Nodding, Laura handed him another strawberry. “Gil knows how isolated Mom’s cabin is. With Tom’s help, we could pull it off.”
Peter ate another carrot. “We should tell Sam the truth, though. He’ll know if things are spinning out of control and if Dan needs informed.”
Peter finished his half of the pita. Laura passed him the last quarter of hers before he could reach for his hamburger. “I’m glad we have a plan,” she said.
Peter popped the pita in his mouth. “I hope we don’t have to use it.”
Seeing he was about to reach for a French fry, Laura covertly put another strawberry in his hand. He chewed it slowly and smacked his lips.
As Laura took a forkful of salad, Peter looked down at his hamburger and made a face. “I guess I wasn’t very hungry today. I don’t think I can finish my lunch.”
Watching as he wadded up his greasy hamburger and fries in their paper wrapping, Laura nibbled a carrot stick and permitted herself a tiny smile.
* * *
Phoebe stopped struggling and tried to catch her breath. She had pulled against her chains until deep gashes were cut in her wrists and ankles. She hoped the blood would lubricate her cuffs and let her slip free, but they were too tight.
She forced herself to breathe calmly. The darkness was oppressive, but she could see a dot of light midway up on one wall. Perhaps there was a covered window. If she could slip free of her chains, maybe she could break the window and get away. She began to struggle again.
* * *
“What does it look like, Zeke?” Laura asked. “Any transmission?”
The computer tech tossed his glasses on the desk and rubbed his eyes. “I’m afraid it’s another no-show.”
Thomas looked at Peter.
Peter nodded. “It’s time to contact Poppa. Something’s not right.”
* * *
Phoebe raised her head. She’d been sleeping fitfully, but something had startled her awake. Something was different. Something was lurking in the blackness. Her eyes widened in fear. Someone was in the room—she knew it. There was definitely a presence—an evil presence. She held her breath and began to tremble. Her shivering caused one of her chains to rattle.
A menacing laugh echoed in the darkness. Beside her, a soft voice hissed in her ear, “Welcome to hell.”
* * *
Peter came back from Dan’s office and nodded at Laura and Thomas. “Poppa’s sending the duplicate cartridge to Nicki. He’s including a note, asking her to contact us immediately.”
Almost before he finished speaking, the Staging Platform began to glow.
“We have contact!” Zeke said triumphantly. “It’s from the duplicate cartridge.”
Peter waited as the wave turned clear. Through the portal, he could see a fourteen-year-old girl sitting nervously on the edge of her chair. “Nicki Cunning?” he asked.
Nicki nodded.
“I’m Director Peter,” he said soothingly, taking care to uphold TEMCO’s Fourth Immutable Law by only using his first name. “This is Dr. Laura and Dr. Thomas. We’re contacting you because Drake and Phoebe haven’t communicated with the lab for several days. Do you know where they are?”
Nicki shook her head. “They didn’t go home?”
“No, they didn’t. When did you see them last?”
Nicki scratched the back of her neck. “I saw Phoebe about two and a half days ago. She went with me to school while Drake went back to the fairgrounds. After lunch, he came and got her. He said he needed her help.”
“Did Drake seem upset or worried?”
“Not at all.” Nicki sat up straight. “I may be talking out of turn, but they’re kinda sweet on each other. I thought they just wanted some time alone. When I saw that their luggage was gone, I thought they went home. Drake hasn’t been around much, but I thought Phoebe would at least say goodbye. It hurt my feelings that she didn’t.”
Laura turned to Peter. “Even though their luggage is missing, I don’t believe Phoebe’s irresponsible enough to have a dalliance. A silly girl might take an afternoon off to cozy up with a boy—but not several days. Not during an important exam.”
Peter nodded. “If something’s wrong, we can’t afford to waste any more time.” He looked at Thomas. “You concur?”
“Yes, my boy,” Thomas replied. “If they were professionals, we could give them another twenty-four hours, but these are students we’re talking about.”
