Hearth and Home

It took a bit before the driver dared to speak again, choosing to go for more idle chit-chat. She happily chattered about varying taxi etiquette around the country, as well as drivers that didn't care about that. He was astonished to hear Amsterdam cabbies would keep the front heavily secured, while actually making it easy to break out of the back. Too many paranoid criminals to risk a drunk one believing you're holding them captive and all that.
He dropped a few subtle hints that he wouldn't miss Hubert, which she acknowledged without saying anything incriminating. When they finally arrived in town, he sent her off with a nod. A gesture not missed by several older ladies pretending to be minding their own business, knitting or reading the paper while gossiping horribly about everything and nothing. Jackdaw had styled her look to be recognisable, so she knew within the hour the entire town would know she had dropped by home.
She had plenty of time, so she chose to walk slowly, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar sights. Noting where graffiti was no longer being sprayed, as well as the new popular spots. A few old stuff still somewhat up, but most long gone and replaced by the next generation. Stores replaced, or refurnished. A daughter who had taken over her dad's store and clearly had gotten rid of most she disliked about the place, while keeping enough there to not chase off the oldies. When you lived there, you barely noticed the changes over time, yet now, so little seemed the same.
Her childhood home also looked different. New paint, changes in the shrubbery, the hard-to-mow lawn evened out and covered with clover instead of grass. The front door had been replaced with one providing more privacy, its glass windows now bubbly and hazy to look through. The back door was still the same, and unlocked as always. She stepped through, then through another door into the open kitchen. Her mother was at the counter, peeling potatoes. A larger amount than she'd need by herself, but enough for two. Looks like she already heard.
She put an arm around her mother, kissing the side of her head. "Hi, ma." She seemed so small compared to when Jackdaw was still growing up, the top of her head not even reaching Jackdaw's chin when both were standing straight. Without words, her mother handed her a knife and she started cutting carrots. When her mother stepped away to go grab the meat, Jackdaw put on a ballistic mask and activated its internal gas mask, before starting to cut the onions. Her mother frowned upon seeing the mask, but did give it a subtle approving look. Seems like she liked the design it was currently displaying, a doglike snarl exposing virtual teeth.
After the pans were busy boiling, they both sat down at the table. Jackdaw noted the table felt like the rest of the house, surprisingly large. Most folks noted their childhood homes felt smaller than before when they dropped by. For her it was the opposite. No more bags and coats packed into every corner, toys haphazardly over the floor, a table full with dishes and plates with six people sitting around it, most of them loud and telling about their day. Just silence.
Jackdaw was the first to break the silence, gesturing at the small cabinet next to the table, with several decks of cards on top. "So, still playing cards every Thursday? I remember you winning enough to be accused of cheating once, what a row that became! Still got what it takes?" She used her trademark impish smirk, one that she had carried through her youth and her entire running career. When she wielded it on a job, people either got worried or sighed. Her mother sighed, of course.
"Wednesdays and Fridays, actually. There was a divide a while ago due to an affair, things got heated, so now a lot of people refuse to play with each other. Now we're split over two days, and us neutral folks are twice as busy. And the gossip! Gods, it's such a disaster. Sometimes I feel like picking a side just to be rid of the drama. So, daughter, is that why you're here? Gossip?"
"No, just felt like dropping by. I missed your cooking, y'know. I actually started cooking by myself every now and then, less leaving it to the drones. I swear the things are judging me for it though!" Her mother barked out a laugh, then jumped straight into interrogation mode. The silence broken, things were now back to how they were before. Rolled eyes, laughter, smiles, tenderness hidden underneath the grump. They continued their conversation throughout the cooking and the dinner. In the evening, some neighbours dropped by, nosy and curious but easy to distract. It was nice, it really felt like home. She mostly sat in silence, taking in the sight and warming her heart.
Overhearing a random message, Jackdaw broke into an ongoing conversation. "Really? Adri's out?" The people nodded, silent in anticipation it seemed. She chose her next words carefully. "Honestly, I'm surprised. I'd asked someone to give me a heads-up if Adri got out, I wanted to have drinks with him. I should figure out what went wrong there."
One of the neighbours whose name she always forgot, replied with a smile. "Ah, that is a shame. Yes, he was in touch last year, directly afterwards. Gave his thanks for all the care packages he had received, then said he was going to lay low and make sure there would be no backlash to us. You know, he was always so nice. Never expected that violence from him, but then again, it was well-deserved." The others agreed. "You know, I think he would enjoy hearing Hubert died." A few raised eyebrows at that news, apparently not everyone had heard yet. "Did you hear any about that, dear?"
Jackdaw nodded. "Oh yes, saw his body lying in the road. Cab driver had to take the ditch to get around it. Must have pissed off the wrong person. How long do you think before anyone calls it in?" Long, is what people thought. Nobody would dare report it and risk being fingered as a suspect. Who knows, maybe by the time anyone realised, the body would be long gone and the car taken apart for parts. Nobody seemed to care much either way, as long as no hassle came off it.
After everyone was gone, Jackdaw started doing the dishes, her mother impatiently waiting with the towel, her drying pace much faster than Jackdaw's cleaning. It was her mother who first broke the silence. "You're going to see him, aren't you? Adri? Be careful, okay. Don't get caught up in his business."
She smirked in turn. "I'm above his paygrade nowadays, mom. He should be careful not to get caught up in mine." Silence once more, while her mind started racing, making plans, figuring out who to call to find out what had happened. If she hadn't heard of his release, it meant officially he hadn't. Which meant he might be in trouble and she couldn't have that. Adri had paid his debts to her family, but she felt she owed him in turn. So now she would be the one helping him out instead.