Tracker by Adrianne Lemke

to the officer across the street while you discuss things with them.”
    She left without waiting for me to answer, and I looked at Paul and the others. “What happened?”
    “They grabbed Erin and Sam because they were closest,” Paul said. “I would have fought them, but they had guns and threatened to shoot them.” He sounded disgusted with himself but I shook my head.
    “You did right. If you had fought them, they could have taken you along with Erin and Sam. I’m glad you’re okay.”
    Paul looked relieved, as if he had thought I’d be mad at him for letting something happen. “Once they knew that we wouldn’t fight them, they told us to tell you that Mason wanted you to come out and play. I don’t think he knows where you are yet. You should stay here until you’re recovered, Jason. Let the police clean up their own mess,” he spat angrily.
    I shook my head, understanding the anger, but also knowing I couldn’t follow his wishes. “I can’t do that. Mason will kill them if he doesn’t think I’m following his demands. Besides, he knows about my abilities. He could make life extremely dangerous for all of us until he’s off the street.”
    Paul shook his head, and the other two stood and listened intently to our exchange. “You shouldn’t have to—”
    I cut him off. “I don’t want to live in fear, Paul. I can help lock him up, and I can help find Erin and Sam. I need to go with Alice. It's my decision, so please don’t blame her. She wants to keep us safe. You need to stay here with Jeff and Ginny. There will be a guard across the street, but I want you to keep your eyes open. If anything happens, call Alice. I’ll have her leave her cell number and work number by the phone so you can call.”
    “Okay,” Paul agreed, still sounding reluctant, but he would follow what I wanted. Paul was loyal to a fault, and was constantly seeking my approval. I was only about three years older than him, but he looked up to me. “Be careful, Jase,” he pleaded. “I can’t watch out for them on my own.”
    I knew he would try. “Let’s get into the house. You guys can shower while you’re here, and maybe even get haircuts. Try to enjoy it.”
    Paul nodded, and the three kids followed me into Alice’s house. Alice had already finished her conversation with the officer across the street and gone into the house. “There are some sweatpants and T-shirts you guys can use if you feel like showering and changing into something clean. We can wash your clothes when Jason and I get back.” She looked at me. “We should go,” she said urgently.
    We left the kids to figure out where things were, and I reluctantly climbed into Alice’s car. What message had Mason left me, and why did Alice now seem so urgent when before she’d seemed less concerned? “Did you hear something else?” I asked hesitantly.
    She looked at me, eyes full of sympathy and sorrow. Her normally smooth voice was hesitant as she answered. “Dan called while I was across the street. They found Erin.”

FOURTEEN
    Alice
     
     
    The news had devastated Jason. When I’d said we’d found Erin, my voice had made it clear to him that she was already gone. His face had gone white and he was swallowing convulsively, trying to hold himself together. Any anger he felt was at the moment drowned out by his sorrow, and I dreaded the need for him to formally ID Erin’s body. She had been under his protection, and he would think he’d failed her. In truth, it was my fault the children hadn’t been protected. He had been too out of it last night to figure out they might be in danger, but I hadn’t been.
    Jason didn’t say a word as we drove to the crime scene. He wouldn’t be officially consulting on Erin’s case, but he might be able to feel echoes, or whatever it was his powers allowed him to do. It could be that he would be able to feel the vibrations of someone he had previously encountered and would at least point me in the right