Sarah was still skeptical of their sincerity. She wanted to believe them, but knowing who they worked for made it difficult to trust them. She examined their expressions for signs that they were lying. “So you followed us because…you wanted to warn us?”
Bonnie’s expression didn’t flicker, and she didn’t hesitate when she replied, “Yes. They’ve assigned a local tracker to find you. They don’t know that you’re in Sedona, but it won’t be long before they do. We came here to try to throw them off, to give you a head start.”
“But won’t they be suspicious if they find you here?”
“Not at all,” Chuck replied. “They know we come here from time to time, in hopes that Patricia will tell us where our son is.” He turned to the author with an intent gaze. She had remained quiet throughout the conversation.
“I still don’t know where Ian is,” the author lied.
“Of course you don’t,” Bonnie said with a forced smile.
Tyler seemed to sense the tense emotions between Ian’s parents and the author. He turned to Bonnie in an attempt to change the subject. “Did you know that they kidnapped my brother?”
She looked to Tyler with apologetic eyes. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Do you have any idea where they might be keeping him?”
“No, sweetheart. I’m sorry. Our work has always been restricted to the school and the research facility. More than likely, they would keep him at the training compound. From what I hear, it’s a very secure and remote location. When Ian was sent there to train, he was never allowed to tell us where he was.”
“Look, kids,” Chuck said, “we could talk all day, but the fact is, you need to leave before anyone shows up looking for you. We’ll stay and do our best to throw them off your trail. Hopefully that will buy you some time.” He turned to Sarah. “I know you must be angry with us. I hope you understand our motive to find our son.”
Sarah nodded. “I understand. I do.”
Chuck patted her on the shoulder in silent response. Enough had been said.
“If you happen to see our son along the way, please let him know that we would like to see him, again,” Bonnie said.
“I will,” Sarah promised.
*****
Sarah and Eddie took turns driving the borrowed, Lincoln Town Car, while Liliana, Grace, and Tyler snoozed in the backseat. As she drove, Sarah glanced at her wedding ring and twisted it so the diamond faced up. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye. Before Eddie had a chance to notice, she hurriedly swiped it away. With her emotions kept in check, she could forcibly hold back the tears but knew she wouldn’t be able to, if compelled to talk about her husband. This was not the time or place to be tearful and emotional. She had plenty of other worries to consider, like how she planned to keep her baby safe.
We’re going to be fine. The voice in her head interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at Eddie, who gazed out the passenger window. He obviously hadn’t heard anything. She thought more about the voice. It hadn’t said, ‘You’re going to be fine.' She was certain that it had said, ‘We.'
Sarah placed a hand on her belly. Would they have to spend their lives on the run in order to keep him safe? After a hundred miles or so had passed, she found that she had ended up with a headache but no conclusions.
“Your baby’s right,” Liliana whispered, from the backseat. “We’re going to be fine.”
Sarah glanced in the rearview mirror. “You heard him?”
“I did. I sense that there’s something special about him.”
Sarah glanced in the mirror, again, and smiled at her new friend. “Thank you.”
“Hey, Sarah, you about ready for a break?” Eddie asked. “It looks like Albuquerque is just ahead. We can stop and stretch our legs and get a bite to eat. Then I can take over driving, for a while if you want to rest.”
“Did I hear something about food?” Tyler yawned as he sat up in the backseat.
“A break sounds good to me,” Grace said as she too awoke. “How close are we to Roswell?”
“We’ve got about three hours left,” Sarah replied, “but it’s just about dinner time. If we stop now and eat and gas up, we should be able to continue on without stopping until we get there.”
They pulled into a truck stop on the outskirts of town. When Sarah stepped out of the car, she stretched her arms and turned her face skyward. The wind whipped her hair wildly about her head, but she didn’t care. It was nice to stand in the fresh air. For the moment, no one knew where they were, and she felt momentarily at peace. She had the feeling that this was like the eye of the storm. It was inevitable that the sense of calm would soon pass and they would once again be running from danger, but for now she was happy to enjoy the moment.
