Dan came upstairs about half an hour later, scratching his chin and looking worried. “He’s not doing so well right now, Alice. He didn’t even hesitate to agree with the kids coming with me. Sam flat out said he wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Good,” I said. When he looked at me in shock I hurried to add, “Not good that he’s not doing well, but good that Sam’s staying. He’s the only one who’s gotten Jason to open up this past week. It will be good for Jason to not be completely cut off.”
Before we finished our conversation the phone rang. Tony Dimartino and Mark Jones had been working together to find Jason’s father. Jones had some time off after his assignment was done and had wanted to help, so he’d come to the station a few days ago. They had found something. Dimartino’s call proved it. “I think we have a lead. James McCoy checked into the Sleep Inn over on fifteenth, and according to their records, he hasn’t checked out yet.”
That he shared a first name with his father explained why Jason had changed his name. I couldn’t see him ever allowing people to call him James. I wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to stand having the same last name as his father. Hopefully when all was said and done, he’d be able to get his birth certificate and social security number. It would make moving on with his life much easier. “Dan’s with me, we’ll check it out. The Sleep Inn is a bit shady, so the records could be wrong.”
I could almost hear Tony’s shrug over the line. “Could be,” he agreed mildly. “But it’s worth a shot.” I agreed and hung up. Dan had been listening, and was already heading to the door. As we rushed out I yelled to Hannah that I was leaving.
Once we got to the Sleep Inn we found that the records were correct. McCoy had not checked out, but he hadn’t been in his room for a while either. I called for a plain-clothes unit to watch the place, and hoped for the best as I went back home. They would call as soon as someone entered McCoy’s room. It had been rented for the next week, so in theory he should return at some point.
Unfortunately, the next two days passed without any sign of him. Dan and I kept looking into credit card receipts, but we’d hit a dead end on the accomplice.
Jason had been pretty quiet, spending a lot of his time down in his room either reading or sleeping. He was still stiff, but it would only be another two days before he’d be able to get at least some of the stitches out. He had insisted that all of his bandage changes be done in private. None of the kids or Hannah had seen any of the injuries that were hidden by his clothing. The only bandage he’d refused to put back on was the one around his neck.
From the bruises, sores, and burns that were there, I couldn’t blame him. Not only had the collar been put on almost too tightly, but Mason had strangled him almost to the point of unconsciousness. From what Jason had told me that was what had driven him to use his ability. The cuts on his back were healing well, but his chest still looked raw and painful. Because he was very self-conscious about the wounds and the scars that would be left, I had to work hard to keep my reactions hidden from Jason as I changed his bandages.
It was on the third day after we’d brought Jason home that Dan called me with positive news. Someone had just gone into McCoy’s room, and was staying put for the moment. Dan was already on his way to pick me up and I shouted to Jason and the kids that I had to go to work. Once we caught Jason’s father, we’d be able to pull the security detail and the kids could move in with Dan and his wife. Hannah had decided to go back to classes that day, so I made sure she also knew I was leaving. There was a good chance that Hannah would have to change Jason’s bandages, whether he wanted her to or not.
Dan and I made our way to the hotel quickly, hoping our target would be there. We approached carefully, the police who’d been watching with us as we went up the stairs to the room. We had the key from the manager and we unlocked the door quietly before bursting in and shouting, “POLICE! NOBODY MOVE!”
FORTY-SIX
Jason
Three days after leaving the hospital, I began to feel restless. Hannah and Alice had said we could stay as long as it took for me to get better, but I was uncomfortable with their constant concern. It was nice to feel wanted and cared for, but I was feeling smothered. Despite that, I knew it would be a bad idea to leave. I wasn’t recovered enough to go back to the streets, for one thing. For another, my father was still around somewhere.
I wouldn’t risk Sam’s safety for the sake of my irrational need to get away from the caring environment our friends had given us. And I felt guilty about even considering taking Sam away from this warm caring home, and back to the streets when the other kids would be living a normal life.
I had spent most of the last three days in my basement room surrounded by loving memories and books. The books were a recent addition. They had been on a shelf near the desk when I got back from the hospital. Hannah had picked them up, figuring I could use at least some of my recovery time to do some studying in order to get a high school diploma. She’d checked into the high school equivalency test for me, and had gently pushed me into finally making a decision. I would get my high school diploma, and then I would take some law enforcement classes.
With that decided, I spent my non-drugged time studying. One of Hannah’s friends had come over yesterday afternoon to help me study some history. She was subtly trying to drag me out of the shell I’d constructed after my rescue. I had to admit, after the initial fear I always felt at meeting someone new, Dustin’s easy-going nature had calmed me. His sense of humor almost matched mine, at least when I was feeling up to seeing the humor in things, and he offered to continue helping me as I worked though my classes.