“In that case, we’ll leave the lab in your hands, and Laura and I will surf back to figure out what’s wrong.” Narrowing his eyes, Peter growled, “But I’ll tell you one thing, if this is just a case of lovebirds going somewhere private, I’m going to take great delight in flunking them both! This couldn’t be worse timing.”
Laura looked through the timewave. “Nicki, Peter and I need to locate our cadets. Can we stay at your house while we search?”
The teenager nodded. “I’ll help however I can. Drake was a dope, but I really liked Phoebe. I hope she’s okay.”
“I’m sure she is,” Laura said soothingly. “It’ll take time for a cartridge to be calibrated for our use. When it arrives, please place it in your PlayFest console so we can surf through GAP.”
“When will I get it?” the teenager asked.
Laura turned in her chair. “Zeke, how fast can you get the job done?”
The computer tech rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It’ll take me at least twenty hours.”
Peter shook his head. “That’s too long. You have ten.”
Zeke blinked. “In that case, I’ll need extra help.”
“Fine,” Peter replied. “Use standard emergency protocol and implement a gag order. I want that cartridge ready by morning.”
Thomas cleared his throat. “Couldn’t we use the Wave Trapper to send you there tonight?”
Peter shook his head. “That would violate the Trapper Tretis. The only reason we were able to use a Wave Trapper to retrieve Dan and Gil was because an infant was involved. Cartridge calibration for Jay was impossible.”
Laura turned to the portal. “Nicki, our cartridge will be delivered in the morning, okay?”
“Sure, Dr. Laura. I’ll see you then.”
“Have a good night,” Laura said. “And don’t forget to take Drake and Phoebe’s duplicate cartridge out of your PlayFest console—we don’t want it to overheat. If they’ve lost their game, they’ll need the one you’re using to get home.”
Nicki nodded and turned off her gaming system. The timewave swirled away.
* * *
Phoebe groaned and tried to bite back vomit. It didn’t matter what she did, or how hard she begged, the beating wouldn’t stop. She didn’t know who her attacker was. The darkness hid his face. His hands were brutal.
“Why?” she gasped between blows. “Why me?”
The only reply was another low laugh that sent chills up her spine.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Crystal picked up her suitcase and started out the door. Behind her, the telephone rang. Looking at the cruise ticket in her hand, she hesitated. The phone rang again. Giving a gusty sigh, she set down her luggage and picked up the receiver.
“Cris, this is Zeke, are you busy?”
Crystal glanced at her suitcase and started to make a flip reply, but something in Zeke’s tone made her pause. “What do you need?” she asked.
“When are you leaving for your cruise?”
Hearing the intensity in his voice, she knew something was wrong. “Not for a while,” she lied. “What’s going on?”
“Problems at the lab. If you’re available, I need your help.”
Crystal’s grip tightened on the phone. “Is it Gil?”
“No, it’s Phoebe and Drake. We’ve lost contact with them. Peter and Laura are surfing back to Nicki’s house to find them, but they need to have a cartridge—”
“—calibrated. I get the picture. What’s our time frame?”
“Less than ten hours. They want it delivered by mor
ning.”
She gasped. “Is that even feasible? How many techs are coming in to assist?”
Crystal heard Zeke hesitate. “You’re the only tech still in town.”
She collapsed on the couch with a thump. “I’m not afraid of hard work, but the fastest calibration job took over twenty hours, and that was with a complete tech staff on site.”
“I know.”
“It’s just not possible, Zeke.”
“It has to be. Phoebe and Drake aren’t responding, and we’re out of options.”
Crystal tucked her cruise ticket into her purse. “I’ll be right there.”
* * *
Around 10:00 p.m., Peter walked out of Hawking Hall with Laura by his side. Glancing up, he looked at the lab lights burning brightly against the night sky. “I can’t believe how quickly Zeke and Crystal scanned us,” he said.
Laura yawned. “Me either. Their method was certainly effective, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it—I feel like I’ve been pulled to pieces. Do you think they’ll have the cartridge calibrated by morning?”
He nodded. “They’ll have to pull an all-nighter, but they’ll get it done.”
