Sarah felt choked, like something was wrapping around her chest. She felt fire surge.
Sarah woke up and felt strange. She seemed to sense that the humans were there. Everything looked more defined, not dull. She knew, she had gotten her powers back. She got up and walked around, getting used to her powers again. She stretched and checked her knives. She nodded and went out into the kitchen. The minute she hit the doorway she felt it. A strong witch, not just any witch, an Arun. Part witch, part vampire. This witch was strong, but it was more than just their witch that was strong, the vampiric aura was also strong. Very strong. She looked in. She found a teenage boy, he was pale, so pale she had to check to make sure he wasn't a vampire. No, the witch part of him was visible in his aura. He had mezmorizing grey eyes, he wore a black t-shirt, and black jeans. He looked at Sarah, they both reconized each other's auras immediately. It was he who spoke first.
"Alex Arun." "And you?" he asked.
"Sarah Vida." Alex widened his eyes a bit at that, but nodded. "Are you aware of what happened between me and Nikolas?"
"Yes." he said. "And what happened between you and Christopher." "She's looking for you." he said. Sarah knew who he meant.
"And?" Sarah asked. He shrugged.
"And what?" "If you want me to tell, you're in for bad luck, I've no intention of telling her where you are." "Do you have intention of telling anyone where I am?"
"No." Sarah shook her head. The teenagers looked at them both curiously.
"O-k." Jeffrey said as if they were crazy. Chuck spoke.
"I thought his name was Ventrover." Alex shook his head.
"Remember that club I mentioned?" he asked. Chuck nodded. "She was a member."
"Oh, did they throw you out too?" he asked. Chuck was obviously not the brightest of the bunch.
"Yes." Sarah said plainly, she was not interested in pointless banter with them. Obviously Alex could see it.
"So, would you like to come shopping?" he asked her. She nodded. They both went and reached the driveway.
"Your car or mine?" Sarah asked.
"Mine." he said. "If you don't mind?" Sarah shook her head and they got in. Alex's car was a silver convertable with black flames on the side and a giant black wolf on the hood.
"Nice car." Sarah said.
"Thank you." "Not the most inconspicuous, but it works for me." "Normally though I'm not worried about getting caught." he looked at her car. "Nice." "I wanted a simple car, but I could never get one." "My aunt wouldn't allow it." they got in and drove down to the store.
Sarah looked at the market, it was smaller than the ones she had seen in New York. He had now dawned a leather jacket.
"A little hot for that isn't it?" she asked. She was expecting a warning of some kind, the only time a witch put on something that looked out of place was when there was trouble and they needed extra back up.
"Maybe, but if I don't wear it, you'll regret it." "Just like I will."
"Really?" she asked. "Why?" she wasn't really curious, she was more interested in the danger that was there, she couldn't feel anything.
"You'll see." "I've got the list, anything you want to add?" he handed it to her. It looked like everything she thought of was on there. There were a few extra things. Some that she found, odd. Maybe it was because Sarah was irritated that she asked her question.
"Should you really be encouraging their weight gain?" "Or do they really know nothing about you?" she was referring to the fact that those people looked like they might last one second before a vampire ripped out their throats.
"What do you think?" he asked sarcastically.
"You said the club, I take it you mentioned something of the Arun line?" he sighed.
"I mentioned a club, it had a whole bunch of members, I got thrown out, and they would beat the crap out of me if they ever found me again." "That's what I said." "So, you ran away before they could put you on trial." "So much for family."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sarah asked him a little tightly, she had broken the code, she deserved the punishment she would have recieved. But if she really felt that way, why did she run? Because just because she knew she deserved it, didn't mean she wanted it.
"Your mother would have allowed you to die. I have to say, I've seen better examples of family love." he said, he then picked up a dozen eggs and he continued getting items. Sarah thought of that, he had a point, but witches were not typical families.
"That's true." "But still, nothing should be more important to a parent, no matter what they are, than their child, be they their first or second. And all children should be equal." Sarah looked at him, was his vampiric side so strong that he could read her mind? No, it couldn't be.
