“Mom wrote about how one night when you were about five, a strong storm hit the ranch. It was that night that you ran to her and curled up against her side, knowing she would protect you.
“From then on, you spoke and played and even laughed. But your memory, mom said it was more than photographic, it was ‘videographic.’ She coined the term just for you because you didn’t just see pictures in your mind, you could replay the whole event with every detail. You could rewind and fast-forward the memory. You were astounding to her.”
Dr. Andrews added, “Then in her later entries she made blanket observations about all of you. You were all highly intelligent and extraordinarily quick to learn any skill, physical or mental. She predicted that your abilities hadn’t finished manifesting, relating you to a caterpillar that lives as such for a while before it goes through metamorphosis and changes into something else. She wasn’t sure what the catalyst of the change would be, or if it were just a matter of time. But she feared that the abilities you’d been given were going to have to be used against the people who forced them on you.”
We all sat in silence as this sunk in.
Then Cole piped up, “Well, I made a B on my math test last week!”
The SUV continued down the highway with laughter spilling out of the closed windows.
The driver of the black sedan three cars behind them was not at all amused.
Chapter 27 Fine Dining
After the first twelve hours on the road, having only stopped twice to use bathrooms and gas up, we were ready for a real break. The first restaurant we found was an all-night truck-stop. I only know that because of its name, “Trudy’s All Nite Truck Stop.” I wondered who Trudy was and did she know she misspelled “night.”
After a quick glance around her restaurant, it became very clear her customers probably wouldn’t have caught the error.
“Hey Alik, where are we?” I whispered to Mr. Map.
He looked around and said, “Do you mean metaphorically or literally?”
“Literally, dork.”
“Well, we’re on I-40 west heading toward Albuquerque. This is just a small…small…town on-route. Population 301, I believe the sign read.”
“I don’t care how small the town is as long as this place has hamburgers and fries on their menu.” Cole declared.
“Hi there dolls, table for five?”
“Yes, please.” Dr. Andrews nodded and then followed as the waitress led the way to the tables. She quickly pulled two together for us.
I was glad we were close enough to the window so I could look out and check on Maze. We had to leave him in the SUV, but I made sure the windows were half open. I could see his nose sticking out of the opening as he sniffed the deliciously greasy smells wafting from the grill. I reminded myself to order an extra piece of meat on my burger for Maze.
We had all placed our orders when Evan mentioned that he’d like to go retrieve the map. Alik looked at him inquisitively, but said nothing. Dr. Andrews passed him the keys and he headed out to the SUV.
I was sipping deliciously sweet iced tea and listening to the boys’ discussion about which was better, a waffle fry or a shoestring fry, when I glanced out the window. Evan’s legs were hanging out of the driver’s side, toes pointing up.
“What in the heck is that boy doing now?” I scowled.
Everyone at the table stopped talking and followed my eyes. We all saw his feet kicking a bit then stop. He sat up and stare at something in his hands for a moment. Then he stood, tucked whatever it was into his pocket and sauntered casually back into the restaurant.
“Have a hard time finding the map?” Alik watched him with one raised brow.
Evan walked up to our waitress and whispered in her ear. She handed him a pen with a wink and a smile. Evan sat and began writing on a napkin.
THE MAP FELL ON THE FLOORBOARD. WHEN I REACHED DOWN TO GET IT, I SAW SOMETHING THAT LOOKED OUT OF PLACE ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASH. IT LOOKS LIKE AN AUDIO TRANSMITTER AND GPS. SEE FOR YOURSELVES, BUT DON’T SPEAK. SOMEONE IS LISTENING.
Fortunately, the restaurant was pretty quiet. No annoying music playing or crying babies, else I’m sure Evan wouldn’t have brought the small black mechanism in here. He removed it carefully from his pocket and turned it around in his hand so we could all see it from every angle.
Dr. Andrew’s face went white and he looked like he was about to throw up. He took the piece out of Evan’s hand and laid it on the floor gently before lifting the old-fashioned wooden chair he had been sitting on and slamming the leg down on it repeatedly. Pieces flew off as it shattered.