The Rewind Series Boxset

by Jill Cooper

  “You are no one’s rat.” Marcus leans forward. “But do you have any proof of this?”

  I pat the laptop bag. “I wouldn’t have asked you here if I didn’t. And this might be my last hope. You have to help me. Please.”

  “I will do whatever is necessary,” Marcus says and I hand the bag over to him. “For what happened in the past, I do apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I’ve thought of you often these last few years. I always wanted to find you.”

  “I know. We’ve had this conversation before. And I’m sorry too. I think at least we could have been good friends.”

  “So you felt it too,” he murmurs with his lips drawn together in a thin line, his eyes drawn down as he studies the floor. I gaze down and notice he’s not wearing a wedding ring.

  A scary realization hits me. “You never married.”

  “It’s hard to marry when you’re chasing a ghost, Ms. Crane.”

  So those children I saw once, that beautiful wife he once had, were all gone because of me, what I had done? The realization hits me hard and fast. Goosebumps rise up on my flesh. Time travel is dangerous. It shouldn’t be done.

  I have to stop it. Once and for all. It shouldn’t be allowed even for leisure activity. I think I won’t rest until Rewind is dismantled, no matter who is running it.

  “I hope when this is over we can part as friends.” I push the curtain back and I see Patricia is at the podium.

  “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming. I can’t tell you how important this matter is to me and the organization I helped fund—Rewind.”

  Patricia triggers the video system with her remote and, instead of her video playing, mine does. Mom lights up the screen. Panic fills Patricia’s face and she fumbles the remote to stop the video, but Mom’s voice echoes from the room coming from the overhead speakers.

  “If I’m killed I know that the one responsible will be Patricia James. I’m Miranda Montgomery.”

  I glance back at Marcus. “See you soon, Marcus.” I close my eyes and think of ten seconds ago. When I open them, I’m staring out at the crowd and in front of me is Patricia James. She triggers the video as she grips the podium and this time when my mother’s voice travels through the speakers, I take the remote from her.

  Her face is wide with shock. “Where did you…”

  The crowd is staring up at us. I let Mom’s words finish the video before I say in a loud voice so the microphone can pick me up, “I’m Lara Crane Montgomery. And thanks to Patricia James’ authorization of illegal experiments, I’m a time traveler.”

  There are a few gasps from the crowd. I search out the police chief’s face and Donovan, to make sure he’s okay. Behind me, Patricia seethes with anger. She points to her security forces, but before they can get to me, I think back to five seconds ago.

  Now I’m standing in the middle of the crowd instead of on stage. My head belts with pain, but I ward it off by ignoring it. I push the button on the remote to trigger the stolen schematics from my mom’s personal computer.

  Everyone does a double take of me and the Lara who’s on stage for five seconds longer before she vanishes.

  “Illegal experiments to unlock time travel abilities, that’s Patricia’s real goal. She wants to loosen time travel law to change the world. Arrest people before they commit their crimes. Change people by removing their memories. It might sound like a noble cause, but she’s been using intimidation, murder, and kidnapping to achieve her goals.”

  I press the button on the remote and more evidence triggers up. Financial forms, memos and stolen letters from the Rewind Agency. As the police watch, I can see Patricia’s goons closing in. I don’t know if they’ll kill me to shut me up in front of a room full of people, but I can’t take that chance.

  I time travel one final time to beside the chief of police and my dad’s lawyer. When I do it I teeter and a trail of blood leaves my nose.

  “All today she’s had her hired mafia goons try to kill me. They’ve chased me and her son to try to keep this information out of your hands. I have a paper trail from Patricia James to Rex Montgomery. It shows he tried to murder my mother, not John Crane. Patricia James also murdered a reporter who was helping me months ago. Her death was ruled an accident, but I know differently because I was there.”

  I glance up into the police chief’s face. “And I’m ready to testify. Senator O’Reily has to be protected. He has the paper evidence.”

