“No.” Cole paused as some of the panic returned. “Why would she be? Isn't she at school?”
“No. When both of your seats were empty in homeroom today, my mind jumped to the worst conclusions. I thought you might've left again or that something happened with the two of you. I was a little worried so I just wanted to double-check that everything was okay. Now I just feel stupid and embarrassed making a big deal out of nothing. I'm gonna get going. I'll see you in school later.”
“No worries, it's not a big deal,” Cole said, a little numb. “Yeah, I'll see you.” He hung up and handed the phone back to Asher as worry crept under his skin. Amy was most likely just out sick but, nevertheless, he could not shake the feeling.
They drove to school subdued and quiet. When they arrived, Cole said, “I'm sorry she ruined our day. We'll definitely find at least one of those kids this weekend, though.”
“Hey, don't worry about it. I'll be back in a few hours. See ya.”
Cole trudged into the school, ignoring the looks of the few people inside the entrance. He started toward class, but then had to stop and think for a second which class he was supposed to be going to. Arriving in the middle of the day had thrown off his whole schedule. He arrived to his class late, mumbled an apology and took his seat. Fortunately, his teacher did not press him for an explanation and jumped right back into the lesson.
Cole glanced over at Michelle, caught her eye, and gave her a half smile, which she returned. When class was over, he approached her. “Hey, I'm sorry I scared you but everything is fine. Really.”
“And I'm sorry again for calling. I hope I didn't upset your aunt or anything.”
“Nah, she'll be fine.”
“So, what were you doing?”
“We were out looking for those missing children,” Cole said quickly before his brain caught up to make him consider that it may have been better not to tell the truth.
Michelle's eyes lit up. “Was this the guy that taught you how to use telepathy?”
Cole nodded.
“Oh, man,” Michelle said overwhelmed. “I really wish I had known. I would have snuck out of school to join you. That would have been so much fun. Are you going to be searching later, too?”
Cole hesitated, knowing where this was going but unable, or unwilling, to lie. “Yes.”
“Can I come along? Please? We'll be a crime-fighting trio now. I won't get in the way, I promise. With the two of you, you should be able to find them in no time. Would you mind if I tagged along?” She looked at him pleadingly.
Cole could not say no to that. “Yeah, of course.”
Michelle was so excited, she nearly exploded. “Thank you, thank you. I don't even care that I had plans. They're canceled now. Normally, I'd be too awkward to hang out with a random person but I'm so curious to meet this guy. The two of you must be so cool together.”
“Don't get too hyped. It's just two guys driving around all night. No guarantees.”
“I know, I know, I get overexcited sometimes. It'll be fun either way. I'll call my parents and hopefully they don't have a problem with me leaving with you. See ya later!”
“Bye.” They split off to their respective classes, Michelle almost skipping and Cole unable to shake his apprehension. He wondered how Asher would react to taking her along, and he further wondered if taking her along was even a good idea. He had done it before, he told himself. It was no big deal then and it wouldn't be now. Besides, the chances of them finding anyone were slim to none.
Michelle met him after school, still glowing. “I convinced my parents to let me stay out with you all night. Well, 'til ten p.m.” She laughed. “Let's do this. Is he here yet?”
Cole scanned the row of waiting cars, and spotted Asher's car idling. He pointed. “Right over there.” Cole led them to Asher's car and opened the passenger side door. “Hey, would you mind if my friend, Michelle, joined us tonight?”
Asher looked out the door to see Michelle who was hanging back a little behind Cole. “Absolutely,” he said with a large smile. “You're more than welcome to come along. My name is Asher, by the way. Nice to meet you, Michelle.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Michelle said quietly.
“Well, hop on in,” Asher said. “This ride's about to get started. Cole, you mind giving the lady the front seat?”
“No, you're welcome to take the front,” Cole said with a chivalrous gesture, yet taken off-guard by Asher's unexpected courteousness. He'd better not be...
