(jacob) maybe they're on to us``

[mel2]

There was a lot in life in which Beau Hogan had accepted was never going to come to him. This included luck, or any form of fortune.
As he stepped out of the library, he hung his head. It had been a few days, almost a week since his confrontation with that detective, Jacob Griffiths. True to the man's words, he let Beau go, no strings attached. No cops had followed him home. No suspicious figures had lingered around the cliffside where he hid out. It was as if the meeting had never occurred.
Normally, this wouldn't deter Beau from getting the hell out of dodge. Trusting people wasn't safe and it wasn't normal for him. He placed no value on exchange he'd made with the detective. Sooner or later, he'd break any vow of silence he'd made in that alleyway.

Still, Beau was standing in the doorway to the library, the police station where he'd met Jacob only a block away.
If it had been up to Beau, he wouldn't still be there. Unfortunately (this word seemed to pop up very often in Beau's inner monologue), he was extremely strapped for cash. Due to the rain, recently, the local farmer's market where Beau had been stealing produce and vegetables had shrunk greatly in size. Those more dedicated to the trade still went, but with out the bustling crowds of shoppers, lifting food was nearly impossible. With no other option, Beau had had to spend his already thin stash of money to feed himself. Even then, what he'd bought was no where near enough to keep himself really sustained. Only enough to tide himself over.
Since Beau couldn't risk leaving the town by foot (a cop car might pass him, he might go past a speed trap, etc) he had been stuck here.

With no other choices, he'd decided to chance the library again. This time, though he'd made it, his searches had proved fruitless. On his own, he'd done better than his hick connections in Jasper (they'd been incapable of working a search engine, much less using it to find a man), but that didn't mean he'd done well. For the past hour, he'd dogged every known lead he had on Jeremy Carter, the man his father had last spoken to before dying. All he'd been met with was a bunch of red tape and many sealed files with the word 'CLASSIFIED' stamped across them. He'd need clearance to get anywhere near that information.
Slouching, he walked down the library steps, not bothering to hide how weary he was. He felt like incomplete death. A part of him wanted to throw himself on the ground and simply give up. Before he could even think about it, however, he bumped into someone. Damn, i should watch where I go, he thought frustratedly before glancing up at who he'd bumped into. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding..."

[jacob]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,300]   MEL AS BEAU | I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! HOPE IT'S ALL RIGHT Jacob had thought about his meeting with Beau the other day for a while now. And though for whatever reason, he was still convinced of his innocence, he realized what a huge idiot he was for letting him go scot-free. But, he didn't really regret it, at the same time. Jacob trusted his gut far too easily, honestly. He was going to get shot for that one of these days, he was certain. He was a very trusting guy, and true to his word. He wanted to believe in the good in people, he honestly did. If Beau hadn't been innocent, he would have felt guilty about this by now, wouldn't he? Jacob was now sitting in the police department, lounging and taking a little break from his paperwork, when he glanced out the window and saw to his astonishment, that same blonde kid running past, being closely followed by a cop. A grimace appeared on Jake's face as for a split second, he considered what to do. Chase after and save him, risking his job even further, or letting him catch him and having to face him with Alex, where his letting an escapee go might just come out some way or another. The odds were incomparably hard to decide, but Officer Ferguson was certainly not as easy to convince as he. So he jumped out of his chair, glad he was the only one around the front door, and began the chase after the police officer and the boy. “Ferguson!” He called in as authoritative tone as he could muster. “Ferguson!”

[/I] That one caught his attention a little better, and the officer turned slightly to catch sight of Jake. It seemed he'd been catching up on Beau, almost had him cornered again by now and Jake had nearly caught up to the both of them. “Detective Griffiths!” Ferguson said, looking pleasantly surprised. “Look who I found lurking around the library, a prime suspect in the Hogan case-” 

But before he could finish, Jake interrupted. “He's not our guy.” He said with a half laugh, trying to make sure that Beau could hear him too. “Saw him the other day. Absolutely uncanny resemblance, don't ya think? Poor kid has been chased all around town. Don't worry about him. Honest. I'm sure I just terrified him when I chased him down, probably just running ’cause I nearly shot him, thinking he was our guy.” 

