by Willow Cross
Shad’s voice bellowed into the phone cutting him off. “You tell her that I’m coming whether she likes it or not. I’m a tracker, and I’ll find her no matter where she goes. So you just tell her, Jason.”
“Look, Shad, you don’t understand. Sarah’s different now. She’s having a hard time adjusting to all of this, and there’s been even more since we left you guys. Seriously, you need to stay there. Finding her right now is a bad idea.”
Jason swore softly as Pete and Sarah exited the building. Completely out of character, Sarah burst into song. “Oh Canada, Oh Canadaaaaaaaa…” Without saying goodbye, he pressed end, and shoved the phone in his pocket.
“What’s got into you?” He asked as they approached the car.
“Beat’s me,” Pete shrugged.
“Nothing’s into me. I’m into everything,” she said twirling around with her arms open wide.
Jason glared at Pete. “Did you give her something? You haven’t been gone long enough for her to get drunk.”
Raising his hands, Pete protested, “I swear, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
Sarah stopped twirling and promptly pushed both of them. “Oh you guys. Knock it off will you? I’m just ready to get out of here and have some fun. We’ve been cooped up forever. Running and hiding. Aren’t you glad, after this, we don’t have to do that anymore?”
***
Grinning, Shad flipped the phone shut and handed it back to Ashley.
“What’s up?”
“I know where they are.”
“He told you?”
“Nope. She did. She was singing.”
Ashley’s eyes narrowed. “And that tells you what?”
Meeting her gaze, Shad belted out the first two words, “Oh Canadaaaaaa.”
A smile broke over her face. “Yep. It's good to know we're headed in the right direction.”
***
Exhaustion settled over Sarah as she slid down in the uncomfortably small seat of the airplane. Making it across the border, meeting the document forger in Gravenhurst, just outside Toronto, and booking the flight to Romania had been relatively easy. More so than she’d thought. Although the pillow wedged between the wall and her head seemed to be made of bricks, her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep
A nudge to her arm abruptly woke her. “Do you want anything?” Jason said.
Quickly sitting up, she blinked her eyes repeatedly. Just past her brother, a flight attendant stood in the aisle smiling and apparently waiting for an answer. “Yes,” she croaked. “Coffee. As much as you can spare.”
“Yah, yah. Das is goot,” she replied. Then turning to the cart behind her, she filled a small white cup and handed it to Sarah.
Eyeing the cup, Sarah glanced up at the attendant. “Umm, you’d better leave me three. This isn’t going to help much.” Allowing the grey plastic table to drop in front of her, she waited for the woman to hand over the other two cups.
“You’ve been at the caffeine non-stop for two days. Don’t you think it’s about time you get some rest?” Jason said as he took the two extra cups from the woman.
Shaking her head, Sarah replied, “Can’t. I need to stay awake. I need to keep track of Shana.”
Placing his hand against her chin, he gently turned her face to look at him. “In a matter of hours, she’ll be long gone. You don’t have to worry about her anymore. Let it go.”
Jerking her head away from his gentle grasp, she answered, “I’m not letting it go. The next time she shifts I need to be ready.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
Jason‘s eyebrows raised. “Sarah.”
“Don’t you, Sarah, me. I know what I’m doing.” Daintily taking a sip of her preferred elixir and satisfied it would not burn her throat, she downed the entire cup.
“What exactly are you doing?”
New cup placed inside the used one, she drank and ignored his question.
“I think I have a right to know.”
She finished off the second, and shook her head. “I just have an idea. I don’t want to talk about it. I want to try it. If it doesn’t work, then I won’t have to hear I told you so.”
Feeling eyes on her, Sarah scanned the cabin. Pete sat across the aisle from them, snoring peacefully. Three rows back on the far side, a good-looking young man watched her. His white-blond hair in a semi-short, shaggy mess, framed his pale, chiseled face as if he'd spent hours getting it to do his bidding . Expensively dressed in white silk shirt and tie, he had the look of either a very rich business man, or possibly even a movie star. His stare had an intensity she‘d never felt before. For just a moment, she could have sworn she saw his eyes shimmer with an unearthly luminescence, then it was gone. Smiling politely, she returned her gaze to her brother.