“They need a raise.”
Peter caught Laura’s elbow as she stumbled. His brows snapped together. She was definitely too tired to drive. Glancing at her sleepy face, he stole her car keys from her hand.
“What are you doing?” she asked, pushing her bangs away from her forehead.
“We’ll carpool to the hospital tonight.”
As Laura stumbled again, Peter put his arm around her waist to steady her. When she didn’t protest, he knew she was even more tired than he suspected. After tucking her carefully inside his car, he watched as she leaned back and closed her eyes.
Knowing how exhausted she was, he didn’t suggest even in jest that they listen to Eclectic Reverberation. He put on instrumental praise music instead. Under its soothing influence, he could see her tension subsiding. When she unclenched her fists, he gave a sigh of relief.
“You’ll pull Sam aside and let him know what’s going on?” Laura asked with her eyes shut.
“Of course.” He gave her a worried glance. “Are you up to this? It’s been a strenuous day, and you still have to pack.”
“I have to see Gil,” she replied with a catch in her voice. “I can’t believe we’re going to miss her surgery.” She opened her eyes and glared. “I’ll tell you one thing, if my gut feeling about Phoebe is wrong, and she’s frolicking around with Drake, I’ll flunk her for you!”
“If this is just a case of lovebirds sneaking off together, we may be able to make Gil’s surgery after all. When Dan called, he said it was scheduled for late tomorrow afternoon.”
“That’d be wonderful, but it’d make our cover story a bit of a problem. You can’t fly to Alaska, visit an injured mother, and fly back in just a few hours.”
Peter could tell by her voice that she was smiling again. Trying to make her laugh, he muttered meaningfully, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave.”
“Amen to that.” Turning to him, Laura asked, “So, are you ready to get back in the field?”
“Sure am,” Peter replied. “But only if you promise not to pack like Gil.”
Laura gave a tiny gurgle of laughter. “I don’t think anyone can pack a suitcase like Gil!”
* * *
Phoebe tensed as she heard her tormentor drawing near. She’d blacked out during the last beating, and trying to convince him that she was still unconscious, she remained still as he unfastened her chains. When the final lock fell free, she lunged up and punched her attacker’s neck. She felt him fall back. Dodging quickly in the darkness, she sprinted toward the speck of light. Before she’d gone three steps he was upon her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he growled, throwing her violently against the wall.
Phoebe cried out as his fist connected with her jaw. “Stop!” She screamed. “Please, stop!”
He hit her again. Her head snapped back beneath the brutal blow. Choking on blood, she tried to struggle as he blindfolded her eyes. A heavy punch plunged her to the floor. She faded in and out of consciousness as she was dragged into another room and bound to a chair. She bit back a moan as a gag was stuffed in her mouth. Her face felt mangled. She could feel blood streaming from her nose. She heard the click of a camera.
* * *
When they arrived at the hospital, Laura found it difficult to act natural, but the Ablemans were too preoccupied with Jay to notice. The formula wasn’t agreeing with the tiny baby, and he was crying with colic. Laura watched as Dan paced the floor with his son in his arms. When Jay’s crying intensified, Gil took the baby and started rubbing his stomach. Realizing that everyone was distracted, Laura caught Peter’s eye and glanced pointedly at the door.
Immediately, Peter whispered in Sam’s ear, “Can I talk with you for a moment?”
Laura watched as they disappeared into the hall. When they came back, Peter nodded at her. She knew their plan was on track.
“I’m feeling a mite peckish,” Sam said. “Anyone want to go to the cafeteria for a snack?”
Gil grabbed Laura’s hand. “Stay with me?”
Sitting down beside the bed, Laura watched as her friends filed from the room.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Gil said when they were alone.
Sighing, Laura smoothed a wrinkle from Gil’s blanket. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be,” Gil muttered. “I’m gonna be fit as a fiddle in no time.”
“Are you nervous about your surgery?”
