Chapter 5

I couldn’t stop thinking about what my mother said that night, regarding Lauren and me. Us, close? Yeah right. And Angel and I are best friends.

Maybe it was more her fantasy—what she wanted to see as a mother, what she chose to remember. But then a part of me suspected it was true, a small corner of my mind that tucked the memory safely away. How did everything get so screwed up?

The next day at school, Roz stopped me at my locker.

“The vision, it came in clearer. The victim is our mailman.”

“Frank?” I couldn’t believe it. “Where’s it going to happen?”

“I’m not sure… I know it’s not by our house. Maybe in a parking lot?” She closed her eyes as if recalling the vision. “Inside a car.”

“Not his mail truck then?”

She shook her head. “I’m sure it was a four-door car. The killer—I mean, your father—reached from the back seat to attack him.”

It disconcerted me that the word “killer” and my father were synonymous in that sentence. “What about when? Do you know the date or time?”

Roz considered it. “I don’t know the date, but it was still daylight out.”

“Is there anything else you remember?”

“There was a noise in the background. I think it was the stereo in his car.”

“Maybe we can uncover more clues if we do a recall,” I suggested.

As I gave Roz a hug and made my way down the hall, a sudden sense of exhaustion hit me. Turning our house into a fortress, learning how to kick ass, and searching my psychic best friend’s head for clues to find my psycho Dad before he killed my mailman...it had been quite a week already. Would I ever have regular teenage life again?

By the time lunch rolled around, I was starving. I grabbed my usual—a semi-decent looking ham sandwich from the lunch line and joined the others at our table in the corner of the cafeteria. As soon as I sat down, though, my spidey-sense went into overdrive. Something was off with Wes. He did everything he could to avoid eye contact with me.

“Wes, are you okay?”

Still avoiding my gaze, he said, “I got some hits on your father.”

I gulped. I wasn’t sure I even wanted the information now. After hearing about Roz’s vision, I didn’t know if I could take much more bad news.

“He was involved in a special project in the military, RVS-127. From what I could tell, they were a group of assassins.”

Tommy’s forehead wrinkled. “Military records are not the kind of thing you can access online. How did you get at that?”

“A magician never reveals the tricks of his trade,” was Wes’s cryptic reply.

I could tell by Tommy’s expression Wes had won some major brownie points. “Impressive,” Tommy said.

Wes finally met my gaze, and I sensed a wave of sympathy pouring from him. He didn’t want to say his next words any more than I wanted to hear them. “Ninety-two confirmed kills in—”

Roz squeezed his hand and shook her head.

I gasped. Between my mother’s recollection and Roz’s visions, I knew he was deadly, but how could he have killed so many people?

“Em, I know this is a lot to take in,” Wes said. “But you should know the people he killed were bad guys. Really bad guys.”

I nodded, and understood that’s what happens in the military, but it still left an uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.

“I also found a last known address,” Wes said, “but it was years ago. It’s not accurate anymore.”

I perked up at that. Maybe this is a good lead. Maybe we can get one step ahead of him.

“That’s great, Wes,” Roz said. “We can check it out.”

Wes chuckled. “Not unless you got a car and a couple of days to burn. It’s in New Mexico.”

I wondered if it was the same area where he took me last time.

“Besides,” Wes said, “another person lives there now. I couldn’t find anything to tie him to your father. But I’ll keep digging.”

I groaned. “How is this my life?”

Tommy took my hand in his. “We’re here for you. All of us.”

Roz took my other hand and Wes nodded in agreement. Sitting there with them together, I felt a sense of unity. And somehow, despite all the facts to the contrary, the outlook seemed less bleak.

****

Tommy joined us at Judy’s office. She shut the door and dimmed the lights, to make it more conducive for a recall. Judy assisted me, and with her warm hands and calming presence, Roz became relaxed quickly. I asked Roz to replay the vision in her mind.

“I see a number of people in postal uniforms. Frank walks to his car and gets in. He unbuttons the top button of his uniform, then he starts up the car. His stereo was left on from before—the radio is playing.”

“Roz, I need you to listen to the radio,” I said. “Tell me everything you hear.”