"It's not." "I know how it feels when you are about to get sent to trial, how it feels when you have no more friends, no more family, not that I had very much when I was there." "They didn't like my aura."
"Can't blame them." she said. He turned and looked at her. It almost looked like he was hurt. Sarah sighed and shook her head, she would have to be careful to say what she really meant, not just assume he would guess.
"Witches don't like vampire auras," she lowered her voice, "You have a strong vampiric aura." "You can't blame them. No Arun witch has ever had an aura that strong."
"I know." "I don't know how I got it, but I didn't want it." he said.
"Well, you can't be blamed for it." "Who were your parents?" he looked away.
"I don't know." he said. He moved on.
"I'm sorry." she said, "I didn't know." he turned.
"Thank you." he smiled, she smiled back at him. This was someone she felt she could trust. He didn't care that she had forsaken her law, but there was one thing she wanted to know.
"I assumed you escaped the trial?" she asked. Well aware that he did.
"Yeah." "You want to know what I did?" he asked her knowing that that was what she was going to ask.
"Yes, if you don't mind." He sighed.
"I tried to help a vampire escape." "He made it out, but I got caught." "I escaped before I could be taken to trial."
"Why did you help him?" Sarah asked curiously.
"He said he would tell me who my parents were." "He almost did, but the witches came." "He left, and I ran." "Never seen him since. I don't think he was supposed to tell me in the first place." "I heard this voice, it said he wasn't to tell me that." "He'd regret it if he did." "The voice had some sort of authority over him." "Who it was I don't know." "Don't think I'll ever find out." she looked at him.
"I'm sorry." "Didn't Dominique ever tell you who they were?" "You'd think someone would say something." she said. He turned to her.
"You really believe all this don't you?" he asked her.
"Do I have a reason not to?" she asked slightly irritated, if he was lying, when they got back, he'd regret ever meeting her.
"No, it's just, I've never had anyone who actually believed me." "None of the witches did, well about certain things." "Anyways, how well do you fight?" he asked. She looked at him oddly.
"Fair." she said. It was true she was a good fighter, but she didn't trust her abilities since Nikolas.
"Don't trust your abilities since Nikolas?" "No worries, as long as he doesn't show up, or Christopher, or Kaleo you should be okay."
"Against what?" she asked.
"Trust me." "It's coming." "Come on, let's check out." they checked out and they were back in the car. They were drving, but this time it was along another road.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"Look behind us, but don't look like you're looking." Sarah stretched and bent her head back. There was a car following them.
"Black Mazda, VMPIRE license plate." "Let me guess, he's cocky."
"Something like that." he said. "Hold on." He turned sharply and sped down another road, this time he took a trail through the woods. He kept driving onward. Sarah pulled out her knife.
"Nice." he said.
"Thanks." she said. They continued on for a while, the car in hot pursuit all the while. "Any ideas?"
"Do you know who they are after?" he asked. "I can safely say no one is after me, have you had any visitors?"
"Kaleo, but that's it." "I guess this is the cavalry." the car felt a sudden jolt, they looked behind them. It was a vampire, he was smiling.
"Dumbass." she said. "I don't think this is why Kaleo was here."
"Excuse me, but did Kaleo maybe drop a hint as to why he might be wanting to speak to you, and why aren't you with him, or does he not care about you?"
"Well, I sort of distracted him." she said.
"How?" Alex asked.
"Kneed him in the groin." she stated simply.
"Owe!" he said partially offended. "Jeese, well at least I know not to mess with you." "A little vicious." he said, but he was actually smiling. The car was bumped again.
"That's it." Alex pressed a button, the dashboard switched over and a large amount of buttons was revealed. There was a red one with small curves on it. They looked like the waves that come after the sound symbol on computers. He pressed it. A sound like an explosion came from behind. She turned around. The car was upturned.
"Sonic boom." he said. "A manipulation of sound." "Computer geek." he said.
