Starting Over Anderson || ✔

Six: Things of the Heart

It's barely seven in the morning when I'm awake again. I yawn, feeling an immense wave of fatigue and blink several times to rid of the drowsiness. It's a Sunday, and nobody in their right mind should be up and about at this ungodly hour, but there is something I have to do.

Last night, before I've finally fallen asleep again, I've done a little research and found Dr Eva Lockwell. I've copied her number and address from the site onto a crumpled piece of paper I fished out from my bag. Dressing up as I always would - jeans and a band shirt, this time it's Muse - I go downstairs, not the least surprised that Mrs Baxter is already in the kitchen, filling the house with the heavenly smell of food.

"Good morning, Jenna dear," she greets me cheerfully. I didn't think she'd hear my silent entrance with her back turned. I guess I'd have to give her more credit.

"Morning, Mrs Baxter." I plop myself down on one of the stools along the counter.

She whips up some waffles for me at once, wrinkling her nose playfully. "Now, what have I told you about the courtesy business? Mrs Baxter makes me feel old. I prefer the term Therese."

I laugh and inhale the scent of the waffles. Paradise. "Right, sorry. Therese. Thanks for the breakfast."

Mrs Baxter smiles. "You're welcome. So, where are you off to, my dear?"

"Oh, nowhere really. Just wanted to take a look around," I say as I take a bite out of my food. It's layered with chocolate syrup. Best kind of waffles. "And uhm - I was thinking, maybe - would you mind if I borrow a car?"

"Of course honey. You can take the silver one - what's it called? Hundi? Handa? Oh, oh, right, it's Honda. Sorry, I'm terrible with cars," Mrs Baxter grins sheepishly. She goes back to finish up whatever she had been cooking before I had interrupted her with my presence. "It's supposed to be Chad's car but he likes carpooling, so it's basically collecting dust in the garage."

"Thank you very much, Mrs - uh - Therese." I praise myself mentally for the save and take my now empty plate over to the sink. I'm about to wash it up when Mrs Baxter stops me and tells me to "run along now". I thank her again before leaving.

True to her word, there's a thin layer of dust coating on Chad's Honda Jazz. The interior looks brand new though. I fire up the ignition and the car gives a choke before softening down to a low purr. I check the condition of the wheels and sighs in relief when I see that they're not deflated. That tend to happen when you leave a car in the garage for a certain amount of time.

I key in Dr Eva Lockwell's address into the GPS in the car and back out of the house. I think I see a curtain moving in a room on the second floor, like someone's watching me from above, and my skin prickles. But when I look again, the curtain is drawn, not a living soul in sight. Maybe it's just a trick of the faint daylight.

Dr Lockwell's office opens at eight, officially, but when I get there, there's already a long line queuing up at the register. And by long, I mean four people, five if you include myself. Looks like a psychiatrist in Anderson is on high demand.

I take a seat on the soft pink cushion, tapping my leg to a song blasting in my head. I curse myself for not bringing along my iPod and earphones. There's nothing for me to do to pass time as I don't have my laptop with me either. I don't own a phone. Phones are traceable. It's like waving a beacon over your head, letting everyone who has the technology to pin point your exact location. In fact, Aaron had argued that I shouldn't even bring my laptop and iPod. All kinds of tech are traceable. But I insisted. He caved, eventually, like I know he would, on the condition that I only take along with me the laptop and iPod that he would give me. He made Oren, the tech wiz of the Hood, tinker around with them to ensure that they can't be traced or hacked. He's right to be paranoid - our enemies are very smart.