crib, a changing table, some clothing, but nothing else. She could easily explain that away by saying she hadn't had the heart to get rid of the baby's things yet. Fortunately, there was nothing of Micah's to indicate he was an alien, only the normal male items her husband would be expected to have.
"When will your husband be back?"Bergen asked as he entered the living room.
"I'm not sure. He went away for the weekend. Fishing."
Bergengrunted softly.
"Frank, let's go," Falk said. "You're not gonna find anything."
Bergennodded. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Forrester."
Lainey forced a smile as she walked the two men to the door, then stood on the porch, watching, as they got into a late-model Ford and drove away.
Relief washed through her, leaving her weak.Micah ?
What's wrong?
Nothing now, but don't come home. Some men have been here looking for you.
Are you all right?
I'm fine. How's the baby?
Asleep for now. Where can I meet you?
I don't know. They might be waiting for me to leave the house so they can follow me. We'll have to assume they know where my parents live, so you can't go there. Where are you now?
Near the park down the street.
Keep out of sight. I'm going to see my folks and see if we can't think of something.
Be careful, cominza.
You, too, I love you.
I love you... Micah glanced down at the baby, still sleeping peacefully in his arms. Would the child be blessed with the powers inherent in its father? Micah grunted softly, wondering if he would be able to communicate telepathically with his son, but there was no time to think about that now.
With the baby asleep against his shoulder, he started walking down the street. He saw Lainey pull out of the driveway. A moment later, a dark-blue sedan pulled away from the curb.
"We're in trouble," Lainey said, "and I don't know what to do."
"Do you think they followed you here?" Ralph asked.
"I know they did." Lainey shook her head. "They don't know the first thing about tailing a car without being seen. They're probably parked across the street."
"You think so?"
"It wouldn't surprise me."
"Only one way to find out," Ralph said, and opening the front door, he walked down the porch steps to pick up the evening paper.
He was back a few moments later, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You were right. There's a dark-blue sedan parked a couple of houses down. Two men inside."
"That's them."
"So, what are you going to do?" Dolores asked. "Micah can't keep the baby out for long. He'll need to be fed soon."
"I know. Listen, I have an idea that might work."
"Let's hear it," Ralph said.
"Micah and I can communicate telepathically..."
"You're kidding!" Dolores exclaimed.
"No. If we can decoy those men away from here, I can arrange with Micah to meet him somewhere."
"And then what?" Dolores asked anxiously. "You can't hide out forever."
"I know."
"What is it, Lainey? What aren't you saying?"
"I'm afraid we're going to have to leave here."
"Leave?" Dolores said, her face going pale at the thought. "But... but where would you go?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't see any other solution. Those men know who I am. They know about Micah, about the baby." Lainey clasped her hands in her lap, fighting back the urge to cry. "They've got pictures of the three of us."
Ralph St. John swore under his breath, and then, seeing the look of anguish on his wife's face, he sat down on the sofa beside her and took her in his arms.
"Ralph, think of something."
"I'm afraid Lainey's right, Dee," he said, sounding older than his years.
"I know I am," Lainey said. "We'll never be safe anywhere."
"Then where will you go?"
"I'm not sure. Xanthia, maybe."
"Xanthia!" Dolores' face paled ever more. "But we'll never see you again. Never see the baby."
"I know, Mom. This isn't easy for me, either, but I don't know what else to do."
Lainey?
I'm here.
Is it safe for me to come there?
No. Those men are parked down the street, waiting for you.
Lainey looked at her parents, at the tears streaming down her mother's cheeks, at the deep lines of sadness etched in her father's face.
"Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry, but..."
"It's all right, sweetie. Just tell us how we can help."
"There she goes," Frank Bergen said. "Try to keep a little distance between us this time."
"Yeah, yeah," Edward Falk muttered. "Where do you think she's headed? Her house is in the other direction."
"You ask the dumbest questions,"Bergen muttered. "Where do you think she's going?"