Spinning Time: a time travel adventure

by Jones, D. F.

  Standing between Johnnie and Stormy, Monica pointed at their location on the map. “I’d use the drones again, but that’d trigger satellites. We’re going old school on this surveillance operation. I’ve given Zane untraceable devices we’ll use while we track. He’s also placing a GPS tracking device on the vehicle once the lovers go to sleep.”

  Monica dragged her fingers through her long blonde hair. “I want Julia’s location by the end of tomorrow. Then Zane and I will head back to Lunar City. Johnnie and Stormy will set up residence in whatever town they’re hiding in.”

  Stormy’s black eyes narrowed, and her thin lips curled around her teeth. “Twelve-hour shifts until Ms. Boatwright delivers? That’s a long eight months. What’s in it for me?”

  Raising a brow, Monica laughed sarcastically. “For one thing, you get to stay alive, Stormy.” She giggled and shrugged. “I’m only kidding. What do you want? How may I be of service to you?” Monica kept Stormy as an enforcer because of her killer instincts, but she had the mentality of an insane person. That made Stormy a high-risk property. Monica wouldn’t think twice about killing Stormy if she got out of hand.

  Stormy jutted her chin and squared her shoulders. “I want Ruben’s job when he’s assassinated. I want his digs too.”

  Zane raised his voice in a high-pitched shrill, “Hey, that’s my job, bitch. My digs.”

  Monica ran her hands down Johnnie’s muscled biceps. She shook her head and shouted, “Finish the damn job. Then we’ll see whose left standing before I issue new room assignments.” She grabbed Johnnie's big hand and said, “I need you to rub my shoulders. I’m getting a headache.”

  “Sure thing, Boss.” Johnnie was the jock type, all brawn with little brains, but he was one hell of a lover and followed her directions without falter. He’d been the reason that Andy broke their engagement. Too bad. Monica would’ve already had the girl if it hadn’t been for the big brute.

  Johnnie scooped Monica up in his arms, and she giggled. Draping an arm around his thick neck, she said to the others, “Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

  Stormy yelled out, “What if the baby boy isn’t the one we seek?”

  Glancing back, Monica glared at Stormy and said, “Oh, he’s the one, and Stormy, I like your assertiveness, but the next time you talk back to me, I’ll kill you. Understood?”

  Stormy lifted her chin and replied, “Understood.”

  Zane laughed and pushed Stormy, which led to a scuffle as Monica left the room.

  The next eight months were going to be long. Monica didn’t want to trigger suspicions too soon. The Lord Supreme knew of her ambitions. He liked that about Monica, but she doubted he’d like her plotting to take over the Empyreal Palace.

  Chapter 13

  Julia rolled over in bed. She lay on her back looking up at the ceiling. Streams of sunlight poured through the windows. Smiling, she wondered if Phillip was real. Was it all a dream? She sat up and swung her bare legs over the edge of the bed and locked eyes with Ruben. The desire in his eyes struck deep, and she glanced away. “Did you sleep in here last night?” The thought of him watching her sleep made her cheeks darken in color.

  “No. I was sleeping on the couch when I heard the front door open. You were sleepwalking last night.”

  Placing her hands on her knees, she said, “I never sleepwalk. You’re joking, right?”

  “Nope, I found you on the front porch.”

  Abruptly, she stood. “Oh, Ruben, I dreamed about Phillip. It was so real. He was here in this house and took me for a tour. I have to see if it's real.” She took off running, taking the stairs two at a time until she reached the door on the second floor.

  On the verge of hyperventilating, Julia opened the door, and there it was—the recording studio. “Ruben, it’s here.” She yelled, but Ruben stood behind her. “Phillip built this studio for me.”

  Ruben leaned against the doorframe and chuckled. “What else did Phillip say?”

  Julia placed her hand on the back of the chair to help her balance. She felt dizzy, and Ruben swooped in and picked her up before she hit the floor.

  Ruben said, “Are you okay?”

  “Just a little dizzy.”

  Ruben carried her into one of the bedrooms on the second floor and sat her down on the bed. He pulled a straight-back chair close to the bed and sat down. “Do you want a glass of water?”

