Perception

Part 51

Sang POV

After Kota leaves, I turn to Victor who is busily typing away on his phone. I don't want to distract him, so I wander into Nathan's closet to see what I will wear for school tomorrow. I just can't bring myself to care, so I send Gabriel a message saying he should pick out my clothes for the morning. He texts back that he'll be by after work. I'm about to respond when my phone rings.

"Hi, Sang. Tom and Micah just told me that there's been some chubby guy watching our road from their cul-de-sac for a while now. He has binoculars and they've seen him taking pictures with one of those telephoto lens thingies. The guy on our road is talking to the cop that stopped him right now," Derrick tells me. I walk to the window and peek out. Sure enough, the officer is gesturing to the guy to step out of his vehicle. "I think that's Mr. Morris, the teacher!" Derrick exclaims in my ear.

"Yeah, it looks like him," I mumble into the phone and watch as the officer starts frisking Morris. Victor crowds behind me, and watches rom above my head. The officer seems to be reading him the riot act, and gestures angrily toward the vehicle, then swings his arm around to point out the neighborhood. 

Once Morris is let back into his car, he pulls away from the curb and takes off out of our subdivision. The officer takes his squad car, and pulls it into Derricks driveway. He stays inside for a while, but then gets out to walk up to the door. Over the phone speaker I hear the doorbell ring.

"Sang, I have to go. I'll let you know what I find out," he says then hangs up before I can say anything in response.

"Derrick is talking to the police right now. Apparently Micah and Tom are there and have seen McCoy with binoculars and a telephoto camera taking pictures. He'll call back when he knows more," I tell Victor.

He wraps his arms gently around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. I enjoy the warmth, and inhale his berries and moss scent. We don't get quiet time alone like this very often. Victor heaves a deep sigh, then straightens.

"North got away alright. Kota may help out at the diner for a little bit, but will be back soon. What would you like to do until then, Princess?" he asks as he gently enfolds my hand and tugs me to the couch.

"I don't really mind one way or the other. It's been a long day, and I'm just ready for all this Ashley Waters business to be over," I sigh and lean my head against his shoulder. He gently rubs my upper arm and rests his cheek against the top of my head.

"I know, Princess. I'm ready too. What do you think you're going to do with schooling and the living situation?" he asks. I inhale heavily through my nose, and thing of how to respond. I just want to shut my mind off for a little bit, but apparently my guys are feeling as anxious about it as I am. I'm about to tell Victor that I don't really know yet when my phone rings again. I glance at the number, and know it's Derrick once more.

"Hello?" I inquire feeling a twinge of unease that he's calling back so soon.

"Sang, can you get somewhere safe? I'm heading to your family's house right now. Mr. Morris left with no problem, just warned that the police will be monitoring the area for trespassers and loiterers. When Tom told the cop that there's another one over there by his place the second squad went to check it out. They called in reinforcements before they approached the car. It was McCoy. They were able to search the car because it reeked like marijuana, and McCoy bolted before the other officer could get there. Sang, they found pictures of all of the girls on this street. All of them, even my sister, Jessica and Marie. You have to get somewhere safe! My dad just got home, so I'm heading over to stay with Marie. Sang, there were really, um, bad pictures. Even from other girls we go to school with," he says breathlessly, and I can hear him running.