Natalie's Backstory Part 3

Back to Natalie's POV

(Of course I'm not uploading this during class >.>)

                Natalie glanced up from her book.  Although Johnny’s sister was no longer sitting on the bench, Natalie knew she hadn’t left the park yet.  She must have sat down behind that huge tree, Natalie thought to herself. 

                Today, she had decided, was the day she would attempt to follow Laura to gather more information.  Originally she had only wanted to get some form of dirt on Johnny, but now she was completely intrigued that somebody would wait every week at the same place on the off chance that somebody they were searching for would appear. 

                She looked back down at her book.  She stared at it for a few seconds until some movement caught her eye.  She used her peripheral vision to watch as Laura stepped out from behind the tree and began following the path out of the park.  As Laura passed her, Natalie sat completely still, pretending to be engrossed in her book.  After a few seconds Natalie packed up her blanket and book and headed off in the same direction she had seen Laura go. 

                She followed Laura back into the heart of the city, leaving the park behind her.  She stayed nearly a block behind Laura to keep from being discovered.  As Natalie passed the entrance to a small café, she saw Laura duck into an alleyway.  When Natalie reached it, she peered around the corner cautiously. She squinted her eyes and could just barely make out Laura’s silhouette in the darkness of the alley. 

                She continued to follow Laura down the alley, when suddenly, Laura turned around to face her.  Natalie froze in her tracks, and began to back up.  She had only taken two steps backwards when she felt something pressed into her back.  A gun!? Natalie thought, terrified.  Laura walked casually towards Natalie until she was right in front of her.  Natalie realized with a jolt of fear that Laura had a knife in her hand.  She was now trapped in a dark, deserted alley with two armed people with an unknown purpose. 

                “Now I’m going to keep this simple,” Laura said in a low, calm voice, “You can either tell me why you’re following me, or you can suffer the consequences.” 

                Natalie heard the crack of the safety on the gun behind her.  She began shaking uncontrollably.  “I was…I was only trying to dig up some dirt on somebody.” 

                Laura raised an eyebrow.  “Who is this somebody?” 

                “Your brother…Johnny,” Natalie stammered.  She noted the surprise in Laura’s eyes.  So she really hasn’t seen him in all this time.  Natalie thought in wonder. 

                “You know where Johnny is?  You’ve seen him?” Laura asked eagerly. 

                “…Yes.  My boss gave him MY job at Bloomsburg Security,” Natalie muttered. 

                “So how’d you find that document anyway?” Laura prodded.  “I thought I hid it well enough that only he would be able to find it.” 

                Natalie smiled a bit at that.  “He may be a bit better than me, but I’m still good enough to find something like that.”    

                At this point, the person behind Natalie spoke in a voice absolutely dripping with sardonic anger, “you left a document trace that anybody can access on the internet!?  Seriously, have you just given up on being intelligent or what!?”

                “Oh I wouldn’t be too worried about it,” Natalie interjected, “Johnny and I are two of the very few people on this earth that would be able to find a file like that.”  She turned her face to look at Laura, “you actually did a pretty good job of hiding it.  Skill with computers must run in your family.” 

                “Johnny taught me how to do that…” Laura responded slowly, “When he was six…” 

                “Well, anyway,” Natalie muttered nervously, “I’ve told you what you asked for.  Can I go now?  I promise I’ll stay out of your business.” 

                “No,” said the person behind her again, “I’ve got a couple more questions for you.  In order to find that document, you must have been digging pretty deeply into Laura’s paper trail.  What else do you know?” 

                “Um, nothing much…really,” Natalie stammered. 

                “Really now…I’m having a hard time believing you.”  The gun dug a little further into her back. 

                “Alright, alright…I dug up some old police reports.  I know about your mother’s death and that your father is in prison.” 

                “My father is ALIVE?” Laura looked horrified. 

                “Very much so.  He’s been in prison for quite a while now.”

                “Anything else?” the person holding the gun pressed. 

                “Nothing.  The trail goes cold after she leaves the orphanage.  Nothing from the past two years.” 

                “Alright.  You’re going to take Laura to her brother and you’re going to keep your mouth shut.  If you can comply with these demands, you will be free to go.” 

                “Fine,” Natalie agreed, “It’s not like I have anything better to do anyway.  I am unemployed after all.”