James placed a gloved finger to his own lips. “Shush. Don’t let them know you found me.”

“I need to tell the police you’re okay.”

“You can’t talk to them.”

Ian’s head furrowed. “Why?”

“I don’t trust the police to help me out.” James moved closer. “There were men that came looking for me. One of them kicked the door down. I snuck out the bathroom window in time, and ran here before they stepped into my motel room.”

“Why?” Ian’s face scrunched. “You should tell the police. They’re here to help.”

“Maybe,” James said, “but I can’t. Besides, the police and my kind have a history of being at odds.”

“Your kind?”

“Come on, Ian. You’re smart. You followed the eagle screech to me. You knew it had to be me.”

Ian shook his head. “I wasn’t sure who or what it was. But I had to check it out.”

“I figured you were smart enough to know that no eagle would make those cries during this time of the year.”

Ian smiled. “True.”

“Where you hiding here?” Ian studied the forest for a second.

“I jumped off the tree limb up there,” James pointed about thirty feet up.

“And you jumped off the rocky ledge earlier today.” Ian shook his head in disbelief. “How could you do it and not get hurt?”

“There’s a lot of things I can do that most people can’t.” James smiled. “But I have limitations too. I don’t have melanin that helps me if I’m in the sunlight. And the sunlight bothers me. That’s why I have really dark tint on my truck. And I wear the clothes I do. I’m sure you thought it strange how I am dressed, especially earlier today when it would be a beautiful today for folks like you.”

“Am I supposed to guess that you have a medical condition? I’m not sure I’m following you.”

“Then, Ian, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

Ian took a step back, and distanced himself from James. “There’s no time for this. We need to talk to the police to find out who broke in.”

“I can’t.”

“Well, then I can talk to them, I can tell them what you just told me.”

“You really don’t understand, do you? And I wish had more time to tell you why.”

“Tell me then.” Ian whispered.

“Not here, not now!” James said, his voice low but insistent.

“Your stuff is in the hotel room, and your truck. Aren’t you wanting any of that stuff?”

James bit his bottom lip. “As for what’s left behind, yeah, there’s my clothes in the room. The clothes aren’t important. And I can’t get my truck now without getting unwanted attention. I’ll have to get that later.”

Ian stared at James. He wasn’t sure why but he decided to give James the benefit of a doubt.

“Then, what are you going to do?” Ian asked.