I slipped into Rick's mind. "Do you remember what they looked like?"
I didn't listen to his answer. Instead, I memorized the images he pulled forward so I could draw them later.
Chills ran down my arms. "People have found us? Already?"
'Guess so. Shit. I'm sorry, Sam. We never should have come back to my old stomping grounds.'
"It's not your fault. Where else would we have gone?"
"Hey, thanks for telling me, Bro. Appreciate it. But we've got to get going. Can you do me a favor and pretend you never saw me today? I don't know what these guys want from me, but I have a feeling it's nothing good."
Rick slapped Drake on the back and fist-bumped Brad. "Take care, man. I never saw you. Peace, Bro. Nice meeting you, Sam. Take care of my boy."
Rick walked away and soon became engrossed in conversation with two girls in bikinis who seemed very interested in his surfboard.
Once Rick was out of earshot, Drake said, "I think it's time we head to the police. We need to at least try."
I nodded. "Okay, let's go."
I ignored the smells tempting me from the shops. My stomach rumbled. Now would be the time I got my appetite back.
As we rounded a building with a large mural, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A man dressed all in black stared at me from the corner. He didn't avert his gaze when we locked eyes. A chill traveled down my spine, and the baby kicked hard into my ribs. I grabbed Drake's and Brad's hands and pulled them around the corner and out of sight.
"Someone is watching us."
We hustled back to the car. I scanned minds to see if we stuck out to anyone, but didn't find anything. The man was gone. Had Rick made me paranoid or was someone really following us?
"Sam, who did you see?" Drake asked once we were safely in Brad's car and headed toward the police station.
"Male. Black pants and shirt. Bald, but not old—his head looked shaved to the skin. Brown eyes, I think."
Brad glanced at me. "Could you draw him?"
"Yes." I grabbed my purse, pulled out my sketchpad and pencils. The supple leather brought back memories I tried hard to push aside. Instead, I closed my eyes and pictured the man in my mind. After a few minutes, a sketch of him covered the paper, detailed enough so any of us could recognize him.
"I can't believe how fast you did that. You are good!" Brad said.
"I told you, Dude, she's incredible. You should see some of the sketches she did of me before we'd even met in person. They're amazing!"
My face flushed at the compliments, but then the memories returned, and my heart sank into my gut. I missed Mr. K, my mentor and art teacher. The evil Dr. Pana had killed him and destroyed all of my artwork, including a painting that could have made my career in New York. My mind drifted to the life I should have had. Had the Sarah Lawrence College art program really accepted me? What would they say if I called to check on my application? Any chance my tuition was actually paid?
I mentally kicked myself in the head. Of course not, dummy. Rent-A-Kid never intended for me to leave the medical clinic. Why would they shell out money for an education I'd never use? At least that bastard Pana was dead.
My old dreams were just as dead, and I needed a new plan, one that included Drake and our baby and, apparently, Brad. They loved it here, but did I? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in this area. I’d always had my heart set on New York. The constant sun and Barbie Doll girls walking around didn't bother me... much. Maybe that would change. My pale skin and brown hair didn't exactly scream local, either, but whatever. If I couldn't handle being different from everyone else, I had bigger problems than hair color and lack of pigmentation.
I could get used to it here. The perfect weather, scent of salt-water and ever-present sound of crashing waves soothed me, even if I didn't love everything about Southern California. Like the sagging palm trees with their bloated hula skirts that lined the streets. Why did people like them so much? Palms had to be the ugliest trees ever.
Drake nudged me from the backseat. "What are you thinking about?"
"Can't you just slip in and find out for yourself?" I countered, more harshly than I'd intended.
He softened his voice. "Sometimes I like to have actual conversations."
"Thank you," said Brad. "Someone is finally considering my feelings in all this."
"Yeah, dude, because it's all about you," said Drake.
"Palm trees," I blurted out.
"Palm trees?" They both spoke in unison.
"Yes. Horrible, ugly, abomination of nature palm trees! That's what I was thinking about."
Drake laughed. "Here I thought it was something serious."
"This is very serious. Have you seen those things?" I gestured to the outside, where they all lived, hundreds of eyesores littering California's coastline.