9781940740065

by Paul B. Kohler

  Peter’s eyes had fully adjusted and he could see Julie’s face. Her eyes were intense and concerned. “Is there anything wrong with that? I mean, I’ve had a miserable last few years. I just want to make things right for . . .” Peter paused, feeling his emotions overtake him. “I want to make it right for a change. For them. I have two great kids back home, and . . .”

  Peter slumped against the fireplace. He’d been so focused on either the mission or Operation Abraham, he’d forgotten about the kids, and he felt sick. “I miss them badly, Jules. I’m here, an entire lifetime away, and there isn’t a single thing I can do for them.” Peter wiped tears from his eyes.

  “I understand that, Peter, but you can’t go changing things like this. Once you open Pandora’s closet, there’s no looking back.”

  Peter smirked, thankful for the humor to turn off the waterworks.

  “What’s so funny? I’m being serious. You can’t—”

  “You mean Pandora’s box, not closet, and I think you mean a paradox,” Peter said, taking her hand into his.

  “Well, obviously. Just . . . just shut up. You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, I know. But what difference does it make what I hide here? Nobody will ever know.”

  “I’ll know, and that’s enough to make all the difference in the world. Besides, something very strange happened when I walked in.”

  “You felt it too? It felt like . . . like the room was twisting and turning, and . . .”

  “Everything was fine, and when I walked into the room, you were kneeling there, and as you slid your hand into the hole, the whole room blurred and you vanished for a moment. It was like you were simply erased from existence.”

  “Did you see the woman? The German?”

  “No. The room was empty. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure it was the same room.”

  “So strange,” Peter said, trying to understand.

  Julie rolled to her knees and sat face-to-face with Peter. She extended her hand, holding the roll of pennies.

  “Oh, so you found my stash?”

  “Seriously, Peter? All this work for a roll of pennies?”

  “It’s not just any roll of pennies, Jules. These are special pennies. This roll could potentially be worth millions of dollars—”

  “No.”

  “But all we have to do is hide them now, and . . . wait a minute,” Peter leaned forward, his face inches from hers. “You said you walked in just as I slid my hand into the hearth?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “That must be it. If you hadn’t seen me do it, I don’t think anything would have changed. But because you saw what I was doing, another linear shift occurred, even for just a brief moment.”

  “I don’t understand. What shift?”

  “When you saw that I was about to make a substantial change in the timeline, your knowing is what shifted our current reality.”

  “I get that. But how is my knowing so important?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with what will happen on our mission. When the linear shift occurred, I saw a German officer holding a sub-machine gun. But as soon as I pulled the roll of pennies back out, everything shifted back. So weird.”

  Peter took the roll of pennies from Julie and moved to the hearthstone.

  “Peter, don’t!”

  “It’s okay. I’m not going to leave them there. I just want to see if it will shift again when I try.”

  Holding the roll of pennies, Peter twisted his hand a quarter turn and slid it into the hole, just as before. He looked directly at Julie, but nothing changed. No tilting of the room, no blurred vision.

  “Huh. I was sure that it would have—” Peter began.

  “But we both knew you weren’t going to leave them in there. It totally negates the fact that a change was going to be made.”

  Peter nodded in agreement, pulled his hand back out, and slid the pennies into his pocket.

  “I’m sure one of the docs can explain it all when we get back to the hotel,” Julie said, rolling to her feet.

  “No! We can’t tell them anything,” Peter insisted.

  “But why? You’re not still planning on going through with this, are you?”

  “No, no. I won’t. It’s not that. We can’t tell them anything,” Peter said. “Jules, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about the mole in Epson’s lab. They know about us—our team, our mission, everything.”

  “Who knows about us?” Julie asked.

  “There’s this secret society. They call themselves The Global Nation Initiative, and they’ve known about us from the moment we arrived. My money is on Gallagher, but Stewart is still a suspect.”

