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A Trail of Blood
Chapter 19: In Shadows and Paint

Chapter 19: In Shadows and Paint

I brought her a wide variety of art tools. From brushes, to blending sticks, everything I think she'd like to use. The store was filled with everything that could ever be used to make art. Any medium which can be used to make a three-dimensional object can be found. Clay, plasticine and even little pieces of wood that could be carved into whatever the artist desires. Although I'm not all that artistic, walking through this place makes me feel like something has awakened in me. Last time I had to watch Winter so I couldn't appreciate anything here.

The aisle with the paint spanned across more than half the store. Ever colour, every shade I don't have a doubt that every single colour of the light spectrum could be found here. I searched through looking for the same set I brought Winter last time. I found it and dropped it with the rest of the canvases and brushes in my basket which I picked up along the way.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I put the basket on the counter and passed my credit card as I checked who was calling. It's Yasmin.

"Where are you? I'm outside your house right now but you're not answering."

She's earlier than usual. I mean she's probably excited about the printing but she should've given me more time to get Winter her stuff.

"You told me to get her some paint."

"Well I didn't say immediately! Come fast I need to move in less than an hour."

I speed walked to the bus heading back home. During the time it took to reach my bus stop I opened the kit I brought her and took red out. I don't want her to freak out about it again. I shoved the little bottles into my pocket.

Yasmin was in her car and she glared at me from under her eyelashes. She tapped impatiently on the wheel of the car. The backdoor opened and a little Winter dressed in a blue dress hopped out. She smiled and ran towards me. Her little feet almost tripped a couple of times but she steadied herself.

"Uncle! I missed you!"

I scooped her up into a big hug. "I missed you too, Winter!"

She's so cute that she makes me forget the headaches I must go through to take care of her.

I held her in one arm. For some reason she seems lighter or maybe I'm a little stronger now. Well that didn't matter. I picked up the art bag and showed it to her.

"I got you a lot of paint! I hope these canvases are enough for today."

Her eyes lit up like little fireflies. "Thank you so much." She exclaimed and grabbed the bag out of my hand but it almost fell from her.

Yasmin rested her chin on her elbows which was on the window. "Since when did you become so polite Winter?" She questioned with a raised brow but with a beam on her lips.

Winter giggles, "See you later Mom!"

Yasmin waves back and pulls out of he drive way. We watched until we couldn't see her car anymore then went inside. Winter drags the bag as she skipped ahead into the living room. It's going to take forever to get the paint out later on but I'm to elated about the probability of becoming a millionaire to even care.

I flopped into the couch and turned on the TV. I flipped through the channels but there was nothing interesting really so I just kept mindlessly shuffling through.

Winter tapped my shoulder and held up her paint kit. "Did you take the red out?"

I nod, "Yes you said you don't like it."

"I used to not but now I don't mind it all that much."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

She goes back to her canvas and pulls out the green paint bottle. "I realized if I use red I can express a lot of other things other than blood and murder." She said.

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"Like what?"

"Roses are red and I like roses so I want to paint them."

I chuckled at her reasoning. Little children have bright, innocent minds.

I went to the kitchen and realized I hadn't went grocery shopping in ages. I don't really have anything to make Winter some lunch. I guess we'll have to eat outside because going grocery shopping with her would be a nightmare. Maybe after that I can pay Leon a surprise visit with the excuse of going to a nearby restaurant.

I turned the TV off. "Winter, how about we go eat out? After that we can go see a friend of mine. You can paint there as well."

"Alrighty." She said and started to pack everything back in the bag.

Now that I might become a billionaire then I can buy a car but until then I'll have to use public transport. Leon's apartment is not all that far and there are a lot of restaurants near him.

It took about fifteen minutes until we reached the street near his house.

"Where would you like to eat?" I pointed at three different restaurants which seemed to have a nice variety of lunch suitable for a child.

She looks around hen blinks at me, "Anyone you want uncle." She whispers. She's a little shy.

I randomly picked the one and my feet lead me to it. Winter took more than five minutes to pick between pancakes or waffles. After we filled out stomachs we walked about two blocks down to Leon's apartment.

We take the stairs after all he's only on the second floor so there was no need to take the escalator, besides that walking is healthier. I ring his bell.

"Why are you here?"

After twenty seconds the door was opened and I was meet with a look of surprise. Leon steps out and half closes the door behind him.

"Why are you asking me such a weird question? You've become so estranged. What happened?" I said trying to read the expression on his face.

He isn't even letting us inside, shutting the door like that behind him as if I was a stranger.

His eyes became as large as an owls and he opens the door wide realizing how strange he was acting. "Nothing but I just didn't expect you to come. Come in." He appeased and his eyes traveled down. "Who's this?" He pointed at Winter with his chin.

"It's Yasmin's daughter."

Winter gives him an eye smile, "My names Winter!" She beamed.

We step inside and Winter immediately grabs her bag from me and searches for a place to paint. Leon watches her with a faint smile.

"So do you have any updates on Jake?"

"Hmm?"

"Jake? Didn't you put the tracker on his phone? Did he do something suspicious as of yet?"

"Oh yeah not yet. We didn't get a new code so I doubt he'll be doing anything worth suspicion."

I need to find out what is hidden here. When I suggested we meet in his house he panicked. When we come he stood at the door instead of letting me in as usual. He's not acting weird right now but I need to go look through his medicine cabinet. If I find any anti-anxiety pills here than that would mean it's him. He would be the one who changed my medicine for whatever reason.

I make my way to the restroom and closed the door behind me.

It's empty.

Nothing is in his medicine cabinet but a pill for headache. It's usually filled to the brim with vitamins and other herbal medicines because he has allergies but it's empty.

The door creeped open and Leon popped his head in.

"What are you doing?"

Damn it, I forgot to lock the door.

"Umm, I was just looking for some medicine for my headache." I grab the one and only pill bottle, passed him and made my way to the kitchen sink. I grab a glass of water and gulped down a pill. I don't have a headache but if I don't take one he'll know that I'm lying.

Why is he keeping an eye on me like this?

"Wait, Cameron you dropped this." He picks up something from the floor and inspects it.

It's the new code.

He raises his brow and unfolds the paper. "Why didn't you tell me about this new code?" He questioned.

"I was planning too." I explained trying to maintain my face. I can't let him know that I'm suspecting him. After all it's all dumb speculations.

He looks at Winter who was already making a mess with paint. "You better clean that before you go Cameron. How long are you going to babysit her kid?" I shrug my shoulders and he shook his head. He hands me the paper. "Did you figure out what the code means?"

"I gave it to Viola. She cracked it and I was coming to tell you about it."

Lie. But it's not like I can confront him with my baseless suspicions. I don't want to hurt our trust in each other. We've been friends for more than a decade. I'll ask him directly. I need to put my words together first.

Leon flops down on the sofa and crosses his legs.

"Alright then we'll stalk Jake for the next few days. If he is the culprit he's going to need to buy items needed for the murder. We'll catch him red handed."