"I prefer computer genius." she said impressed. They sped up and left him in the dust, it looked like he was too cocky for his own good. They had lost him.
"Nikolas and Christopher won't like that." Sarah said.
"So, it's them who want you?" he asked.
"I guess." "Why?"
"Nothing." "I guess we'll find out now won't we?" "Ready to go back home?"
"Yeah." "Your car?" she asked. He smiled.
"It'll survive."
Unlike you. Alex stopped the car and u-turned fast. He breathed a bit paniced.
Who said that?
Maybe you'll do better than I thought.
Who are you?
Nevermind. Worry about yourselves. Not that you worry very much do you?
Back off.
No. Well, maybe for now, but not for long.
We'll see.
Yes. We will won't we?
"Alex?" "Are you okay?" he looked at her.
"I think there is more going on here than we think." Sarah nodded.
"I should leave shouldn't I?" she asked. "To protect your friends?" Alex shut his eyes and sighed.
"Your safer here than on your own. As for them, they're not really my friends." "Don't worry, they'll be okay." "I think it's us who are in danger anyways."
"Only because you got involved." she said.
"And I shouldn't have?" he asked. "I'm still a witch, whether or not anyone wants to admit it, I am one. And while I've never killed a vampire, I've avoided plenty." "I can help you. If you'll allow me to." he said. Normally Sarah would have had to have been out of her mind to accept his help, but everything she had been doing lately pretty much fell under that category.
"Okay." "How do we pull this off?" he nodded.
"First, we go home and pretend like nothing happened." "The less anyone suspects, as usual the better." Sarah nodded, knowing perfectly well how that worked.
"Do you know a witch named Caryn Smoke?" he asked. Sarah remembered how the witch had helped her in the past with her bandaging twice.
"Twice we've met." "Why?"
"So, you like her?"
"I think she's decent." "I understand how she broke her code." "Why?"
"She and I are good friends." "If you'd like, I could get some info?" he seemed hopeful, maybe a little too hopeful. She decided to pursue this.
"Okay." "Can she do it without getting into any trouble?" he smiled.
"Always." he pulled out a phone. He dialed a number and it rang. Someone picked up.
"Hey, how ya been?" while he talked she sensed around for any trouble. Human and vampire alike. Witches too. She caught a human, he was coming down the road. He was a cop.
"Shit." she said. Alex looked up and his eyes widened a bit. He obviously sensed him too. An upturned car and them further on down. Not good.
"Call you back babe." he said. Sarah looked at him.
"How well do you two know each other?" she asked.
"Reasonably well." he said.
"Uh huh." he turned and drove the car onto the road. He stopped by a car wash.
"Help me wash away evidence?" he asked.
"No." he shrugged, he was about to say soemthing when Sarah interrupted.
"I'll wash away evidence, you talk to Caryn."
"Okay." he said.
He paid and went to talk away from the hose. Sarah began cleaning.
"At least one of us can have their relationships work out." "Might as well let him talk to her while he can." she washed the car, and half an hour after that they drove out. They had parked nearby and gotten something to eat.
They were eating burgers when Sarah asked,
"Anything from Caryn?" he looked at her. He made sure no one was listening.
"Well, she says she hasn't heard anything, she's going to check out some stuff with her friends though."
"The vees at Single Earth?" he looked at her for a moment. She looked at him giving the hint.
"Oh." "Yeah, she'll check with them." "See what they know." "She can't do much more than that." "It might take a few days to get anything though." "You okay with that?" Sarah thought about it, she wasn't going to get any better than that, and she might as well make use of her fifty dollars. Besides, she was under Nikolas's protection, they couldn't touch her.
"Yeah, I'm good with it."
"Good." he said. They finished, and a police car passed, for a heartbeat it stopped by Alex's car and he and Sarah glanced at each other. They breathed easier when it passed them on by. They went over to the car and the police car came back around. It pulled in and parked by Alex's car. Alex and Sarah didn't show it, but their hearts were racing a bit.
"Hello there Alex."
