“You’re lucky he didn’t break your nose.”
Baum caught his refection in the tiny wall mirror. Damn. The purple bruise had spread across his cheek. He’d almost had the kid and the watch. So close. No matter, the boy would eventually show up at the Keiser house and they’d nab him. Mrs. Fuller was on board.
His CSD Director expected him to retrieve the portal watch and their earth-side stockpile of computer technology. CSD and UniZol reps had crossed to Earth using Albert’s portal array components and the open Earth frequency.
He had to hurry. The Earth frequency might not remain open permanently. Once he recovered the portal watch, the UAC lab could reproduce the miniaturized components themselves. Then they wouldn’t need Albert. Baum made a fist. I’ll end Albert personally, and bury him next to Ben.
CSD kept Patrick on a short leash and planned to retrieve him for phase two - miniaturization of the homing beacon. Once finished, the UAC could place an encoded beacon on each side giving them easy access to Earth and their computer and communication technologies. A stable portal would also support a phase three - conquest.
For now, CSD had left the earth-side beacon activated and the equipment intact. They didn’t want to risk moving the machinery. The staging area, 150 yards behind the McDugan house remained accessible, as long as the beacon functioned.
The nurse finished with the bandage. “Better?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” He left the room and found his two men waiting for him in the parking lot. They were a little battered and bruised but looked ready to get back in action.
Baum shook his head. “What a bunch of sorry sacks.”
Chandler hid his bandaged hand behind his back, and rubbed his right hand through his curly red hair. Some big teenager had broken Chandler’s left thumb during the fight at the restaurant.
Hoss ground his teeth which made his bulbous nose bend at the tip.
“Listen up. I’m crossing back to Earth tomorrow, but you two stay here. Find the kid and get the watch. Don’t let either the kid, or the old man, get away. You should know what’s at stake, but let me remind you. If we don’t control the portal, Earth could invade and wreak havoc on Terra. We have people and resources to protect.”
He searched their faces. “Get the watch. I’m authorizing use of deadly force if necessary, but keep it clandestine. I’m counting on you. Now move out.”
Chapter 21
Ben followed Jack down the fire trail toward Terra’s Carlston. The last time Ben had run this path on Earth, he’d raced Lori up the hill. She’d exuded grace, beauty, and flowed like quicksilver in the moonlight. The world had breathed with him, its wild heart in time with his as if he were a bounding stag—a memory best kept to himself for now.
The world had changed. Literally. He walked with his doppel-brother on his eighteenth birthday, not in the USA, but the United American Commonwealth where UAC government agents had tried to kill him for his portal watch. At least he’d found Jack. Hopefully, GranPat and Albert were next.
Ben felt wired and jogged past Jack on the wooded trail. Jack took off his kitchen apron, tied it around his waist, and followed.
“It’s a good night for a run.” Jack said. “I need this.”
“Me too.”
They ran side by side. “You gotta good stride,” Jack said. “Play sports on Earth?”
“Yeah, I wrestle and play JV football. Hope to make varsity this fall.”
“Cool. Wrestling and football. Power, strength, speed, and agility.”
“How ‘bout you?” Ben sprang over a rock and took the lead.
“Track at Pitt in the fall.” Jack quickened his pace. The gibbous moon bathed the trail with yellow light. Twigs crunched under their feet as Jack drew even with Ben.
“Nice.” Ben ran a little faster and pulled ahead.
Jack caught up and ran alongside. “How did you find me at the restaurant?”
“I met Brandon and Trudy on the street. They invited me to join the party.”
“You know them?” Jack asked in a quick breath as he hurdled a fallen tree.
Ben used his hands to pivot and swing his legs over the fallen trunk. “Just met them today. I’m friends with their doppelgangers back home. Brandon is on my wrestling team. He’s a good guy.”
“Yea, Brandon and Trudy are cool. She’s new in town and Brandon is smitten.” Jack slowed his stride. “Did ya meet my girl, Lori?”
Ben stubbed his toe on a rock, but kept his balance. “Yea, briefly. If she’s anything like the Lori I know back home, you’re a lucky man.” Luckier than me, anyway.
