“Pretty excited over a melon, aren’t you?” Mike smiled.
“This is a rare find, Forrester, don’t you ever forget it while you’re here.” They finished shopping and checked out. Shauna showed her ID card and swiped it along a machine. The products were all put on a table at the same time and the machine beeped. The items were listed and totaled.
“Debit, one hundred dollars, Shauna Wentworth,” the machine said.
Mike jumped when he heard that. “Won’t the Global Guardians find you from that purchase?”
“No. It’s a pre-paid card. No way to trace it.”
Mike breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Let’s get out of here.”
* * * * *
They finished a meal of frozen vegetables, warmed to perfection, beans, bread and cantaloupe. Spare but healthy. Mike leaned back in his chair and said, “Now tell me about your parents.”
Shauna told him how they ran a rebel underground digital newspaper. They’d been printing more and more about the corruptness of the four world CEOs. She choked up when she came to the part about finding out they’d been taken away and were presumed dead. “That’s it. It’s been years and I’ve missed them every day. Now I get this note.” She leaned across the kitchen table. “I’ve got to find them, Mike. Have to. If they’re in trouble I need to save them.”
“What makes you think you can find them, let alone save them? Seems your CEOs are a pretty powerful bunch. How do you plan to outrun the Global Guardians?”
“I don’t know. I just know I have to find them.”
“It’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack, Shauna.”
“If it were your parents, your needle, wouldn’t you look for them?”
Mike thought about his parents. His mother had died long ago. His father had basically abandoned him and his brother when they were children.
“Mike?”
“No. I wouldn’t look for my parents.”
Chapter Three
“Why not?” Shauna asked.
“It’s a long story.” Mike leaned forward and put his hands on the table. “Let me help you find your parents.”
“Why would you want to help?”
Mike shook his head. He knew a stubborn woman when he saw one and this one had brains to go along with her stubbornness. “Look. I’m here. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of this new world. I like you, Shauna. I want to help.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “If you think this’ll get you sex you’re wrong.”
Mike burst out laughing. He hadn’t found a woman so quick in a long time. “It’s not for sex, though I wouldn’t mind it.” He put out his hand, palm up. “Let me see that note again.”
Shauna reached into her pocket and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. By the time she’d handed it over to Mike it’d smoothed out its own wrinkles. “Here.”
“What kind of material is this? It’s like the napkins I’ve used.” Mike was intrigued with the material. It had a firmness to it. He took out his pen and wrote on the back of it. The ink showed clearly, no smudges.
“It’s some composite material. I don’t know how it’s made, no one does. The Corporations own the patents and have never given out the formula. We love it. It’s reusable, washable, almost indestructible. We have different variations that are used for napkins, for everything we used to use paper for. It’s a wonder material.”
Mike fingered the piece of material, amazed. “What do you call it?”
“Paper.” Shauna’s eyes lit with amusement. “Really. No one ever named it anything else.”
Mike laughed as he reread the note. “What’s the hiding place only you would know?”
Shauna’s forehead crinkled. She frowned and drummed her fingers on the kitchen table making a ringing sound.
“Nice.”
“What?”
“The sound you’re tapping out on the table.”
“Oh. I don’t even notice it anymore. I grew up with that sound. To me it just means I’m thinking.” She stopped tapping her fingers and looked up at the ceiling. “Where would they hide something that only I would know? Wouldn’t George know about it too?”
“George?”
“My brother. The news reporter.”
“You two were close growing up?” Mike stood and paced the two-room apartment. He liked the view, it stretched all the way to the Pacific Ocean. A yellow skycar flew by in a blur and Mike started, still amazed at the changes he saw. Rainbow colored skycars flittered all over the sky at all altitudes. It looked like a beautiful choreographed ballet. He shook his head.
“Yes, very. We shared everything. George is younger by two years and I took care of him when Mom and Dad were working.” Shauna stood up, clearing the table of the dinner dishes. “Where would they hide something?”
