Peter walked down the corridor, and as he got nearer the light at the end of the tunnel, he began to hear music playing. Then, like an old warm blanket on winter’s day, he heard Benny and Stella’s voices. They were arguing, naturally, and Peter smiled as he stepped into a large, well-lit gathering room. The room had a large plasma television on one end surrounded by a sofa sectional. On the other end was a large, open-ended kitchen with a dining table for eight. He stood there, smiling for a moment listening to the two bicker about whether Stella should put nuts in the brownies again.
Peter cleared his throat. Stella was the first to notice him.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” yelled Stella, as she shuffled her way around the kitchen island and over to Peter. With each step closer, her arms widened. When she reached him, she wrapped them around Peter and squeezed for all she was worth. “Oh, baby. What have they done to you? They won’t tell us nothin’.”
As Stella held Peter in her bear hug, Benny moved his way around the island and strolled up to Peter as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Peter reached out a free hand and shook Benny’s in firm greeting. Peter freed himself from Stella before he spoke.
“How are you guys?” grimaced Peter.
Benny opened his mouth to speak, but Stella took over. “How are we? How the hell are we? I’ll tell you how we are. We’re—”
“Stella, shut up already,” Benny interrupted her. “Let the man breathe, for Christ’s sake.”
“It’s OK, Benny,” Peter smiled at Stella reassuringly. “I understand how she feels. I’d feel the same way if it were me down here.”
Stella smirked in disdain towards Benny but did as he suggested and remained quiet.
“Really, how are you two?” Peter asked again.
“We’ve been better, Pete,” replied Benny. “What the hell is going on? Why are we being held down here?”
Peter didn’t answer right away. Knowing the General was listening, his hands were tied to certain extent. “Well, I’m working on this top secret thing. I can’t go into too much detail about it, because it’s, well, top secret.”
“That’s what that pompous ass said when they brought us down here.”
“That would have been General Applegate. He’s sort of my boss.”
“Yeah, that is one messed up dude, my friend,” added Benny.
“Why do you say that?”
“He was all right when we first met him upstairs in that movie set. But when he came down here to show us around, well . . . let’s just say he was acting pretty erratic. I mean he was really buggin’ out. His eyes were dartin’ from side to side, and I honestly thought he was gonna jump right out of his skin.”
Peter frowned slightly. “Yeah, that Applegate can be a loose cannon sometimes.” He said, satisfied at the verbal jab he just delivered to the man upstairs listening.
“If you say so. Still no excuse for locking us up down here.” Benny reiterated.
“To that statement, Benny my friend, I whole-heartedly agree. But . . .”
“But what, honey?” asked Stella, hanging on Peter’s every word.
“Well, I’m involved in some pretty deep shit. Until I am through with this ‘project,’” Peter laid out his famous air quotes, “anyone that I have talked with might be in danger. The general actually brought you here as a precaution because of me. Because of that night at Herb’s. They thought I was being followed by . . .” Peter was actually having fun with the ruse, pausing again, and fictitiously looked around to see if anyone else was there to overhear him. “followed by spies,” Peter ended the statement in a near whisper.
Stella gasped and Benny looked confused. Peter had hoped that Benny would understand and not reveal any of what they talked about that night. To help ensure that Benny didn’t say anything, Peter gave him a slight wink when Stella was looking dumbfounded at the floor. Benny caught the wink and nodded slightly.
“Well, I for one feel a hundred percent better knowing we are safe down here.” Benny exclaimed, aiding in Peter’s ploy.
Stella on the other hand looked a bit fearful. She was speechless.
“Stella? Are you going to be OK?” Peter asked.
“Oh, honey. What have you got yourself into? I’m fine, but I’m worried about you to death.”
“I’m safe, Stella. I actually have my own security detail. You’ve probably seen him around. He’s the big oaf-looking guy. Trevor’s his name. He’s a good guy.”