"Sherrif Thompson, how are you?" he asked.
"I'm good, what happened to your car there?" "Get in a little accident?"
"Some psycho out on the dirt road by the woods, bumped into me, I think someone was behind him or something, I didn't get a good look."
"Oh, okay, everyone all right?" he asked.
"Yeah." he said. The sherrif turned to Sarah.
"Who is this pretty young thing?"
"My cousin." "Sarah Andrews."
"Oh, well, a pleasur miss Sarah."
"A pleasure Sheriff Thompson." she said smiling and shaking his hand.
"Nice grip there young lady." "Say, you work on a rack before, you look like you might have, nicely built." "I mean, as in you aren't flabby, nice and strong, I'll bet you work out."
"I do sir. Thank you, but I've never been on a ranch." She looked at him, he was a well rounded jolly old type with a bit of a white beard and mustache growing. He looked like someone who could be an uncle or a grandfather. If he was, the kids probably adored him.
"Well, maybe Alex can take you, he owns one." "Well, got to be going." "You know it's funny, there was a guy who turned upside down on the dirt road, said it was him slipping though." "I do hope he wasn't the one who banged you up." "I'd hate to make a mistake like that."
"No worries, I'm sure it wasn't." he said.
"All right." "You all take care now you hear." they both nodded and he drove off.
"Friend?" she asked him.
"Yeah." "He's a nice guy."
"This ranch, where is it?" Alex looked around.
"Somewhere I don't want anyone knowing." he said. He smiled.
"I'll take you there when we get our info from Caryn." "By then we may need to go there." she nodded.
"How do you own a ranch?" she asked. "If it's okay." she said, realising that there was a chance she was giving something away.
"It's okay, I bought it." "Got a job, bought it, hired a friend to watch it for me." "Technically not a friend, more like someone you hire." "I send him his pay, and he sends me reports." "Which I know are valid."
"How?" she asked. Alex winced.
"Call it, a sense." "Now, let's talk about this somewhere more private." "Besides, we have to get the groceries home." Sarah nodded and they went back to the apartment.
Sarah woke up and felt strange. She seemed to sense that the humans were there. Everything looked more defined, not dull. She knew, she had gotten her powers back. She got up and walked around, getting used to her powers again. She stretched and checked her knives. She nodded and went out into the kitchen. The minute she hit the doorway she felt it. A strong witch, not just any witch, an Arun. Part witch, part vampire. This witch was strong, but it was more than just their witch that was strong, the vampiric aura was also strong. Very strong. She looked in. She found a teenage boy, he was pale, so pale she had to check to make sure he wasn't a vampire. No, the witch part of him was visible in his aura. He had mezmorizing grey eyes, he wore a black t-shirt, and black jeans. He looked at Sarah, they both reconized each other's auras immediately. It was he who spoke first.
"Alex Arun." "And you?" he asked.
"Sarah Vida." Alex widened his eyes a bit at that, but nodded. "Are you aware of what happened between me and Nikolas?"
"Yes." he said. "And what happened between you and Christopher." "She's looking for you." he said. Sarah knew who he meant.
"And?" Sarah asked. He shrugged.
"And what?" "If you want me to tell, you're in for bad luck, I've no intention of telling her where you are." "Do you have intention of telling anyone where I am?"
"No." Sarah shook her head. The teenagers looked at them both curiously.
"O-k." Jeffrey said as if they were crazy. Chuck spoke.
"I thought his name was Ventrover." Alex shook his head.
"Remember that club I mentioned?" he asked. Chuck nodded. "She was a member."
"Oh, did they throw you out too?" he asked. Chuck was obviously not the brightest of the bunch.
"Yes." Sarah said plainly, she was not interested in pointless banter with them. Obviously Alex could see it.
"So, would you like to come shopping?" he asked her. She nodded. They both went and reached the driveway.
"Your car or mine?" Sarah asked.
"Mine." he said. "If you don't mind?" Sarah shook her head and they got in. Alex's car was a silver convertable with black flames on the side and a giant black wolf on the hood.
