Flee (16 page)

****

The drive to Joe and Mary's house was quiet. Hector rode with us. He wanted to get a good feel for the property to help plan the security around it. The guard called Foster was already there, checking out both the Williamses' house and the rental home across the street. I was glad Joe and Mary were gone for the day and hoped none of the neighbors would notice the strange goings-on. It all seemed like much ado about nothing to me, but I recognized that my emotions were not to be trusted. I was, for once, too focused on the good things going on in my life. The fact that someone may want me dead seemed almost insignificant. For the second time that day, I questioned my sanity.

I unlocked the door and let us in. Hector began pacing off the house, drawing its footprint on a yellow legal pad. I went to my room to pack a bag, and Mateo followed.

“So, I'm guessing you like blue?” he said, looking around.

“I guess,” I replied, shrugging. “My mom used a designer to do my room at home.” I choked a little on that last word, but it didn't sting as much as it once had. “I just moved stuff over here without thinking. It doesn't really go, does it?” I asked, glancing at my bedding and accessories and then at the green walls. This room had been the nursery. Baby Grace should be sleeping in here, not me.

Mateo didn't answer. He was holding the picture of me and Dad after our 10K race. “You've always been beautiful,” he said. “What happened to those freckles?”

“They faded.”

“Too bad. They were cute.” His eyes landed on the box beside my bed.

“That's stuff from home I'm trying to go through. So far I've managed to remove that picture and a stuffed bear. At this rate I ought to be done unpacking sometime before retirement.”

“Do you have more boxes like this? Anything from your dad's office, maybe?”

“In storage. I know there are some from Dad's office at the very front of the storage unit.” The police just returned them a few weeks ago. They had been going over anything they thought was significant. “You want them, don't you?”

“Yes. Can we get them today?” he asked.

I nodded and grabbed the key from my desk drawer. “The two boxes I have here are just personal items, I think. I was kind of in a fog when I packed them, and I haven't been able to go through them. Do you want to take them also? I know I grabbed some things from Dad's home office. I think I got something from every room. I was a little crazy at the time.”

“What do you mean at the time?” he teased. Before I could respond, he was hugging me, the humor that had twinkled in his eyes replaced with compassion.

“I'm sorry. I wish I had been here for you then.”

His kindness brought tears to my eyes. “I wish you had been, too,” I said softly, then I wiggled free of his hold. Any more compassion from him and I was really going to lose it. I began opening drawers and throwing clothes into a bag. When I was done, I grabbed the box beside my bed and directed Mateo to get the other box from my closet.

Hector was in the living room. He met Mateo's eyes with a serious expression.

“What is it?” Mateo asked.

Hector didn't answer. He just held out his hand to reveal a cigarette butt.

“Where?” Mateo asked, his voice hard and tense.

“In the bushes outside her bedroom window. Same brand as behind your house. It appears old, but with the effects of weather it's impossible to know how long it's been there.”

“So, someone has been watching me?” I asked. Mateo nodded, his eyes looked a little wild, like the bulls at the rodeo my family had attended every spring.

“Don't overreact. Maybe they were just keeping an eye on me in the beginning, trying to see if I knew anything. When it became apparent that I didn't, I bet they moved on. That cigarette butt looks old to me. Let's just stick with the plan.”

I didn't know how I was staying so calm. I really didn't feel in any danger, though. It was odd, given my previous tortuous seven months, but now that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, it seemed to be all that I could see. I wondered at my cathartic bath in Meg's enormous tub. I had entered the water weary and scared and defeated and left it calm and hopeful and rejuvenated. Could I really have cried away all of my previous misery? Or maybe after feeling so much for so long I had finally gone numb.

“How far is it from this house to ours?” Mateo asked.

“One point nine miles driving, closer as the crow flies. You want to use direct connect?” Hector was smiling. I could tell he liked the idea.

“Yes. Blake, when you're here, especially at night, would you keep a direct connect phone close by you? It will be small, like a cell phone. Keep it charged and on, and Hector and I will as well, and then you just push one button and begin talking and we can hear you. Like walkie-talkies. Is that okay?”

“Sure.” I liked the idea of being able to talk to Mateo anytime. I would have to remember Hector was listening too and watch what I said.

“Okay. Let's go buy some and then visit your storage unit and see what we can find there.”

Hector took the box from me, and we headed for the truck. I took a look around, wondering how it was going to feel to be watched all the time. I hoped Joe and Mary never had to know. It was bad enough I had taken over their baby's room. Now it seemed I was taking their privacy, too. Sighing, I followed Mateo through the front door.

****

The drive to school Monday morning was surreal. I waved at the new
neighbor
across the street, who just
happened
to be leaving for work at the same time I left for school. He followed me until I got through the school's security gate, at which time I assumed the guards on campus took over. We had met the new
family
across the street yesterday evening, when Joe had been outside mowing the yard and they had walked over to introduce themselves. Of course, I had already met them at Mateo's house and was surprised at how well they passed off as a family. Joe and Mary hadn't been suspicious at all and had even commented on how nice they'd seemed. I had wondered what they would think if they knew that nice new family was constantly watching their house through binoculars.