“Oh, I like Trevor. He’s so polite when he comes down here. That other guy though. He’s a real you-know-what,” Stella said dramatically.
“You ain’t whistlin’ Dixie, kid. He’s a real pain topside as well,” explained Peter. “For what it’s worth, the general has informed me that you’ll both be compensated for your troubles,” Peter added, knowing that if the general were listening, he was about to have an aneurysm.
“How much are we talkin’, darlin’?” asked Stella.
“Well, if all goes well, you will both be allowed to leave in a little less than two weeks, and—”
“Two more weeks?” gasped Benny.
“—and if all goes well you will both be reimbursed for any loss in wages, past and future. Sorry buddy, but all this is for your safety.”
“I doubt I’ll have a job after another two weeks down here,” Benny said with a frown.
“I’m not so sure about that. But if you are let go, the general has guaranteed that you’ll get paid up until you get a new job,” Peter said, satisfied that Applegate was probably bouncing off the walls of his office about now.
“Hell, they can fire me!” drawled Stella. Benny just grinned at the thought of not having to work for his current employer again.
Peter felt pretty satisfied with the handling of his friends’ situation. So what if the general has to pay a bit more to make things right, he thought. It’s the right thing to do.
“I, for one, think we need to celebrate,” Stella proclaimed as she stood up. “Can you stick around for a drink, for old time’s sake?”
“Yeah, sure. Just one though. I am in some pretty intense training every day.”
“Cool. Stella, why don’t you mix up some of those wonderful margaritas, and I’ll give Peter the dime tour of our humble abode,” said Benny.
Stella smiled and gave Peter a quick peck on the cheek before moving toward the kitchen.
Benny took Peter room by room, bragging about the fine amenities his new residence had to offer. The sleeping quarters were to be expected, but the fully equipped gymnasium was quite impressive.
“And this here is our little spa,” Benny boasted as he walked into a fully-tiled hexagonal room. The “spa” had four separate saunas and a large hot tub in the center.
“What’s in here?” Peter asked as he walked around the corner from the saunas and into a large showering area.
“This here is where the biggest mistake of my life happened,” cried Benny.
“Come again?” asked Peter.
“Well, we had been down here a few days, and I had a moment of weakness,” Benny explained, hanging his head low. “You see, Stella and me were just coming out of our separate saunas and I felt like a dip in the hot tub would finish off the day nicely. One thing led to another, and, well . . .” Benny’s words drifted off.
“No. You didn’t,” insisted Peter.
“Yeah. I did. Stella was on me quick and there was nothing I could do about it.” Benny looked up and continued. “And I didn’t know how long we were gonna be down here, so I thought, what the hell, and dipped my toes in the ocean.”
“And?” pressed Peter.
“And what? We screwed. What else do you think happened?”
Peter, not wanting to further embarrass Benny, quickly changed the subject. “So, uh . . . these are the showers?” His voice echoed off the floor-to-ceiling tiles. As Peter reviewed the room, he thought there was no place to hide a camera or microphone, so he moved quick. He ran to two of the shower handles and crank
ed them as fast as he could to the right. Cold water spluttered and violently sprayed from the nozzles.
“Benny. Listen quick,” Peter whispered. “I don’t think we are being watched in here, so I need to know; did the general ask you about that night at Herb’s?”
“Yeah, he asked both Stella and me about it. He wanted to know what you told us about some mission.” His voice was low.
“Did you say anything? Did you mention what we talked about that night?”
“Nope. That conversation’s between you and me. Nobody else needs to know. What’s goin’ on?”
“I AM going on the mission that you and I discussed that night. Do you remember?”
“Yeah, you’re going through some time machine, right?”
“That’s right. And you haven’t told anyone, have you? Nobody knows about it, right?”
“You have my word, Peter. You’re like a brother. I’d never betray you.”
Peter paused a moment and basked in Benny’s proclamation. “I love you too, man.” He slapped Benny on the back, and they fell into a momentary man hug before pulling apart.
