Chapter 149: Pinkman's Home
"Pinkman?" Frank called out as he returned to the house, noticing that Pinkman wasn't around.
Normally, Frank wouldn't be concerned if Pinkman wasn't home. However, this time was different. Pinkman's glass pipe and unfinished meth lay abandoned on the table, with scattered bills leading a trail toward the back door.
The scene suggested that Pinkman had been using when something spooked him, causing him to flee in a hurry, leaving everything behind.
At the back door, Frank found it ajar and noticed one of Pinkman's shoes on the ground near the wall, likely lost in his frantic escape over the fence.
"Probably had a hallucination while high," Frank mused, glancing at a flyer stuck to the front door.
Frank was no stranger to such situations; he'd seen it all before.
"What kind of terrifying hallucination did Pinkman see to make him run like that? Where would he go in such a state?" Frank pondered.
Fifteen minutes later, Frank parked outside a suburban home—Pinkman's family residence.
Having stayed with Pinkman for a while, Frank knew about his background. They potentially had business together, so Frank made sure to understand Pinkman's situation thoroughly.
The house where Frank stayed with Pinkman belonged to Pinkman's late aunt, who left it to him. But this suburban house was where Pinkman's parents lived, his actual home.
In moments of fear, people instinctively think of home and family. It's common to note that when startled, many call out for their "mom."
Frank didn't enter immediately. From outside, he observed a middle-aged couple in the kitchen—it must be Pinkman's parents.
Soon, a school-aged boy, presumably Pinkman's younger brother, came home from the school bus and entered the house.
Frank approached the door and knocked.
"Who are you?" Pinkman's mother asked, opening the door and eyeing Frank with suspicion.
"Hello, is this Pinkman's home? Is he here?" Frank inquired.
"Who are you? We don't know any Pinkman," she replied, her expression changing, her eyes evasive.
Aware of Pinkman's lifestyle, his mother likely assumed Frank was trouble, there to cause problems, prompting her to deny knowing Pinkman.
"You misunderstand; I'm not here to cause trouble. Here's my card," Frank said, handing over a business card.
"Dr. Eric?!" Pinkman's mother exclaimed, surprised by the card's information.
Frank had given her Eric's card. Compared to Frank, who had no title, Eric was a reputable astronomy professor, more likely to win trust.
"What brings you here for Pinkman?" she asked.
"Well, I met Pinkman by chance and saw potential in him. I wanted to help guide him to quit using," Frank explained.
With the credibility of a professor and Frank's polite demeanor, Pinkman's mother let him inside.
"Pinkman, a professor is here to see you," she called upstairs.
"Huh? A professor?" Pinkman mumbled, descending the stairs with a yawn.
"Fr-" Pinkman's eyes widened slightly upon seeing Frank.
"Pinkman, long time no see. Remember, I'm Professor Eric, who spoke with you before," Frank interrupted, asserting his pretend identity.
"Uh, hello, Professor Eric!" Pinkman replied, catching on and not exposing Frank's lie, emphasizing "Professor."
"I was concerned about you. I went to your aunt's place and, not finding you there, thought I'd check here. Glad to see you're okay," Frank said.
"What are you doing?" Pinkman whispered, pulling Frank aside.
"Pinkman, show some respect to the professor," Pinkman's father interjected as he approached.
"We're at our wit's end with Pinkman. We tried everything, even kicking him out, hoping he'd change, but he's only gotten worse."
"Sometimes he comes home disoriented, likely using substances, and we can only check his arms for needle marks to confirm."
"We try to be strict, but his mother always softens. He sometimes agrees to go to church with us, but nothing seems to work. We're lost," Pinkman's father lamented.
Returning to the second floor, Pinkman's parents expressed their frustrations to Frank. They saw him as a potential savior for Pinkman.
Frank sensed their desperation—they were on the brink of giving up on Pinkman.
"Ma'am, the older one went to the younger one's room," a servant quietly informed Pinkman's mother as Frank conversed with them.
"Oops, I got so caught up; I forgot to prepare tea," Pinkman's mother said, rising to leave the room upon hearing this.
Frank noticed she didn't head to the kitchen but instead went upstairs.
A short while later, she returned with tea.
"Mind if I take a look around?" Frank asked after exchanging some educational insights with Pinkman's parents.
"Please do," they replied.
Frank took a brief tour of the house, eventually heading upstairs.
Entering the brother's room, Frank found both Pinkman and his brother inside. Pinkman, sitting on the bed, raised an eyebrow at Frank's entrance.
"This is Professor Eric," Pinkman's mother introduced Frank to the younger brother.
(End of Chapter)