"Nice car." Sarah said.
"Thank you." "Not the most inconspicuous, but it works for me." "Normally though I'm not worried about getting caught." he looked at her car. "Nice." "I wanted a simple car, but I could never get one." "My aunt wouldn't allow it." they got in and drove down to the store.
Sarah looked at the market, it was smaller than the ones she had seen in New York. He had now dawned a leather jacket.
"A little hot for that isn't it?" she asked. She was expecting a warning of some kind, the only time a witch put on something that looked out of place was when there was trouble and they needed extra back up.
"Maybe, but if I don't wear it, you'll regret it." "Just like I will."
"Really?" she asked. "Why?" she wasn't really curious, she was more interested in the danger that was there, she couldn't feel anything.
"You'll see." "I've got the list, anything you want to add?" he handed it to her. It looked like everything she thought of was on there. There were a few extra things. Some that she found, odd. Maybe it was because Sarah was irritated that she asked her question.
"Should you really be encouraging their weight gain?" "Or do they really know nothing about you?" she was referring to the fact that those people looked like they might last one second before a vampire ripped out their throats.
"What do you think?" he asked sarcastically.
"You said the club, I take it you mentioned something of the Arun line?" he sighed.
"I mentioned a club, it had a whole bunch of members, I got thrown out, and they would beat the crap out of me if they ever found me again." "That's what I said." "So, you ran away before they could put you on trial." "So much for family."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sarah asked him a little tightly, she had broken the code, she deserved the punishment she would have recieved. But if she really felt that way, why did she run? Because just because she knew she deserved it, didn't mean she wanted it.
"Your mother would have allowed you to die. I have to say, I've seen better examples of family love." he said, he then picked up a dozen eggs and he continued getting items. Sarah thought of that, he had a point, but witches were not typical families.
"That's true." "But still, nothing should be more important to a parent, no matter what they are, than their child, be they their first or second. And all children should be equal." Sarah looked at him, was his vampiric side so strong that he could read her mind? No, it couldn't be.
"It's not." "I know how it feels when you are about to get sent to trial, how it feels when you have no more friends, no more family, not that I had very much when I was there." "They didn't like my aura."
"Can't blame them." she said. He turned and looked at her. It almost looked like he was hurt. Sarah sighed and shook her head, she would have to be careful to say what she really meant, not just assume he would guess.
"Witches don't like vampire auras," she lowered her voice, "You have a strong vampiric aura." "You can't blame them. No Arun witch has ever had an aura that strong."
"I know." "I don't know how I got it, but I didn't want it." he said.
"Well, you can't be blamed for it." "Who were your parents?" he looked away.
"I don't know." he said. He moved on.
"I'm sorry." she said, "I didn't know." he turned.
"Thank you." he smiled, she smiled back at him. This was someone she felt she could trust. He didn't care that she had forsaken her law, but there was one thing she wanted to know.
"I assumed you escaped the trial?" she asked. Well aware that he did.
"Yeah." "You want to know what I did?" he asked her knowing that that was what she was going to ask.
"Yes, if you don't mind." He sighed.
"I tried to help a vampire escape." "He made it out, but I got caught." "I escaped before I could be taken to trial."
"Why did you help him?" Sarah asked curiously.
"He said he would tell me who my parents were." "He almost did, but the witches came." "He left, and I ran." "Never seen him since. I don't think he was supposed to tell me in the first place." "I heard this voice, it said he wasn't to tell me that." "He'd regret it if he did." "The voice had some sort of authority over him." "Who it was I don't know." "Don't think I'll ever find out." she looked at him.
"I'm sorry." "Didn't Dominique ever tell you who they were?" "You'd think someone would say something." she said. He turned to her.
"You really believe all this don't you?" he asked her.
"Do I have a reason not to?" she asked slightly irritated, if he was lying, when they got back, he'd regret ever meeting her.
"No, it's just, I've never had anyone who actually believed me." "None of the witches did, well about certain things." "Anyways, how well do you fight?" he asked. She looked at him oddly.