“What for? I’ll be asleep during it, I hope.” Gil kissed the top of Jay’s head as his cries faded into watery sniffles. “What concerns me most is my raging case of cabin fever. How ’bout we plan a welcome home party for the baby? If the menu includes grilled food, we can rope the guys into doing all the cooking.”
Laura gave a feeble laugh. “You’re quite the little schemer, aren’t you?”
“Not a schemer—a planner.” Gil grinned. “Planner sounds ever so much better.”
“Think so, eh?”
“You bet! Anyway, a party will give me something to look forward to.” Gil sighed. “I hate sitting on my hands doing nothing. If I wasn’t taking care of Jay, I’d go bananas.” She looked over at Laura. “But enough about me. That’s a boring ol’ subject. I wanna hear about you and a certain gentleman. How goes the campaign?”
“There is no campaign,” Laura replied. “I’m not actively after Peter.”
“Not actively? That means there’s some inactive action going on. Details! Details! Spill!”
“I don’t know what to tell you. Nothing much has happened except we had lunch together. Peter and I are just friends. I think that’s all we’ll—”
Gil made an impatient motion. “Fiddlesticks! How do you feel about him now?”
Laura began to blush. She hesitated for a moment and finally said, “Well, I’ll admit I like him a lot.”
“I knew it!” Gil crowed triumphantly. “So what are you gonna do about it?”
“What do you mean?”
Gil rolled her eyes. “For someone with a big IQ, you can be perfectly dense at times. I mean, how are you gonna reel him in? Are you gonna giggle and bat your eyes?”
Laura’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me!”
“What’s so shocking about that? Eye-batting is man-reeling 101. Come on, girl! Get creative! Stop thinking like a professor and start thinking like a woman.” Gil grinned. “I’ll bet Peter would sit up and take notice if you wore a slinky dress and wiggled your tushie.”
“Can you honestly picture me doing something like that?” Laura sputtered.
“It’s surprising to what lengths a girl will go when she discovers the man of her dreams. I took up swimming just to spend time with Dan, and you know how much I hate the water. I doggie paddled back and forth and swallowed gallons of chlorine just to get him to notice me.”
“And
did he?” Laura asked dryly.
“Honey, a girl on a budget doesn’t spend two months of grocery money on an expensive red bikini if she doesn’t plan on being seen. Of course he noticed.” Gil winked. “My bikini’s in my top dresser drawer if you decide you wanna borrow it.”
* * *
In Hawking Hall, Crystal pushed a moist curl away from her sweaty forehead and grabbed a folder. “There’s no way I can get all the links completed by morning.”
Zeke grunted, his fingers flying over his keyboard. “Prioritize by category. The secondary and tertiary matrices aren’t required for portal entry. Just do enough to get Peter and Laura through GAP and back again.”
“Where’s Wade?” Crystal asked, gathering more folders and sprinting across the floor. “Shouldn’t he be here? I know he’s not a tech, but he is the cadets’ advisor. According to emergency protocol, he could at least help with the grunt work.”
“He hasn’t been seen in days. His wife thinks he’s off on a bender.”
Crystal stopped short. The folders she was carrying fell to the ground. “That can’t be true! I saw Wade at church last Sunday. He told me he’d just celebrated his eighth month of sobriety. I can’t believe he’d throw all his hard work away!”
Zeke sighed. “Sometimes people disappoint—even the best of them.”
* * *
Peter rode down the hospital elevator in somber silence. Sam had just finished praying for Gil’s surgery and Peter was feeling guilty, knowing he wasn’t going to be there to support his friends. Glancing at Laura, he saw the same feelings reflected on her face.
When they arrived at the parking lot, Laura sighed. “Sam knows what to do tomorrow?”
Peter nodded. “He’ll cover for us.”
“Did he think we were handling things right?”
“He didn’t like the fact that we’re lying, but he knows that if Gil finds out what’s going on, she’ll use it as an excuse to postpone her surgery. Gil’s trying to downplay her illness, but Sam says her doctors are extremely concerned. Gil’s surgery is imperative and so is keeping her away from stress.”
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