“I’ve got to find a bathroom before we eat!” Grace said.
“I hear ya,” Sarah told her. “This baby’s pushing on my bladder. I’ll come with you.” She turned to her travel companions. “Do you guys want to meet us in the restaurant?”
“I’m just going to gas up the car so it’ll be ready to go,” Eddie said. “I’ll meet you girls, inside.”
“Well, I’m all about trying the pie,” Tyler said. He pointed to the hand-painted picture of pie on the restaurant window beside a sign which declared that they had twenty-four flavors.
“Mmm, my favorite is chocolate cream,” Liliana said as she and Tyler headed for the building.
They walked away side by side, and Sarah smiled as she noticed how comfortable they seemed with each other. Then she grabbed her purse out of the car and turned to Grace with a smile. “Right then. Let’s go find the restroom.”
As they walked across the parking lot, Grace sighed and said, “I’ve seen the way Eddie looks at you, and I’ve seen his aura when he’s around you. You know he likes you, right?”
“Eddie? He can’t possibly. He knows I’m married. And seriously, I’m pregnant.” She placed a hand on her abdomen for emphasis.
“Of course he knows all of that, but sometimes when you like someone, you just like them, regardless of the fact if it’s practical or not.”
“Yeah, well, I hope he realizes that he doesn’t have a chance with me. I’m madly in love with my husband, and there’s not a chance that I would ever leave him.”
“I’m sure he knows that,” Grace said, “and I’m sure one of these days he’ll realize that there are other girls. But for now, he only has eyes for you.”
Grace’s tone of voice revealed more than her words, and Sarah turned to her in question. “You like him, don’t you?” The door chimed as they entered the gift shop area of the truck stop.
Grace located the sign directing them toward the restrooms. She didn’t look at Sarah, but walking straight ahead, she said, “Well, it doesn’t matter if I like him or not. He’s not interested in me.
“And anyway,” Grace continued a few minutes later as she looked in the restroom mirror to fluff her hair, “it doesn’t matter if he likes me or not. When all of this is over, I’ll be in Utah and he’ll be in Arizona. It’s not like it would ever work out between us anyway. Right?”
“You’re probably right,” Sarah agreed. “Are there any guys waiting for you back home?”
“Actually, yeah. I do have a boyfriend.” They headed for the back of the store, where the restaurant was located. “His name is Derek. He’s cute and really sweet. He’s just not…”
“Not your soul mate?”
“Exactly! I mean, we get along great and everything, but I just don’t feel that special spark, you know? Did you know your husband was the one, when you first met him?”
“I did. There was never a question in my mind.”
“See, that’s what I want.”
“Give it time. How old are you?”
“Sixteen…I know, I know, I’m only sixteen and I have plenty of time, but isn’t it only natural to dream about the man you’re going to marry one day?”
“Of course it is, and one day, you�
�ll find him. Probably when you least expect it.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s just that…”
“What?”
“It’s just that, when I first saw Eddie, he’s just so…”
“Gorgeous,” Sarah concluded for her.
Grace laughed. “Exactly! But that’s not all of it. I mean, Derek is pretty good looking, too. Granted, he’s not as beautiful as Eddie. It’s just that, I feel this pull or connection to Eddie that I can’t explain.”
“Well, if he truly is your soul mate, then eventually you two will be together. Destiny has a way of bringing people together, even if they don’t try. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.”
“You’re right,” Grace said, after a moment. “I guess I just need to find a little patience.”
“Sometimes that’s easier said than done.”
They entered the restaurant and spotted their friends, who were sitting at a booth by the window. Eddie looked up and smiled. She couldn’t help but notice that he kept his gaze on her as they crossed the room. He didn’t glance at Grace. She saw that Grace noticed this too, and she suddenly felt sorry for her friend.