Going to bed last night had been weird too. I wondered how much the guard hiding in the brush at the edge of the back yard could see into my room. This had made me uncomfortable, and I had fumbled around in the dark in my room, trying to be quiet and not wake Benji or Grace, until I had given up and crawled into bed early. It had been tough. I had tossed and turned and had finally given in and pushed the button on the new phone. Mateo had instantly answered, his voice concerned.

“Blake?”

“It's okay. I just can't get to sleep.”

“Oh. Are you all right? Are you scared?”

“No, I just miss you.” I wished there had been a socially acceptable way to choose Plan A. Or that my mother was here. Memories of her sitting on the bed beside me when I was little, scratching my back and singing a soft lullaby flooded my mind.

“Mateo, could you sing me to sleep?”

He responded by laughing. “I'm not sure that would actually help. You've obviously not heard me sing. It's a bit like nails on a chalkboard. Doodles could do a better job. I can play the guitar a little, though. Would you like that?”

“Um-hmm.” I waited as he got his guitar and spent a few minutes tuning it, then settled back on my pillow, phone in hand, as he began a soft ballad. He played beautifully, if not perfectly, his mistakes making me smile and serving to calm me even more. How long had he been playing? I meant to ask him when he finished, but somewhere in the midst of the soothing notes, I drifted to sleep. I woke with the morning sun, the phone still in my hand.

****

Callie arrived in the school parking lot at the same time as I did, and guilt overcame me as I looked at her. She really was the best friend ever, and I hadn't been much of a friend back to her lately. Waving to her put a big smile on her face. She waved back and made her way over to me, her smile growing wider and her eyes more astonished as she approached.

“You look good. No, you look great! What happened?”

“I just had a really good weekend.” She grabbed my hand and I squeezed hers. “Callie, I'm sorry I've been such a bad friend lately. Thanks for being patient with me.”

Callie waved off my apology. “No one has had better reason to lose it for a while than you. But you don't look so lost anymore. Wanna fill me in?” She leaned in close to me. “Please? I'm dying to know what has breathed new life into you. Is it a certain hot guy from Mexico?”

I blushed and nodded. “How about you and Chad? What's going on there?”

Callie shook her head. “No diversionary tactics. We're talking about you, not me. What's going on with Mateo?”

“He's… well, I… I don't know what to say. He's perfect, and I think I'm very much in love with him.”

“Seriously?” Callie's squeal was so loud several students in the parking lot turned to look at us. “Well, it's obvious from the way he treats you and looks at you that he feels the same way. I'm just shocked that you're responding. I thought you were a bit catatonic.”

“I think I was. But he's very persuasive. And what do you mean, how he looks at me?”

Callie rolled her eyes. “You have to be the only one who hasn't noticed. His eyes almost never leave you. From just about day one of school he's watched you like an overprotective big brother. No, brother is definitely not right. His eyes are way too admiring for that, but he's always looking out for you and seemed to have kind of claimed you right off. Everybody could tell. Haven't you noticed how Wade has totally backed off from you? He even asked Abby Smith out the other day. Can you believe it? And of course half the girls in this school were completely moonstruck over Mateo, but after a month of watching him obsess over you and completely ignore them, they've given up. You obliterated the competition without even being aware there was any.”

Holy crap. Had I had that much attention? I'd just thought everyone was ignoring me. It was slightly horrifying to hear that I was being watched. But it was good to hear Callie gabbing away. I'd missed her friendship. Making a mental note to spend more time with her, I began looking around for Mateo. Hector had answered the phone this morning when I had awakened late, shocked that I had slept through our planned run. He informed me that Mateo was already at school.

“What's going on over there?” Callie's curious question interrupted my search, and I glanced in the direction she was pointing. A group of students were gathered in the school's courtyard, surrounding something and chattering excitedly.

The
something
turned out to be another new student. Abby waved us over and filled us in, her voice excited, and I felt sorry for Wade. First my rejection, now Abby's. He just couldn't seem to catch a break.

“That's Danny Morales. His dad is the new Spanish teacher, taking over when Señora Acevedo has her baby next month. They just moved here from Mexico. Isn't he gorgeous?”

She giggled and I felt a little embarrassed for her. She had been speaking loudly enough for Danny to hear, if he had been listening. I glanced up to see if he had, and my eyes immediately made contact with his black ones.
Oh, he's staring at me
. His expression was serious, dark, and brooding. It made me shiver. I returned his stare for a few seconds, almost in shock, and then he glanced away and smiled, laughing and responding to a question someone had asked him.