She hummed the song that was playing, and it sounded familiar, an old eighties tune.

“Isn’t that…” I began, the name of the song on the tip of my tongue.

“Sounds like ‘Der Komissar,’” Tommy said.

“That’s it! Falco.”

“KTPM 106… request your three favorites for your threesome.” She paused, before continuing in a fearful voice. “Your father. He’s in the back seat. His arms reach around the seat, one covering Frank’s mouth, the other on his stomach. He’s being… drained.”

“Drained?” I looked over at Tommy, who simply shrugged in response.

“He’s losing all his ener…” she trailed, her voice sounding sleepy.

I yawned, experiencing what Roz felt. “Roz?”

But there was no response.

“Is she sleeping?” I asked Judy.

She leaned close, observing her for a moment. “Yes, I believe so.”

“She must’ve felt what was happening to the victim,” I said. “She said he was being drained.”

Tommy smiled. “Sleeping is better. Way better than feeling the doctor’s mind probes.”

I nodded. “Exhaustion is much better than pain.”

Tommy glanced at the clock. “Well, somebody’s gotta wake sleeping beauty here. Lunch is about over.”

I gently nudged her. “Roz, you need to wake up.”

“What…” she murmured, as her eyes slowly opened. “What happened?”

“You fell asleep,” I said. “It was the vision. I think you felt the effects of the attack.”

“That was weird. So what did we find out?”

“Today or next week, in the early evening,” Tommy said.

“Wow, that’s pretty impressive,” I said. “How do you know?”

“The radio station she mentioned—Demetri listens to it. Threesome Thursdays—they do that after school. “

“And from all the people in uniforms, it most likely happens at the post office itself,” I added.

“That’s great,” Roz said. She turned to Tommy. “Will you pick us up after school? We can go there and watch. See if we can do anything to stop it.”

Tommy nodded, right as the bell to end lunch rang. On the way to our afternoon classes, I thought about the ramifications of saving Frank: being right there, with my father. I had to do it, I couldn’t abandon my friends, but the thought of seeing him again filled me with dread. Then it occurred to me I was still a prisoner.

“I’m still under house arrest,” I said sadly. “How are we going to bust me out?”

“Say you’re working on a paper at school,” Roz said.

“I guess I could… but I wish I knew how long it would take,” I said. “I don’t want to worry my mother.”

“It won’t go past five. The radio program only lasts until then,” Tommy said.

“Cool.”

Roz parted ways with us, and Tommy walked me to my class.

I hadn’t been able to push the thoughts of encountering my father out of my mind yet. It must’ve shown in my expression.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Tommy asked, taking my hand in his.

“My father… I don’t know what to expect.”

He gave my hand a squeeze. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll stay in the car. It’ll be safe.”

“I’m more worried for you and Roz.”

“Don’t be. We’ll be fine,” he said, but I could feel the slight anxiety within him.

I stopped him before the entrance to my class. His arms enclosed me in a warm embrace.

“We’ll stop him. This will all be over soon.”

I wanted to believe him. But somehow I knew it was only beginning.

****

As Tommy drove us to the large Cannondale post office, my hands started to shake. I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself. It didn’t work.

My heart seized up as we pulled into the parking lot of the old post office. People carried letters in their hands, shuffling to their cars as if it were just another day, oblivious of the imminent danger lurking there. I closed my eyes, and the fear Roz and Tommy were feeling came flooding in. A powerful shudder ran through my body.

Roz wasn’t sure about the make and model of the car, so we parked in the last row and watched for Frank to exit. It wasn’t long before he approached his car, an old sedan in the row right in front of us. He’d gotten a haircut from when I saw him the other day, and the shorter length disguised the grey better in his black hair. He whistled a tune to himself, as he unlocked the driver side door. A thought suddenly occurred to me, one that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. From what Roz saw in her vision, my father would’ve already been waiting in the back seat for him to arrive. I watched in breathless anticipation.

Sure enough, after Frank unbuttoned his shirt, we saw a dark figure sit up in the back seat. I almost gasped as he slid his arms around the driver’s seat.