Mike came over and helped, picking up dirty napkins and glasses. Well, not glass glasses, new-type plastic ones. Very cool. “Where do you want these?”
Distracted, Shauna stood at the sink staring into space. “Huh? Oh…here in the washer.”
“Everything? Even the napkins?”
“Yes. The napkins and utensils need to be sanitized. That’s one of the great things about this century. Everything is washable, renewable or biodegradable.”
“Finally.” He put everything in a jumble in the washer and watched Shauna.
“Washer, on. Light wash.” She turned away and wandered the apartment. “Let’s see. Where would they hide something for me to find? I’m sure they felt rushed to dispose of incriminating disks. Mom was probably shredding stuff like crazy. She and Dad had just bought an industrial shredder. She loved it. It was her new toy. Dad would’ve egged her on, telling her to hurry.”
“What was your favorite thing when you were a child? A toy? A book?”
“My dog. I had a Springer Spaniel named Rover.” Mike laughed. “Don’t laugh. From the minute we got him as a puppy he would rove the building, go to other apartments. By the time I’d find him, I’d be frantic and he’d be snoring on someone’s couch. Everyone in the building knew and loved him.”
“I’m sure he was a wonderful pet. I love dogs. But how would your parents hide something with him? Was he cremated? Do you still have his ashes somewhere?”
“He’s buried in the dog cemetery. It’s a huge place. People wanted to be able to visit their pets and after much pressure, the Corporations gave in and put pet cemeteries all over the major cities. No, he’d be no help now.” Shauna paced, then flopped on the couch. She let out a long sigh and lay her head on the back cushion closing her eyes.
Mike sat next to her and looked his fill. Shauna was a stunning woman. Her perfectly arched walnut eyebrows framed gorgeous aqua eyes. Her nose was straight and strong. Her lips were luscious. The bottom lip full and pouty. Her smile lit up her face and when she laughed tingles raced over his skin. She glowed with health and vitality and Mike knew he could seriously fall for her.
He kicked up his feet and put them on a clear coffee table. The only thing that marred the surface was a dark blue box. Mike picked it up and opened it. A hologram popped out. Mike leaned forward and studied the eight by ten picture. A smiling family hugged one another, obviously very happy. “When was this picture taken?”
Shauna barely opened her eyes. “On my birthday, five years ago. We were all together, a rarity and we made the most of it.”
“Mike touched a black button on the box and the picture changed. “Wow. This is great.” Now he saw a picture of Shauna’s brother George with a bunch of friends. Tall, dark-haired, very good-looking. It looked like they were in a foreign country. He flipped through the collection and said, “No way to inscribe the date and put in little comments about the trip, huh? I’d miss that. We can write on the back of our pictures to remind us where and when they were taken.”
“That’s it! That’s where Mom and Dad hid the message!” Shauna jumped up. “Let’s go. We’ve got to get back to New York.” She grabbed a pen and left George a than
k-you for the shelter placing it with a pre-paid credit card on the kitchen table. She wanted him to know they were paying for the clothes they took. Then she grabbed Mike’s hand and pulled him from the apartment saying, “Door, lock 5601.” They ran down the hallway, grabbed an elevator and rushed to the ground level.
“Why are we going back to New York? Where’s the note hidden?”
“You’ll see.”
* * * * *
This time he didn’t throw up. The skycar flew at warp speed, or as Shauna called it mach speed. They reached New York in an hour. “Won’t the Global Guardians be looking for us?”
“Of course. But this time we’ll be prepared.” Shauna returned the skycar to the rental agency parking lot. “We’ll rent skycars with prepaid money cards. They’re untraceable.”
“But what about our appearances? Our picture is flashed all over the world.” Mike thought about the holograms he’d seen. Fantastic images that were crystal clear. “Do we disguise ourselves?”
“No.” Shauna grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the parking structure.
