Three Weeks Later:
Talia couldn’t believe Mr. Garcia had hired her. She was on a ninety-day probation period, but if she does well, he would take her under his wing and teach her. He does suggest that if she were serious about being an investigator. She should take a college course in Criminal Justice.

When Talia mentions this to her parents, they think it is a good idea. So, Talia applied to her local community college, which, by luck, offered a course in criminal justice. Between her job, the classes she was taking at the community college, and her silk-screening business, she was keeping herself busy.

The money she made from selling her t-shirts online was also going towards her degree. Additionally, the money she earned from working for Mr. Garcia was split between her t-shirt business and her college fund. She also invests in getting bumper stickers and other types of stickers made to sell on her site.

She spends a lot of time in the office doing paperwork and conducting background research on some of the cases that arise. She discovers that Mr. Garcia works for some of the city's more prominent law firms. A few times, she accompanies him to court, so she can see how she should act if she is ever requested or subpoenaed to testify about a case.

A few times, she receives some nasty emails from supporters of the senators and congressmen she was targeting about their support. She volunteers to help the local LGBTQ group in her city. She meets some other transgender people she didn’t know about. At one meeting, she informs them that she wasn’t technically a transgender person, but an intersex person who was misdiagnosed at birth about her gender. How the laws that were created to harass them were being used against her as well.

She attempted to contact her representative to see if they would take any action, but they refused to get in touch with her or even meet with her. As for her parents and brothers, they were supportive of what Talia was doing. Her mother thought it was smart that Talia decided to get a college degree to help her career.

One night, one of the other investigators who worked for Mr. Garcia invited her to tag along on a stakeout. He wanted to teach her what went on during a stakeout. The case he was working on was about supplies and equipment being stolen from a construction company. The company was one of her father’s competitors.

Talia knew the man was known to underbid a lot of other construction companies and take shortcuts on some of the jobs he did. She was sitting in the back seat with an old-style camera, but it was equipped with night vision.

Karl was watching the construction site with a pair of night vision binoculars. “So, Talia, what made you want to become an investigator?”
He wondered why a girl of Talia’s age would want to do this kind of work and why she wasn’t in school.

“Because I want to start investigating the jackasses who make stupid laws that hurt or ruin people's lives.”

“That sounds serious.” Karl noticed the sarcasm in Talia’s voice when she answered him.

“It is. So-called leaders or representatives don’t realize that the laws they make or submit to support hurt people. I looked at a lot of the new laws,
and most of them are based on prejudice against either trans or low-income people. Now, with the government going after illegal immigrants and such. A bunch of immigrants who are trying to do the right thing are being prosecuted.”

“It sounds like you are heavily involved in politics.” Karl glances towards Talia when he says that.

“Not really, but I do agree that it has gotten out of hand what our representatives have been doing. All because they listen to the jackass who gives them big bucks, or are afraid to stand up to the people who are higher than them. It’s like all of a sudden, they forget that they are hurting people and don’t give a damn.”

“And you think you can make a difference?”

“I don’t know if I can, but I’m willing to try. Things need to change, and it's time to get rid of the jackasses currently in office.” Talia spots movement across from where they were parked.

“Karl, do you see that?” Talia was filming everything.

“Yeah, I got them.” Karl had spotted two other people following the first one.

Karl and Talia watched as the three people went about damaging some equipment and spray-painting graffiti on some of the tool sheds and the construction office trailer. Talia focused the video camera more and spotted someone she knew. The guy went to her high school and was known to be a nice person.

“I know one of them, Karl. He goes to my old high school.”

“What’s his name?” Karl takes out a small notebook to write the name down.

“Kevin Smart. He’s a junior at my old high school. He plays soccer and is pretty good at it.” Talia couldn’t believe what Kevin was doing tonight.

“Do you know his companions by chance?”

“Nope, I’ve never seen them before.” Talia continues to film everything.

After about thirty minutes, the three people run off after setting fire to a barrel. Karl calls 911 to get the fire department and the police out there. They stick around and give an eyewitness account of what happened.

Afterwards, Karl drops Talia off at home. Karl sticks around until Talia is inside the house before pulling off.