Page 2 of Grace of Spades
I send a wave to Rudy, the owner of the gym, and head to the changing room. Rudy is a genuinely amazing person. He's an old military vet with a soft spot for chicken wings. I've been cleaning and training at his gym for just over five years now. It's one of my favourite places and Rudy is a big part of that. I run through my circuit with Ray for an hour until I have to go to school.
At school, I try to keep my nose clean. The keyword istry.It's not so easy when bitches be crazy and assholes be everywhere and I may have some anger issues. So far, my grades and attendance are great. My behaviour... not so much. I've been applying for scholarships hard though, because lets face it, I sure as hell can't afford college.
I close up my locker when I see my guidance counsellor waving me over.
"Hey, Mrs. Brown, what's up?" I ask.
"The principal wants to see you." She hedges. Oh boy. I follow the plump and friendly Mrs. Brown through the crowded halls to the main office. She holds the door open for me but I stop in my tracks at the sight of two police officers.
I shouldn't be in trouble. I don't think I did anything too illegal lately. I mean, carrying a weapon, sure. Backing up Ray for a drug run, yeah... that might be it. Oops.
I put on my patented "cop mask". Vapid and innocent, playing up my big green eyes and small frame. I tilt my head in curiosity.Why in heavens are two upstanding police officers here?
"Ah, Miss Jacobs! Come with us." Mr. Douglas says bringing me into his office. I smile curiously and follow. I take note of the name tags on the two officers as I pass. Torrez, and the ever lovely Officer Powers. Powers and I have met before.
I take a seat and hate that I have people at my back that I can't see let alone a door.
"Gracelyn, we have some bad news." Officer Torrez says with a look filled with pity. "We found your parents last night." I blink. What about the bastards? Clearly, I'm not understanding something.
"Their bodies." Torrez clarifies. What? "We need to find you a replacement guardian." I can't help it, I snort a laugh.NowI need a guardian? After all, they did to me? After all the reports? I've been on my own for three years and no one has even bothered to notice.
They all look at me like I'm unhinged. I mean I am but they don'tneed to know that.
"Miss Jacobs? Are you alright?" Mr. Douglas asks looking at me like I might explode. I blink myself out of my shock.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I just... I don't really know how to react to that." I admit honestly. They all nod their understanding. I don't know what they think they understand but okay.
"We need you to come down to the station with us to contact your next of kin," Torrez says pushing through his speech. Holy shit, they're actually going to go through with this? I'm going to be turning eighteen in a few day anyway. Whatever, I can always bail later. Maybe I'll get some free food out of the deal. I nod and follow the officers out to the squad car.
I find myself sitting on a bench reading in a hallway for what feels like hours. On the bright side, Powers keeps sneaking me food, so I'm not about to stop that.
Torrez sits beside me with a pitying smile. I wonder how my parents died. I've been getting these kinds of smiles all morning. Probably overdosed. That's what I'd put my money on.
"We got a hold of your uncle. We're just making transportation arrangements." He says gently.
"I have an uncle?" I ask surprised. I didn't even know I had other family. Dad grew up in foster care and Mom never talked about anyone.
"Uh... yeah. Andras Van Doren." He says his dark brows pulling down. I just shrug. I've never heard of him before. Van Doren was mom's maiden name so it's her side but as far as I knew, she didn't have any family.
"Well, you do. He's a really big-time lawyer." He explains. Ah, there it is. If he's big time then mom probably got strung out too many times. That makes sense.
Torrez leaves me to mull over the new information saying he will be back to take me to the Van Doren Estate. That's right,estate. Those were his words! What the hell am I walking into?
I have to admit, this might be a good opportunity. If I don't have to worry about where to sleep or if I'm going to eat that day then I can concentrate more on school and be better. Alright Grace, just don't fuckthis up!
Sooner than I expected, Torrez comes over again and leads me to a cruiser. This time I get to sit in the front. It's weird.
We drive in silence for about half an hour. The landscape changes from derelict and grey to neat and tidy and green. Soon the landscape changes again. Everything gets bigger, more spread out, and even greener still. The houses are giant. I'm talking like five families could live comfortably in one of these bad boys. Estate my ass! If my uncle lives in one of these he probably owns a damn island.
We pull up to a massive wrought iron gate with a guard house in front. What. The. Fuck? We have to give identification. I hope the guard likes fake IDs. I smile sweetly as I hand mine over.
He takes one look at it and he has to mask his smile before nodding and handing it back. I mean what would a twenty-two-year-old want to be living with a long-lost uncle for anyway?
Torrez sees the guard's amusement and takes a look at my ID and frowns like a disapproving parent. He sighs and gives it back to me shaking his head.
"Where's your real ID?" He asks. Am I in trouble now?
"I don't have one," I admit.