“Thanks, Bro.” Jack navigated the trail with precision. “What did my dad want?”
Ben frowned. “Let’s walk for a bit.”
They both slowed to a walk.
Ben breathed deeply. “He told me about your mom and how bad things were after your brother died. I think he wanted me to understand how he ended up with Lucy.”
“I love Dad. He’s trying to do the right thing with us, Lucy, and Suzie. But, yea, the divorce sucked. Mom digs her spurs into Dad every chance she gets, and he lets her as if she’s got an all-day-pass on the pony rides. I’m so looking forward to going away to college.”
“What’s it like having a little sister?”
“Suzie is awesome.” Jack smiled. “I love that little kid, but I don’t see her much.”
“And Lucy?”
“Eh, she’s all right. She’s nice enough when I’m around, but sometimes I think he married a younger version of Mom. He’s like the fly who shook loose from a spider web and flew right into another. But he loves her and Suzie. He’d do anything for us, if he could.”
They left the forest trail and walked along the county road. Step by step they jogged toward the lights of Carlston, and the conversation turned to sports.
Jack explained how college sports allowed implants to monitor health and performance, but those which unnaturally increased physical performance were prohibited. Jack had signed scholarship agreements to that effect, and underwent a verification scan in Pittsburgh last month.
“You okay with that?” Ben asked.
“Absolutely. I’m going to work my ass off, and when I win, I’ll know I deserved it.”
Ben thought about football and grew anxious about going home. He decided to trust his doppel-brother and told Jack everything he knew about the portal watch.
“Pop-Pop wore this watch?” Jack asked. “I never noticed, but I haven’t seen him for a while.”
“I don’t know how long he had it, but he used it Monday morning to send me through a portal to Terra.” They stopped jogging and faced each other.
“Where is it now?”
Ben tapped his chest. “He gave it to me right before CSD captured him.”
“Why didn’t he just jump through the portal with the watch?” Jack narrowed his eyes.
Ben shook his head and sighed. “I wish he had, but there wasn’t enough time. CSD broke down the door and mugged him, but he made sure the watch and I were safe before the portal closed. I owe him, and I want to help find him.”
Far down the road, headlights moved in their direction.
Jack put his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “We’ll find him together. Okay?”
Ben nodded. “Thanks, Jack.”
Jack rubbed his hands together. “Good. Now let me see it.”
Ben pulled the watch from beneath his shirt, and Jack examined the device. “I see extra buttons and dials, but it looks like a watch.”
“I haven’t figured out yet how it all works, but—”
A large car whined toward them from town, and slowed to a stop. Headlights blinded them. Jack shielded his eyes and looked at the car.
Shit. Ben turned his back and hid the watch. He grabbed Jack’s arm and pulled. “C’mon run!”
Jack pulled back. “Wait a minute.”
“There you are,” said a deep voice from the driver’s side window. The rear passenger door opened and someone jumpe
d out. Ben squinted into the head lights, but couldn’t see the driver’s face.
Lori ran into the beam of light and wrapped her arms around Jack. “Where’ve you been? We were so worried after the gunshot in the kitchen, and then you disappeared.”
Jack hugged her and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “We had to bolt.” He turned toward the car. “Everyone okay?”
“Pretty much.” Lori folded her arms. “The bullet went through the dishwashing machine. Only a few people got hurt during the fight. Nothing too serious.”
Ben’s shoulders sagged. Jack and Lori? He wanted to like them both, and he did, mostly, but everything seemed so easy for Jack. Had Terra’s Ben felt the same way about her? Did he even have a chance? Keep breathing.
Brandon emerged from the driver’s seat, his eye black and his cheek bruised. “Yep, we hurt a few of them, but then we had to let them go. Hey, Charlie, you okay?”
Jack’s eyebrows rose.
Ben winked at Jack then turned to Brandon. “Yep. You and Jack helped me get away. Thanks, and sorry for the trouble.”
Lori frowned at Ben.
Trudy climbed out of the front passenger seat and Ruth from the back. They looked relieved and walked over to listen.
“How did you find us?” Jack said.
