I smiled as I left the nursery. Three days and I’d finally been able to get rid of the powdery mildew in my section. The boss had even treated me to a few tomato seeds to grow at home. They would go perfect with the basil I was growing.

Someone caught my eye as I crossed the street. He seemed familiar. But it was hard to tell with the beard.

“You should take the alley.” The voice was accompanied by the start of a headache. But bad things happened when I didn’t listen to the voices in my head.

I dove into the alleyway but stopped when the bearded man appeared on the other side. He seemed occupied on the phone so I ducked into an open door. Once inside I took the elevator up to the roof. Better to wait him out. Besides I wanted to check on the community garden I’d help the apartment residents start.

My phone rang just as I stepped out of the elevator. It was the guy I’d been talking to for the past week. Just seeing Ricky’s name brought heat to my cheeks.

“Hello detective.”

He sighed, “You know you don’t have to keep calling me that, Mary.”

I giggled as I righted a marker in the seedling box. “What’s up?”

“Where are you right now?”

“On a roof.”

“Wait. Do you know parkour too?”

“I took the elevator.” Who did he know that did parkour?

“Right. Of course you did.” He let out a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Don’t tell her you idiot.” Another voice rang in my head.

“I told you he can’t keep a secret.” The other voice whispered.

“They told me not to but…” He paused. “I feel like you should know.”

Could he hear them too? Were these voices more than my imagination? In that case what were they?

“Don’t freak out but…”

The elevator dinged. And the bearded man stepped out.

“You’re dad’s back. They released him today.”

The bearded man smiled at me. A ringing started up as a clean shaven version flashed across his features. Dad.

A shock ran through me as I was pulled back. It was all black now. But somehow comforting and warm. I closed my eyes to sleep.

“Where is flash drive, Mary.” Dad said with that damn smile.

I blinked up at him, hating that he’d found us so quick. Hell, he wouldn’t even have noticed us if I’d been in the driver’s seat. But Mary’s job was so boring.

“I won’t ask again, little girl.”

I bared my teeth feeling the wolf come to the surface. But that alter could never go against Dad, her training ran too deep.

“Mary!”

“I heard yah.” I said backing away until I hit the ledge. “But that was so long ago, how could you expect me to remember?”

“I’m not the only one after that flash drive. Anyone else would kill you on sight.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” I said, tucking the phone in my jacket and zipping it up.

“This isn’t a game, Mary. This is your life at stake.”

I have him a smirk. With him it was always this and that. Better to just fall back. He shouted as I fell through the air. But I grabbed a fire escape railing and flipped back upright. After kicking off the wall, I landed in the alley. I looked up to see Dad’s shocked face. And with a salute I ran off.

My pocket vibrated and I pulled the phone out. Ricky’s name popped up with a heart. I rolled my eyes as I answered it.

“What’s up Rick?”

“Runa? What made you switch with Mary?”

“Just a surprise visit from Dad.” I said hopping onto a dumpster and scaling the side of the sandwich shop. I could take the rooftops home from there.

“I’ll meet you at your apartment then.” His car started in the background. “Do you have any idea what he wanted?”

“Not a hug that’s for sure.”

“Runa.”

I huffed as I scanned the rooftops. All of them were empty without a single camera. Perfect. I launched into the air and landed on the first roof.

“He wanted some flash drive. But I don’t remember anything about it.”

“How about Dana?”

“I don’t know. She’s been quiet ever since the switch.”

“Alright well be careful. Your Dad’s not the only one who got out today.”