*****
Roswell was quiet and deserted, when they rolled into town, that evening. Sarah smiled as she observed the never-ending succession of stores advertising alien and UFO memorabilia. Even the motels and restaurants seemed to want a piece of the action; she noticed a motel with a picture of a green alien on the sign and a restaurant that was shaped like a UFO. She had always assumed that the alien rumors, that revolved around Roswell were exaggerated stories long since forgotten, but obviously that wasn’t the case. It seemed the alien culture was still a strong component of the town.
After driving up and down the main strip, they did a U-turn and checked into the motel with the massive, green alien sign. Before the girls retired to their own room, they agreed with the boys that they would meet at eight, the following morning.
When Sarah opened the door, the sight of the shabby motel room didn’t surprise her. After all, the worn carpet with cigarette burns and peeling wallpaper fit the picture of a cheap motel that accepted cash. The room had two beds though, and after she had closed and locked the door and double-checked that the safety latch was secure, she breathed a sigh of relief. The day’s drive was over, and she could finally lie down and rest.
Blinking lights from the fabricated, plastic UFO that sat atop the roof over the motel office shone through a crack in the curtains. She rolled over so that the lights wouldn’t keep her awake. She had barely fallen asleep, when a voice in her head awoke her. Rest up. Tomorrow will be a day of discovery. She opened her eyes, unsure if she had actually heard the voice or if she had already been dreaming. The voice said nothing more, however, and she eventually closed her eyes and fell asleep.
*****
The restaurant was something of a 1950s-meets-UFO themed diner. It had black and white tiled floors and red bar stools at the front counter. Standing inside the front entrance, was a five-foot-tall alien carved out of wood. It held a sign that read, ‘Welcome Visitors From Afar.' On each table sat a jukebox in the shape of a UFO, and from somewhere overhead, speakers projected a Buddy Holly song.
After they had ordered, Liliana flipped through the jukebox selections. “Anyone have a quarter?”
“No, sorry,” Tyler said. “What song did you want?”
“Elvis.”
“You’re a big Elvis fan, huh?”
“I am. My parents grew up listening to Elvis music when they lived in China, and they continued to listen to it after they moved to America. It’s what they thought all Americans listened to, so naturally I grew up with it, too.”
“Do you want any song in particular?”
“Not really. Anything will do.”
Tyler leaned across Liliana to reach the jukebox. Sarah noticed that his hand gently swept across her arm as he did so, and she wondered if it had been a purposeful move. He flipped through the selections for a minute and then paused. He rested a hand on the jukebox, closed his eyes momentarily, and then, seemingly satisfied, sat back in the seat and smiled.
“Did you do it?” Liliana whispered.
Tyler smiled. “Wait and see.”
A sorrowful Patsy Cline song ended, and as the new song began, Sarah grinned at Tyler when she recognized the beginning of Elvis’s, “Blue Suede Shoes."
“That’s too cool,” Sarah said to him. “You did that?”
“Did what?” His response sounded innocent, but his wink and smile revealed the truth.
Halfway through their meal, their waitress, who had introduced herself as Melissa, returned to the table. “Are you Eddie?” she asked.
In unison, everyone at the table slowly turned their head toward her. Surprise and curiosity were written on each of their faces.
“Um…yeah…I’m Eddie.” He set his glass of juice on the table.
“There’s a phone call for you back by the kitchen.”
“For me? Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure. The caller said to look for a dark-haired guy who would be with another guy and three girls. You’re the only group here that fits that description.”
“Well, I guess it must be me then.” He stood to follow the waitress.
Sarah found it difficult to eat while she anxiously awaited his return. She somehow managed to get down a few more bites and finished off her glass of milk, before he slid smoothly back into the booth next to Grace two minutes later.
Tyler leaned forward. “Well?”
Eddie held up a small piece of folded paper, which he slid neatly into his jeans pocket. “I have an address and directions,” he said simply. “I’ll tell you about it in the car.”