Callie was also assessing the new guy. She hadn't missed the exchange between us. Her face was moving from Danny to me, and I could almost feel her brain working as she tried to figure out the meaning. I hoped she came up with something soon. I was dying to know what that look had meant, and I had no theories myself.

“Seems you don't fail to draw a reaction from Latino men,” she finally said, shrugging her shoulders. She continued to watch Danny. He didn't look our way again. He already seemed to have a fan club of girls, and he was enjoying the attention. “I gotta say, judging from the two specimens that have turned up here this year, the Latin American continent is crawling with good-looking men.
Viva la Mexico.
”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Not that I'm interested. To answer your earlier enquiry, Chad and I are dating. He's a complete idiot on several topics, mind you, but I'm working on those. And overall he pretty much has it together.” She grinned at her tongue-in-cheek speech, and I could tell she was smitten. Before I could respond, I felt a familiar hand on my back.

“Oh hey, Mateo,” Callie said. “Have you met the new guy yet?”

“No, I haven't had the pleasure.” He spat the last word, as if it was distasteful, and I looked at him in alarm.

He was glaring at Danny, anger and frustration oozing from his demeanor. Danny had noticed Mateo also. His face remained focused on the girls around him, but his body tensed. I noticed the hand clutching his backpack was white-knuckled. Callie, never one to miss details, took this all in, a confused look of concentration on her face. Then she spotted Chad across the courtyard, shrugged at me again, and went to meet him. I turned my attention back to Mateo.

“What is it?” I whispered.

“I don't know yet.” He took his cell phone out of his pocket and discreetly took a picture of Danny then rapidly texted a message and hit send.

“Hector?” I guessed.

Mateo nodded.

“Could it just be that he's a legitimate new student, and you're overreacting?” I asked.

“Could be,” he replied. “But have you noticed his body language? He's tensed for a fight.”

“Perhaps that's because you're glaring at him. Maybe you should soften your expression. People are beginning to notice.” Mateo relaxed a little, but kept himself planted between Danny and me.

I had to look around him to see Danny. He seemed perfectly at ease now, making easy conversation with the other students. After a few minutes, his eyes flickered over to us, and he smiled.

“You must be the Mateo I've been hearing about,” he said, walking over. “It's nice to meet you. I hear you're quite a
fútbol
player. I play also. What position?”

“Striker,” Mateo replied, his voice only slightly icy. “And you?”

“Center-mid. I look forward to, uh, soccer season. Should be fun.” Danny stuck out his right hand to shake Mateo's.

Mateo grabbed it and pumped it once. His grip must have been something. Danny winced slightly. His eyes fell on me and he paused, waiting for an introduction. Mateo ignored him, moving more in front of me and blocking my view entirely.

He stared at Danny until an awkward silence formed, and then Danny said, “See ya around,” and moved to walk away, a group of students following him.

“Wow, you Tarzan, me Jane. Do I even get to meet him? You're coming on a little strong if he's just some kid from New Mexico.”

“It's a risk I'm willing to take,” Mateo answered. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out and checked the text.

Looking over his shoulder, I read the words
On it.

“If he's who he claims to be, then I'll make amends. In the meantime, stay away from him.”

“Aye, aye, sir.” I responded with a mock salute. He was really very cute when he was all worked up. Then I remembered the look Danny had briefly given me, and I got sober. “Mateo, I think you may be right. I promise I'll careful. Meet you after first period?”

“Absolutely,” Mateo replied. He walked me to class and watched me until I was seated. He was about to turn around when Danny entered and walked to the front of class to introduce himself to the instructor. I watched Mateo for his reaction, and if I hadn't been a little frightened, I would have laughed at the expletive that I read on his lips. Not always the perfect gentleman. He had his phone out again, rapidly dialing and then bringing it to his ear.

“Reyna, power off your cell phone and head to class, or I'll have to confiscate it.” The headmaster's voice was kind but firm. Mateo looked up, his expression respectful.

“I'm sorry, Mr. Robbins. Emergency at home. May I just have a minute to help my mom with something, and then I promise I'll power it down until after school?” His eyes were pleading, his tone extremely polite.

Mr. Robbins smiled. “One minute, or it goes in my desk drawer the rest of the day.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Mateo spoke into the phone quickly and quietly. I was sure not even Mr. Robbins, distracted now by a teacher in the hall, heard what he said. He then powered it down as promised and placed it in his pocket. His eyes met mine, worried.

I smiled, but he didn't move on to class, not even when the bell rang. He stood in the hall, watching me, and then suddenly looked past me, nodded, and moved on. I turned, startled, and saw a member of the ground crew taking great interest in the shrubbery outside the classroom window. His eyes met mine briefly and then looked away. Danny was sitting to my left, seemingly oblivious to everything except what the teacher was saying. He looked innocent enough now, but my mind kept flashing back to the dark look he had shot me in the courtyard, and I shuddered. This was going to be interesting.