That afternoon, after school, Dean, Claire, and Bianca walked to a cafe that wasn't far from the bank. Bianca looked at her bankbook and saw a clear transaction for $40,000, and her eyes began to well up with tears. Claire turned to her.
"What's wrong?" Claire asked.
"I have money in my own bank account," Bianca replied, sounding emotional.
"Huh... is it really that big of a deal?" Claire said casually.
"You don't know what it's like to work and have the money go into someone else's account," Bianca explained.
"Hmm, that's true," Dean said, looking at his phone.
Claire glanced at Dean's phone. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Hmm? Just transferring half to my mom," Dean replied, unconcerned.
"Wow... you're a really good son," Bianca commented.
"Not really," Dean said casually. (He thought to himself: "More like a dad who doesn't want to see his daughter suffer, even though his daughter still gets a stipend from her late husband's office.")
"Yep, he's a good, responsible son. It's a shame his little sister is terrifying," Claire mumbled.
"Huh... you have a little sister, Dean?" Bianca asked.
"The one who called on Saturday is my sister," Dean said.
"Careful, she has a huge bro complex," Claire warned.
"Alright, that's enough. Don't talk about Angel like that," Dean said, not looking up from his phone.
"Oh, her name is Angel," Bianca said.
"Yep, her name's Angel, but she's more like a demon," Claire added.
"Heh, now I really want to meet her," Bianca replied.
*****
As they neared the cafe, they saw Janet leaning against the railing door, looking at her phone. When she saw Dean, Claire, and Bianca approach, she put her phone away and walked over to them.
"Hey," Janet said.
"Oh... did you already sign the lease?" Dean asked.
"Yep, everything's done. I paid for the first three months. I'm just waiting for the delivery truck to arrive. Sorry for making your cafe my landmark, but it was close by," Janet replied.
"No problem at all," Dean said.
Janet looked at Claire and Bianca behind Dean, waved, and smiled.
"Hey Claire... and who are you?" Janet asked, looking at Bianca.
"Oh, I'm Bianca. Nice to meet you," Bianca said, extending her hand.
Janet shook Bianca's hand and introduced herself, then turned to Claire.
"How are you, Claire?" Janet asked.
"I'm good. Want to come in for some coffee? We're just about to open, right Dean?" Claire said.
"Yeah, that's right. Come on in," Dean said.
"Screeech," Dean slid open the railing door and unlocked the main door. A bell chimed as he entered, inviting them all inside. Claire and Bianca immediately went into the locker room to change, while Dean walked around putting chairs down from the tops of the tables. Janet watched Claire and Bianca go into the locker room.
"Oh, Bianca works here too, Dean?" Janet asked.
"Yep, she just started yesterday," Dean replied, setting a chair down.
"Wow, you've got more and more beautiful women working at your cafe, huh?" Janet said with a little laugh, sitting down in one of the chairs Dean had just set down.
"What can I get for you?" Dean asked, walking over to Janet after finishing the chairs.
"Just a cappuccino. I'm waiting for my delivery truck anyway," Janet said.
"Okay, be right back," Dean said, walking behind the counter and taking off his backpack.
Dean immediately started grinding coffee beans for preparation and making a cappuccino for Janet. Suddenly, a bell chimed from the door. Janet and Dean, who was behind the counter, looked up. A blonde woman with shoulder-length hair who looked like a detective wearing a long coat walked in. She was surprised to see Dean behind the counter.
"Hey, Dean? You work here?" the woman asked.
"Oh... wait... Detective Natalie, who came to the school that one time? Uncle Michael's daughter?" Dean asked.
"Heh, glad you still remember me. I happen to be in the area and wanted to rest for a bit. Do you work here?" Natalie asked.
"He owns the cafe," Janet chimed in.
"Oh... really?" Natalie asked, turning to look at Janet.
Natalie walked over to Janet's table and sat across from her. She then noticed the camera Janet had on the table.
"Photographer?" Natalie asked.
"Reporter and photographer. Here's my business card," Janet replied, handing it to her.
"Ah... Janet, right? My name is..."
"Detective Natalie Garcia. I know who you are," Janet said with a casual smile.
"Hoh... you do? Good, then I don't have to introduce myself," Natalie replied with a smile.
"Yep, because it seems we have the same goal this time," Janet said.
"Hmm, about this app?" Natalie asked, showing her phone.
"Exactly," Janet answered.
"Tell me what you know about this app," Natalie said.
"Huh," Janet and Natalie both turned toward Claire and Bianca, who had just come out of the locker room in their cafe uniforms. "Clunk," Dean brought over Janet's coffee and placed the cup on the table right in front of her. He then turned to Natalie.
"What can I get for you?" Dean asked.
"Hmm, same as her," Natalie said, pointing to Janet, who was holding her coffee cup.
"Okay, I'll be right back," Dean replied, turning around.
Natalie looked at Claire and Bianca, who were frozen in place in front of the locker room, and smiled.
"Why are you two just standing there? You should feel bad for the cafe owner, working all by himself," Natalie said casually.
"Oh... right," Claire and Bianca said, hurrying behind the counter.
They immediately went over to Dean and started helping him, but they were still watching Natalie and Janet talk.
"You know that pretty woman, Dean?" Bianca asked.
"Yeah, who is she, Dean?" Claire asked.
"Natalie Garcia, a detective. She came to our school once to give a talk from the police department, her father is my late father ex-partner," Dean said casually as he poured cream for the cappuccino.
"Oh... a cop... huh... a cop?" Claire and Bianca whispered, shocked, turning to look at Dean, who was standing between them.
"Yeah, just ignore it. Act normal," Dean said.
"Okay, but why does she have our app on her phone?" Claire asked.
"Huh... she has our app?" Dean asked, turning to Claire.
"I can see far away and through things with my skill. I can clearly see she has that app and she's show it to Janet," Claire answered.
"Hmm... just let it be. As long as she doesn't use it, we don't need to worry," Dean replied.
"But what if she uses it to lure us out?" Claire asked.
"Don't worry, NS said it's fine," Dean answered.
"Hmm, okay, if you say so... hopefully," Claire replied.
Dean turned to Bianca, who was silent but watching Janet and Natalie's conversation.
"What's up?" Dean asked.
"Nothing... they're... beautiful," Bianca replied.