“Em, wait here,” Tommy said as he and Roz got out. I worried what my father would do to them. There’s no way I’m going to sit here and watch him attack them. I snuck out of the car but stayed far enough behind to not arouse suspicion.

As they approached Frank’s car, my father bolted out the passenger side. Then he stopped and turned, as if he had sensed my presence. His cold blue eyes met mine, and I froze to my spot, not even daring to blink.

His face had aged, its lines deepened. His hair was shorter and grayer than in the picture Mom had shown us. A desperate, haunting smile appeared on his face as he walked toward me.

“Baby girl, is it really you?” His voice was stronger than on the phone, and he seemed overjoyed to see me.

Shit, what do I do? I felt mesmerized by his very presence, almost as if I were five again and in awe of him. So surreal, experiencing that strange sense of reminiscent dread. For a second, I wondered if this was just another nightmare.

Tommy ran back and positioned himself in front of me. “Stay away from her!”

Hearing Tommy’s voice snapped me out of it. My heart raced as I became fully aware of the danger I was in.

“Em!” Roz yelled from the car. “Frank’s passed out. I’m not sure if he’s breathing.”

Tommy took my hand in his, and we made our way to Frank’s car, both of us keeping my father in sight. He stared at me, that eerie smile still on his face, but didn’t move.

The scene was drawing a crowd of postal workers and patrons alike. I touched Roz’s shoulder, and she stepped out of the way. When I glanced up again, my father was gone.

From where I stood on the driver’s side, I placed my hands on Frank. His body pulled in the healing energy through my palms. It was another minute before he awoke. Still disoriented, he kept his eyes closed. When they flickered open, I lifted my hands.

“Emily? What are you doing here?”

“You were out of it,” I said. “Do you remember what happened?”

He scratched his head. “I got in my car, I was about to start it. Did someone try to grab me?”

“Oh, well, you fainted,” Roz said. “We, uh, happened to notice when we walked past your car.”

The lie was a stretch, no doubt. Frank cocked an eyebrow, but out of either sheer exhaustion or embarrassment, he didn’t press. “Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I’m sure that was it.”

“Can you stand?” I wanted to make sure he wasn’t too dizzy to drive.

He stood and stretched his arms overhead.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“I’m okay,” he said and rubbed his face. “What a day, huh? Thought I was done with the craziness when I left the building.” He smiled. “Thanks, guys.”

“No problem. Have a good night,” I said, waving goodbye.

We all returned to the Nova and got in. An awkward silence ensued. None of us knew what to say.

Finally Roz spoke. “We stopped him.”

“Yeah,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “At least Frank is safe.”

The tension I felt was shared, all three of us still stunned by the encounter with my father. A small part of me wished he was my neurotic mind’s twisted fantasy, a subconscious need to create drama in my life after defeating my psychiatrist. Even seeing him at the woods near the school could’ve been a hallucination, I reasoned. But everyone seeing him, right there in the flesh, shattered that hope.

“He’s the opposite of me,” I said quietly.

“What?” Roz said.

“I heal people by giving them energy. I think he does the opposite. He takes energy away.”

“That would explain what you saw in your vision,” Tommy said to Roz.

“Whoa,” she uttered. “That power… it’s…”

She didn’t need to finish her thought. It was a horrific power. A power impossible to counter. I glanced off to the side, unsure of how to feel.

“You’re safe, Em. We’re all watching. He won’t get near you,” Tommy said.

“With his power, no one can stand in his way. Not even Demetri.” I sighed. “That’s why my mother is so scared. She must know.”

The tension surrounding us grew thicker as it transformed into fear. I suspected it was only a matter of time before the next run-in with my father.

****

The nightmare returned that night, more intense than ever before. As my father’s arms closed around me and I slumped over, I woke myself up. My heaving chest didn’t pull air into my lungs any faster. I struggled to breathe, the memory of the dream lingering in my mind. I felt weak, so drained, like I imagined I’d felt when I was little.

God, I wish Tommy were here with me.

It took me a while to get back to sleep, still frightened from the nightmare. I didn’t get much sleep after that—my father haunted my thoughts for the remainder of the night. I got ready early and sat in the living room, waiting by the window for Demetri to pull up. As soon as the old Ford truck approached, I dashed out of the house, eager to embrace Tommy. When he started to let go, I held onto him tightly.