“One more thing, Ben. Be careful with these people. ‘Specially that Mark guy. I think he’s the real loose cannon. Don’t trust him.”
“What about that general guy?” asked Benny.
“He assured me that you two would be treated well and be released as soon as I leave. I hope that’s the case, but just stay sharp anyway.”
Benny nodded in agreement.
“Good. Let’s get back to Stella before she comes after us and corners us both.” They both shuddered . . . then chuckled. Peter turned off the water and they retraced their steps hoping for some killer margaritas.
CHAPTER 10
Five days to Linear Shift
With only five days left before the time jump, Peter needed to do some research on Operation Abraham. He also knew he would need some cash back in 1942 in case he ran into obstacles securing necessities for his personal operation. He figured a grand should do. Based on Dr. Lamb’s dollar value comparison, that would be equal to around $15,000 today. He needed to find $1,000 in pre-war bills to take on the trip.
With the advance money that the general gave him prior to joining the mission in his pocket, he was off. Well, he and Trevor were off.
“I want to thank you for being my chauffeur today,” Peter said as Trevor maneuvered his car through the evening rush hour traffic.
“Not a problem, Peter. Isn’t it your son’s birthday? How old’s he gonna be?” asked Trevor.
“He’s going to be fourteen. He’s a big coin collector, so I thought I would surprise him with something from the antique coin shop over on Valencia.”
“I collected coins once. My granddaddy left me a shoebox full of ‘em.”
“You don’t say?” Peter asked, trying to sound interested, while really deciding what questions he should be asking the shop owner.
Thirty minutes later they pulled off the 101 and navigated the dozen blocks to the coin shop. The closest parking spot Trevor could find was around the corner.
“This will be fine, Trevor. It shouldn’t take me but thirty to forty minutes to find something,” Peter said, hoping to coax him to stay in the car.
“I’m supposed to have eyes on you at all times. The general was very specific about keeping you in view.” Trevor paused.
“That’s fine, Trevor. Let’s just drive around until we can get a closer spot. Shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes or so,” Peter exaggerated.
“No, no. It’ll be fine. I’ve got an errand to run for the general anyway. I have to have your word that you will not pull any shit like sneaking out to Herb’s.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“Ok. I’ll swing by and pick you up after, and not a word gets back to the general, or he’ll have my ass,” Trevor said nervously.
“Mum’s the word, Trevor. I’ll meet you out front when I’m done.”
When Peter walked into Yesterday’s Change, he was greeted by a wiry old man sitting alone behind a glass display case at the back of the small shop.
“What can ah do fer ya’?” asked the store keeper.
“Um, hi. I’m looking for a bit of information and possibly some old bills,” Peter explained.
“I think you’re in the right spot,” replied the man. “What kind of information you looking for?”
Peter began his recitation. “I’m throwing a themed dinner party in a few weeks, and I am trying to make it as authentic as possible. I’m also looking for information about bronze pennies from 1943.”
The old man whistled loudly. “I ain’t got any of them here. That’s one rare find if you can get one.”
“I’m not actually looking for that specific penny, just information about it. I am, however, looking for a fair bit of cash with dates around 1940.”
“That, my new friend, I can do. How much you lookin’ for?”
Peter paused, hoping not to shock the old man into a cardiac event. “Say, around a thousand?”
“Holy criminy!” exclaimed the man. “Whaddya need that much cash for?”
“Well, I’m a time traveler and I am here from 1941. We ran out of money and I’m here to replenish the supply,” Peter joked, hoping to lighten the shock.
“Ha! Good one. But, seriously. Seems like a lot of moola for just a dinner party.”
“Actually, I want to use the cash for the casino part of the event. It’s a big charity thing. And honestly, I only need to borrow the cash for a week. I’d like to sell it back to you after the event,” Peter said, embellishing.