  “No. I just need to sit for a second.”

  “So, tell me about your dream.”

  Julia went through the dream step by step. “I didn’t know about the recording studio. We were on the front porch. I told him about the baby.”

  “Do you feel like walking downstairs? I’ll make breakfast, and we’ll talk about your dream. You hungry?”

  Julia sighed, and said, “I’m starving.”

  He chuckled. “Me too. Craving anything special?”

  “Hmm. Sausage and gravy and chocolate milk.”

  * * *

  Ruben and Julia walked down the stairs, and she asked, “Have you heard of lucid dreams? Phillip said that we were in a lucid dream where physical laws didn’t apply.”

  “I have heard of lucid dreams. From what I recall, the person in the dream is aware they’re dreaming, and Phillip is correct in that physical laws don’t apply. The person in the dream remembers every detail after waking.”

  Julia blinked several times. “I had all of those. So, maybe our souls reunited on another plane. If I can live in an alternate reality within a parallel universe, then why shouldn’t I be able to exist on an astral plane?”

  Dropping his head, Ruben rubbed his face and then looked up. “This is way above my paygrade. Who am I to say it didn’t happen? I have to confess something.”

  Tilting her head, Julia said, “What?”

  “When I found you on the porch you thought I was Phillip. You kissed me. Sorry, I kinda kissed you back.”

  She laughed. “I am so embarrassed. I suppose you thought I was nuts.”

  “It was the middle of the night. People do weird things in the night. Let’s make breakfast.”

  Julia said, “Thanks for not discounting what happened. Just hearing myself, I’m skeptical, but it felt real.”

  “Then look at it as a divine gift.”

  In the foyer, she smiled and said, “Do you mind if I leave you while you make breakfast to take a shower and change clothes?”

  “Not at all. I love cooking.”

  The main living area had graduated vaulted ceilings with lots of glass windows and doors, and to the right of the room was the kitchen with red cedar and a gray stone bar which separated the two areas.

  Rummaging in the stainless fridge, Ruben looked up at Klock’s barking. “Open the door, Ruben.”

  Ruben went to the back deck and opened the door. “Did you find anything?”

  Klock wagged his stub of a tail. “Nope. No breaches that I could find. Whatcha cooking? I’m hungry, man.”

  “Sausage, or would you prefer bacon?”

  Another bark came from Klock. “Both. Wake me when breakfast is ready. I’m going to catch a quick nap.” Ruben watched Klock trot next to the fireplace and crash out on the rug.

  After retrieving the desired items from the fridge, Ruben started cooking. He loved Earth’s cool kitchen gadgets most likely developed from Alien technology.

  Without using the Wi-Fi, Ruben punched his saved playlist and used Bluetooth to sync to his boom blaster and got into the slow rhythm of Brownstone’s, “If You Love Me,” while he cooked. He wondered when Charlie and Andy would get to the Chalet.

  Sometimes, Ruben got lonely. Not the physical kind of lonely, but what wouldn’t he give to love or be in love with someone so much that the love transcended time? Ruben thought about Charlie. She was the only female friend he’d ever had. She never took his crap.

  He thought of his grandfather. The one part of his former life he missed. Ruben’s grandfather had taught him the worth of a man was his word. Honesty.
Integrity. Compassion. Ruben tried to keep those traits. He wondered what his grandfather would make of time travel.

  He punched in Michael Jackson’s, “Billie Jean” and started dancing while he finished breakfast.

  Julia’s laughter made him turn around. She giggled, “You can dance, Ruben.”

  Ruben did a Michael Jackson spin and moonwalked. “Best thing about Earth is the music and arts.”

  Julia clapped, and Klock woke up barking. “What? What’s going on?”

  “Breakfast is ready.” He set a plate down on the bar for Julia, then placed another plate on the floor for Klock before grabbing a plate for himself. “How’s the chocolate milk?”

  Julia sipped, and with a slight milk mustache, she replied, “Yummy.” He chuckled and joined Julia at the bar.