Cole climbed into the back seat and Asher turned around to face him. Does she know? he said telepathically.
Yeah, she's the only one I told.
Asher turned back to the front as Michelle, who was hesitating, climbed into the passenger seat. “Good, good, so we can talk freely. I've searched the entire time you were learning. No sign yet, but I did cover a lot of ground. I already have a route planned.”
“Great, let's get started,” Cole said.
14
Asher put the car in gear and drove off. “So, you're in Cole's class?” Asher said to Michelle, and then proceeded to ask her a series of questions, keeping the small talk going for quite a while. Michelle answered each question shyly, and Cole, unsure if he should interject, focused his attention out the window, still wondering if bringing Michelle was a bad idea, but now for a completely different reason.
Asher never seemed to run out of things to say, and finally Cole asked, Mom, should I say something? Tell him to leave her alone?
That's up to you, she answered. Does it seem as if he's bothering her?
I can't tell. Whatever, Asher is harmless and he'll be leaving in a couple days anyway.
They drove around for a few hours, taking a pit stop to use public restrooms. When Asher was in the restroom, Cole was finally able to get in a word to Michelle. “Hey, how are you liking it? Everything you had hoped for?”
Michelle laughed. “I'm enjoying it. You're friend sure knows how to keep a conversation going. Keeps it from getting boring.”
“I hope he's not bothering you.”
“Nah, he's all right. I think he might be hitting on me, but I don't mind. It's a little skeevy, but there's worse things in the world, and as a girl you get used to it. You must be bored in the back, though.”
“I'm all right. I keep busy searching,” he lied. “Let me know if you want me to stop him.”
“I will, Mr. Hero,” Michelle said, nudging him.
Asher reappeared and they were back on the road shortly after. As dinner approached, Cole asked Asher to borrow his phone so he could keep his promise to Beth. He knew he had to be extra careful with her if he wanted to avoid any further fallout.
“Hi, Aunt Beth,” he said when she answered. “Would you mind if we got dinner out? Asher is going to treat me.”
“You're not coming back for dinner?” Beth said with a hint of disappointment. “Guess I'll put this away, but I wish you'd tell me these things ahead of time.”
“Oh no, I didn't realize… It’s – we’re pretty far from home and it would kill our productivity for the night to come all the way back.”
“It’s fine. You can have it tomorrow. When can I expect you back so I know you’re still alive?”
“We won’t be home much past ten. We need to drop off Michelle by then,” Cole said.
“Wait, Michelle is with the two of you?”
“Yeah… Is that a problem?”
“No, no. Be careful out there.”
“We will.”
They stopped at a small diner for dinner. Asher kept the conversation flowing, mainly about how much area they had covered, and how much was left that they had planned on covering, but not failing to manage to sneak in a few more questions for Michelle. When they bill came, Michelle pulled money out of her purse, but Asher shook his head, shooing it away.
“This dinner is my treat to both of you,” he said. “I couldn’t cover Cole and make you pay.”
“I can pay for myself,” Michelle s
aid. “I have money and I don’t need any favors.”
“No, really, you’re our guest tonight.” He took the check and put enough money in to cover all three of them.
Michelle sighed and put her money away.
Shortly after, they were back on the road. In the sky began to appear bright pinks and purples in the fading light. Dusk came and went and soon the roads were lit only by streetlight and moonlight. They had all been sitting in the car for so long that they were getting antsy, and shifted in their seats often. The conversation had died as Asher seemed to have finally run out of things to say. The motion of the car was making Cole drowsy and he kept drifting off, only to be woken again by his head sliding off the headrest or by the jolt of a pothole.
He blinked his eyes and sat up straighter to wake himself up. Nothing yet?
No, sorry, nothing, Meredith thought-said.
Is this tiring for you? Do you get tired?
Not exactly. Drained might be a better term.
Hm. Cole leaned forward to check the time. It was eight thirty. They didn’t have much time left. It’s all right. I didn’t expect to find something on the first night. We have all weekend.