  Solemn, he nods. He turns toward the stage. “Let’s get to the bottom of this, shall we, Senator James?”

  For a moment she looks uncertain, but then Patricia bolts. She runs backstage.

  I can’t let her get away.

  No matter how much it hurts, I have to use my ability one more time that night. I grip my hair and think of the backstage area. I think of the emergency exit door and a second later I’m standing at it. And Patricia is charging right toward me.

  She stops in her tracks and gazes behind herself, backing up. She doesn’t know which way to run, which way to go, because every way leads exactly to the same place. Apprehension.

  I take a step forward and my head pulses with pain that threatens to knock me unconscious. I haven’t time traveled so often so close together, other than in a simulation. Blood oozes from my nose but, instead of wiping it, I slam my fist into Patricia’s face. My vision splits and I drop down to my knees as she is leveled to the ground.

  Patricia moans and I hear someone running toward us. I think it’s the police, but instead I see it’s the head goon and he has his gun aimed right at me. “You really think you’re going to get away with this?”

  I don’t know, but now I can’t find the will to speak, snark, or say anything to him.

  But out of nowhere Marcus O’Reily tackles my would-be-assassin and they struggle for the gun. I stand up, my fists clench, and I want to stop what is happening. I need to save Marcus just as much as I ever needed to save anyone.

  The police rush on to the scene. One apprehends Patricia and others train their guns on the goon.

  “Let the senator go!” one of them screams.

  Marcus tugs on the gun and falls backwards. The gun is still in the goon’s hand and he raises it straight at Marcus’ chest. “No!” I scream.

  And an instant later, even though I didn’t mean to do it, I zap forward in time to the exact moment when the goon fired his gun. I am standing in front of Marcus, my arms spread like an eagle, and I take a bullet to the chest.

  It’s hard to say what hurts more, the ripping and tearing pain in my head, or the bullet that rips through my flesh. I fall backwards onto the ground and gaze up at the ceiling. I hear the police scream and rapid gunfire as the goon is taken down.

  “Lara.” Marcus takes my hand. “Hold on. They’re calling the paramedics.”

  I nod, at least I think I do. Our eyes lock and I can barely keep them open even though I know I should. It’s not my first time getting shot and I’m not a big fan of the experience.

  Marcus strokes my face and for a moment it’s like being back ten years ago. I smile at him and gasp for air to talk. “I guess you’re not the only one who will never forget.”

  He smiles at me. He might be older, but he’s still that charming college boy I met. The one who briefly gave me what I needed to survive.

  Hope.

  Donovan crashes down beside me. “Oh my God, Lara!” He grips my shoulders and buries his face in my hair. Marcus stands and steps away and I hear the crashing of a medical cart beside me.

  Which is all good because I can feel my consciousness slipping away. I wish I could stay awake, tell Donovan I love him.

  What if I never get the chance?

  ****

  When I open my eyes next, I’m in a hospital bed, staring up at the white ceiling tiles that look so familiar. Panic grips my chest and I squeeze my eyes shut.

  I’m back in Rewind. None of it ever happened.

  My face scrunches and I think the pain of it all will co
nsume me, but someone takes my hand and pulls me back from the brink.

  “You’re okay, rock star.”

  Donovan. My heart cracks, but not with pain. It’s with love. I turn into his warm embrace and realize for the first time how much my chest hurts. I guess I was really shot.

  He strokes my hair and, with my chin on his shoulder, I gaze around the room. There are flowers on every surface and it brightens an otherwise sterile room. The window is open and I see summertime is in full swing.

  Thank goodness, it’s finally over.

  I kiss Donovan’s cheek and he takes my face in his hands. His eyes are alive and bright. “You had us so worried.”

  “What happened?” I grip his hand and he slides onto the bed beside me.