CHAPTER 16: TREVOR
The car restoration shop was located on the outskirts of town. During the short drive, Eddie explained the brief phone conversation that had transpired. After Eddie had confirmed his identity, a man had provided the address and directions and had said that he would be expecting them.
“He didn’t tell you his name?” Grace asked.
“Nope.”
Liliana leaned forward, from the backseat. “But, it had to be Ian…right?”
“I’m sure it was. I can’t imagine who else it would have been. In any case, I think this is the place. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
The gated entrance was surrounded, on either side, by a tall, solid fence. The wood sign hanging over the gate read ‘Hank’s Restoration and Repairs.'
Tyler sounded puzzled when he read the sign. “Hank?”
“Who knows?” Eddie replied as he drove down the narrow dirt lane lined with old cars and trucks. “Maybe Ian works here.”
“It’s a junk yard,” Grace said when she saw the sea of vehicles ranging from shiny classics to barely recognizable heaps of rust.
“No,” Tyler corrected, “it’s a car lover’s paradise.”
They parked in front of a mobile home, and when they stepped out of the car, they were immediately greeted by two barking dogs that ran toward them at full speed. Liliana stepped behind Tyler, and Sarah found herself taking a step behind Eddie as well, unsure if the dogs were excited to see them or warning them to go away.
With an extended hand, Tyler knelt to greet the canines. One was a Rottweiler, the other a German Shepherd. Neither looked very friendly, and Sarah realized that she was holding her breath in anticipation of their reaction to Tyler. It appeared that the dogs were taking an immediate liking to him, however, and in a few moments, they had both stopped barking. After a sniff of Tyler’s hand, the Rottweiler rolled onto his back for a belly rub, and the German Shepherd laid at his feet. His tongue was hanging out with a look that could only be described as a smile.
Sarah’s gaze shot up when a baritone voice growled, “What have you done to my guard dogs?”
The man who had just rounded the corner of the mobile home strode toward them and stopped in front of Tyler. The German Shepherd obediently stood
and meandered to his owner, but the Rottweiler continued to lie at Tyler’s feet even as he stood.
“Are you Eddie?” the man asked Tyler. It was difficult to judge his age, but Sarah guessed him to be in his mid-twenties. His long, red hair was tied back in a pony-tail, and it appeared that he hadn’t shaved in a few days. He wore ragged jeans and a plaid flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Despite his shabby appearance, Sarah could only describe him as ruggedly handsome. She smiled when she noticed Liliana and Grace exchange a grin and decided that they must be thinking the same thing.
Eddie, who had remained by her side, stepped forward to shake the man’s hand. “I’m Eddie. Was it you I spoke with on the phone?”
“It was.” The man looked closely at each of them in turn. “Patricia sent you?”
“Yes…she did,” Eddie replied. Sarah noticed that the guys, who stood eye level to each other, seemed to be sizing each other up, no doubt trying to decide if the other was trustworthy and who they claimed to be. After an awkward pause, he asked, “Are you Ian?”
The man nodded. “I am, but around here, I’m known as Cameron.”
After the remaining group members had introduced themselves, Ian turned to Tyler. “My dogs don’t usually take to strangers. Either they’ve grown soft, or they sense something special about you.”
Tyler shrugged. “I have a way with dogs.”
Ian chuckled. “Well, that’s good. I’d hate to think that I’d have to replace them. I’m rather fond of my guard dogs. Now then, I imagine you have quite a few questions. Why don’t you come inside and we’ll talk.”
The trailer was small but clean and comfortable. Sarah noted that it would have been just the right size for a single bachelor like Ian, but with six people crammed into the mobile home, the lack of space was notable. The kitchen table sat beside the couch, which was about three feet from the bathroom, but somehow they managed to fit. The girls took a seat on the couch while the guys sat at the table.
Indigo Incite (The Indigo Trilogy) Page 17
