Lineage

Chapter 10

Tatum

     Friday morning I'm riding to school with Colton for the second day in a row.  I love the alone time it gives us before school.  I'm so disappointed that my idea of planting tracking devices in the phones seems to have been a flop. 

    "I can't believe we've not found even the least little hint of information", I complain to Colton.

    "Hey, it's a great idea and I guess there just hasn't been anything to report yet, unfortunately", he pats my hande

    "How's your hand?", I inquire as I gently rub my thumb across his bruise.  "Are you worried about the game?"

    "Nah, I'm fine. It's just a little tender." He smiles as I lift his hand to my lips and kiss the bruise. 

      He pulls into the parking spot next to Theo's Land Rover as Theo and Teagan are getting out. They wait on the sidewalk for us. We walk to the courtyard and pick a bench off to ourselves. I vent my frustration at the lack of information we have from the tracking devices. Mom and dad's cell phones haven't pinged since the evening of the failed phone call. We know Steve has contacts in the area searching, and that he is planning to go looking himself on Sunday. Aside from that, we know nothing.     

     Teagan who's been mostly quiet shares her thoughts. "I think we need to get all the information we can about Steve's trip, and then figure out a way to tag along."    

      "Oh yeah, like grandma and grandpa are going to allow that!" I declare.  

    "Yeah, grandma would have a fit if we even asked", Theo agrees.   

   "Who said anything about asking?" she says. "We would have to stow away."     

    "Stow away? My dad would kill us!" Colton shakes his head. 

    "Well, I don't care if I have to go by myself. I am not going to just sit by not knowing what is going on with mom and dad. If I can help find them then that's what I am going to do." she is adamant. 

    I rub her arm, "I understand sis. It has been so hard not knowing what is going on."  

    "You won't have to go alone. I'm in!" Theo says.     

    "Well, you two aren't going anywhere without me," I tell them. I look over at Colt, "You coming?"  

    He taps the compass necklace I'm wearing. I know what he means. The compass means that wherever I am that is where he wants to be.     

     "I don't get it?" Theo looks puzzled.    

      "He's going wherever I go." I look at Colton and smile.    

      "Yeah, what she said." Colton agrees.   

   "So, we need some time to plan how we are going to go about this," Teagan says.      

"Today is no good with the game tonight", Theo muses.     

 "Well, you two will be together most of the day, you all think about it and come up with some ideas," I tell them. "Tea and I will put our heads together and then we can hash it all out in the morning?"

    "That works for me." Colt said. 

    Theo agrees as we hear the five-minute bell. We say our goodbyes and head to first block.  Colton walks me to my class as he has been doing for the last few days. He's about to leave me at the door when my phone starts buzzing non-stop. I look up at him, my eyes are as wide as saucers. 

    "It's the tracking device!" I whisper. 

    I pull out my phone to see what information I'm getting. Steve is on a call and it's recording everything. I'm so excited II can hardly contain myself.  

    "What does it say?" Colt wants to know.    

      "I'll send the transcription to you all as soon as it comes through all the way, but apparently your dad's people have lots to share." I tell him. "I wish we didn't have to go to class! How am I going to concentrate with all this coming through?     

    Let's go," he takes my hand and we walk back toward the courtyard. We keep walking right on through and back into the parking lot to his jeep. 

         "What if we get caught. Neither one of us will be able to go to the game!" I caution. 

    "It's fine, we'll be fine." he assures me as he pulls out his phone, "I'm texting Theo and Teagan to let them know what is going on and where we are." 

    I nod and then start deciphering the information the device has collected from Steve's call. So far I know that his contact has tracked our parents last known location. The contact also has information about someone new to the island who started asking questions about mom and dad and an amulet. I'm trying to decipher the rest of the transcript when my phone starts going off again. I look over at Colton with a look of pure joy as more information is coming in.      "Your dad called my grandfather!" I tell him. 

    He fires off another text to Theo and Teagan letting them know. At the same time there's a knock at the driver’s side window of the jeep that has me squealing with surprise. Colton jumps too and looks around to see Theo standing there. 

    He opens the door and climbs in the backseat, "Tea will be here in a minute. What have you found out?" he asks.       I fill him in on the information the two calls has garnered. This is going to change some plans. We have to figure out how to proceed now. Theo scoots over as Teagan opens the door and slides into the backseat.   

      "So, are we just going to sit out here all day?" I ask.     

     "No, we'll go to my house," Colton says as he backs out of his parking space. "That's what Theo and I usually do."

     "What do you mean usually do?" Teagan wants to know.   

      "Yeah, what does that mean?" I echo.  

        "It means Colt has a big mouth and he needs to shut it!", Theo grumbles.  

        "Oh, now I've heard it all! Mr. top of the class ditches school!" I laugh.    

      "So, you are a normal teenager," Teagan teases. "You're going on dates AND ditching school!"  

       "By the way, how is Lauren?" Colton grins into the rearview mirror. Theo gives him a hard look before flipping him off.    

      Steve will be at work all day, so we won't have to worry about anyone coming home. We decide to hash out our plans in the living room.  By the time we need to head back to school we have a good solid plan put together on what we need to pack and how to stow away. Steve will be flying out on the family jet this Sunday. We just have to get through the football game and Colt and I have our first real date on Saturday. I'm not going to miss that so we just have to be prepared before the date.