After studying with me, he’d taken Sam, Jeffrey, and Paul out to a park to play basketball. It was one of the few times my little brother had left my side. He had been persistent about being with me. Dustin left an open invitation for me to join him whenever I was healed enough to play, and said he’d continue to take the kids out if they wanted. Hannah had seemed happy while Dustin was over, but the look of joy faded when I’d again retreated to my room.
She didn’t seem to understand. I wasn’t trying to push them away; I simply needed more time alone to process what had happened so I could move on. I also needed to be in the basement so I could tell when anyone was approaching the house. After what had happened with my father, I needed the assurance that no one could sneak up on the house again.
“Jason?” Hannah called, interrupting my musing as she came down the stairs.
“Yes?” I answered. Everyone had gotten into the habit of announcing their presence before hitting the floor, and I had to answer them before they came further. I’d lost control the first time I’d been startled, and the house had shaken violently. I had little control over my power right now, and that was another reason I kept myself isolated. I needed to get it back under control.
Hannah came in. “I’m going to my classes today,” she informed me. “I’ll be gone until about one-thirty. Alice and Dan are at work, and the kids are up working on some worksheets while watching TV. There are some pizzas and pot pies in the freezer for lunch.”
“Thanks, Hannah,” I said. I rose from my chair stiffly, trying not to pull the sutures. “I should probably join them for a bit.”
“You’re bandages will need changing before Alice gets home,” she said, trying to act casual as we walked upstairs.
“I know,” I said, hiding my wince so she wouldn’t see my dread. She hadn’t seen the injuries under my shirt, and the ones she could see had made her visibly cringe each time she looked at them. That was another thing about her friend Dustin that had set me at ease. He hadn’t reacted to the injuries besides to ask when I’d be up for a game of basketball.
“I can handle it, you know,” she said calmly as we reached the kitchen. “I won’t freak out when I see it.”
I sighed, not sure why she was pushing it, but knowing I had little choice right now. “You can help me when you get home,” I conceded softly.
She put her hand
on my shoulder, stopping me from turning away from her. She waited until I was looking at her before she said, “Thank you.” She hugged me carefully and kissed my cheek. For the first time I leaned into the hug, accepting the show of tenderness.
I held her for a few moments, my eyes tearing at what could have happened if I hadn’t come back. Would Hannah still be the warm caring person she was if she knew I had been tortured and turned into someone… something I wasn’t? Would I have become someone capable of hurting people like her? My body trembled and she rubbed my uninjured shoulder gently.
“It’s okay, Jason,” she soothed as my tears turned into full-blown sobs. “I’m here for you.” Her voice was shaky, and I was aware that she had started crying with me… For me. “Always. I won’t go anywhere if you need me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I gasped out between sobs.
She held me for several minutes until my sobbing subsided and I was able to release her from the comforting hug. “I don’t want to push you away,” I said, my breath still hitching with emotion.
“Like I said,” she repeated, gently placing her hand on my cheek and wiping away some of the tears. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I held her hand for a moment. “Except to class,” I said glancing at the clock. “You’re going to be late.” It was an attempt to gain back some composure after falling to pieces, but I don’t think she bought it.
“I can stay if you want,” she offered.
It was tempting, but she’d already missed enough school because of me. “Go. Learn. The kids and I will be fine.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. I’ll see you later,” she said before calling into the living room, “Bye, kids, I’m leaving.”
Thankfully the kids hadn’t noticed me falling apart. Hannah was the only one who knew, and I think I preferred it that way. She was gentle. If there was one person I could trust with that part of myself it was her. She wouldn’t use my emotional instability against me. The boys called out their goodbyes, but Ginny ran out and gave her a big hug.
She followed me into the living room as Hannah left. I glanced at the clock; it was about ten-thirty. I sat with the kids for about an hour, trying to get settled, but I kept feeling like I was going to fall apart again. Then the phone rang.
“Jason, it’s Alice,” she said as I picked up. “I’m coming to get you. There’s something you need to see.”
“What?” I asked; a feeling of dread coming over me at the concern I heard in her voice. I had lost my appreciation for surprises a while ago.
“I think it’s your dad,” she said, sounding a bit confused.
I hesitated, “What about the kids?” I asked, still unwilling to leave them alone.
“I have Officer Dimartino in the car with me. He knows them and will stay with them until we’re done. I’m pulling up to the house now. Come on out, please,” she requested.
“Give me a couple minutes,” I said. I hung up and rubbed a hand over my face. She’d said she thought it was my father, which meant what exactly? She knew his name, but I didn’t have any pictures to give her, and he’d worn a ski mask when he’d tried to take me.