Cole leaned back to rest his head and close his eyes when he was suddenly jerked forward against the seat belt as Asher slammed on the brakes. “What? What happened? Did we hit something?” he said frantically, wide awake now.
Asher whipped around in his seat, a huge grin on his face. “Sorry for stopping short, but… I found one. Wait, no.” He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they were sparkling. “I found them both.”
“You did?!” Michelle exclaimed.
“Seriously?” Cole said, his heart racing. “Are you messing with us?”
“I am so not messing with you.” Asher pulled the car over to the side of the road. “They’re in this area. Let’s get out and do the rest on foot.” He stepped out of the car and stretched in the cool night air.
Michelle and Cole followed suit, disbelief and excitement in their eyes.
Mom, do you sense them? Cole thought-said.
No, I don’t. Hold on a sec.
An agonizing moment passed while Cole assumed that Asher had been lying to them. Then Meredith reappeared. Yes, I do. They are both in that blue house on the right, halfway down the block.
Energized, Cole began to walk briskly, prepared to lead Asher straight to the house and prove his worth. No, wait! Meredith said. Do not go in there. Just call the police like last time and leave.
Cole hesitated, itching to be the hero, but knew that reality doesn't usually work out like that. Okay, yeah, you're right. “Hey, Asher, listen, they're in the blue house. Can I use your cellphone and call the cops? We should let them handle it.”
“No way,” Asher said, only half-listening, his concentration on something else. “I've got this. You don't have to come if you don't want to.” He paused. “I can't pinpoint them exactly, but I think you're right.” He started off toward the blue house.
“Asher, no! Don't do this!” Cole called, but Asher did not even acknowledge that he had heard. Cole bit his lip and turned to Michelle, who was staring after Asher awestruck. “Go back and wait in the car,” he said. “I'll be right back.”
“What? I wanna go with you guys. I drive around all night with you and you want to leave me out of the fun part? I was part of the search and now I'm part of the rescue.” She started after Asher.
Cole took hold of her arm to stop her. “Michelle, please. It might not be safe.”
Michelle met his pleading eyes, and then glanced up at the house longingly, pulling her arm out of Cole's grasp. “Why, you think because I'm a girl I'll be in more danger than you?”
“No, it's not that. Asher and I have a related ability – I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it – I'll explain it all later – but it gives us some protection. Now, please, before anything happens, go back to the car.”
“There is more to your ability! I can't believe you kept it from me...” Michelle squirmed as she fought an internal battle. “Fiiiine. I'll stay. But you'd better relay back everything single last detail. And be safe in there.”
“Thank you,” Cole said, breathing a sigh of relief. He gazed up at Asher, expecting a confrontation to have already started, but he was standing at the door to the blue house, shaking his arms, appearing to be gathering courage. Cole jogged to meet him, which was when he noticed that Meredith had been calling his name the whole time. He ignored her and continued.
Asher turned when he heard Cole approaching, and smiled. “Thought you'd never make it,” he whispered. “All right, you ready?”
“Asher, I really think we should let the police handle this.”
“And let them take all the glory? No, thank you.” And without waiting for a response, he pressed the doorbell.
Cole held his breath, his heart in his throat. The house was dark and silent. Asher pushed the bell again. This time a light came on in the hall and, a minute later, the front door opened. A man dressed in a blue dress shirt with the top two buttons open, looking as if he hadn't changed after coming home from a day at a desk job, stood there.
“Can I help you?” he said sleepily, leaning against the door.
Asher swallowed hard. “We're here for Mary Ann and Billy.”
The man blinked, a blank expression on his face. “I'm sorry, who? You must have the wrong house.”
“No, there's no one else here? Those names don't ring a bell?” Asher said.
“I wish I could help you,” the man said. “I'm sorry, I don't know the people you're looking for. I've had a long day at the office, if you don't mind.” He stepped back to close the door.
Asher looked at Cole, his confidence waning. “Are you positive this is the house?”
