Page 62 of Unhinged Kallie

“Is that a serious question?” He held up his hand before I could try and argue the point that would get me nowhere. “I don’t care if you stalk him, although I’m not sure what the point is. He can take care of himself. What I do care about is that you’re not caught. I thought about that, so I had this made for you.” He tossed over a piece of black leather, and I caught it out of the air. “It’s an arm sheath for one of your knives, and if you decide you want a boot or back one, let me know.”

“Jesus, I’ll look like a character from Assassin’s Creed.” He tilted his head like he was analyzing me.

“I don’t know what that is, but I’ll take your word for it.” He pointed to my outfit. “What you’re wearing is fine, but change the leg for the arm knife and put a ‘cute’ jacket on.” He air-quoted the word cute.

“You’re really okay with me doing this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Well, there was a loaded question if I ever heard one.

“I’m going out at night and stalking someone.” I shrugged.

“You do remember who I am, yes? How I met your mother. How she fell in love with me and how you were conceived.”

I held up my hands. “Okay, you can stop there. Yes, I remember. No need to share again.”

“Teenagers are strange creatures,” he mumbled. “What I care about is that you don’t get caught and are smart. Think before you lead with emotion.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Shaking his head, he turned and left my room.

I quickly changed the leg sheath for my new arm leather and found it surprisingly easy to slip the blade in and keep it out of sight. At the last minute, I grabbed a baseball hat and jogged down the stairs.

I poked my head into the living room, and my dad sat in his chair, staring at my mom’s picture again. This was unhealthy. I didn’t want or expect him to date, but it felt like he’d stopped living. Abel and Aspen hardly came over, Carter was moving out, and I was pretty much an adult now.

“Why are you staring at me, Angel?”

“I was debating about asking you to help me with some research. Only if you want to,” I said, an idea forming.

He sat the picture down. “What kind of research?”

“I need to find out about a teacher at my school. I think she’s doing some shady shit to the guy students.” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “I don’t mean just sex, although I’m pretty sure that is happening too. I just get the ick feeling.”

“Ick feeling? Is that a scientific term?” He rubbed at his eyes like I was giving him a migraine. “What is this teacher’s name?”

“Mrs. Peterson.”

He stood from the chair and grabbed his jacket. “No time like the present. Can I ask why you care?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t like seeing people bullied or taken advantage of.”

“Huh.”

“What does huh mean?”

“Nothing, just interesting. We better go if you plan on catching up with Carter.”

Walking out the door, we went our separate ways, but I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched him get into his car. Maybe this was how I could help my dad. Maybe he needed a hobby or a new challenge. My mom had given him FBI files, but he was almost done with those. I had an idea percolating, but for tonight it would have to be put aside. I needed my head in the game to find, follow, and ensure that Claire realized she needed to keep her hands off Carter.

Chapter Twenty-Four

CARTER

“So, after I do the first two years, I think I’d like to take some time off school and travel around the world. There is so much I want to see,” Claire said. “What do you think?”

I shrugged. “If that’s what calls to you, then go for it.”

“But, would you be upset?”