Nodding in acceptance, the man behind the counter said, “The name’s Chet. It’ll be a pleasure doin’ business with ya’. So what’s the deal about the bronze penny?”
“Oh, that,” Peter said. “It’s all part of the charity event. I am doing some trivia about the wrongfully released and circulated bronze penny. I’ve done a bit of research already but just need a few things cleared up.”
“I’m your man,” said Chet. “Just so happens I’m a bit of an expert on that fabled gem.”
“Expert? How so?”
“You, sir, are lookin’ at one of the original employees of the mint when they reopened and started minting again in ‘68.”
Peter could barely contain his excitement. He had hit the mother lode with Chet. Over the next thirty-five minutes, Chet explained that the bronze penny from the San Francisco Mint was in fact released on purpose by a disgruntled employee. Chet went on to explain that in ‘42, when the 1943 pennies were minted, there was a backlash from the employees because of the order to mint them in steel rather than bronze. They felt the population had grown comfortable with the distinct color of pennies and if they were silver, there’d be issues with the dime. Each of the three mints in existence pressed some fifty to sixty pennies from the bronze planchets. However, most of them were confiscated by mint officials before they were released into circulation. The San Francisco Mint was the only one that severely curtailed the release of those erroneous pennies. All because of Bartholomew Canter. Chet continued his history lesson about Bartholomew being recognized as a hero in US Treasury circles because of his ability to stop the release.
“Obviously, none of this information was ever made public,” Chet added as he was wrapping up the historical cash for Peter.
“Why not?” Peter asked, hoping to extract every drop of information out of Chet as possible.
“Because. If word got out that there were a handful of bronze pennies in circulation when they weren’t supposed to be, the army would have had some kind of hissy about how incompetent the US Mint was. Remember, we needed the copper for the war. I was at the mint many years after it all took place. I was one of the guides after it reopened and was privy to a lot of concealed facts about the facility and its inner workings.”
“You said earlier that the mint was reopened in ‘68. Why was it closed?” asked Peter.
“That’s another good story,” re
plied Chet. “You see, the mint was built in ‘37 or ‘38, if memory serves. After it was opened, operations were moved from the old facility to the new building. What wasn’t noticed was the gaps in design. The original architect left out a few minor security walls in the basement. It wasn’t caught until routine maintenance of the sewers found the hole in the security. They had to close her down in ‘50-something for repairs. It was ‘53, I think. They covered it up with some story, never publicizing the potential security problem. The government took fifteen years searchin’ out new architects and fixin’ all the holes before they could reopen.”
Chet clearly enjoyed sharing his intimate knowledge of the controversial situation.
“Now, is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Actually, there is. I need a birthday gift for my son.”
Ten minutes later, Peter stepped out of the coin shop carrying a bag with his son’s gift inside. To his surprise, the burgundy sedan was parked right in front of the coin shop, and Trevor was leaning against the front fender with his arms crossed.
“Trevor. I’m sorry for the delay. The old guy in there talked my ear off.”
“It’s fine. I just pulled up ten or fifteen minutes ago. Did they have a gift for your boy?”
“They did. I picked up one of those books with slots for coins from each year they were minted. I filled up half the slots from the coins in the shop. Brett should be pretty happy,” Peter replied. “Are we ready to head home?”
“Yes, sir. Let’s make like a tree . . .” Trevor said.
As Trevor drove toward the Cooper residence, Peter thought about his conversation with Chet. Operation Abraham may have taken a positive turn, given this new security issue. He had to try to get some private time on the computers at the warehouse over the next few days. There was information to be verified and addresses to find.
CHAPTER 11
Three days to Linear Shift
Benny Welsh had wandered anxiously about sublevel ten’s living quarters for the better part of the day. Since the surprise visit by Peter earlier in the week, he could not get some of the things Peter said out of his head. “Keep your options open” and “Don’t trust anyone” continued to reverberate.
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