“You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m good,” she said glancing over her shoulder once again. The light haired, pale-skinned man continued to bore holes through her with his eyes, but this time inclined his head ever so slightly as a smile slid across his face to show a row of perfectly formed teeth.
“Hey. Earth to Sarah? You going to answer me or what?”
Her eyes snapped back to her brother. Breathing and heart quickening, she felt strangely nervous and put off. Who is that guy? And what nerve to just stare like that!
“What is wrong with you? What guy?”
“Nothing. This flying thing freaks me out.” Glancing over at Pete, she wished the airline seats had offered three across instead of two. Suddenly she didn’t feel safe anymore, and for the first time, wanted both Pete and her brother beside her.
Nerves and spine tingling, Sarah leaned in close to whisper in Jason’s ear. “I’m not sure, but I think we may have finally run across one.”
“One what?”
“Shhhh! Look over your shoulder. Not yet! When we’re done talking, nonchalantly look over your shoulder at the blond guy three rows back. Something’s off about him. He freaks me out. And he won’t stop staring at me.”
Jason raised his arms in an exaggerated stretch, then turning his head hard to each side, he glanced back. “What are you talking about? That seat is empty.”
“What? No it’s--” Her head jerked around to stare at the now empty seat. “But he was there. I just saw him.”
“Well there’s no one there now. You need to get some sleep. You’re starting to hallucinate,” he said and patted her arm.
“I’m not. I know I’m not.”
Coffee was no longer necessary to keep her awake. Fear did the trick just fine. Every few minutes she’d glance back, but no matter how many times she looked, the seat remained empty all the way to Paris.
***
Charles DeGuelle Airport was shockingly enormous. They spent the four-hour layover investigating the expansive structure and shopping. After purchasing luggage and enough clothes to last a month without doing laundry, they grabbed a bite to eat, and thumbed through magazines.
Nervous and wondering how the man from the plane had managed to elude her the entire flight, Sarah constantly peered around her looking for some sign of him. When boarding time arrived, she finally saw him again.
Standing in line with the rest of the group, several people ahead of her, the blond man glanced over his shoulder, and once again flashed her a smile. Elbowing Pete and Jason, she pointed to where he stood. Even though she watched him enter the platform, when she arrived in the cabin, he was nowhere to be found.
Jason and Pete exchanged confused looks as the scanned the plane for the stranger. “I don’t get it,” Pete said.
“He’s got to be here somewhere,” Jason answered.
“I don’t like this. We need to keep tabs on this guy.”
Dropping his gaze from the people milling around to Sarah, Jason said, “You stay close to both of us. I don’t know what’s going on here, but if he’s watching you, and trying hard to stay under our radar, something’s not right.”
Pale
and drawn, she nodded and took the seat next to the window. Within moments, she felt eyes on her and looked around. Still unseen, deep down she knew he was watching her. Unable to locate him, she let her mind drift out to Shana. It was past time she checked in on the woman.
***
Shana’s head jerked around. Alone in a hotel room in New York City, she knew no one could be there. “Damn!”
Playing around the outskirts of her mind, she felt more than heard, a chuckle. That girl is getting stronger every day. Breathing slow deep breaths, she cleared her head of all thought. Envisioning a hall with several doorways, one by one, she mentally closed them. After making sure each door shut, she envisioned and iron band wrapping around her head. First, it seemed more of a mist, but as she concentrated, it became hardened steel. The sensation of being watched had dissipated. Shana sighed, then chuckling herself, headed off to the shower. I got a few tricks of my own little girl. You keep on trying, it’ll be checkmate every time.
***
“This is ridiculous! How are we ever going to find them in a country the size of Canada?” Ashley exclaimed.
Pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger, Shad shrugged. “We have to start somewhere. Here is as good a place as any.”
Flipping the cell shut, she let out a frustrated sigh. “He’s still not answering. It’s going straight to an automated operator who says the voicemail for the client has not been set up.”
“The cashier in Grace was certain he remembered them. We know they were heading into Canada, and we know they were asking questions about Gravenhurst. It’s not like we have nothing to go on.”
“If he was remembering the right people.”
Shad scowled as he remembered interviewing the gas station attendant. “He was. I wanted to punch him when I showed him the picture of Sarah. Didn’t you see the look on his face?”
Ashley’s eyebrows raised in feigned shock. “Jealous much?”
His scowl deepened. “Is it crazy to not want men to look at her like that? I’d think that would be a normal reaction.”
Nodding, she changed the subject. “So what do we do after we arrive there? There’s no way to know where they’ll be.”
“We’ll figure something out. Doesn’t look like that big of a place. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
She started as the cell in her hand buzzed to life. Hurriedly answering, she said, “Hello?”
“What are you two up too? I can‘t believe you left your sister in Baytown! Of all the dull-headed stunts!” Gramps voice came over the line.
“Hey, Gramps. Listen we didn’t want--”
“Don’t you tell me to listen. You better listen and listen good. You turn your butts around and go pick up your sister.”
“No. She was being a total jerk about everything. This is hard enough to do without her constant complaining and starting arguments. We gave her the option to shape up or get out and she chose out.”
“Ashley Marie Garcia. How dare you speak to me that way? You two get turned around and go pick her up right now.”
Taking a sidelong glance at her brother, Ashley was relieved when he began making a loud hissing noise. “What’s tha--must be--can’t hear--what? Dead cell--talk later.” As the phone snapped shut, she giggled. “We’re in trouble.”
Grinning, he answered, “Yep. Knew that was coming.”
“You know there’s going to be hell to pay for this later.”
Taking his eyes from the road, he solemnly searched her face. “Ash, there’ll be no retribution. You know that. If we can find them, we’ll never see the others again. We knew that from the start.”
Heart jumping in her chest, she nodded. Momentarily, she had forgotten that finding Jason and Sarah meant never seeing or hearing from their family again. I’m giving up a lot for this guy. I hope I’m right and he’s worth it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The compact rust-covered taxi entered the sprawling city of Cluj Napoca. For a not so small fee, they could have taken a connecting flight to the city from Bucharest, but unsettled by the disappearing traveler, they decided against it. If he were following them, they weren’t going to make it easy. With the three of them jammed in the tiny car, their unnatural body heat made the air stifling, even with the windows open.
The driver, small in stature and having that weathered look of someone who’d spent the majority of his life working outside, repeatedly glanced in the mirror. He spoke no English, but the look on his face said volumes. He didn’t like this fare, and had he not needed the money, he probably would have turned them away.
As soon as he stopped in front of the hotel, he leapt from the seat and quickly emptied the contents of the minimal trunk. Giving Jason a curt nod, he accepted his pay, and sped off as if his life depended on it.
Pete, loaded down with bags and luggage, watched as the taxi drove away. “What was that all about?”
Jason shrugged. “Beats me. Weirdo, huh?”
Cocking his head to the side, Pete grinned, replying sarcastically, “Welcome to Romania?”
Sarah tugged at Jason’s sleeve. “Can we get this show on the road? I’m dying for a hot shower.”
He closed his eyes and sniffed hard. “Yep. You need one too.”
“Oh brother,” she answered. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she turned and proceeded inside.
Five steps inside the front door Sarah stopped short. The strange staring man from the plane leaned against the wall beside an ancient looking elevator door, reading a newspaper. Her body lurched as first Jason, then Pete ran into her, and threw her forward. Regaining her balance, Sarah glanced back at the now empty wall.
“What gives?” Jason asked dropping two suitcases beside her.
“You didn’t? I mean did you?”
