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Ninah narrowed her eyes as she looked down the street. Her store was on her right, and the sheriff’s office another couple blocks beyond. The street itself moved to the northeast for about a quarter mile and then made a sharp turn northwest, continuing until it hit the 5 to Shoreline and eventually into Everett. The old road to the old house behind Ninah’s store cut off the main street just before the NE-NW bend in the road, turning east, going through several poorer neighborhoods, coming down a little southeast, and then into the woods until it ended up a mile behind the store.

“Irra, please get Thayer, grab a credit card from the drawer, go to the feed store, and get three large bags of rock salt. Meet me back at my store. People, we are going monster-bashing.” She whipped around and marched back to her store.

While a few people in the group caught onto the whole telepathy thing, the other half found it helpful to know the technique. They, too, were feeling better after Evan’s impromptu lesson, and their own talents were clarified for the short time spent with him. The lesson would be taken back to their clans and taught to others.

When people filled cars, jeeps and trucks, and set out with bags of salt, shovels, picks and jars of water, and with maps in hand to find their way around the woods to circle their quarry, folks tended to take notice. The weird pagans were up to something.

Ninah knew Severance wasn’t going to like it, and would probably tell her off when he got home, but she was getting that house be-damned to any slimy alien that decided to take a squat. She might have to actually tell him he wasn’t her boss.

Irra took the lead vehicle, instead of his bike, while Ninah held the rear. Just as she was pulling out, a car stopped in front of the store. She would have ignored it except for the universe shifting when the man stepped onto the pavement. He shimmered. He was one of them.

“Pardon me,” he said, stepping out of the way of her car. “I was looking for Ninah Adams.”

“Are you Aaron?” Ninah asked, recognizing his voice from the phone. He had a slight accent that she was still trying to place. He was tall, his light brown hair trimmed into a modern, professional style, and his business-casual attire looked expensive.

“Yes,” he said, surprised. “Mz. Adams?”

“Ninah,” she said. Ninah now knew why Karrin had the man in charge of the Seattle office.  “Hop in.” Startled, Aaron squeezed into the front next to Grandmother who patted his knee.

“We’re going to stomp on aliens,” she told him with a pleased smile. “You can help. Just call me Grandmother. In the back is Waterfall and Morag.”

From the scattered cycles of his energy, they knew Aaron wasn’t trained; he probably wasn’t even aware of his own Talent.

“Uh… aliens?” he questioned. “Illegal immigrants?”

“From way up,” Grandmother said, nodding her head with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Just stay with me, Aaron,” Ninah told him. “Ladies, Aaron worked for Karrin; he headed the Seattle office, and I believe he’s now in charge. Did you want anything in particular?” The others in the back reached to touch his shoulder. He didn’t realize it, but they also helped to calm his energies.

“Uh….oh, yes, just an informal meeting to talk about house plans,” he said. He winced at a fast turn and squealing tires, and grabbed the door handle in order to keep from falling into the old lady’s lap. “I called your store and the young man who answered told me to come up.”

Ninah would have to discuss the concept of ‘appointments’ with Thayer.

“Not a problem,” she said. “We’ll be going by the house, so you’ll be able to see it.”