Brandon stood tall. “We asked ourselves, where would we go if we were you? We tried a few spots, then drove to the reservoir. Met your Dad coming out of the picnic ground. He said you took the fire trail, so we drove around to the other side.” Brandon glanced back down the road. “Let’s get gone before those guys show up again.”
“Wait. Did you see any roadblocks?” Jack asked.
“No. All clear.” Brandon’s forehead wrinkled. “Why are they after you, Charlie?”
Ben cringed and glanced at Jack. “I, ahhh.” They all stared at him, but what could he tell them? He felt hot all over. “I –”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Jack said. “Somewhere safe.”
“We can take the backroads to my house,” Brandon offered.
“Excellent.” Jack took Lori’s hand and crawled into the back seat.
Ben sighed as everyone else climbed into the car. Everyone, but Ruth.
She smiled, approached him, and hooked her arm in his. “C’mon Charlie.” Ruth led him to the back seat. “Thought you were a quiet guy,” she whispered, “but instead you have everyone stirred up.”
Ben felt squished between the car door and Ruth. She cradled his right arm. The scent of apricots cloyed at him. Jack sat on the other side with Lori on his lap. They were kissing again. Ben felt a little sick and rolled down the window for air.
They passed south of the town lights and drove further and further away from GranPat.
“Hey,” Ruth whispered. “Are you okay?” She pulled on his arm, until he turned her way. Her eyes swam with concern. “You’ve got blood on your forehead.”
He peeked over her shoulder. Lori and Jack had stopped kissing and peered out the window. “I’m okay. So much has happened today, and I’d like to go home.”
“But you can’t. Can you?” Her ruby red lips frowned. She took out a handkerchief, moistened it between her lips, and wiped the blood from his forehead—something his mother might have done when he was a child.
Ben blushed. “Not yet. Not until I straighten out this mess.”
“Look, I don’t need to know what happened, but did you hurt somebody?” She seemed tentative.
“No. Nothing like that. I’m trying to help my grandfather, and some people are trying to stop me.”
She stretched her neck and kissed him gently on the cheek. “For good luck.”
His eyebrows rose. “Thanks. You’re sweet.” His frown faded.
Brandon turned down Red Pine Lane and into his parents’ driveway. Trudy stretched her neck to look in the back seat. “Okay boys and girls, we’re here. Bran’s mom and dad are home, so behave.”
Ruth snickered.
They piled out of the car. Brandon noticed a plain white van parked across the street and nudged Jack. “Looks like we have company,” he said.
Ben glanced at the van and frowned. He wondered how much he should trust these people. Did Jack actually believe his story? Would they turn him over to CSD to protect the Commonwealth? Maybe he should just run away while he could. No. He had to trust somebody. “Jack, is it safe?”
“We’re okay. Let’s go inside.”
The house was a reddish brick colonial with black shutters and a two-car garage. An electric lamp lit the cement driveway and a worn basketball hoop. Brandon led the way, as Trudy, Lori, Ruth, and Jack filed into the house. Ben followed and locked the front door behind him.
Brandon coaxed them into the living room. His parents shared the couch and spoke with a man sitting in a corner chair. Ben couldn’t see his face, until everyone rose to greet them. DJ Donner stood with his arms folded. He suffered several bruises and scratches on his face, and a serious burn on his arm. He nodded at Ben.
Brandon shook his hand. “Hey, Ken, thanks again for tonight. Good to see you’re okay.” Brandon glanced at Ben. “Mom and Dad, this is Charlie, Jack’s cousin, and I think you’ve met everyone else. These are my parents, Peter and Helen. This is my cousin, Ken, otherwise known as DJ Donner. He teaches martial arts in Tampton and deejays on the side.”
Ken stood near Brandon, and Ben saw the family resemblance. Ken still wore his shiny black DJ shirt, minus several buttons. His facial scratches had been swabbed with a shiny salve.
“Happy birthday, Jack,” Ken said. “Sorry you didn’t get to hear the whole show.”
“Thanks,” Jack said, “sorry I missed it.”