“Em, are you okay?” he asked.

“Had some bad dreams,” I said.

He rubbed my back. “It’s all right now, beautiful.”

“Uh… guys?” Demetri yelled from inside the cabin. “We kinda have to go to school.”

I released Tommy. “Sorry.”

“What’s wrong, Em?” Demetri asked.

“I’m okay,” I said. “I just missed Tommy last night.”

Once we both entered the truck, I climbed on Tommy’s lap and wrapped my arms around him. I closed my eyes as he slowly stroked my hair.

“You going to be all right?” Demetri asked.

Wish I knew the answer to that one. “Yeah,” I said, my face still comfortably nestled in the bend of Tommy’s neck.

At our lockers, Roz was getting her books for the day when I noticed what appeared to be a small burn on her cheekbone.

I carefully slid her hair back. “What happened? Did you burn yourself?”

“Yeah, I had a section of hair that refused to curl today. Held it too close my skin, I guess.”

“Raw potato,” Wes said as he joined us.

“Excuse me?” I said.

He pointed to Roz’s burn mark. “Helps with minor burns. I bet they have one in the cafeteria. Do you want me to go get one?”

“Oh no, it’s no problem at all,” Roz said. A strange chuckle escaped her lips. “Can’t even feel it.”

“Okay. See you guys at lunch!” He walked off, with a bounce in his step as he made his way through the throng of students. Wes appeared to be the kind of person that had upbeat as a default mood. I got the feeling he actually enjoyed going to his classes.

Roz bit her lip as she watched Wes walk away. Once he was out of earshot, she said, “That’s a total lie. It really stings. Can you…”

“Of course. Let’s use the bathroom. It should just take a minute.”

Since the bell was about to ring, there was only one girl around, and she was on her way out. I carefully positioned my hand about an inch away from the burn, not wanting to touch it and cause her more pain.

I remembered the first time I healed Roz, in this same bathroom. The day I revealed to her I was a healer. Then I recalled what happened afterwards—Tommy noticed her scar had disappeared. “Uh, Roz, do you think Wes will notice the burn mark is gone at lunch?”

“No worries. My hair will cover it.” I finished and she positioned her hair forward. “Thank you.”

She had a point. The burn was small and right next to her hairline. Her gorgeous curls easily hid the spot.

“Worst case scenario, he’s okay, right?” I never got any bad vibes around him, but I didn’t know him that well. The last thing I needed in my life was to be outed at school as a freak. Angel would have a field day with that. And then I remembered she was still out. I had been so distracted with my father’s return I’d forgotten all about her.

“I totally trust Wes,” Roz said, a knowing smile on her face. “He’s one of the good guys.”

“I think you’re right,” I said, shaking off the thoughts of my missing nemesis. Something in Roz’s expression piqued my curiosity. “Is there something else going on…between you two?”

“Em, he’s only a friend.” Knowing I had heard that before, she clarified, “A real friend.”

After the Scott experience, I wasn’t sure she could be “just friends” with guys. But Wes had a good energy to him—unassuming, genuine.

“I’m happy for you,” I said, and hugged her.

****

At lunch, Tommy and Roz were already at the table, but Wes hadn’t arrived yet. Though schoolwork was helping to distract me, my thoughts always found their way back to my father. I found it unnerving as hell that I was doing nothing about it.

“There’s got to be something we can do. I can’t just sit around, waiting for him to make the first move.”

Roz took my hand in hers and smiled sympathetically. I felt a strange sense of affection from her, and it reminded me of how she was acting right before the psycho doctor tried to kill me.

Tommy fidgeted with his lunch bag, tearing the paper into tiny pieces. I sensed a feeling of restlessness from him.

“Is everything all right? The two of you are letting off some weird vibes.”

Tommy looked at Roz. “Are you not going to tell her?”

“Tell me what?” I said. And then I knew. Damn, another vision. “We agreed you would tell me about them. No matter how bad.”

“It just happened, third period. The only reason Tommy knows is because he saw me walking to the nurse’s room. He got out of class and joined Judy and me in her office.”