Mike’s gut clenched as a jolt of fire raced up his arms. For a minute he felt weak but then a powerful warmth coursed through him. God, if this woman’s touch electrified him and her kisses weakened him what would making love with her be like? Mike’s knees trembled at the thought and he’d never felt a weak moment in his life before this. He suddenly craved her, wanted her, needed her.
“We will be protected by the citizens here. Just like in Los Angeles. You’ll be amazed at the underground network that exists.”
“Okay then. Let’s go and get your note from your hiding place.” Mike stayed by Shauna’s side as they hurried to her apartment. His eyes scanned the street. At least the Guardians were easy to spot in their lime green outfits. “What happens if the Global Guardians are waiting for us there?”
She grabbed her little black device and pressed the back of it. A three by five hologram picture popped up with the face of a pretty blonde young woman. “Jennifer? Don’t say anything yet. Yes, it’s me, I’ve blocked my hologram. Anyone been by my apartment today?” Shauna nodded her head vigorously. “Good. I’m almost there. Let me know if anyone pops up. Thanks.” Shauna pressed the back of the device again. “My apartment manager. She’s definitely on our side.”
They hurried into the building and to Shauna’s apartment. Once inside Shauna went to one of the recessed cubbyholes and reached behind an electronic gadget. She pressed a slight indentation in the wall and a panel slid open. “Yes!” She pulled out an old-fashioned picture frame.
“May I see?” Mike asked. Shauna handed him the picture and he stared at a beautiful liver and white Springer Spaniel. “Hi, Rover. How are you?” Mike murmured to the picture.
“My Dad found this old frame at the estate of an old woman who’d just died. It was so unusual—as you see we don’t have pictures anymore—that he paid an exorbitant price for it. Mom was angry that he’d spent over a month’s salary on it but he treasured it. Somehow he found a guy with an old-fashioned camera. He snapped the picture of Rover and gave it to me for Christmas. How I loved that dog and loved this picture.” Shauna took it from his hands and rubbed Rover’s nose. “I miss you buddy.” She turned the frame over and pulled off the backing. A piece of “paper” fell to the floor.
Mike reached down and picked it up. The material unfolded in his hands. He handed it to Shauna who read it out loud.
Sweetheart. If you get this note we were taken by the Global Guardians and escaped. Our newspaper has touched a chord inside the four Corporations. We’ve found a conspiracy that will eclipse anything seen in the last fifty years. Honey, we love you and are safe in our hiding place. Others have helped us and will help you too. Find a way to get to the World Starbucks on Fifth Avenue. Talk to Simon. He’ll know what you should do next. BE VERY CAREFUL. This conspiracy will topple the CEOs and reverberate throughout the world.
We love you very much,
Mom and Dad
“Oh, God.” Shauna sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face. “How can we find them? When was this note written? Are they still safe? Oh, why did it take four years for me to find this?”
Mike dropped to his knees and pulled Shauna to him. “They’re safe or they wouldn’t have sent the computer message. We’ll find them. I’m here.” He rocked her in his arms feeling her shoulders shake and her tears soak his shirt. “Shauna, listen to me. I’m a good policeman. I’m a good investigator, not that you have needed me much. I’m a very good protector. Let’s get to that Starbucks and see what happens.” He ran his hands up and down her back soothing and comforting her.
After a while she heaved a sigh and straightened. “Okay. That’s what we’ll do. I wish George was here too. Let’s grab some food and get going.”
There was a high-pitched buzzing in the apartment. “What’s that?” Mike asked.
Shauna fumbled in her pocket for her all-purpose electronic device. She pressed a button and the hologram popped up with a name and number but no picture. “Yes, Jennifer?”
“Get out. Get out right now. Twenty Global Guardians are streaming up the elevator and the stairs.”
* * * * *
Shauna stuffed the note in her pocket, grabbed Mike’s hand and raced out the apartment. “Door lock, 2105, extreme barrier.” The door clicked shut and two loud slams reverberated down the hallway. Shauna raced to the stairs and opened the door.