"Fair." she said. It was true she was a good fighter, but she didn't trust her abilities since Nikolas.
"Don't trust your abilities since Nikolas?" "No worries, as long as he doesn't show up, or Christopher, or Kaleo you should be okay."
"Against what?" she asked.
"Trust me." "It's coming." "Come on, let's check out." they checked out and they were back in the car. They were drving, but this time it was along another road.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"Look behind us, but don't look like you're looking." Sarah stretched and bent her head back. There was a car following them.
"Black Mazda, VMPIRE license plate." "Let me guess, he's cocky."
"Something like that." he said. "Hold on." He turned sharply and sped down another road, this time he took a trail through the woods. He kept driving onward. Sarah pulled out her knife.
"Nice." he said.
"Thanks." she said. They continued on for a while, the car in hot pursuit all the while. "Any ideas?"
"Do you know who they are after?" he asked. "I can safely say no one is after me, have you had any visitors?"
"Kaleo, but that's it." "I guess this is the cavalry." the car felt a sudden jolt, they looked behind them. It was a vampire, he was smiling.
"Dumbass." she said. "I don't think this is why Kaleo was here."
"Excuse me, but did Kaleo maybe drop a hint as to why he might be wanting to speak to you, and why aren't you with him, or does he not care about you?"
"Well, I sort of distracted him." she said.
"How?" Alex asked.
"Kneed him in the groin." she stated simply.
"Owe!" he said partially offended. "Jeese, well at least I know not to mess with you." "A little vicious." he said, but he was actually smiling. The car was bumped again.
"That's it." Alex pressed a button, the dashboard switched over and a large amount of buttons was revealed. There was a red one with small curves on it. They looked like the waves that come after the sound symbol on computers. He pressed it. A sound like an explosion came from behind. She turned around. The car was upturned.
"Sonic boom." he said. "A manipulation of sound." "Computer geek." he said.
"I prefer computer genius." she said impressed. They sped up and left him in the dust, it looked like he was too cocky for his own good. They had lost him.
"Nikolas and Christopher won't like that." Sarah said.
"So, it's them who want you?" he asked.
"I guess." "Why?"
"Nothing." "I guess we'll find out now won't we?" "Ready to go back home?"
"Yeah." "Your car?" she asked. He smiled.
"It'll survive."
Unlike you. Alex stopped the car and u-turned fast. He breathed a bit paniced.
Who said that?
Maybe you'll do better than I thought.
Who are you?
Nevermind. Worry about yourselves. Not that you worry very much do you?
Back off.
No. Well, maybe for now, but not for long.
We'll see.
Yes. We will won't we?
"Alex?" "Are you okay?" he looked at her.
"I think there is more going on here than we think." Sarah nodded.
"I should leave shouldn't I?" she asked. "To protect your friends?" Alex shut his eyes and sighed.
"Your safer here than on your own. As for them, they're not really my friends." "Don't worry, they'll be okay." "I think it's us who are in danger anyways."
"Only because you got involved." she said.
"And I shouldn't have?" he asked. "I'm still a witch, whether or not anyone wants to admit it, I am one. And while I've never killed a vampire, I've avoided plenty." "I can help you. If you'll allow me to." he said. Normally Sarah would have had to have been out of her mind to accept his help, but everything she had been doing lately pretty much fell under that category.
"Okay." "How do we pull this off?" he nodded.
"First, we go home and pretend like nothing happened." "The less anyone suspects, as usual the better." Sarah nodded, knowing perfectly well how that worked.
"Do you know a witch named Caryn Smoke?" he asked. Sarah remembered how the witch had helped her in the past with her bandaging twice.
"Twice we've met." "Why?"
"So, you like her?"
"I think she's decent." "I understand how she broke her code." "Why?"
"She and I are good friends." "If you'd like, I could get some info?" he seemed hopeful, maybe a little too hopeful. She decided to pursue this.
"Okay." "Can she do it without getting into any trouble?" he smiled.
