November 19

11:25

Some House in New Jersey

Jeremy seemed uncomfortable, but Martha couldn't help but gape at him. After all, he basically admitted to at least knowing Joe Trancer, the person responsible for the SQUIPS, which Jeremy claimed ruined his life. Martha really didn't know how to take this new information, so he looked back to the Detective. The Detective might know what to do with this information.

Martha couldn't read the Detective's emotions, but she looked like she was studying Jeremy closely, as if trying to find out if he was lying or not.

When Martha looked back to Jeremy, she was sure he was telling the truth. For one, Michael wasn't saying anything, and he was probably well aware of where Jeremy lived. And there was really no reason for Jeremy to lie anyway, was there? All a lie like this could do was put him in more trouble than he was already in, and Jeremy had made it very clear that he didn't like any of this.

But as she was thinking this, Martha wondered if perhaps she was just trying to make up excuses for him. She knew she was a little soft, and in the short time Martha had known Jeremy, she had begun to like him. He was a nice person to talk to, surprisingly smart, and he had never seemed malicious at all.

But she didn't know Jeremy at all. Martha had to remember that. Talking to someone for a week was no basis for a friendship, or any trust at all.

Martha looked back to the Detective, who was looking intrigued now, tapping a finger to her chin.

"How interesting," the Detective mused. "So, you know Joe Trancer?"

"I've never met him in my life!" Jeremy defended quickly. "The only people who live here are me and my dad! And my dad's name is Paul Heere, not Joe Trancer."

"Perhaps," the Detective said. "Is he home?"

All the colour drained from Jeremy's face. Martha frowned. That was rather suspicious.

"Do-Do we have to?" he asked, rather nervously.

"Is there a reason we can't?" the Detective asked. Her eyebrow was raised, and her stance was almost threatening.

"Cause..." Jeremy suddenly flushed red in embarrassment, and in a very small voice, he said "Uh... cause I snuck out... and I'm supposed to be doing homework and sleeping... I'd get grounded... and..."

Jeremy didn't seem to want to finish.

"Oh, that's it?" the Detective asked, she stepped closer to the front door. "Well, that's not that bad..."

"It is for me!" Jeremy whined. "And, wait, no, stop! He's..."

Once again, Jeremy trailed off. The Detective let out an annoyed huff.

"If there's another reason?" the Detective asked. "Because if not..."

Another step, and Jeremy winced.

"He's... uh..." Jeremy whispered the next part. "He's not wearing pants..."

The Detective hummed. "I'm sure we can handle it," she said. "And being grounded is so bad for you, then you can sneak back in. You have five minutes before we come in, and we'll be none the wiser."

A grateful look flashed across Jeremy's face. "Thanks," he whispered before running off to the side of the house. Martha watched him go.

"That was nice of you," she said, looking up at the Detective.

The Detective gave her a strange look. "You are my employers," she said, before looking down at her watch.

The Detective did as she said, and started walking up to the house exactly five minutes later, the teens following her. The Detective didn't hesitate for a second as she strode up to the door, holding up her fist and knocking sharply. The sound echoed throughout the empty streets.

The door didn't open immediately, in fact, it took a couple minutes until someone actually got to the door. But when it finally opened, it was Jeremy standing in front of the door, not his dad.

"Oh, wow!" Jeremy said, quite loudly. Martha winced. Jeremy's volume was only one cut below yelling. "What a surprise this is! For you all. To be here. At night. I don't know why you're here. Why are you-?"

"Jeremy," the Detective groaned. "Come on."

Jeremy went red. "Uh... My dad will be here in a couple minutes, he's uh..."

"Getting pants on?" Jared guessed, snickering. Jeremy went red, but other than that, he ignored Jared's comment.

Luckily, that's when Jeremy's dad showed up. He appeared behind Jeremy, waving and smiling at his visitors. Martha tried not to, but when she looked down, she saw that he was wearing pants. Plaid pajama pants, to be specific.

"Oh, hello!" he said. "Are you all friends of Jeremy's?"

There was a note of disbelief in his voice that confused Martha.

The Detective stepped up, offering a hand. "Yes, I suppose we are," she said while Jeremy's dad, Paul, Martha remembered, shook her hand. "But that's not why we're here. I'm the Detective, and I'm here to ask you some questions."

Paul looked confused. "About... what?"

The Detective smiled at him. It was comforting. "You'll see."

"Oh," Paul said. He still looked confused. "Well, come on in, I guess? Sorry, we don't have much food..."

The Detective waved his suggestion away. "We don't need it," she said, marching in. The others followed her.

Paul led them to the living room, where they could all sit comfortably. Jeremy, Michael and Paul on one couch, and Martha, Jared, Jenna and the Detective on another. Martha realized that Jenna had her phone out. She wondered what she was doing.

The Detective leaned forward. "So," she said. "I guess we should get right into it. I'm sure your tired."

Paul shrugged. "Oh it's alright," he told her. "But these kiddos probably should sleep soon."

Despite not enjoying the title of 'kiddos', Martha agreed. She was getting more and more tired as the clock ticked on.

The Detective nodded. "A good place to start is probably the topic of your job," she said. "What do you do?"

"A technician!" Paul replied. "People bring me broken tech or broken problems and I fix them!"

The Detective tapped her chin. "Interesting," she said. "And you work freelance?"

Paul nodded.

"Have you ever worked with a company?"

Paul didn't reply at first, frowning with his brows furrowed. He studied the Detective.

"I don't understand," he said. "What's the point of this? Why are you asking me all this?"

The Detective leaned forward. "Well, it's pretty simple," she explained. "We're looking for Joe Trancer, and anyone who has connections with him."

Jeremy stiffened, glancing up at his dad, and Martha looked around, her eyes wide, to stare at the Detective. What she was doing made no sense! What was her plan?

Paul frowned. "Joe Trancer?" he repeated. "I haven't ever heard of anyone named that in my life."

The Detective raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's odd," she said. "His address is listed as this place."

"It is?" Paul asked quickly. "Where?"

"It's not important," the Detective snapped. Martha jumped at the sudden shift of tone. The Detective was now standing up, glaring down at Paul. She didn't look threatening, per say, put she did look determined. "You have already lied to me once, and I don't suggest doing it again. Now, what company did you work for?!"

Paul didn't answer right away, instead staring up at the Detective. Quietly, he muttered "Tech Behind."

Beside him, Jeremy's eyes went wide.

But the Detective wasn't done. "And what name did you use?"

Jeremy's dad shifted uncomfortably, but he didn't answer.

"What. Name. Did. You. Use?"

Then, even quieter than his last answer "Joe Trancer."