Indigo Incite (The Indigo Trilogy) (19 page)

“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.”

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.

“Patricia
told me that the IIA is looking for you,” Ian began. “You must all have some
pretty incredible powers if they’re spending the time and resources to send a
tracker after you. I’ve spent well over a year evading them, so I know it’s not
a fun position to be in.” He turned to Tyler. “They have your brother, right?
Patricia told me they took him.”

“Yeah,
that’s why we came here. We’re hoping that you’ll be able to tell us where he
is.”

Ian
pressed both index fingers to his forehead. He took a deep breath and shook his
head. “If you’re determined to find him, and I’m guessing that you are since
you came all this way to see me, it’s going to be a difficult search. The
compound is well hidden, and it’s in Mexico.”

“Mexico?”
they all seemed to ask at once.

He
nodded. “Yes. That’s the only way they can legitimately hold people against
their will. The CIA would never fund them if they knew they could be connected
to kidnapping and holding people on United States property. So the IIA has its
own compound in Mexico. The IIA does favors for the Mexican government from
time to time, and in return, they look a blind eye to the comings and goings at
the compound. It’s a good deal for everyone concerned. If you want to get your
brother back, that’s where you’ll find him.”

“How are
we supposed to get into Mexico?” Grace asked.

“Oh,
it’s not difficult. Anyone can get into Mexico. You just have to drive across
the border and you’re in. It’s the getting
back
into the United States
part that might prove a little more difficult, unless you have a passport.

“Getting
your brother out is the first part you need to worry about, though. If you can
somehow manage that, you’ll find a way to get back into the U.S.”

“Can you
tell us how to find him?” Tyler asked.

“I can
give you a general idea,” Ian replied. “Like I said, the compound is well
hidden, and unless you know the exact location, it’s virtually impossible to
find.”

A ruckus
of barking dogs caught his attention, and Ian strode purposefully to the window
to peer out. “I forgot. School’s out early today. The bus is here. Come on out
and you can meet Trevor.”

Tyler
and Eddie walked beside Ian as they made their way down the dirt path toward a
school bus that was stopped at the front gate. The girls trailed slowly behind,
discussing who Trevor might possibly be.

When
they reached the gate, the door of the short bus swung open, and a boy, about
eight-years-old, leapt off and ran into Ian’s open arms. Ian swept the boy off
his feet and swung him around in circles. Then, setting him back to the ground,
he placed an arm around the boy’s shoulders and turned him to face the group.

“Everyone,
I’d like you to meet Trevor.”

“Hi,
Trevor,” Sarah said.

The boy
glanced at her for a moment but said nothing. Instead, he knelt to pet the
German Shepherd, who had come to greet him.

“Trevor,
are you hungry?” Ian asked.

The boy
continued to pet the dog, and it appeared that he hadn’t heard the question,
but after a moment, with his eyes still on the German Shepherd, he said, “Hot
Dog. Yes? Hot dog?”

Ian
smiled. “Hot dogs, yes. Run to the house. Cameron will be there in a minute.”

Trevor
sprinted down the driveway. The dogs flanked his sides and joined in the fun.
Ian turned to the group for explanation. “He’s autistic.”

“Is he
yours?” Sarah asked.

Ian
shook his head. “No, his mother is a friend of mine. You met her this morning—Melissa,
the waitress from the restaurant.”

“Oh,
right,” Sarah said. “So you watch him while she’s working?”

“I do.
She’s a single mother—well, sort of. Her husband ran off, and she hasn’t heard
from him. So I help her out so she doesn’t have to pay for child care. Trevor
and I have a good relationship. We understand each other.”

They
reached the mobile home, where Trevor was sitting on the bottom step of the
porch. A dog leaned against each of his legs and panted happily.

“Inside,
Trevor? Hot dog? Let’s go.”