  “Peter, we’ve been through this. Gerty is a good person. Hell, she even lent me her car to follow you.”

  “She knows about this too? Jules, what else have you told her?”

  “No, she thinks you’re off gallivanting around San Francisco, but she doesn’t know why. I kept that to myself after I figured things out.”

  “Well, at least there’s that.”

  “How do you know about this society, anyway?” Julie asked.

  “Well, I, uh . . . met their leader. Asher Mandrake. Nice fellow. His thugs? Not so much.”

  “When did this all happen?” Julie asked, concerned.

  “Just this afternoon. I got nabbed by a couple of their guys, and . . . Jules, I’ve got a lot to tell you.”

  Peter spent the evening telling Julie everything he’d learned from his captivity. After several rounds of Q&A, Julie followed Peter back to their hotel. They hatched a new plan and hoped surprise was on their side.

  CHAPTER 17

  Peter stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the Perry Hotel, surveying his surroundings. He ignored the pedestrian hordes scurrying like ants about their hill. He focused on the parked vehicles in front of the hotel. One by one, Peter scanned each of the cars, evaluating. On the seventh car, he found them. Two men sitting, watching, waiting. There was no question who they were waiting for.

  Satisfied, Peter turned up Powell Street. As he got to the end of the block, he heard the car start and pull into traffic. He smiled. So far, so good. He continued his leisurely stroll, only picking up his pace slightly. Keep comin’, fellas.

  After several blocks, Peter slowed as he approached his destination. The heavenly scent of baking bread emanated from the entrance as Peter stepped inside. He found a booth with a view of the street and sat. As he watched the traffic flow outside, he wondered if he’d given Julie enough time for her part of the plan. He could only hope.

  Moments later, his pursuers pulled to the curb across the street. Squirrel exited the vehicle, lit a cigarette, and leaned discreetly against the car, staring. He bored a hole through the front window of the bakery. Hello, boys. Peter smiled again as he was greeted by the waitress.

  “What can I get ya?” she asked.

  “Just a coffee, thanks.”

  She nodded politely, but before she could turn to go, Peter asked, “Where’s the men’s room?”

  “Down the hall, second door on the left.”

  “Thanks,” Peter said. He glanced back toward the waiting car and noticed Squirrel was no longer in sight. Getting impatient, he looked at his wristwatch. It had been twenty minutes since he and Julie carried their bags to the back entrance of the hotel.

  “Here you go, dear. Want anything to eat?” the waitress asked, setting a steaming ceramic mug in front of him.

  “Excuse me? Oh, no. Just the coffee, thanks.”

  She pulled out an order pad, scribbled on it, and tore away the page. After dropping his check on the table, she turned and retreated to the kitchen.

  Peter glanced at it, saw the coffee was ten cents, and placed a dollar bill on top of the check. Wishing he could see her face when she saw the exorbitant tip, Peter exited the booth and made his way toward the back of the café. As he neared the restrooms, he glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching. Se
eing no one, Peter headed straight out the back door. As expected, Julie was parked across the alley.

  As he climbed into the passenger seat, Julie asked, “Well? How’d it go?”

  “We couldn’t have planned it any better,” Peter replied. “How about you?”

  “After loading the bags in the car, I went back to the room and made one last pass before sliding the letter to the docs under their door. Peter, are you sure we couldn’t have told them in person?”

  “I’m positive. If we had let them know, they might inadvertently let it slip to Epson, Gallagher, or Stewart. No, we need to split town quietly.”

  Julie dropped the car into gear but held her foot on the brake. “I guess you’re right. It just feels like we’re being dodgy with our own friends.”

  “They’re smart enough; they’ll figure it out. Now, what time does the train leave?” Peter asked, pulling out the railroad map.

  “There’s one that leaves for Seattle at 11:14, and there’s another at 12:35 for Flagstaff. The last one departs for Ogden, Utah just after 2:00.”