Tommy reached across the table for my hands. His large hands engulfed mine, and the warmth comforted me.

“This time, the vision—”

Wes made it to the table and sat next to Roz. She stopped mid-sentence.

“Sorry I’m late. I was helping out my chemistry teacher. I didn’t mean to interrupt, go ahead.”

Roz’s eyes grew large, and I knew she was struggling to come up with an end to that sentence.

“The vision…ary guidance of my father helped me get an A on that biology project!” she said, with a little too much zeal. “Dad is so smart, isn’t he, Em?”

“Oh, yes, smartest guy I know,” I said. Which yes, did come out as lame as it sounds.

Roz had a habit of pulling back her hair from her face when she was stressed out. Without thinking, that’s exactly what she did. I let out a bizarre kind of squeak, which went entirely unnoticed.

“Hey, wait a minute…” Wes said, his brow furrowed. “Your burn from this morning. It’s gone.”

Roz quickly released her hair. “It’s, uh, still there, just smaller. I’m a quick healer, I guess.” She let out a weird desperation chuckle.

Though he was visibly nervous, Wes dared to move her hair back. In a quiet tone, he said, “The average burn takes at least twenty-four hours to heal, usually forty-eight or more, no matter how small.”

Roz’s uncomfortable smile faded. I avoided eye contact with Wes, coward that I was. Tommy groaned.

“I’m not stupid,” Wes whispered. “I know something’s going on with the three of you. I pay attention to things…more than most.”

“If you trust him, I trust him,” I said to Roz, before I turned to Wes. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I can heal.”

“Really? That’s awesome!” He giggled excitedly, as if he’d been waiting his whole life to be a part of a comic-book like universe.

I eyed Wes curiously. Why would he so easily accept such a fantastic claim?

“And you have super hearing right?” he said to Tommy. “Like Superman?”

Tommy laughed. “My senses are heightened. All his other cool powers? Not a single one.”

Wes’s exuberance deflated. “So no x-ray vision?”

“I can see better than most, but not through things. That would be pretty cool.”

Tommy’s gaze met mine, and I could tell by his confused expression he was wondering the same thing I was. I shrugged in response.

Wes turned to Roz. “And you…I can only surmise your power has to do with visions. Are you psychic?”

Roz was in the middle of a sip from her milk carton when Wes said that, and she almost choked. “How’d you figure that out?”

Wes arched a skeptical eyebrow at her, as if to say, “You’re not fooling anyone.”

Roz held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. But you can’t tell anyone, about any of us. You have to swear.”

“Your secrets are safe with me.” He seemed contented somehow, even more so than usual. I thought about his reaction to finding out our abilities—though he kinda geeked out, he was a bit too accepting. It occurred to me…maybe the reason he believed it so easily is because he had an ability himself.

“Now you know what we can do,” I said. “How about you?”

He smiled and I felt a sense of comradery, like he’d been waiting to tell us.

“I know we haven’t known each other long, but I consider the three of you my friends,” he paused, and I suspected it was for dramatic effect or something. “I have a photographic memory.”

Roz scratched her head, and I shared her feeling of confusion. While a photographic memory was cool, other people could do that. It wasn’t really a power.

He grinned, as if he reveled in saving the best for last. “A real photographic memory, which allows me to assimilate information. I can read through entire books in minutes and retain everything.”

I let that sink in. Assimilate information? It sounded like something out of a science fiction movie.

“No way!” Tommy said, in an excited whisper. “I have to see this.” He dug into his backpack and located the thickest of his books, an auto repair manual. He passed it to Wes.

Wes flipped through the entire book in a couple of minutes and handed it back to Tommy.

“Not into cars so much, but that was interesting. You like Fords or something?”

“We’re repairing an older car, and I had to look a few things up,” Tommy explained. He browsed through a few pages. “Here. On a V6 Vulcan engine, which one is closer to the top of the engine, the TPS or the CMP sensor?”

“The TPS,” Wes answered without hesitation. “The IAC valve is closest to the top, though.”

Roz and I glanced at each other blankly, as if he were speaking another language, one of obscure automotive acronyms.

