Tracker (22 page)

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… some
thing
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, who 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.                                                     

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