  It was just before ten in the morning. “We’ll, it’ll be tight, but let’s try to make the first one. We can always head west out of Portland. I want to disappear before Mandrake figures out we’re gone.”

  “Agreed,” Julie said as she let off the brake and accelerated through the alley. As she approached the cross street, she stopped, waiting for a break in traffic.

  Peter was still looking at the various routes across the United States when Julie suddenly threw the car in reverse and stomped on the gas pedal. “What the—”

  “It looks like our friends got impatient for you to come back out,” Julie said, nodding toward the alley entrance.

  Peter looked up and saw Squirrel staring back, his cigarette barely hanging on to the rim of his lips. As recognition washed over his face, he sprinted out of sight, most likely to join Muscles to continue the tail, or something worse.

  Julie surprised him as she deftly swerved the Packard in reverse at such a high speed. Peter hoped no unsuspecting person stepped into the alley. Thankfully, Julie hurtled the car onto the cross street without killing anyone, flinging the steering wheel in the direction of the oncoming traffic. Smashing the brakes, she looked forward, slammed the car in drive, and hit the accelerator.

  “Where are they?” Julie begged.

  Peter whipped his body around and watched out the small rear window of the coupe. “I don’t see them. Hold on—there they are. They’re about a block back, but they’re gaining!”

  “Shit!” Julie exclaimed. “Which way should I go?”

  Frustrated at the sudden urgency, Peter managed to maintain his cool. “Just focus on the road. I’ll keep an eye on them while I think. Just drive faster.”

  Julie already had her foot to the floorboard as the Packard roared down the road. “Hold on!” Julie screamed. She blasted through an intersection, launching the car a foot in the air as the road dropped toward the wharf.

  “Great, Jules. Head west. Let’s try for the Golden Gate Bridge.”

  Julie leaned on the gas pedal, and with the steep decline in the road, the speedometer rose quickly, inching toward sixty miles an hour.

  “Won’t that take us in the wrong direction? If we want to make the train—”

  “New plan, Jules. Let’s lead them away and try to lose them in Sausalito. We can cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and head down into Berkeley.”

  “No good. That bridge hasn’t been built yet. We’ll have to take the long way around the bay. If we’re lucky, we’ll just barely make the last train by the time we get all the way around.”

  Peter stared out the back window as he considered their options. “They slowed down a bit, but he’s still back there. Hang a left on Broadway. There should be less traffic.”

  “Maybe not. We’re pulling away from them heading downhill. If we turn up Broadway, we’re going to slow down.”

  “That’s okay. I’ve got an idea.”

  Julie passed several blocks before letting off the accelerator and tugging on the steering wheel. She merged into the traffic flow on Broadway with ease.

  Peter looked ahead and saw that the traffic was far worse than he’d hoped, but it was too late to change the plan now. “Can you pass some of these—”

  Before Peter could finish speaking, Julie swerved into oncoming traffic and passed three cars as she crested the next intersection. Peter glanced back, and just before his vision was cut off, he saw their followers’ car screech to a halt and turn up Broadway in pursuit.

  “Damn. Almost lost ‘em,” Peter moaned. “Quick, turn right onto Webster.”

  Julie skidded toward the intersection and turned just in the nick of time. The steep decline launched them into the air once again, and their angled momentum nearly caused her to lose control.

  “Easy, Jules.”

  “I’ve got this!” Julie snapped. “Can you see them?”

  Peter looked back as Julie made another turn onto Vallejo. With their drop in elevation, it was difficult to see any cars on Broadway. “I think we’re good. For now, at least.”

  Julie spun the steering wheel again and pulled the car into a sublevel garage, stopping inches from the wall of the house.

  “Jules?”

  “Relax. We’re just going to sit here for a bit.”

  From this position, no one could see their car unless they were on the street directly behind them. “Okay. I think this’ll do.”

  “Come on, Peter. This is genius! They’ll never suspect that we parked in someone’s garage, let alone Frank’s garage.”