Mike understood immediately. He grabbed his revolver out of his waistband and followed Shauna up the stairs. They raced up fifteen floors. Mike had thought he was in shape but he gasped and held his unoccupied hand to the stitch in his side. They finally reached the roof and burst out into the bright sunshine. He shaded his eyes with his hand searching for the reason Shauna had brought them here.
“Skycar 58062, emergency.” A gray and white skycar flew to their side and hovered, the gull-wing doors automatically opening. “Get in.”
Mike had one foot inside the vehicle when the door to the stairway crashed open. “Move it!” he yelled to Shauna. He saw the first two Global Guardians whip out their weapons and fired at them. Five loud reports shattered the air and the two men dropped to the ground, red splotches staining their shoulders.
Chips of mortar flew off the building behind the other Guardians streaming out of the door and covered them with shrapnel. The men ducked and rolled to the ground firing their laser weapons. Red laser beams appeared dotting the floor of the building’s roof and the skycar. Mike ducked into the vehicle.
“Sorry again, Mike.”
This time he knew he wouldn’t like the maneuver Shauna would pull and mentally braced himself.
“Emergency ascent, ultimate angle, max speed.” The skycar shot straight up like a rocket. Mike was pushed back into his seat and felt the G forces straining on his body. He couldn’t move his arms, legs or head, couldn’t put on his seat harness. The skycar passed twenty thousand feet in thirty seconds and began to level out.
Shauna fiddled with some controls and the car’s engines smoothed. He regained control of his body. His breathing sounded harsh in his ears. With trembling hands he buckled his harness. “Whew.”
“How’re you doing?” Shauna grinned and patted his knee. “You held it together pretty well this time.”
“Yes, lucky for you I kept my stomach intact. I would never live it down if I needed a third change of clothes. Now I know what astronauts felt when they sat atop a rocket pushing the space shuttle into the sky.”
Shauna’s head swiveled toward Mike. “You actually saw a space shuttle? I thought they were legend.”
“It’s only been a hundred years, Shauna. The space shuttle flew, it was real.” Mike looked at the controls and saw they were flying at thirty thousand feet. “Not many skycars up here.”
“No, these skylanes are used for long-distance flying.”
“Don’t you need a flight plan?”
Shauna laughed. “Yes but we wouldn�
�t have filed one anyway.” The sound touched him, tickled, caused the tiny hairs on the back of his neck to stand up. He groaned. She looked at him with concern. “You feeling okay? Aftereffects of the emergency ascent?”
“I’m fine,” Mike croaked. He willed his body to relax, fought to suppress the raging desire that had rushed through him at the sound of her laugh. “I think I have altitude sickness. My body is reacting strangely.”
Shauna glanced at him. Her eyes studied his face then traveled down his neck, past his chest and stopped at his erection. She smothered a laugh behind her hand. “Not altitude sickness.” She smiled a Mona Lisa smile. “Nice to see you’re ready for any emergency.”
Mike’s hand shot out and grabbed Shauna’s. “Stop tormenting me.” But he grinned and took some deep breaths to calm his raging body. “Keep it up and who knows what will happen?” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “We might end up making wild, passionate love. Would you like that?” He didn’t let her answer. “I would.”
Shauna’s face flamed. She glanced at him and he saw stark desire in her eyes. She licked those full lips and lightly bit the tip of her tongue.
Mike groaned in surrender. He leaned over and pulled her to him. The kiss shattered any resolve he had left. He plunged his tongue into her wet mouth and swept the inside. Shauna moaned. Mike felt the air shift around him and knew he’d seriously lost his heart to this stranger. He cupped one side of her face while his other hand teased her breast.
“Warning. Warning. Losing altitude.”
“Shit.” Shauna pulled away from Mike and said, “Autopilot. Remain thirty thousand feet, course 1250, heading 1020.” The skycar changed course and flew into the late afternoon sky. “Don’t ever touch me again without my consent.”
Mike started at her tone of voice but relaxed when he saw her lick her lips. “You want me, I can feel it. Why don’t you admit it?”
No Future Christmas Page 4