“He’s right,” Tommy said, clearly impressed. “Maybe you can come by the shop and help me fix this car.”

“I can read all I want, but it doesn’t mean I’ll be adroit at a particular activity. But I could talk you through it,” he said. “I guess you could say it’s all in my head.” He did another snort/laugh, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“So you’re like a genius?” Roz said. Her expression was that of admiration, awe.

“More like a computer,” I whispered. “That’s amazing.”

“Funny you should say that,” Wes said, as he propped up his elbows on the cafeteria table so he could rest his heads in his hands. “I’ve always understood computers easier than people.” He looked down. “I’ve never had a group of friends before. And I’ve never told anyone about my ability.”

“We won’t tell, either” I said. Roz and Tommy nodded. “The information about my father, did you hack into a military database or something?”

A crooked smile appeared. “I said I understand computers better than people.”

“Wow,” was Tommy’s only reply. I knew the government had ramped up its database security after too many security breaches in the last twenty years or so. I couldn’t imagine how difficult that must’ve been.

“With the right tools and a lot of patience, you can get at any information.” He said it so absolutely, as if it were merely a matter of perseverance and a couple of decent apps.

“Yeah, and a comprehensive knowledge of the programs you’re interfacing with,” I said. “I bet you know the source code for even the database application itself.”

Roz and Tommy both looked at me with that same blank expression I’d had moments earlier when the topic was car engines. Wes just seemed pleasantly surprised.

“My mother is a database administrator, remember?” I said. “Some of the stuff she rants about sinks in.”

“It certainly helps,” Wes said. “Which database program does she work with?”

“SQL Server,” I answered.

“Cool,” he said. “Easiest one to extract data from.”

I couldn’t help but feel relieved he was one of the good guys. With an ability like his, he could do a lot of damage, simply by logging in and taking over. I shuddered to think of the havoc he could wreak in the financial world.

“With this ability, you don’t even need to go to school,” Roz said. “The amount of knowledge you have is probably post-graduate level.”

“My parents knew I was gifted when I was tested, and they discovered I had an above average memory. They wanted me to have a normal childhood,” Wes said. “It wasn’t until recently that I gained the ability to assimilate information so easily.”

“Let me guess, you almost died?” Tommy said.

“Yes, I was nearly choked to death.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“It was a bully at my old school,” he said, his expression darkening. “When they rezoned, I got to transfer here. It was a fresh start for me.”

“What about the bully? He didn’t come here?” Roz asked.

“One of the first things I learned I could do was hack into the school database. When I saw his name on the transfer list, I put him on a different list.”

“Man, that sucks,” Tommy said. “No one bothers you here, though, right?” His tone was protective, exactly as he was with Roz and me.

“If someone starts in with me in a certain class, it’s easy enough to get their schedule switched.”

“I’m sure that’s true, but we’re friends now. You let me know, okay? If nothing else I can use the urban legends about me to scare them off.”

Wes smiled. “Thanks, Tommy. I appreciate that.”

A pure feeling of gratitude and friendship washed over me, and I knew we’d made the right choice to trust him. I filled Wes in on what had happened with my father, and why we were so freaked out about his return.

Roz’s expression turned serious. “Em, my new vision... he was at your house.”

“My house?” I gulped. There’s no way that can turn out well. Not with his power and my mother with that gun of hers.

“He attacked Lauren first, and drained all her energy. Then he went after you.”

“Did he…kill her?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

“I couldn’t tell,” Roz said, “but I don’t think so. You know how it is. The first time I get the vision, there’s less detail. When I have it again, I’ll try to focus on her, see if her chest rises and falls.”

I nodded, appreciating her candor and at the same time wishing she had just said no. As much of a pain Lauren was in my life, I couldn’t imagine my family without her. Despite all her coldness, I knew deep down she loved me.

Tommy must’ve sensed my nervousness. He joined me on my side of the table and pulled me in closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder.

“We won’t let it happen, Em,” he said, with a tension in his voice. “Lauren is going to be fine.”

That same feeling of uncertainty, the same one I’d felt the other day, arose in him. Only this time there was a sense of powerlessness, too, and frustration.