“What’s going on?” Sam asked, picking up on my sudden anxiety.
“Alice thinks she might have found something about our father,” I told him. “I have to go. Officer Dimartino will be staying with you guys until we get back.”
Paul looked sullen, as he’d been since I’d agreed to them living with Dan. He’d wanted to, so I wasn’t really sure what the problem was. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
I shook my head, not in the mood to soothe ruffled feathers. “It’s more for me than for you. Just deal with it, okay?” I snapped, catching him by surprise. He looked at me, his expression showing that I’d hurt his feelings. “Sorry, Paul. I didn’t mean to snap. I’ll be back later, okay?”
“Sure,” he said quietly, all traces of his anger gone. I rarely snapped at them about anything. My reaction had proven to him that I was not back to normal. He wouldn’t push me again. Not just yet. Besides, he wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells much longer. If my father had been found, Dan would be taking the kids with him for a while if Child Protective Services allowed him to take guardianship. He’d been working with his contacts at CPS toward that goal.
I left the room, slipping my shoes on as I walked out the door. I passed Officer Dimartino on the sidewalk, and he looked at me sympathetically. I waved, not acknowledging the look of pity, and got into the waiting vehicle. I waited until we were pulling away from the house before I turned to Alice.
“What’s going on? What did you find?” I asked.
She took a deep breath. “We found the hotel your father was staying in a couple days ago—”
“I remember,” I interrupted. “The kids told me about the phone call after you left that day.”
“Right,” she said with a nod. “Anyway, we had to stake it out for the last couple days. Today we found someone inside the room. He was murdered.” She gave me a moment to absorb the shock.
“Is it my father?” I asked. “Or was my father the killer?”
“We need you to tell us for sure,” she said apologetically. “I need you to ID the body, in case it is your father. He had somehow dropped off the radar and Dan and I couldn’t find any pictures of him.”
“So we’re headed to the morgue?” I asked. Alice nodded.
“We’ll be there in a minute, but you can take all the time you need.”
“For that bastard? I’ll take a minute,” I said coldly.
Alice looked at me warily, it was the same look she’d had when I’d told her Mason and Mick had deserved to suffer. “What did he do to you?” she asked softly.
“Do you really want to know?” My voice was icy.
She nodded. “I think it would help you to get it out,” she said, her voice still soft.
“Fine. My father was a sick man. You remember that house I destroyed?”
“Yes,” her voice was low. I think she knew what was coming by now.
“Those kids had exactly the treatment I had. My father was into all of it, and he made me…” My voice broke and I looked down at my hands, tears dripping onto them slowly.
“Oh, Jason…” she took my hand in hers. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“Please don’t say anything,” I said—my voice barely audible. “I don’t want the kids to know.”
“Sam doesn’t…” My head shot up.
“Sam can’t know. He never touched Sam that way, and Sam doesn’t know about it. Do not say a word,” I demanded in a strong voice.
“I won’t,” she promised.
We sat in the car for a moment, allowing me to pull myself together a bit. I felt odd after telling Alice. I supposed it would sink in eventually, but for now…
“Shall we go in?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said, shaking herself. When we got in it took only a moment for me to recognize my father laying on the gurney. His throat had been slit, and his body had multiple deep cuts that had seeped through the white sheet he’d been covered with.
“Jason, Alice!” Dan walked quickly down the hall toward us as we were walking out of the morgue.
“What is it?” Alice asked, we paused, allowing him to catch up.
“This just came into the station,” he said waving an envelope in front of us. The front had a single word printed in all capital letters: TRACKER
“What is it?” I asked. He handed it to me and I opened it slowly. I pulled out a picture that showed my father tied to a chair, his head dipped forward and body covered in blood. There was a note card in the envelope also, and I read it out loud. “You saved me, consider this a gift. I will be watching. Be safe, Tracker— Kindred.”
Thank you to all who helped with preparing Tracker for publication: my mom, Shirley, who pointed out the grammar and punctuation mistakes; my brother, Josh, for helping me with some of the story line and descriptive phrases; my friend, Amber Rose, wh
o is always willing to read my material and let me know what she thinks, good and bad. A huge thanks Christian Bentulan for designing the cover, and to Terri King for proofreading and formatting the series for me. Also, thanks to Jon Baas for giving me tips about marketing. Last, but certainly not least, thanks to all who read Tracker! I had a blast writing it, and would love to hear what you think.
For extras check out my blog: adrianne-lemke.blogspot.com
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You can also find me on Goodreads and Twitter: @AdrianneLemke
Thanks for reading!
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