next time he could escape.  Luke would surprise Beth.  After all, he wanted to tell this new discovery in person.  Along with missing Beth  Jewel may have helped Luke escape earlier.  Because perhaps maybe she wanted him to find out about the meeting.  Knowing it would distract him from her to see his parents together.  To know she was a part of all this.  Along with knowing if she got Luke out of the house.  It would allow plenty of time to meet Garrett without any of them knowing.  So they could develop further plans.  Jewel had slipped up though.  When she stated his mother wouldn't be home for a little while.  At least..  And remembering Garrett hadn't been here at the house.  Luke ran into him downtown.  So maybe it was a good thing Luke escaped.  He could've just stopped Garrett from doing something quite atrocious to his parents.  They could've just ended up walking right into Garrett's and Jewel's trap if Luke hadn't made an appearance himself.

Luke's head was jumbled up with all the possibilities.  But he asked her the question of when the next meeting was.  Because there was only one way to find out.  If Jewel was telling the truth.  "I can't let you do that."  He responded to her comment of being able to find out.  "I don't want you getting into any trouble.  Luke wanted to make Jewel feel he believed her story for now.  He could see a surprised expression on her face.  And realized she probably had a full alibi story to explain at the ready for this type of situation.  Maybe Luke had spoken too soon.  Maybe he should've played it out a little more.  See just what kind of story she had mustered up.  So they could be prepared.

"I don't mind at all."  Jewel shot back right away.  Luke raised an eye.  She seemed to be a little too quick in agreeing.  Maybe she didn't suspect Luke as much as he thought.  Or he had played the part better than he assumed.  Or she was quick to find a way to get him to trust her.  "Thank you..  I appreciate that."  Just then, the sound of the door opening downstairs was heard.  Signaled that Lucy had come back from her meeting with Patrick.  Jewel cleared her throat.  "I..  Should be getting back to my duties."  She nodded.  "I'm..  Really sorry about the misunderstanding."  Luke shook his head, waving it off.  "Don't worry about it.  It's all forgiven.  I should apologize to you."  He reminded her, giving a smile.  Trying to make it as believable as possible. Jewel only responded with a nod.  Taking her exit just as his mother called for him.  Almost as if she was in a hurry, and didn't want to get in trouble by Lucy.