Roz patted my back. “We stopped the doctor, right?”

The memory of that victory—knowing our abilities could change the future—gave me hope. “Yes, we did. And those were some pretty bad odds, too.”

“Exactly,” Roz said.

Wes scratched his head. “The doctor?”

And so we spent the rest of the lunch period telling that story.

****

My mother was called back to work on Saturday. I figured she would be gone a few hours, until she called and told me it was going to be a while, most likely all night. She said Lauren would be home at six, and she would get dinner. I told her not to worry. I’d be fine. As soon as I hung up the phone, I sighed in relief, a single thought repeating in my head.

Freedom.

I immediately called Tommy and asked him to pick me up. With the beautiful weather outside, I wanted nothing more than to be out there with him, in the tranquil woods by his house. He suggested I practice driving again first. In the vacant lot near his home I drove again, this time only stalling the car once.

Afterwards, we hit the trail, and it was like I could breathe again. On the warm ground by the creek, I lay down, basking in the sunlight. The oak trees aligning the water were filled with life—squirrels, birds, and even a beautiful white owl sat in their branches. The owl’s gaze was upon me, and I thought it strange to see one out during the day.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the openness. The brightness of the sun with my eyes closed suddenly got dimmer. I opened my eyes to find Tommy propped up next to me, staring at me.

“What?”

“Just admiring the view,” he said. “You really know how to do happy.”

“Thanks again for busting me out. It’s beautiful out here. And safe.”

“I’ll hear him coming a mile away.” He ran his fingers through my hair, so softly I could barely feel it. “How did I get so lucky?” he whispered.

“Lucky? Is that what you call it? Let’s see, since you met me, you’ve broken into buildings, been in fights, and almost died trying to protect me from a killer doctor. Now you’re flirting with death again by—”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, beautiful,” he said, right before he leaned down and kissed me.

I didn’t realize how much I needed him, until his lips touched mine and I felt that wonderful heat of his mouth. A warm chill ran through my entire body. I knew he felt it, too, because the kiss grew more intense as he positioned himself on top of me. My temperature rose as the heat fired inside. I rolled him over and broke away, breathless. I quickly slipped out of my shirt and resumed kissing him.

He smiled against my mouth, and I pulled away, curious.

“What?”

“Yet another reason why I love you.”

I shot him a puzzled look.

“Your little habit of taking your shirt off around me.”

I grinned. “You make me hot.”

“Love that the most about you. So totally hot.”

I was about to kiss him again, when someone appeared in my peripheral vision. My heart pounded as I sat up abruptly, my gaze darting to the spot. But whoever it was had disappeared.

The shape wasn’t large enough to be my father, but it was a person. I stood, squinting to see into the shadows between the trees.

“Do you smell that?” Tommy asked.

“Smell what?”

“A grape smell. It’s a distinct scent, but it’s faint.”

“If it’s faint to your senses, you know I can’t smell it.”

He stared off into the trees. “I can’t remember where I smelled it before…” Then his eyes grew large in sudden recognition. “Lauren.”

“What?”

“It’s her scent. It’s Lauren.”

The owl took flight, soaring high above us. Right as it passed, a stream of ooze fell from it, nearly landing on Tommy and just missing my shirt. Birds.

I grabbed my shirt and hastily put it back on. “How? Why couldn’t you hear her? And where is she now?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“I need to call her. We have to go back. I left my cell phone in my purse.”

“Okay.” We hurried back to his car. I dug my cell phone out of my purse and saw her number in the call log. The timestamp was twenty minutes ago. Damn, I’m caught.

“I am so in trouble,” I said. “I have to go home.”

“Let me stop in and tell Demetri where I’m going.”

At the station, I got out with him and greeted Demetri. He was busy working on a car in the bay.

“How’s it going, guys?” he said.

“I gotta take her back home. I shouldn’t be too long,” Tommy said, before he suddenly became alert, peering down the road. “Damn.”

“Oh no. Is she here?” I asked in a panic. “But how is that possible, if she was just in the woods?” I pushed my hair back from my face, thinking about my next move.

