Chapter One

Chapter One

Where was he? He was supposed to be here over an hour ago. Kyle Tristan thought as he looked up from his drawing. He loved to doodle and was pretty good with life drawings, especially people. Some days he would just sit in a class room and pick some random person and draw them. His father often put down his talent because it would make his grades go bad. Kyle’s father also made him go out for sports he really did not like; like basketball. He hated running and everything. Plus, he was no good at it either.

He was playing dumb to keep out of it, but his father came increasingly made at him until this year. This year his science teacher, Ms. Graham, was helping him out with his studies. She too had a large passion for drawing and teaching. Though she also had framed photographs of pictures she had taken, she became a teacher. Most kids thought that maybe perhaps she was going to be a photographer until something happened in her life.

She felt bad for him and through communicated E-mails and talks on the phone, got him to stay after school to tutor him; in both the visual and academic arts. His grades soared and his pictures were increasingly better and looked more realistic. Every time she gave him encouragement when he had failed a test. But today, of all days, his father had to be late.

It was parent-teacher conferences and this was the first time his teacher and father were going to meet in person. Kyle lifted his pencil from his sketch; it was a snake coiled and ready to strike on an opposing mouse. His teacher was sitting on her stool near her demo prep and showing desk. It was medium sized based on the schools standards. She liked to draw nature, mostly forests with some hidden creature, and take pictures of it as well.

“Ms. Graham, did I get the shading right on this one?” he asked with a curious mind. He looked over to her sketch; it was way better then his in a million years. It was of two people, a woman and a man, they looked like they were best friends and it was in color this time. Victoria took a quick look over his picture and took his pencil saying,

“Yeah, you did the right shading. But I suggest that maybe perhaps that you make the shadows a little darker. They seem to be a dark shade of gray rather then actually black.” her voice seemed to carry no nagging teacher speech. Another reason why so many kids loved her and talked to her about them at home. Kyle was not one of those kids due to the fact his mother betrayed them when he was younger. A lot of the older kids teased him.

He was about to reply to her statement as suddenly a brisk paced walk was heard through her doorway. They both looked up and faced the door as a tall slender man came through them. Kyle smiled as he forgot the sketch and ran up to hug his dad. As a detective, Aaron was not allowed to see his own kid a lot.

“Hi dad, I almost thought you forgot about me.” Kyle said in a happy and almost fast paced voice himself. He released his dad and went back to his sketchpad. He had to sit next to his father as he talked with Ms. Graham.

Aaron was stunned the second he went inside the classroom. Kyle was actually having a conversation with a teacher, and not just any teacher, but one that actually looked rather his age. Most of the teachers he saw today were old or men. Ms. Graham looked well into her mid-thirties and well fit. Not what he expected to see. It also seemed his son liked her as well. Why not? This was the first teacher to believe in him and actually help him.

She put down a pencil and drew up a sketchbook that looked larger then his sons. It suddenly dawned on him on how Kyle was close to this teacher; she was a fellow artist. She went to her desk and briskly put down paper and pencil. She had not seen him yet but she smiled anyways. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled up in rubber band at the nape of her neck. She dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose fitting blue T-shirt. Not really fancy at all. Kyle took a seat in a comfortable chair in front of her desk and he followed suit, still intrigued by the creature in his presence.

“It is finally nice to meet you Mr. Tristan. The only conversation I have ever had with you is either through a computer or through the phone to convince you to let Kyle stay after school.” she turned her face to him and opened a file at the same time. He felt like he took a blow to the head as he hazel eyes claimed his face. They seemed filled with curiosity and vibrant. But they quickly turned towards Kyle and Aaron immediately turned jealous of his son. Wait? He was jealous of his son? he thought as he took a seat in front of her desk. In a polite tone he told him, “Hey Kyle, why don’t you fix up your sketch a little bit. I am sure once we are done talking that you would have darkened your shadows.”

In a surprised and little angered tone he faced Ms Graham and said, “Sketch? I thought you tutored him?” she let out a sigh and rolled her eyes a little bit. It shocked him a little bit as she faced him again. In a single flowing movement she folded her arms on the desk and looked at him as his son went on drawing.

“I have been tutoring him. Haven’t you heard the praise in succeeded excellence in his core subjects? I’ve tutored him to those places at your request. But I can honestly tell you that your son Mister Tristan,”

“Aaron,” He simply stated, wanting to hear his name off her tongue.

“Well then Aaron, as I was saying, your son as a talent in drawing; as much as I did when I was his age. As much as I know that you want him to go out for sports, he likes to express himself through his art. Have you ever seen his drawings?” her tone was serious as she suddenly looked down at her portfolio for a quick second. He honestly considered the answer. No, he had never actually seen his son’s drawings, only him drawing them. As a father he wanted his son not to waste his life. But right now he considered her reaction. It was has if she was afraid to look him in the eye. To Aaron, that was a bad sign in any case.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Let me show you.” she faced Kyle, who seemed to be done with his piece of art and when Ms. Graham held out her hand to see it, he gladly gave it up. It shocked him to see the viper wanting to strike the mouse as she handed it to him. He flipped through it and found excellent drawings of many people and animals. But somewhere in the middle he found her smiling and teaching a class. Boy, his son sure knew a great face when he saw it.

“They’re good.” He faced his son as he gave him back his sketch book. But then he faced the teacher as her smile widened. It seemed all so familiar. Like a faded memory. “But his drawings are not the reason why I’m here am I?”

“No, it is the fact that he is a genius. He almost has a 4.0 grade average.” and with that start he and her began to talk for about almost an hour. She seemed to be enjoying herself as she talked to him. It surprised Aaron as they were interrupted several times by Kyle to see her newest sketch. In a tutor mode motion she opened her own book and went to the second to last cleanest page. Two people stood alone in a friendly embrace. Aaron only caught a glimpse of it as she turned the subject back onto him.

After their time was up she stood up; finally finished. “Well Aaron, it has been nice talking to you again. And Kyle,” she said facing his son “Why don’t you keep that sketch.”

“Thanks Ms, Graham.” he said and he carefully ripped out the picture. Aaron did not understand the small little smirk on her face as he asked, “What’s your first name Ms. Graham?”

“You’re the detective Aaron. But I am a little surprised with you.”

“How?” his mind drew a blank. He had never seen her before and it certainly seemed to her that they have meant.

“Rosetta’s law; an eye or an eye, Life’s Law; a wrong for a punch.” With that she gave Kyle a hugged and went out the door. Leaving him speechless and his son laughing. One thing was for sure; she walked tall and like a panther waiting to strike.