"Always." he pulled out a phone. He dialed a number and it rang. Someone picked up.
"Hey, how ya been?" while he talked she sensed around for any trouble. Human and vampire alike. Witches too. She caught a human, he was coming down the road. He was a cop.
"Shit." she said. Alex looked up and his eyes widened a bit. He obviously sensed him too. An upturned car and them further on down. Not good.
"Call you back babe." he said. Sarah looked at him.
"How well do you two know each other?" she asked.
"Reasonably well." he said.
"Uh huh." he turned and drove the car onto the road. He stopped by a car wash.
"Help me wash away evidence?" he asked.
"No." he shrugged, he was about to say soemthing when Sarah interrupted.
"I'll wash away evidence, you talk to Caryn."
"Okay." he said.
He paid and went to talk away from the hose. Sarah began cleaning.
"At least one of us can have their relationships work out." "Might as well let him talk to her while he can." she washed the car, and half an hour after that they drove out. They had parked nearby and gotten something to eat.
They were eating burgers when Sarah asked,
"Anything from Caryn?" he looked at her. He made sure no one was listening.
"Well, she says she hasn't heard anything, she's going to check out some stuff with her friends though."
"The vees at Single Earth?" he looked at her for a moment. She looked at him giving the hint.
"Oh." "Yeah, she'll check with them." "See what they know." "She can't do much more than that." "It might take a few days to get anything though." "You okay with that?" Sarah thought about it, she wasn't going to get any better than that, and she might as well make use of her fifty dollars. Besides, she was under Nikolas's protection, they couldn't touch her.
"Yeah, I'm good with it."
"Good." he said. They finished, and a police car passed, for a heartbeat it stopped by Alex's car and he and Sarah glanced at each other. They breathed easier when it passed them on by. They went over to the car and the police car came back around. It pulled in and parked by Alex's car. Alex and Sarah didn't show it, but their hearts were racing a bit.
"Hello there Alex."
"Sherrif Thompson, how are you?" he asked.
"I'm good, what happened to your car there?" "Get in a little accident?"
"Some psycho out on the dirt road by the woods, bumped into me, I think someone was behind him or something, I didn't get a good look."
"Oh, okay, everyone all right?" he asked.
"Yeah." he said. The sherrif turned to Sarah.
"Who is this pretty young thing?"
"My cousin." "Sarah Andrews."
"Oh, well, a pleasur miss Sarah."
"A pleasure Sheriff Thompson." she said smiling and shaking his hand.
"Nice grip there young lady." "Say, you work on a rack before, you look like you might have, nicely built." "I mean, as in you aren't flabby, nice and strong, I'll bet you work out."
"I do sir. Thank you, but I've never been on a ranch." She looked at him, he was a well rounded jolly old type with a bit of a white beard and mustache growing. He looked like someone who could be an uncle or a grandfather. If he was, the kids probably adored him.
"Well, maybe Alex can take you, he owns one." "Well, got to be going." "You know it's funny, there was a guy who turned upside down on the dirt road, said it was him slipping though." "I do hope he wasn't the one who banged you up." "I'd hate to make a mistake like that."
"No worries, I'm sure it wasn't." he said.
"All right." "You all take care now you hear." they both nodded and he drove off.
"Friend?" she asked him.
"Yeah." "He's a nice guy."
"This ranch, where is it?" Alex looked around.
"Somewhere I don't want anyone knowing." he said. He smiled.
"I'll take you there when we get our info from Caryn." "By then we may need to go there." she nodded.
"How do you own a ranch?" she asked. "If it's okay." she said, realising that there was a chance she was giving something away.
"It's okay, I bought it." "Got a job, bought it, hired a friend to watch it for me." "Technically not a friend, more like someone you hire." "I send him his pay, and he sends me reports." "Which I know are valid."
"How?" she asked. Alex winced.
"Call it, a sense." "Now, let's talk about this somewhere more private." "Besides, we have to get the groceries home." Sarah nodded and they went back to the apartment.