He shrugged, palms up with a sheepish smile. Ferguson looked unconvinced, but seemed to trust the word of the detective, who inwardly told himself that he wasn't lying, just improving the truth a little. So he nodded and slowly began walking back, suspiciously watching them. “If you say so..” “Of course I do. I'll give him your apologies.” That was probably a little too cheeky for Ferguson's taste, but it got rid of him, albeit with a slight snarl.

Jake waited until he had turned the corner before he turned back to Beau. “Dude, you so owe me.” he said with a slight grin, though this was probably not the time to be messing around.
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[mel2]

Run ning. In the past few months, Beau had done a lot of running. He heartily believed that if he hadn't been a track-team star, he would be behind prison bars at this point. So, of course, it didn't surprise him that the first thing that occurred after bumping into the police officer outside of the station was being chased. It seemed just a regular part of his day, now. Wake up, eat breakfast, run from authorities...
The man, whomever he was, was much smaller and more slender than Jacob Griffiths had been. Though the larger man had been able to keep up with Beau, Beau had still had the edge on size. The man behind him, however, was smaller and swift. Beau wasn't going to outrun this man, and with begrudging despair, he knew it.

He was practically within arm's reach of being caught when something miraculous happened. A booming voice cut across the street and the officer, whose name was apparently Ferguson, screeched to a halt. Beau did as well when he saw the source of the voice. "Mister Griffiths?" He murmured, slightly shocked.
That same look of shock never left his face all the while Jacob spoke to the lower officer. Though it wasn't easy for him, the younger, less experienced man accepted that Beau was, in fact, not a fugitive and was just uncannily similar looking to one.
After the man had left, Jacob fired off a a sort of joke. Like what one guy might tell to his friends. Beau was staring up at him, half horrified, half confused. "Why did you do that?" He asked quietly, "I am a suspect in that case. He was right. Why didn't you let him arrest me?" Not that Beau wasn't sort of happy that he was still free. Honestly, he was. But this man, Jacob Griffiths... He was a complete anomaly to Beau. Why was he being so helpful? Did he know something? Damn it, the questions circled around Beau's head like cartoon birds.

[jacob]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,300]   MEL AS BEAU | I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! HOPE IT'S ALL RIGHT Jacob's eyebrows raised as the younger man looked just as horrified as Jacob's boss would be were he ever to find out about what he'd just done. "Well, I can just as easily go back and tell him I was mistaken, if you'd prefer." He said with a shrug, taking a step back. "I do distinctly remember saying "he's not our guy", implying you ain't the one who did it, not that you weren't a suspect." Here he paused. "Okay, maybe implying that you weren't a suspect, either, but not quite, really." He squinted, shaking his head softly. This poor kid was probably confused out of his mind with Jacob, who really only wanted to help.  He'd been sort of looking into the Hogan case since they'd met, and there was no real evidence that he could find that incriminated Beau of murdering his father. It was all very insubstantial, if you would have asked him. Though no one really did ask him, everyone seemed to think he was too young to know what he was doing. At least that made people think it wouldn't be a problem when he asked to look into the case. Just a curious kid, looking into things to get further reference on something else, he didn't know.  All he knew was that his gut was telling him it wasn't the kid, and if nothing else, Jacob knew he could trust his gut. He wondered vaguely where Beau was staying. With the way he acted, most likely nowhere in town. And when was the last time he ate? He wasn't exactly scrawny, but he had a sort of hungry look in his eyes. Jacob still had an appetite like a teenager, to be honest, and Beau was younger than he was, still basically, well, a kid. Point being, if Jacob was in his shoes, he most likely would be dead from starvation already.  However, if he offered lunch, it would probably be turned down with an incredulous look such as the one he was being given at this very given moment. He could honestly not tell if it would be worse to suggest buying him food or not. "You hungry or what?" He asked finally, putting his arms out wide in exasperation.

