Chapter 46

“Just stay in the back, okay?” He whispered as he moved to the second row of seats in the back of the minivan. “And put your seatbelt on, just in case.”

It was good thing I hadn’t eaten any breakfast yet, I’d probably be throwing it up by now. The stress that I’d released the night before came rushing back to me like a boomerang.

Lying down on the third row bench seat and waiting for the shadows to pass by the left side of the van, I slowly searched for the lap belt. The people outside the van were laughing and chatting with the salesmen. With just a thin pane of glass between us, I wondered what they would think if they knew I was right beside them, watching and listening.

The entire scenario made me wonder if I’d ever been in that situation, where there was literally someone only a foot or two away from me and I didn’t even know it.

When the group moved to the far side of the van neighboring us, I pulled the two pieces of the lap belt together and clicked them into place. I cringed with the subtle noise of the device even though only someone with bionic hearing would be able to detect such a slight sound.

Wedged between the back of the driver’s seat and the second row bench seat, Keanu signaled me to stay down and be quiet. I couldn’t deny that annoyed me a little. What was I going to do, bounce up and down on the seat and demand an ice cream cone like a three year old?

Men.

I rolled my eyes in his direction but he was too busy being Agent Kai.

After a few tense minutes, the salesman and his prospective clients sauntered back to the dealership. Keanu carefully moved forward and slid into the driver’s seat.

Things moved very quickly after that.

Sliding his hands under the steering wheel, he pulled a piece of plastic loose and started fiddling with some wires. It looked just like when the actors did it in the movies. Very soon, I heard the soft purr of the engine and casually, Keanu pulled out of the parking stall.

I was surprised at how calmed he looked. He even rolled down the window and let his arm hang out. After seeing him in action, I understood what he meant by ‘hiding in plain sight’. Why would anyone suspect anything was wrong? He looked perfectly natural.

With my head against the bench seat, I tried to play it calm and cool too. No such luck. Keanu apparently had practice with controlling his emotions much more than I.

I was a nervous wreck.

The baby kicked inside of me. She felt…excited. Her enthusiasm gave me hope that this plan would work.

Where we were going from here, however, was still a complete mystery.

***

“I can’t believe it. It seemed so…easy.” I shook my head in disbelief as we drove down the highway, now miles from the dealership. I’d relocated into the seat behind Keanu after he gave me the okay to sit up and move.

“Yah, you wouldn’t believe some of the sneaky shit that the Majestic 12 gets away with and all because the general public is very trusting…and very naïve.” His tone was cocky, but I allowed him the moment, he’d deserved it. He continued in a more neutral tone. “It could be a few days before the dealership even realize the van is gone…if we’re lucky that is.”

Nodding, I looked above me and noticed the DVD screen flipped up.

I wonder if they have anything for me to watch?

“Darn it.” I slammed the DVD screen back up into position as I realized it had nothing at all to watch but a blue screen.

“Maybe when we stop at the next gas station I’ll grab you a movie okay?” He grinned at me in the rear view mirror.

Clapping my hands, I was actually starting to really enjoy this trip—even though there wasn’t a destination.

Bored, I resorted to my usual activity of looking out the window.

“Want some music?” Keanu asked as he switched on the radio and flipped through the frequencies to find a good song.

Smiling in appreciation when he found an old nineties station, I continued my observation of the outside world.

I’d lost track of what state we were in a while ago, but the climate was getting warmer and warmer.

Nevada?

As green fields gave way to drier and sandier terrain, I realized that regardless of where Keanu thought he was going, he seemed to be taking me home.

“Keanu?”

“Mmm mm?” His eyes were locked steadfast on the road ahead of us.

“I…think we should head for Sedona.” I began and continued before he could protest. “Not to my village though, I…think I know a place where we could hide.”

The image of the cave was so clear in my mind; I could almost see the path that led to my birthplace. It was like destiny whispering on the wind, calling me home.

He looked leery as he glanced back at me through the rear view mirror. After a few moments, however, he seemed to realize that it was better to have an irrational destination than none at all.

As he nodded in surrender, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Home. I’m going home.