  “Frank?” Peter asked.

  “Yeah, this is my stepfather’s house in the past . . . er, I mean the future,” Julie smirked.

  “Ah, very clever. Now, as long as we don’t run into the current owner, we’ll be okay,” Peter said.

  Julie nodded, turning the ignition off.

  They sat in silence. The only sound was the ping and ticks of the car’s exhaust adjusting to the temperature change. Peter glanced at his watch and was surprised to see that it was only 10:15.

  How long should we wait? If they left too soon, they might be seen by their pursuers. If they stayed too long, the current homeowner could discover them and either call the police or confront them. Neither were good scenarios. Julie must have been thinking the same thing as she reached for the ignition.

  “I think we should backtrack a bit. That’s our best option,” Peter said.

  “Just a few more minutes. With any luck, the goons are still headed up Broadway.”

  “Either that or they’re doubling back. It’s hard to say.”

  Julie nodded and started the car. “Here goes nothing.”

  Backing up the steep driveway, Julie pulled back onto Vallejo and headed in the direction they came. As she stopped at the intersection, she asked, “What if we head down to the wharf and get lost in a parking lot for an hour or so?”

  “That was my first thought, but I think we just need to keep moving. Let’s head south for a few blocks and then head east. If we aren’t being followed, we should make a beeline to the train station.”

  Without another word, Julie followed Peter’s suggestion and began driving. As she passed Broadway, Peter looked up and down the street for any sign of Asher’s minions. Five minutes later, Julie made a left turn. The street was vacant of all traffic, pedestrian or vehicular. Julie continued to drive for several blocks before pulling over.

  “Well?”

  “I think we did it, Jules. I think we lost ‘em,” Peter said, patting her leg. “Let’s head to the train station and get the hell out of Dodge!”

  She looked into his eyes. “Let me catch my breath first. All this excitement has gotten me a little flustered.”

  Peter returned her gaze, then leaned in and pressed his lips firmly on hers. She responded with equal passion. As they kissed, Peter stroked her hair and she leaned further into his embrace.

  As the moments
passed, Peter knew they had no time for frivolities, but he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. It was Julie that ended the moment of passion. “We, um . . . I think we should continue this once we’re on the train. If we plan on catching the 11:14, we’ll need to hurry.”

  Peter held his face only centimeters from Julie’s, basking in the moment. “Yeah, I think we definitely need to continue this. But I think we’ll be fine catching the next train,” he said before kissing her again. “Besides, I like the idea of traveling south instead of north.”

  Julie fluffed the side of her hair in an attempt at regaining her composure. “Can you drive to the station? That chase really took it out of me.”

  “Sure thing, Jules. You deserve the rest. Your driving skills were quite impressive, though.”

  “Driving is not the only thing I’m good at,” she said as she swung her leg over Peter’s lap, straddling him momentarily. Before shifting the rest of her body to the passenger seat, she kissed him once more while sitting on his lap.

  Peter beamed like a schoolboy with a crush. He slid behind the wheel and pulled away from the curb.

  Julie sat close to Peter the entire forty-minute drive to the train station. The ride across the bay bridge was breathtaking, and Julie nuzzled his neck as they reached Berkeley.

  After unloading their luggage at the curb, Peter parked in a lot across from the train station. By discreetly stashing the keys behind the spare tire, one of the docs could retrieve it as instructed in their letter.

  Once Peter returned to Julie, they found a cart for their bags and made their way toward the ticketing counter posthaste.

  As they approached the line, neither of them noticed the black sedan pull to the curb. As the car sat idling, Emmett climbed from the back, momentarily stopping to get last-minute instructions from the other passenger. Asher Mandrake glanced toward Peter and Julie and nodded his head before pulling the rear door shut and speeding away.

  While standing in line, Peter analyzed their route to New York. As there was no true direct path stretching across the country, he anticipated two transfers along the way.