No, leave immediately! Meredith pleaded desperately.
Cole nodded.
The door was nearly closed. Asher reared his leg back and kicked with all his might. The door flung open, sending the man stumbling back in surprise. The man recovered and fled through the house, shouting that he was calling the cops. Asher took off after him, Cole trailing behind. They raced through an entrance hall into a trashed living room, through a kitchen that smelled of rotting food, and up a staircase to the second level.
The man sprinted down the hall, past two doors and into a third. Asher followed, Cole struggling to keep up. The two of them emerged through the doorway into a master bedroom, and directly into the line of sight of a gun.
The man stood on the other end of the room, shaking and pointing a silenced pistol at Asher who froze. “Why couldn't you just leave? Why did you have to insist? You brought this on yourselves.” He cocked the pistol and steadied it with his other hand.
Cole was rooted to the spot, too terrified to move, his muscles lead. In his panic, he no longer remembered what he could do to defend himself. It all seemed so weak and pathetic now that he was staring into the barrel of a gun. He closed his eyes, wishing he had listened to his mother, and apologizing for being so stupid.
The silence in the room was split by an agonizing scream. Cole flung his eyes open to see the man clutching his head, reeling, the gun still in his hand.
“Yeah, how do you like that?!” Asher shouted, breathing raggedly. “You try to kill me? Yeah? Maybe I'm not as helpless as I seem.” His voice cracked, his tone half fright and half anger.
The man collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain and clutching his head. With a ptoo the gun fired, tearing a hole in the wall. Asher stepped up to him and kicked the gun away, then stooped down and picked it up, weighing it in his hand. The man was writhing in pain, a sound worse than screaming emitting from his throat.
“Asher, that's enough!” Cole shouted, finding his voice.
Asher pointed the weapon at the man, saying, “Was this all you've got? Now, you're going to lead us to those kids or I'm going to attack you with that pain again. You hear me?” Then, suddenly seeming to realize the state that the man was in, said, “Oh, sh
it.”
The man was on his side, twitching, drool dribbling down his cheek, his eyes wide. The next instant the twitching had ceased and the man was still.
Asher took a step back. “Oh shit.” He stared in shock for a moment before kneeling down next to the man, placing a finger under his nose. He waited a few seconds and rose, his gaze never leaving the body. “We have to find those kids and get outta here.”
Cole began to recover from his stupor as terror and dread seeped into his disbelieving mind. “This can't be happening. Did you... Did you kill him?”
“Yeah. He's dead.”
“Oh, God. You killed him. Why would you do that? This is bad. This is really bad.”
“Hey,” Asher said, a touch of anger in his voice. “It was an accident but he deserved it. He kidnapped small children and probably would have murdered them if we hadn't intervened.” He turned to face Cole, and froze, his gaze caught by something behind Cole.
Cole rotated his head to see what Asher was staring at. In the doorway, unblinking eyes transfixed on the body, mouth hanging slightly open, stood Michelle, horror etched into her frozen face.
15
They all stood there, unmoving, not a sound to be heard. Asher was the first to break the spell. “This is just great,” he said. “Listen to me. Both of you. This never happened. Got it? We were never here. We found nothing and did nothing tonight. I need your word. I need to trust that this is not leaving this house.”
Cole nodded slowly, but Michelle did not respond.
Get out of this house. NOW, Meredith thought-said. You can't afford to waste any time.
“Michelle. Hey, Michelle. Look at me,” Asher said.
Michelle tore her eyes away from the body and refocused on Asher.
“Good,” he said. “Did you hear what I said? Can I trust that you won't mention a word of this to anybody?”
Michelle's eyes fell back toward the body and her lower lip quivered. “You killed him,” she whispered.
“And that's why I need you to swear on your life that not a word of this gets out.” When Michelle did not respond, he grabbed a rough hold of her arm. “Hey! Answer me!”
Voices in the Night (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 3) Page 14