“I don’t know, but it’s okay, we’ll hide in the store,” Tommy said. “Demetri will run interference out here.”

Demetri flashed a thumbs-up. “No problem. It’ll be fun.”

Tommy cracked the door to the shop, and we positioned ourselves behind it to listen in.

“Hello again,” Demetri said to Lauren when she entered.

“Do you know where my sister is?” she asked, an urgency in her voice.

“I was expecting a greeting this time, Lauren.”

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry if I seem rude, I’m worried about her right now. Look, I know they’re in the woods again. I—”

“And how do you know that?”

How does she know that? If she were spying on us, how did she just pull up in her car? It didn’t make any sense.

“I just know, okay?” She looked off to the side, which happened to be in my direction. I stopped breathing for a moment, afraid I was caught. But her gaze focused back on Demetri. “I have to talk to her now. Can you show me where they are?”

I wondered what she wanted to talk to me about. By her tone, it seemed more urgent than just to bust me for escaping. For a second, I considered turning myself in. But then I came back to my senses.

“Is there some kind of emergency? Do you need any help?”

“No, I need to talk to her. Do you at least have his cell phone number?”

“Whose cell phone number?”

“Uh, your brother’s?” she asked, if it were the stupidest question she’d ever heard.

Demetri laughed. “We don’t have cell phones.”

“Well, how do you get in touch with him when you need him?”

Feigning a bad southern accent, he said, “Around these parts we whistle, and they come a runnin’.”

It took every ounce of composure within me not to burst out laughing. Clasping a hand to my mouth, I continued to listen.

“You’re not going to help me, are you?” she asked in an exasperated tone.

“I would love to help you. Would you like a back massage? I’ve been told I’m pretty good, and it looks like you could use—”

“I meant finding my sister!” She let out a frustrated scream, before she stomped off.

“Don’t be a stranger, Lauren. I so enjoy these little visits.”

When we didn’t hear her car pull away, Tommy cracked the door open wider to see what was going on. Demetri was changing out of his jumpsuit. He wore an old tank top underneath, which fit his body perfectly, contouring to every defined muscle of both his chest and abs. I could only imagine Lauren’s reaction, considering my own jaw had dropped. We saw him grin triumphantly, before he left our view, moving toward Lauren in her car, I guessed.

“Can you hear what they’re saying?” I asked.

“Of course,” Tommy said.

“Well?”

“Let me listen.” He chuckled. “He invited her to his room.”

“Wow.” I so wished I could hear the conversation.

“Don’t worry. She declined. She sounds nervous. I think he really shook her up.”

Demetri walked back toward the garage and threw a few last words over his shoulder. “You have a good evening, Lauren. Always nice to see you.”

Her reply was to shout, “Thanks for nothing!” before she peeled out of the parking lot. Tommy and I rejoined Demetri in the bay.

“I see where you get it from,” Demetri said to me.

“What?”

A huge grin surfaced. “Lauren was totally undressing me—”

“I’m sure it had something to do with you taking your shirt off,” I interrupted.

“Yeah. She’s so into me,” he said, still grinning.

I groaned. “I am royally screwed.”

“It’ll be all right, Em,” Tommy said. “We can work on your mother. Who cares what Lauren thinks?”

“Yeah. It’s just with my father back… they’re both crazy now.”

Dusk had set in, the soft hues of orange and pink filling the autumn Texas sky.

Demetri’s eyes suddenly grew large. “Shit, what time is it?”

“Quarter to six,” Tommy said.

“My library books are due today. I’ve got to get them back. Tommy will you close up?”

“I’m supposed to take her back now, and if I—” Tommy began.

“No, that’s okay. I can wait,” I said. “I’m screwed either way. You might as well not be, Demetri.”

“Thanks, Em.” He made a dash for his truck and was gone in seconds.

It didn’t take Tommy long to lock all the doors and bays and turn off the lights. We were on the road shortly after that.

We hadn’t been driving long when we saw Demetri’s truck pulled off on the side of the road.

“What the—” Tommy began, breaking off as the trees gave way to a better view.

I gasped. Farther ahead was Lauren’s car, canted to the side in the middle of the road.