Being a Hero

Chapter 32

The song for this chapter is "Home" by Paradise Fears.

"F.E.A.R. can have two meanings. Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise." –Zig Ziglar

*Kevin's POV*

After a few hours of the adults talking possible plans, I snuck off to work on some homework. When I couldn't stand sitting still any longer, I checked in on Caitlyn, but she and the dogs were gone. I hoped that she was okay. Not really feeling like hanging out with the crowd in The Commons, I camouflaged and walked down to the bus stop.

In the city I pulled my hoodie a little lower over my face as I walked, thinking. If I were going to get someone out of the country, how would I do that? I looked up international airports on my phone. Cincinnati and Columbus were the nearest ones. But how would they smuggle an entire person out? I was pretty sure a person would show up on a luggage scanner.

What if they don't take a commercial flight? I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Whoever was behind this was throwing around enough money to transport several people internationally and hire people like Jade Rabbit, Garm, and those other villains. What if they had their own plane? Or they could just be bribing airport security to let a crate through unchecked. All this was assuming they hadn't simply set up a base in the states.

I sighed in frustration and put my phone away. One of the adults had probably thought of that already. There were so many heroes and police on the case. What was I supposed to do to help? I might as well have not been at the meeting this morning. Maybe I should have followed Caitlyn out when she left.

My thoughts turned unbidden to the body unceremoniously left in the woods. If the police were informed, Isabella could have that death put on her record or wind up on a super watch list, especially once they found out her animations had minds of their own. At that point it wouldn't matter that her powers only worked on the few miles around her home. The public would know who she was; they'd be afraid of her.

I hunched my shoulders against a biting gust of wind and continued walking. I walked past my usual post box. I'll aim for the box across the street from the police station. That'll give me a few more blocks to think.

"I thought I might see you here."

I stopped and looked up to see Isabella wrapped in her purple coat and scarf. I smiled. "What are you doing out here?"

She swung the plastic bag at her side. "Picking up some supplies for dad. He's been on the phone with police and insurance all day." She walked past me, and I hurried to fall into step. "So, where are we going?"

My coat and fur lightened for a second before I clamped down on the blush. I pulled a postcard out of my pocket. "Mailing this, but I didn't want to head back yet."

"So, the post box on Police Row? Don't tell me you're going to sneak in to check on the investigation." She had a glimmer in her eye when she glanced sideways at me.

"What?! No! I—I wouldn't—"

"You did in Detroit."

"That was different." I held up a warning finger.

"Suuuure..."

With Isabella, the walk passed all too quickly. We strolled down the one-way street past the morgue and the car impound lot. The post box and the police station across from it were in sight, but my eyes locked onto the black car pulled up outside the precinct. Civilians weren't supposed to park there. New unmarked car? As we got closer, I spotted the word "exempt" under the usual string of numbers and letters. A government car. My fur stood on end as we stopped by the post box.