  “Mom, her mafia connections, everyone has been arrested for their involvement. Your mom and Jax are cooperating with the police and have been giving testimony. No one knows yet what’s going to happen to Rewind. Congress is going to evoke a special hearing. But none of that matters right now. Right now all I care about is you.” He caresses my hair and I pull him in for a sweet, tender kiss.

  It’s not a goodbye kiss. It’s a hello kiss.

  “My dad is standing beside me in all this. He never knew the lengths Mom was going to.” Donovan’s face screams how relieved he is. “But I don’t know where this is going to take him. Me.”

  I squeeze his hand. “I’ll be by your side. No matter what.”

  Donovan smiles and the door opens. I turn and see Mom and Jax. Their eyes flutter with happiness and there’s so much I want to say to them, but I’m unable to as Mike and Molly rush onto my bed, screaming with glee.

  “Lara!”

  “You’re awake! You’re okay!”

  They crush me and I wince in pain, but I hug them anyway. Mom steps forward. “Kids, please, she needs to heal. I’m sorry, Lara. Are you all right?” She strokes my hair back and I gaze into her loving face. Then I glance at Jax and he looks so uncertain, but I smile at him. A shy, sheepish thank you smile sneaks across his lips.

  “I’m okay.” I hug the twins and kiss Molly’s forehead. “I think I’ve never been more okay.”

  Epilogue

  The moment I’ve been working for the last six months is finally here. The moment I’ve waited for since I first read that news article about John Crane’s arrest.

  But my stomach is a bundle of nerves. I lean against the car and stare out at the back of the prison. The chain link fence is still locked tight. There’s been no sign of my father and I suddenly wonder if maybe he doesn’t want to leave. Maybe he doesn’t want to see me. The stupid bundle of flowers with a blue teddy bear in my hand suddenly seems stupid. Trite. I don’t know if I can do this, or what I’ll even begin to say.

  In all of my time travel escapades, Dad has been short-changed the worst. I don’t know how I can even begin to make that right.

  Donovan leans in beside me and takes my hand. “It’s going to be all right.”

  His face is bright despite how glum I feel. I know out of everything we’ll be okay. I was so worried he wasn’t the boyfriend I thought he was, but in the end Donovan is even stronger than even I gave him credit for.

  “You’ll pull through this.” He slings his arm around me. “He’ll pull through this. We’ll all manage somehow, together. No matter where it leads us.”

  I smile with trepidation. “We’re an us.”

  “Montgomery, don’t you know we’ve always been an us?”

  I know he’s right. We share a tender moment as the sound of the gate opening pulls my attention. And then I see him.

  Dad.

  He’s walking toward us in a pair of jeans with a loose t-shirt around his lean frame. In his hand is a small box of possessions. When he sees me, he slows down, but he doesn’t stop walking. I can see the emotion in his face as I step away from Donovan.

  And then, with my heart pounding in my chest, I run towards him like I’m five years old again and hurt myself on the playground. Dad bends over to catch me and the full force of my hug nearly topples us over.

  Dad squeezes me tight in his arms and I squeeze him back as he spins me around. “Oh, Lara.” He strokes my cheek and studies my face. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this moment. Can’t tell you at all.”

  There’s so much I need to say, but I kiss his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re out. So glad. I never believed a word of what they said about you. Never.”

  That, at least, is the truth. Dad looks overcome with emotion and he hugs me tight. There’s so much we still have to go through with Mom’s trouble with the government, Jax’s deception, and the trial of the century still has yet to begin.

  But I have my dad. My family. A life. Somehow we’ll all get through it.

  “Mom has a small dinner set for you. If you don’t feel up to it I understand.” I know the state has set him up with an apartment and Dad is set to be rewarded a lot of money for his wrongful imprisonment. I hope he’ll want to come back with me. I hope he’ll want to be part of my life.

  Dad nods. “I can do that. If you promise to tell me everything about your life.”

  “I promise. Do you want to meet my boyfriend?”

  He grunts and I laugh with a roll of my eyes. “Oh, Daddy.”

