*****
They spent most of the drive in silence. Coop had tried to start a couple conversations, but Sam was too distracted trying to piece together everything she knew about her mother—and how it related to the Hunters. A small suspicion niggled at the back of her brain. When she’d been questioned by Smith, he’d said something—
“We’re almost to the city.” Coop angled his head at something outside the car. It was the sign that welcomed visitors to her memory-bringer community. “You’re going to have to tell me where to go. We can’t go to your house—the Hunters know where that is.”
She gripped the sides of the seats, her knuckles losing their color. Of course they knew her house. She’d been captured right outside. She never wanted to go back.
“My grandma has a house we use for retreats with memory-bringers learning how to control their energy and memories.”
“Nothing else?”
“The only other place I can think of is our office, but its location is common knowledge.”
Coop nodded. “Your grandma’s house. Tell me how to get there.”
Sam gave him directions and turned back to watching as the country side gave way to buildings and more signs of civilization. The more houses she counted, the stronger the knot in her stomach grew until she was fairly sick with it. Not even the comforting presence of the retreat was enough to undo the knot.
No signs marked the house as belonging to an elder. That was the way her grandma had wanted it—a safe place tucked away from the rest of the community where students could work in peace. Only their former students knew its location.
Coop pulled into the garage behind the house and caressed the dashboard of his car. “This is the end of the line for us, baby.”
“Uh.”
He smiled at Sam, his blue eyes twinkling. “We’ll have to find another vehicle after this. My car’s too recognizable.”
Sam gave the car a once over, noticing the beat up interior. It was just a car. She watched in fascination as he trailed his fingers over the steering wheel.
“So many good memories.” He thumped his hand on it. “But now it’s time to move on. Come on, Samara, let’s go inside and see what we can do about contacting your uncle.”
“Do you need a few minutes alone with your car?”
Coop laughed, throaty and low. “I think I’m good.”
Sam scrambled out of the car, out of the garage, and onto the sidewalk beside the house. She pointed to a hanging pot that had seen better days. “Can you lift me up?”
Coop arched an eyebrow. “Now’s a funny time to pick up gardening. And I’m not sure there’s much you can do for the poor thing.”
Despite herself, she smiled. “Spare key.”
“Ahh.”
Coop bent down and grabbed her around her thighs, lifting her up without trouble. Sam tried not to think of how small and tiny he made her feel as she dug around in the dirt until she found the key. She held it up victoriously.
“Got it.”
He eased her down slowly, letting her body slide over his. “You need to eat more. You’re all skin and bones.”
Sam stiffened and pulled away, shoving the key in the lock. “Not surprising given the circumstances.” She twisted and pushed the door inside.
“Is there food here? I’ll make something while we wait for your uncle.”
Sam shot Coop a disbelieving look over her shoulder.
“What? I’m very skilled. I look forward to demonstrating.”
She chose to ignore him. “There’s a phone in the kitchen. I’ll call my uncle.”
“Just a second.” Coop grabbed her arm. “We have to make sure the house is safe first.”
“The door was locked. No one is here.”
“Doors can be relocked, Samara. We can’t afford not to assume danger lurks around every corner.”
She shuddered, but let Coop drag her through a circuit of the house: down the stairs, back up and through the tiny kitchen, a quick turn around the dining and living room, a slower perusal of the lower bedrooms, and finally up the stairs to wander through the bedrooms.
When he was satisfied, he turned to her. “Lots of rooms for such a small house.”
“Makes a good retreat,” Sam said, heading back down to call her uncle.
“I can see that.”
It’d been one of her favorite places growing up. A place to escape her mother and be around other memory-bringers. A place she’d hoped to take over one day. She wasn’t so sure it’d happen now.
In the kitchen, Sam picked up the phone, dialed her uncle, and went into the living room. As the phone rang, she heard Coop rummaging through cupboards and muttering to himself.
“Hello?”
“Uncle Dan.” The sound of his voice unfurled the anxiety in her stomach. She and Coop needed another ally.
“Samara! Where are you? Are you okay? Is Grandma with you?”
Sam blinked at the rapid fire questions. “I’m at the retreat and I’m fine. I—wait. Why would Grandma be with me?”
“She went missing around the same time you did. I’ve had people out looking for her, but nothing. I’ll get to the retreat as soon as I can.”
Sam took a deep breath. “We have a bigger problem than that. I met an illusionist who says he’s been working with Mother on your behalf. He’s been sharing information about what’s happening at the Hunters’ compound.”
Her uncle swore. “I don’t know anything about it. But your mom’s been acting strangely lately. I should have known she was up to something. She’s always been bitter about not being an elder. Is the illusionist with you now?”
“Yes.”
“Both of you stay put. I’m leaving the house right now. We’ll figure this out. And I’m going to need your help to find your grandma.”
After a few moments of silence, Sam pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. If her uncle knew nothing about her mother’s contact with Coop, what was she up to? Sam couldn’t figure out what her mother would have to gain by using Coop for information.
She returned to the kitchen. It had never been a large space, but Coop had covered one part of the counter with a few pots and another part with cans and frozen food. A few cupboards hung open. Coop stood staring at his mess, rubbing his chin as if in thought.
“My uncle’s on his way.”
He whirled around to face her. “Excellent.” He spread his hand out. “And soon we’ll have something to eat too.”
Sam kept her skepticism to herself. “I’m just going to go wait out there.” She motioned toward the living room.
Coop murmured something unintelligibly and she slipped out of the kitchen without his notice. But once in the living room, she stood at the window and stared at the quiet street. The sun shone down and the asphalt shimmered. It looked warm. It wasn’t exactly cold inside, but it was dark, and she felt restless, her chest heavy.
She needed to get outside. The walls felt like they were closing in. Even the air felt musty and choking.
Sam flipped the lock on the door and took in the fresh air blowing through the screen. Peeking out, she checked to see if anyone was around. No one. She slid out and sat on the porch stairs. Though she wasn’t in the sun, the air was warmer outside and it settled her nerves. She felt like she could breathe again. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and smiled.
Everything would find a way to work itself out.
“Get up and give your mother a proper greeting, Samara.”
Chapter Fourteen