  After finishing his food, stillness washed over him. He prayed he wouldn’t let Julia, Phillip, Andy, or Charlie down. They were all counting on him.

  Julia must’ve sensed a change in him. She reached over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for breakfast. Thank you for helping me. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the day because tomorrow will worry about itself.”

  The skin on the back of his neck tightened and his voice broke. “Phillip’s a lucky man.”

  She tilted her head and said, “Did you know that Charlie’s in love with you?”

  Klock barked again. “He’s blind as a bat.”

  Ruben shook his head and laughed. “Be serious, for space sakes. I highly doubt it.” He paused and stared out into daydream land. “I remember the first time I saw Charlie. She fell through a time portal from a rock concert in 1969 and fell forward into the year of 1989. Charlie was so young, completely dazed from acid, and wearing a psychedelic fringy tunic with a pair of hip-hugger jeans. She had long, straight red hair down to her butt. Charlie held up two fingers and said, ‘Peace, man.’ I trained Charlie for ten years, and then Monica placed Charlie on her tracking team a while back, and we lost touch until I received your assignment.”

  Julia began to help him clean the kitchen. “Charlie is the same age as I am.”

  Ruben cocked his head to the side and raised his right brow. “Forever twenty-one.” He washed the skillet and placed it back into the cabinet.

  Wiping down the counter, Julia looked up at Ruben. “Maybe you should take another look at Charlie.”

  He draped his arm around Julia’s neck. “Aren’t you the little matchmaker?”

  She wiggled out of his arms and turned around to face him. “I never try to match-make. I see Andy is forming a crush on her. But the way she looks at you is the way I look at Phillip.”

  “Hmm, I’ve never thought of Charlie that way.” He looked down and said, “And I wished you hadn’t put that thought in my head because I’m never going to be able to erase it. Grab your tennis shoes. Let’s go for a walk. Remember, we have to keep you physically fit.”

  Klock barked, “Me too, me too.”

  Ruben placed the hand towel on the counter next to the sink. “Why don’t we all go for a walk?”

  Julia frowned and asked, “Are you talking to Klock? It’s like you two can communicate.”

  Ruben and Klock both laughed, and Klock rolled onto his back with his legs kicking in the air. Ruben said, “I understand Klock, and he understands me.” He showed Julia the back of his wrist. “See that little scar? It’s an Alien language translation chip. Klock is an alien, and he talks.”

  Julia bent over coughing. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  * * *

  Spring Semester had ended at BFU, and only a skeleton staff remained for the summer classes. Charlie dropped Andy off in front of the Science Building, and the warm breeze blew his hair off his face as he jogged up the steps and through the double doors.

  After climbing the stairs to the third floor, Andy took a left and made his way to the department office midway down the hall. The science department office manager sat behind her desk clicking away at her keyboard.

  Ms. Rogers took off her glasses. With a grin, she said, “Hello, Andy. I received a phone call from Dr. Callaway about your leave of absence. I can’t believe both of you are going on leave. Here’s the form I need you to complete, please date and sign it. I’ve arranged for graduate students to take over your classes until your return. I’m going to miss your cheery disposition.”

  Andy picked up the form and perused it. “Ms. Rogers, you are too kind. A year will go by in no time flat.” He leaned over and signed and dated the form. Andy couldn’t remember the last time he missed work, and he’d never requested leave. “Please redirect all my calls and emails to the central science department. I won’t have much access to either while I’m away.”

  Ms. Rogers raised a brow and leaned in. With a look of concern, she asked, “Where are you going?”

  Andy handed her the form then squeezed her hand. “Now, Beatrice. I have personal and professional issues that have arisen, and I can’t divulge the information. I’m sure everything will turn out all right.” He didn’t know if he was trying to convince Beatrice or himself. “The department is left in accomplished hands. Goodbye, Bea.”

  “Goodbye, Dr. Clayborn.”

  Taking a deep breath, Andy turned and left the office with a single-minded purpose of meeting Charlie in the parking lot. He started down the stairs when he noticed a female student rummaging through her backpack on the second-floor landing. As he stepped around the girl, the hair on his arms rose. The student grabbed his ankle, causing him to fall face-first on the painted concrete floor.