Ken glanced at Ben. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” Ben kept his eyes on Ken as they walked down the ceramic tile floor to the foyer, and out of earshot from the others. Light sparkled from the small metal and glass chandelier that hung above their heads. Ken stopped in front of a medium sized mirror.
“Are you hurt?” Ken asked.
“Just the cut on my forehead. It would have been worse if you hadn’t saved my ass.” He held out his hand. “Thanks again.”
Ken shook his hand and let go. “You’re welcome. Those guys at the restaurant looked like undercover cops, or something. Guns and Tasers. They left in a hurry after the gunshot. Who were they?”
“CSD agents.”
“Oh.” Ken blinked. “Watch your back. I’ll have to watch mine too. They think they can do whatever they want and get away with it.” He folded his arms. “Why are they after you?”
Ben frowned. Ken deserved an answer. “They want something that belongs to Jack’s grandfather. It might be better if that’s all you knew.”
“You’re probably right.” Ken handed Ben a clean handkerchief.
“What’s this for?”
“Check in the mirror.” Ken smiled
Ben turned and saw the gash on his forehead and a ruby red lipstick mark on his cheek. “Oh, that’s embarrassing.” Ben wiped his face. “Thanks.”
Ben followed Ken back to the living room. Jack, Lori and Brandon were gone.
Ruth grabbed Ben’s arm and pulled. “There you are. C’mon. The party moved downstairs.” She pulled him through the kitchen to the basement stairs, and the flashing lights below. His eyebrows rose. Déjà vu.
Chapter 22
Brandon’s basement sported a wet bar, bright giant screen television, leather couch, love seat, two recliners, coffee table, refrigerator, and soft lights. The paneled walls were decorated with local sports memorabilia and the rug offered a tight green fiber. On the far wall, Terran moonlight shone through the sliding glass patio door.
Jack flopped on the couch with Lori and Trudy, as Brandon searched for the remote. Ruth sat on the love seat and motioned Ben over.
Ben shook his head. “I’ll try the recliner.” Stepping past the love seat, he backed into the brown leather monstrosity, pulled the side lever, and stretched his tired feet as t
he chair rocked backwards. Ruth raised an eyebrow and shared a look with Trudy who shrugged. He pretended not to notice.
Brandon flipped channels and found a 1975 shark classic called “Jaws” starring Roy Schneider and Marilyn Monroe.
As the movie started, Trudy made a pitcher of margaritas. Ben asked for water. Brandon knocked back half of his margarita in one gulp, while Trudy sipped hers. Lori took a small sip and set her drink on the coffee table.
Ben smiled. Who would ever believe he’d made it to his brother’s 18th birthday party? Okay, so this Jack wasn’t his real brother, but he felt an incredible connection. Lori was and wasn’t Lori, and he did and didn’t know her. It all seemed so surreal.
He drank most of his water and glanced at the movie. A great white shark grabbed Marilyn’s famous legs in a mouthful of razor sharp teeth, and pulled her down below the surface into a bloody cloud of red bubbles. So, Jaws wasn’t Jaws either.
“Ohhh.” Trudy squirmed next to Brandon. “That was nasty.”
Brandon smirked. “That’s their nature. Sharks have to feed.” Brandon nibbled on Trudy’s neck as she giggled.
Lori whispered in Jack’s ear and caught Ben watching.
Feeling a little awkward, Ben slid out of his chair and walked to the glass door. He peeked through the half-open blinds and saw the patio wrapped around a cement swimming pool. The pool lights wriggled below the surface with an inviting blue glow, but he couldn’t stop worrying about GranPat.
“Want to get some air?” Ruth stood holding two margaritas.
Ben looked over her shoulder and saw Jack’s arms around Lori. “Sure.” Ben retracted the blinds and slid the door open. Once Ruth joined him outside, he closed the door. The cool night air felt refreshing, but the moon shone like a spotlight.
“Drink?” Ruth offered him a glass.
“No, thanks.” Was he in some sort of a mystical loop with Ruth? “Had too much to drink last Saturday. I need to stay sober.”
“Oh, sorry.” She dumped both margaritas on the grass. “Forget the drinks.” She set the glasses down on the patio table. “You okay?” She put her arm through his.
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