  Dad’s face stills. “I haven’t spent any significant time with you since you were six years old, but my God, Lara. I feel like… I feel like we know each other. I feel like you trust me.”

  “I do trust you.” I take his hand and my fingers coil around his.

  Dad stares at it. “But how? Why?”

  “Because you’re my dad,” I say simply and my voice cracks.

  He doesn’t say anything, but he slings his hand around my shoulder and I lead him over to where Donovan is waiting.

  They shake hands. It’s a moment that every girl dreads, but I love it. It makes my heart soar.

  What’s to come? The challenge of life—the journey that never really ends is about to come next. But, somehow, watching the two men in my life introduce each other, I feel like everything is going to be okay.

  We have each other. There’s nothing family can’t tackle together.

  Unraveling

  Lara Crane is free. And everything is out in the open.

  But past choices equal regrets for everyone involved. Donovan’s family is torn apart. Jax and Miranda’s marriage is in shambles as they negotiate an immunity agreement. And that’s only part of it.

  John Crane is free and grappling with his emotions about prison, his ex-wife, and the snake she married. The snake that knew all along how innocent he was.

  But that will all need to wait when the police come knocking at his door. But they’re not looking for him.

  They’re looking for Lara.

  Lara Crane

  My dad is back.

  But, everything is different.

  He spent ten years in prison for the attempted murder of my mother, but it was all a lie. He was setup and suffered for a crime he didn’t commit. Ripped from me, ripped from everyone, for ten years no one believed he was innocent.

  This is what I did to him when I changed the past and saved my mother’s life. I exchanged one parent for another, but now Dad is out. It’s time to come clean with him about what I did. How my choices put us in this situation. He has a rough idea of what happened to me, but I’ve saved the worst for last.

  So on the day he has visitation, I set the small table by the window with a vase of flowers and make his favorite dish. The tangy scent of ketchup mixed with brown sugar pipes from the oven, signaling dinner is ready.

  His apartment is small but everything is state of the art. Plus the view of the city is gorgeous. Way nicer than it was in our old place before everything changed. Back then we had a view of a dumpster.

  Dad has no memory of that place, but I remember everything. I carry all the memories of all the times I’ve changed the past. Sometimes my brain threatens tot bust under the weight of all those a
ltered moments in time.

  Dad sits at the table and sips the iced tea I pour him. Ice snaps in the glass as it begins it’s slow melt. I ready the meatloaf and then slide it in front of him.

  “I hope you like it.” I’m nervous around him because even though he’s dad, he’s different from the one I remember.

  But I love him anyway.

  Dad takes a few bites while I bustle back and forth. By the time I join him at the table, he’s digging into the mashed potatoes. “This tastes just like the one my mom used to make me when I was a kid. Not sure how—.”

  “I did it.” I sit a bit straighter feeling strangely proud. “I used her recipe.”

  Dad scowls and picks up his napkin. “How could you? The last time I made it you were probably only four years old.”

  “You gave it to me. You gave me the recipe. I used to make it all the time when you were at work and then we’d have it after you got home late. Sometimes I’d even mix a little into my mac and cheese.”

  He opens his mouth to argue and I reach across the table to take his hand. He stops in mid-gulp of air. “That…Honey, that never happened. Maybe you wished it did when you were little. When I was…”

  When he was in jail.

  I struggle to take a deep breath. “There’s something I have to tell you. You know I can go back in time, but you don’t know everything. I haven’t told you….” my brow furrows. I’m afraid once he knows he’ll kick me out. Maybe he’ll never want to speak to me again.

  Dad can read me like an open book. “You can tell me anything. I just want to be here for you, Lara. Having you in my life, it’s made everything better.”

  I blink back my tears. “We have mom here. She’s alive. She’s amazing, if not a little stubborn sometimes. Doesn’t listen to reason, but she’s alive. It wasn’t always that way.”