Trevor
bounded up the steps, and everyone else followed. While they took their
previous seats, Ian located a hot dog in the fridge and placed it in the
microwave. “It’s his favorite food,” he explained, as he handed the boy the
heated hot dog. Trevor eagerly accepted the plain wiener and began to chow
down. “Some children who are identified as autistic, are actually Indigo
Children,” Ian said, nodding toward Trevor.

“He’s an
Indigo?” Grace asked.

“He is.
Well, sort of. More specifically, he’s what they call a Star Child.”

“A Star
Child? Patricia mentioned that term,” Sarah said. “What is that exactly?”

“There
are several theories, but one that is now commonly accepted is that there are
some people who have ancient, extraterrestrial DNA. For thousands of years, the
DNA remained dormant, but now it’s believed that this DNA has begun to awaken
in some children who carry the strand. In these cases, the children, who are
referred to as Star Children, are able to tap into the powers of their
extraterrestrial ancestors.”

“You’re
serious?” Tyler said. “You’re saying that Trevor is…what? Part alien or
something?”

“Yes.
It’s not that uncommon of a notion. I’m not saying that his parents are aliens
or anything. I’m just saying that one or the other carried the dormant alien
gene that had been passed down generation after generation, and for whatever
reason, the gene decided to become active in him.

“It
sounds crazy, I know,” he went on. “Some nights, he’ll walk outside, stare up
at the stars, and talk to them. I can hear his thought process, and it’s like
he’s carrying on a full conversation with someone. There have also been nights
when I’ve seen him talking to the stars, and I swear I’ve seen lights in the
sky flying back and forth overhead.”

“For
real?” said Tyler. “That’s awesome! Does he have any special abilities?”

“He
does. Like some children who are autistic, he is extremely gifted in specific
areas. In his case, he loves cars and can tell you anything you’d ever want to
know about them. He also has psychic tendencies, and he can communicate with
animals. He can also communicate with beings from other planets.”

When
Ian’s phone rang, he glanced at the caller ID. “It’s a client, calling back
about an old car I’ve been trying to locate for him. Give me just a few
minutes. I need to step into my office and get on the computer.” He retreated
into a back room, and they found themselves left alone with Trevor.

“Do you
think that’s all for real?” Grace asked. “I mean, do you really think there are
people who have alien genes?”

“It’s
not the first time I’ve heard theories on the idea,” Eddie said. “And I think
Ian probably more than most knows what he’s talking about. After all, he did
get paid by a government agency to find people with special powers and stuff.
I’m guessing the government wouldn’t waste that kind of time and money if it
wasn’t for real.”

While
they spoke, Sarah noticed that Trevor had gradually scooted closer to her. He
now sat on the floor with his back against her legs.

“I think
he likes you,” Tyler said.

Trevor
looked over his shoulder and smiled at Sarah. Then he stood, grabbed her hand,
and said, “Outside.”

“You
want to go outside?” Sarah asked.

“Outside,”
he stated again.

She
glanced toward the office, where Ian had retreated. She then glanced at Eddie,
who shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “Okay…sure,” she said, after a moment.
She smiled at Trevor. “Lead the way.”

Her
friends stood to follow, but Trevor held out his hand and said, “No.”

“You
don’t want us to go outside with you?” Grace asked.

“No.”

“Okay.”
To make a point that she wouldn’t follow, Grace sat on the couch.

Tyler
winked at her. “We’ll wait right here.”

“Thanks,”
Sarah said. She smiled and then turned to follow Trevor out the door and down
the front steps of the porch. As soon as her feet touched the dirt, the dogs
ran out from under the porch, in anxious greeting, and sniffed her legs. Trevor
grabbed her hand and, without saying a word, led her behind the mobile home and
out toward the endless rows of old cars.

Uncertain
if she was supposed to say something or simply enjoy the walk, she strolled
leisurely beside the boy, hand in hand, in the warm sun. A slight breeze
stirred the dirt around them as they walked, and birds in a nearby tree sang
happily.