Brad checked his pulse. "No. Heart's still working. What do we do with him?"
Drake untangled himself from me and searched the man's body. "We need to figure out who this guy is and who he's working for."
"Is there really any question about who he works for?" Who else but Rent-A-Kid would even have us on their radar, let alone want us dead? "Why didn't our powers work on him?"
The body moved, then groaned. The guys jumped back. Brad raised his bat.
I formed a mental link with his mind again. This time, no brick walls. 'Pain... shit... gonna be busted....' And more of the same. People in a lot of pain were often hard to read, less coherent and more focused on... well, the pain.
"I'm in his mind. His defenses are down."
Drake made eye contact with me. "We need to find out what he knows, and we need to do it quick. Others might come looking for him."
Crap. How was I supposed to take a moral stand against this power when there were so many exceptions?
Drake and I linked, and our powers amplified. Heat rushed through my body as we slipped into our attacker's mind.
Drake gave the guy a command. 'You will tell us everything you know about who sent you and why.'
The man refused to talk, or even think, about the information we needed. He shouldn't have been able to resist Drake's persuasion.
I pushed my own power into the command, strengthening it.
Still nothing. Drake frowned at me, confused.
I shrugged. "I have no idea why this isn't working."
A rush of heat exploded in my belly. I cried out and doubled over in pain. Our mental link intensified and the man spasmed, his body arching off the ground. A small glass wall I hadn't known was there cracked in the man's mind.
He cried out in pain, "The Seeker. He wants you. Tracks you, using us. Not safe."
We tried to coerce more information out of him, but he collapsed into unconsciousness. His mind reeled with wild images I couldn't make any sense of.
"Guys, I think that's all we're going to get from him."
Brad and Drake nodded, but didn't relax.
I stared at the body. "It's hard to tell with his face so…you know…but this looks like one of the guys who asked Rick about you, Drake. He has a partner somewhere. So... what do we do with him?"
Drake moved around the room. "We have to pack and find someplace safe. We'll leave him here. Someone will eventually find him, or he'll regain consciousness and make his way back to his boss."
"Dude," Brad said, "my name is on this lease. I'm in so much trouble."
"For what?" Drake asked. "He broke into your house. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, we have to get out of here. We're all in danger now. I need to get you two to a safe place so I can go after the Seeker."
"Wait, what?" My head popped up. "Do you intend to go after the Seeker alone? No way. Unless by 'alone' you really mean with me, then yeah."
"Sam, we have to find out who this guy is and what he knows. It's the only way we can stop these assholes from taking kids like us, and from doing genetic experiments and God knows what else. Plus, you're sick and pregnant. It's too dangerous."
"I'm stronger than I look. What makes you think you can do this by yourself? You wouldn't have been able to crack this guy's mind without me. These are just henchmen. You're going to need me when we meet their boss. The Rent-A-Kids are my friends, the only family I've ever known. I'm going, and you can't stop me."
Brad stepped in between us. "Sam, he's right. You're in no condition to go chasing after these guys, alone or with Drake. You could get yourself or your baby killed."
Drake nodded. "Then we're agreed—"
"And Drake, she's right. You can't go running off like the Lone Ranger either. We need a plan. We need to regroup and figure out the next step. But first, we need to pack and get the hell out of here before my neighbors call the cops, or this guy's partner shows up."
Drake frowned, then gave a curt nod. It wasn't exactly a gracious concession, but it would have to do.
I wasn't feeling too gracious myself, but it was hard to argue with Brad's logic. It wouldn't hurt to get somewhere safe and at least talk about the options.
The three of us scurried around the apartment packing computers, medication, clothes, money, all the supplies and information Ana had given us.
When we had finished, we stepped out onto the porch.
"Should I lock it?" Brad asked.
"No," Drake said. "Close the door, but don't lock it. We can call the police to report a break-in. Say we're the neighbor or something."
Brad nodded and closed the door.
I scanned the area around us as we walked to the car, worried someone else might be stalking us. "We still have his partner to worry about, and the guy I saw at Venice Beach."
"I know," Drake said.
Brad sighed. "Great, more people to run from, or attack."
Drake chuckled. "Nobody said we'd be boring houseguests."
Brad groaned and tried to flip him the finger while carrying several bags. It looked painful.
I almost cracked a smile.