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[mel2]

Beau's eyes, quiet and blue, watched Jacob Griffiths with a paranoia and distrust far beyond his years. Trusting people always landed Beau with problems, and sadness. As good as the man had been to Beau, he'd long since made a vow never to trust anyone. Though the temptation was there (it would be so easy to just tell this man his problems, tell him abotu Carter, tell him he needed help), but he couldn't.
He was alone.
Maybe he always would be.

Jacob stepped back, and instinctively, Beau stepped forward. "Please!" The word burst forth from his mouth. "Please... I can prove my innocence. Soon, I swear, I can. Just let me go." He wasn't going to give the detective a damned clue about how he was going to prove his innocence, but it might buy him some time. He didn't rely it, but he figured that it wouldn't hurt to at least say.

Food? Like, real, substantial, stomach-filling food? Beau's traitorous stomach growled loudly and hungrily, and immediately his hand flew to his abdomen. "N-No..." The detective could be lying. He really could. But a part of Beau was just exasperated. If Griffiths wanted to turn him in, he could've done it by now. Instead, he let Beau go. He was either stupid, which Beau could fight, or he honestly believed Beau was innocent. And if either were the case, what harm was getting some real food? Finding Carter would take all of his energy. Besides, he needed to get his hand on that security clearance... "Wait... Maybe..." He swallowed, the request for help foreign to him. "I'd like that. The food, that is."

[jacob]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,300]   MEL AS BEAU | HOPE IT'S ALL RIGHT Jake's eyes softened at the younger boy's reply, and he stopped mid-step. "All right, keep your pants on." Though Jacob had no earthly idea what the kid could do to prove his own innocence, he guessed he had some sort of trick up his sleeve after all. "I would avoid him though," he added, jerking his head back to explain that he was talking about Ferguson. "He ain't quite as nice and understanding as me." With a signature cheeky grin. Then again, not many people on the squad seemed to be as "understanding" or possibly better put, naive, as Jake. He doubted many of them would simply let the kid go, anyway, let alone actually helping him get away. Jacob tilted his head to the side, his eyebrows raised high as Beau denied wanting food, but he didn't say anything, he just dropped his arms to his sides again. He didn't have to wait long before Beau changed his mind, and he grinned. "I figured. Whatcha hungry for? And am I bringing it to you or will you be coming with me, or what?" As threatening as that sounded once it was out of context, he really doubted Beau would actually come with him into town. Neither one of them would probably get to that level of trust until he was actually proved innocent, anyway. "I mean, either way works for me." He shrugged nonchalantly, still trying to put the younger man more at ease, which was probably not going very well, but at least Beau trusted Jake enough to let him buy him food. Not like Jake was going to like, drug it or anything, though. He didn't have the means or the desire to do that anyway, though. Plus, it would be pretty pointless to do something like that. If Jacob wanted him arrested, he would have done it already, he was pretty sure Beau would know that by now, and had no intention of letting him down. Jacob may have seemed like a wholesome, kind guy straight off the bat, but if you crossed him, he had a wicked temper.

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[mel2]

Beau had never pretended to be the most adept boy when it came to social situations. So, when the detective told him to keep his pants on, his first instinct was to look down and make sure his worn denims weren't slung around his ankles.
The fast movement actually jarred him-- he hadn't realized how famished he was until he was almost falling over his feet with fatigue. No wonder that guy Ferguson had almost caught him-- he was barely capable of standing still with out assistance!

The attempts the detective made to lighten the atmosphere fell on deaf ears. If anything, his jests only made Beau more uncomfortable. The boy could deal with a vicious cop, or a bounty hunting rogue-- but a kind, honest human being? Beau Hogan was lost.

Beau's instinct was simply to ask the officer for some cash, but that would probably make him look pretty lame (yes, even in these straits, Beau wanted to retain at least some of his cool). But what other options did he have? Either wait for Jacob to get him food, or tag along. Neither were exactly intelligent, as he thought about it. If he let the detective go on his own, he might slip a drug into the food, or, or... something!
On the other hand, if Beau attended, he'd be vulnerable to all prying eyes. Even though he'd gone through the town before, he'd down what he could to remain incognito. He doubted standing next to Mr. Lumberjack, he could remain inconspicuous.
Chewing his lip sordidly, he tried to think with out taking a whole damn century. "I'll..." He paused, "I'll... go with you." At least this way, he could keep an eye on the food. The detective couldn't mess with it or anything, and he'd just find a way to stand alone from the other man. Better than dawdlign outside a police station, anyway. Besides, if anything went wrong, all he'd have to do is dip and run.

