Chapter 184Places to Explore

While I stood there on the rooftops I decided what I needed most was a plan. But to need a plan I had to know what I was up against first. It wouldn't be easy to spy on someone without them knowing though. I could usually feel when someone was watching me.

Like now.

The hairs in my neck were tingling as if someone was keeping an eye on me. Or rather, as if someone was spying on me. And unfortunately I couldn't really place it. I wasn't sure if it was someone kind or malevolent.

I had a feeling, however, they couldn't fly.

With a soft smile on my face I took to the sky and headed in the direction of Jason's mansion. I glided soundlessly above the busy city. Even in this early evening it was surprising how much noise was caused by everything.

Machines humming on rooftops, cars driving on the streets, people talking, dogs barking. Even some random sounds of things being thrown over or breaking in the distance. Even a car alarm on the edge of my hearing.

A storm was coming.

The air pushed against my eardrums with the feeling of an oncoming storm. The sky was already a lot darker than yesterday but it wasn't raining.

Yet.

A large storm was coming.

I loved storms, the lightning, the rain. They were so wonderful to see and feel. And of course I should be quite safe if I was high up in the air. I remembered from physics that lightning can only strike if there is a path for the electricity to the ground.

Jason' Mansion deserved a capital M. It was larger, much larger, than I had expected. Of course I could have known that he was rich and would live large. But this was huge. The grounds around it didn't look that expansive, but for something on the edge of town he probably didn't complain.

Guard dogs, probably alarms and lights on the grounds were all good protection against those that may wish to sneak in.

Of course, they didn't expect anyone to come in from above.

The biggest problem for me though wasn't that how I should spy, but how I stayed unnoticed. Though people have a tendency not to look up, I couldn't stay hovering up there forever.

With less than the sound of a pin dropping, my feet touched the roof and I let myself land. It didn't even creak, solid as a rock.

Almost automatically I knelt down and started listening.

Reaching out.

Taking in every sound made in and around the house.

The dogs with their breathing, their feet crunching pebbles softly with every step. The people inside the mansion, their heartbeats, muffled but audible. Focussing even more I thought I could hear two slower heartbeats. Their beating so weak I was doubting my own hearing.

I wasn't sure.

Inside the house weren't many people. Perhaps five, not counting the two weak heartbeats. It was hard to discern any more about them besides their position. The muffling effect of the house around them distorted the sound enough to make further knowledge too difficult.

A television set to a news channel was making noise in one of the second floor rooms. There wasn't someone in that room itself, but in the room next to it. working at a desk. The TV itself was slightly more interesting though.

'The girl was found with a severe wound in her neck which caused her to bleed to death. The mysterious caller did not leave any traces at the scene. Police suspect the wound was the result of a tiger-bite, though no zoos report any missing animals at this time. They call this an isolated incident with no danger to anyone for now. This was Ron Burgundy and here's what happening in your town."

To my surprise, I suddenly realized what he was talking about. Who he was talking about.

Rain's sister.