3: Arrival

Devon makes me take the bus.

He said catching a flight would imply that I'm not as broke as I'm supposed to be. Well, technically I am broke, but since he's the one taking care of everything, he decides what's best and I don't argue with him. Up until now, I haven't regretted my decision. I'm not even sure this has gotten through my skull yet. I don't even know what I'll do when I get there. He told me to be myself but how can I be Amelia and Yara at the same time? I'll figure it out eventually. I have to.

Saying goodbye to my mother was harsh. I told her Devon had a job for me and that it would pay well. Devon says I'll get the job done in a month at most, but I asked him to send my mother some money by the end of the month if I'm not done by then. My salary supports us, without it we can't survive. They'll pay me at this new bar I'll be working at, but we don't know how much yet.

I'm not allowed to call home or anywhere Amelia would call. Mom had a hard time understanding all this, about the new job in LA, but she trusts Devon. I don't know why, the last time she saw him he was a teen. He's a different person now, but he still acts sweet around her. When the time comes for Aaron to be released, we'll tell her they decided to let him out early on good behavior, even though he got 25 years and has only served three.

Devon will meet me once a week somewhere far away from the Kellers to check my progress. I'll get the location an hour before we meet to minimize risks of getting caught. He keeps emphasizing this, but I get it. It's not like I have anyone to call. All my high school friends, or the people I called friends, left for college and never came back. I've lost contact with all of them. Some even ignored me when they saw me working at the bar. My closest friend is Donnie, and he's old enough to be my dad.

This has all happened so quickly. Just yesterday I was cleaning up and worrying about only having four hours to sleep and now I'm on a bus to LA on a secret mission, because that's what it is even though Devon refuses to say the words. He says he's not a cop, but he must be something close. If they want someone's name, it means he's in a position of authority. Plus he can get Aaron out, and no ordinary person can make that happen.

It makes me wonder what he's been up to these past eleven years. How'd he go from washing cars on weekends to having so much power? Why couldn't Aaron have been as successful? He got himself involved with petty criminals and is now serving time when he could've had a completely different future. All because of the choices he made.

The seat beside me is empty so I make myself comfortable. I'm asleep before I know it and when I wake up, there are butterflies in my stomach. We're getting closer. I'm getting nervous and I'm starting to question everything, but I think of Aaron and tell myself to toughen up. I have to try to get him out. He needs a chance to be better. This is my chance to help him; the only chance I'll ever get.

Devon told me that the guy working for him, my supposed cousin Jason, will pick me up at the station. He didn't give me any more details, so I'll have to figure it out as I go. He says it'll make me more alert but I think it's because he doesn't want to scare me. I'm not stupid; he didn't give me this job to do me a favor. He's desperate to get this done, but he hides it well. There's something he isn't telling me, too. He doesn't want to scare me, but at this point nothing could scare me. I have to do this. It's my only shot at doing something with my life and seeing my brother again, not behind bars or in a room with guards everywhere. Out in the open, just the two of us.

It's nighttime by the time I get to the station, but before that we drive by the city. The lights and the multitude of people surprises me. I didn't expect it to be like this, it's so different from our town. We know everyone there, and everyone's history. Here, I'm not Amelia George who's brother is a felon and who never went to college. I'll be Yara Huxley, a girl on a mission. I let that sink in.

We get off and I immediately spot a guy standing a few yards away, smoking a cigarette. It's too dark to see his face. I grab the one suitcase I brought with me and start walking towards him. As soon as he sees me, he says, "Yara? Is that you?"

I gulp and my heart starts beating faster. "Jason?"

He wraps an arm around me and takes my suitcase from me. "How was the trip?"

"Great." My mouth is dry all of a sudden. We get to where he parked his car, a small Nissan, and he places by suitcase in his trunk. He has bright red hair and green eyes, whereas my hair is dark brown and so are my eyes. We don't look like cousins. Physically, we're complete opposites.

He notices this too. He says, "Fuck. Couldn't Devon get a fucking blonde, at least?"

I shrug. I'm not sure what he expects me to say. He continues, "If anyone asks, we're distant cousins. Our fathers were cousins, or some shit like that."

"Okay."

He presses the key to the ignition. The car screeches to life. "How old are you?"

"22."

He shakes his head. "Do you even know what the fuck you're going to do?"

Devon didn't tell me anything about talking about the mission with this guy, but maybe I should trust him. He's on our side, right? "I'm here to get a name."

"I've been here for a year and I haven't found out shit. Believe me, that name may cost you your life. Did Devon tell you that four agents died trying to find out who this person is?" He can tell by the way my expression changes that I had no idea. So this is what he's been hiding? Why wouldn't he tell me this? "Of course, he didn't. Just don't try too hard. And don't be too eager. If the time comes, let the name come to you. Do you get what I mean? Now look, we don't ever talk about our mission, and since we're 'cousins' my life is on the line now, too. If you get caught, I'm gonna get shot with you. We'll both be in the gutter before we can even blink. So, for God's sake, kid, don't get yourself killed, alright?"

We drive for some time, and everything he has told me sinks in. Devon deceived me, in a way. But I'm here now and there's no turning back, and none of this will sway my decision. If Jason managed to stay here for a year, it can't be that dangerous. I'll keep his advice in mind and try to remain as calm as possible. It can't be that hard, serving drinks and keeping my ears open.

We stop in front of an apartment building. "I live here, so you'll be living with me. You're my fucking cousin after all. We stick together now." After a beat, he curses beneath his breath. "Fucking Devon."

The whole place smells like rot but I shouldn't complain. He carries my suitcase and when we get inside his apartment, I realize it's pretty small. It makes me nervous, having to live with a strange man I've just met. But Jason, or whatever his real name is, seems trustworthy. I'll just have to trust him, and Devon. I no longer have a choice. It's too late to turn back now.

"You sleep in the smaller bedroom." He hands me my suitcase. I peer inside. Everything looks neat, and the bed is made. When I sit on it, it creaks. The bedroom is small and stuffy, but when I open the small window to let some air in, the heat becomes tolerable. I wasn't prepared for the heat. There are no cupboards anywhere, so my clothes will have to remain in my suitcase. I don't have to pack anything.

Jason knocks on the door and opens it. "Are you ready?"

"Why? Where are we going?"

He taps at the watch on his wrist. "Your shift is in an hour. You'll get a uniform when you get there but change into something more presentable." He gestures at the old t-shirt and worn jeans. The dirty sneakers too, I guess. "And do your hair. We're leaving in 20."

I don't own presentable clothes but there's the Sunday dress. It's black and plain, but it's something. Maybe I'll have to get new clothes but I don't think the money I have with me will be enough. I wear some sandals and I brush my hair out. For makeup, I apply some gloss and eyeliner. There isn't time for anything else. He knocks on my door again and gives me a once-over.

"God, you really are a town girl, aren't you?" I follow him out of the apartment. He locks the door behind him.

I say, "This is the best dress I have."

I feel terrible now, but at least I'll change out of this. I notice that he's changed into a black suit and his shoes are shiny. He looks like he's going to a wedding. I guess wherever we're going is a really fancy place. Devon did say that.

"I'll talk to Devon. You need a change of wardrobe, and fast." He stares at my sandals and shakes his head. "Fucking hell, man."