Adjusting the collar of his dirtied plaid shirt against the cold, he stared unwaveringly at the detective for a moment. "Do you have a car, or d'ya wanna walk?" Damn his southern roots. They showed whenever he was beginning to relax.

[jacob]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,300]   MEL AS BEAU | HOPE IT'S ALL RIGHT Jacob paused, his eyebrows knitting together in disbelief as the kid actually looked down and made sure that his pants were still on. "It's.. an expression.." He said slowly, not really sure if Beau really didn't know the expression (which was a very common one where Jake grew up) or if he was just pulling his leg or something. But he seemed serious enough, surprisingly. Maybe Jake should stop with the jokes. They didn't seem to be doing anything at all. Just confused and uncomfortable. But asking Jake to stop joking was like asking him to stop breathing. It just wasn't very easy, if at all possible.   But he'd at least try to, since Hogan looked so very uncomfortable already, and so far he didn't seem to have gotten anything. He stared back at him, quietly, as the younger man tried to decide whether or not to join him while he went to get food for him. His arms crossed tightly against his chest, surprised that he'd agreed to come with him. Probably just to make sure that Jake didn't try to do anything to his food. It would have been hurtful if he knew Jacob at all. "Cool." He said with a shrug.  Jake was even more surprised when Beau asked if he had a car, like he trusted him enough to not kidnap him and throw him in jail then. But okay. Whatever. He wasn't about to put more paranoia into this kid's head. "Sure, I've got a car." He nodded. -""Right this way, then.." He trailed off, gesturing for Beau to follow him to the old truck. Jake's most prized possession was the Harley Davidson he had at home, but the Ford pickup was still better suited if he had to drive someone around, and so he drove it around more (because Jake did tend to carpool a lot, it seemed). Jake didn't really see any sort of problem in turning his back to Beau like he was now as he led him to his car. He was ninety percent positive that the boy was completely harmless. And if he just ran away, that was just less money spent. Jake wouldn't blame him, and therefore, wouldn't worry about it.

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[mel2]

He couldn't help but turn a little red as the detective explained the phrase to him. Being raised in a hick town, any normal expressions or jokes tended to elude him. Unless, of course, they were about roosters or the state of one squash patch. Those, he tended to understand. "Yeah, I know," He said in response, hoping the detective would just leave it at that.

Though his mind railed against the idea of doing anything with anyone with a career in law, Beau Hogan's heart said he was safe. Despite that, he refused to allow his once trusting nature to control him. The man was a detective, he could still turn on Beau. Just because he hadn't yet doesn't mean he was on Beau's side.
For right now, though, he was willing to put aside their differences and buy the kid some food. Beau figured it wouldn't hurt to tell the detective his side of the story, if the older man asked. Jeremy Carter would stay a well kept secret, but he could at least hope his side of the story would deter the detective inevitable and eventual change of heart. If Beau could have a detective covering his trail, even for only a day or two, it'd help him immensely. Not that he was counting on Jacob to actually be there for him, but if the man was there, why not take advantage of him?

It never even occurred to Beau that getting inside the other man's car was kind of stupid if he was trying to isolate himself, or make an easy get away. Despite being a fugitive, he still was just a kid. It didn't occur to him until after they were at the car that this might have been a little stupid. At the same time, though, he didn't want to run. He was too exhausted to do so. Chances were, he'd collapse and then get taken to the hospital where he most certainly would be reported into the police. At least with Jacob, there was a chance he wasn't going to get the sack, even if he was in the car. Liking those odds, he remained stationary after approaching the car.

As a boy from a small town, Beau had had little to do in his high school years except football, track and cars. The Ford pick-up was a respectable model, and he couldn't help but whistle lowly as he examined the wheels. "What is this, a Super Duty? A Ranger?" He rattled off Ford models, not even having to look at the back of the truck to recognize it's make. "Any custom work?"