  In an instant, the female had Andy on his back with a knife at his throat. Pale face, black hair, darker eyes stared down at him. With a rough voice, she said, “Where is Julia Boatwright? Don’t fuck with me or I’ll gut you like a fish.”

  A male student on the third floor leaned over the railing and yelled, “Hey, I just called the police.”

  It was enough of a distraction for her to look over her shoulder when Andy’s fight or flight instinct kicked in. Andy grabbed the woman and flung her down the steps toward the first floor. The male student rushed to his aid and helped Andy to his feet. Andy said, “Thanks, man, thought I was a goner for a second.”

  The male student pointed to his throat. “You’re bleeding.”

  Andy felt rivulets of blood trickling down into his shirt. He placed his hand on the stairway rail and looked over to see if the woman was dead. She was gone. “She’s history. What’s your name? Will you walk with me back to my office?”

  “My name’s Kenny. I’ve taken several of your classes and admire your work, Dr. Clayborn. I’ll help you any way I can.”

  Andy opened the door to the office, and Beatrice's hand went to her mouth. “Oh, Andy, what happened?”

  “Bea, please hand me the first aid kit, and Kenny will tell you what happened while I go to the restroom and clean up this blood.”

  Bea’s hand trembled opening the cabinet door. She tore into a bandage and pressed it against Andy’s neck.

  Andy said, “I’m okay, Bea. Really. The student probably got an F on the final.”

  Bea’s voice broke. “That’s not funny.”

  Shaking his head, Andy went out the door and across the hall into the men’s room. Placing the kit on the bathroom counter, Andy turned on the water and splashed his face and throat, then squirted antiseptic on the wound. His attacker barely grazed the skin. Dabbing the skin, Andy used a little antibiotic ointment on the cut, then rolled gauze around his neck three times, securing it with medical tape.

  He looked like a deranged priest from a horror movie.

  Andy needed to get to Charlie fast. Leaving the men’s room, he ran into the Campus Police.

  “Dr. Clayborn, we were in the building when Ms. Rogers radioed in that you were assaulted. We need to get your statement and description of the suspect.”

  Andy closed his eyes for a second, then opened them. With an exhale, he said, “I have to make this quick. I’m headin
g out of town, and I’m late as it is. I appreciate your hard work but I’m not pressing charges. One of our students, Kenny, called the police, and he’s with Ms. Rogers in the office. I’m sure he can give you a full description of what happened. All I remember is a girl on the steps going through her backpack, then tripping me and placing a knife at my throat. The rest is hazy.”

  The interrogating officer held an iPad and quickly typed on the screen. “Did you recognize the student? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

  Andy dragged his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I didn’t recognize the student and she only grazed the skin. Look, I’m taking a leave of absence and was heading out the door when someone attacked me. I’m late as it is and must go. Please talk to Kenny, and report any findings to the department. Good day, officers.”

  Scratching a brow, the officer said, “Oh, I see, sorry to have detained you, but we have to follow through with our line of questioning. If you’re not pressing charges then our hands are tied. Just the same, I’ll keep in touch with the science department.”

  With a sharp nod, Andy turned, ran down the steps and out of the building. He looked left and right. There was no sign of the girl. His heart pounded loudly, and his ears began to ring when he heard a couple of honks.

  Charlie sat in a silver and black Grand Cherokee Jeep. She’d stolen another vehicle. He jumped in. Anxiety pulled the skin tight across her face when she shouted, “Phillip Andrew.” Andy looked up startled. She touched his neck. “Who did this to you?”

  He gave her a sideways grin. “Aw, you care about me.”

  Charlie punched him in the arm. “Dammit, I’m not joking. Who hurt you?”

  “She had very pale skin, shoulder-length black hair, black lips, very dark eyes, and piercings everywhere.”

  “That bitch. I’ll rip out Stormy’s freaking innards and feed them to Klock.”

  Several students stopped and gawked at them as Charlie flew through the ten-miles-an-hour speed zone. Looking in the rearview mirror, she said, “There’s a black Escalade following two cars back.”