Perception

Part 67

Nathan POV

My phone alarm went off much too soon. Those that stayed at my place, which was everyone not with Sang except Mr. B and Doc until he got off of work, had broken sleep. We monitored the house and its occupants all night, sleeping in shifts. This was agreed upon because Sang made North promise to try to sleep. He refused to even consider it if we didn't as well.

I drag myself through my morning routine then join the others watching the camera feeds to make sure Sang doesn't get bothered by her family. Mr. B silently leaves her house and enters mine through the patio doors off my kitchen.

"Miss Sorenson is getting ready for school. Thank you gentlemen for your cooperation last night. We only had one incident after Miss Sorenson retired for the evening requiring intervention,"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN INCIDENT?" North roars, interrupting Mr. Blackbourne. Mr. Blackbourne, already standing beside North, pushes him back into his seat when he tries to stand.

"Mr. Lee will brief you on this, but know that Miss Sorenson is of good health. It would also seem that as of now, the elder Miss Sorenson is willing to assist the younger with her father," Mr. Blackbourne relates with a strangely mean half smile on his face.

North's fist is clenched, as well as his jaw, but his audible deep breaths tell us he is trying to remain calm. A flash of guilt crosses his face before he shutters his emotions with his usual grumpy mask. It really gets to him when he feels he didn't keep one of us safe. Mr. Blackbourne steps back, and heads for the entryway of the kitchen. He checks his phone, then nods to Doc. Doc claps his hands, and smiles tiredly before nodding to us all.

"Well, gentlemen. We need to head out. Keep an eye on Pookie until she leaves for school, and we'll see you there," he tells us. They slip out through the patio doors, and disappear into the woods.

Kota turns tired eyes to the room, then glances back to Luke.

"Any movement by her father?" he asks quietly.

"No. The slug hasn't moved an inch," Luke says with disdain.

"Good. Sang should be able to leave without running into him," Kota says and rubs the bridge of his nose. North grunts, and walks to the kitchen. I hear him rustling around, then the door slides open then closed. I send an alarmed look at Gabriel, who is watching the street, but he just shakes his head 'no'.

We finish off the pot of coffee, and eat the heated breakfast sandwiches that I keep stocked in the freezer.

"Marie's in the kitchen, and Sang is heading downstairs now," Luke tells us. Just as Kota is about to send one of us over, North comes back through the door distracting us. He tosses an empty cat food can in the trash, then washes his hands.

"What?" he asks grumpily. I just shake my head and turn back to Luke. He's still watching his phone with a surprised look on his face.

"Hey guys, look at this!" he tells us, and hold his phone away from his body a little so we can squeeze in. Naturally, North shoves his way through us to get a better view.

"Oy, I was standing there!" Gabe mutters without heat. North just grunts but focuses on the screen we're huddled around.

Sang walks into the kitchen and grabs a glass from the cabinet. Marie stares after her for a moment, then goes to the fridge and pulls out two iced coffees, and hands one to Sang. It looks like Sang thanks her, and Marie nods. After putting away the glass again, Sang opens her drink and sips it quietly. It looks awkward, but that was really decent of Marie.

"Do you think she's up to something?" Victor asks quietly. Kota adjusts his glasses and calculates something quietly, his eyes darting behind his glasses.