Following her wide-eyed stare, he looked at the elevator door. “Did I what?”
Shaken, Sarah turned to face them, whispering, “He’s here. He was just there by that door. Didn’t you see him?”
Still laden with luggage, Pete moved around the siblings to get a better look. The light above the elevator showed it was sitting at ground level. Turning, he said, “There’s no one there. You really need to sleep, Sarah. I think you have jet lag or something.”
Stunned, she stood repeatedly shaking her head. “No. I saw him. He was right there. You guys ran into me, and I looked away for just a second. When I looked back he was gone.”
Jason scanned the room. Standing in front of the door, blocking the entrance, they were drawing attention to themselves. Every set of eyes in the small lobby was on them. “Come on. Let’s get checked in. Too many people are watching now.”
Sarah nodded and followed behind him, carefully keeping her body between Pete and her brother.
The clerk greeted them with a welcoming smile and a thick Romanian accent. Grey-haired and matronly, the woman reminded Sarah of old pictures of Aunt Edna. “Goot ewening! Velcome! How many rooms vill you be needing, three maybe?”
“Yes, three would be great.” Jason answered.
Shoving her bother to the side, Sarah interjected, “You wouldn’t have one room with two queen sized beds, would you?”
The elderly woman’s smile turned into a frown as Sarah finished speaking. “And you vould be da wife den?”
Blushing, Sarah stuttered, “N-no, I-I’m--he’s my--”
“We’re her brothers.” Pete’s voice came to her rescue. Winking at the lady, he continued, “She’s never been out of the country before and has this irrational fear of being kidnapped by terrorists.”
“Ahhhh. No, no. Dis is not a bad thing.” The woman nodded, giving Sarah an understanding smile. “You goot girl. You smart girl. Stay vith big brothers. They keep you plenty safe.” Then looking over her shoulder, her head began to bob again. “Yes, yes. Room 418, four floors up. Has two queen beds, and ve can have a small portable brought in. This will vork fine, no?”
Sighing in relief, Sarah answered, “Oh yes. It soun
ds perfect. Thank you so much!”
Jason slid his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “You need to calm down, kid. You’ll feel better after you’ve had some rest.”
“Oh yes, yes!” The woman chimed in. “Must have sleep and eat. You need plenty goot food. Ve have goot restaurant here. You settle in and call down, ve’ll make something nice for you to eat.”
Taking the offered key, Jason nodded. “Thank you. That’s exactly what we’ll do.”
Warily exiting the elevator, the three looked around. A sign on the wall showed 410-420 were located in the hall to the right. The boys moved ahead, carrying the heavy bags. Following as closely behind as possible, Sarah stayed on their heels. Maybe they didn’t take this seriously, but for hours now warning bells had been going off in her mind. Whoever he was, he was dangerous. She was positive of that.
***
Throwing the crisp white sheet on the floor, Sarah stretched. After her attempt to stay awake for three days, the sleep had done her good. Rested and feeling capable of handling the next set of problems, she rolled on her side. Jason lay on the bed next to her small cot, reading a map. “How far away is it?”
“Not far, just a few miles. I’ve already spoken to the desk clerk. The problem isn’t finding it, the problem is finding someone willing to take us there.”
“Are you serious?”
He nodded. “This is an area steeped in superstition. According to the clerk, no one goes to Hoia Baciu Forest by choice. Except, of course, the local UFO and ghost hunters.”
“Oh no way!” Sarah laughed as she rolled her eyes. Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around her knees and solemnly gazed at her brother. “Jase? You don’t think there really are aliens, do you? I mean if we’re real and all those other things are real…”
Shaking his head, he smiled. “No. I don’t think they’re real.”
Lips pulling to the side, she nodded and laboriously pushed her body into a standing position. “Ugh! I feel like crap.” Noticing the empty bed beside Jason’s, she asked, “Where’s Pete?”
Avidly scouring the map, he answered without looking up. “Went for a walk. Said he needed to stretch his legs.”