Percival sighed. “I don’t need this.”
“No, I’m sure you don’t. You’re not surprised, are you? There is a true pattern here.”
“No.” Percival shook his head from side to side. “Are you a competitor?”
Laughter escaped the man’s lips. “No. Think of me as someone like, I don’t know, the FBI? I can find out anything. I’m still collecting evidence. It won’t be long before I have enough to take to the authorities.” He could tell Percival was convinced by the notebook that happened to look exactly like the one Mahoney kept in his jacket pocket. “Mahoney doesn’t know I took this. I’ve copied all of its contents. He’ll have it back soon enough. You do not want to be accused of aiding and abetting. I’m sure that could mess up your career. I strongly suggest you leave town and wipe the memory of Mahoney from your mind. You also need to take every shred of research that you may have shared with Mahoney. This guy is bad news.”
“I’ll consider it.” Percival stood. “Are we done?”
“One more thing. Mahoney is being watched. He’s going down. Don’t be surprised if he is arrested very soon, even if it’s just for harassment.” He tapped the notebook. “Be very careful with your next move.”
Percival walked away at what appeared to be a leisurely pace, while inside, he was seething.
Martin stood up from the bench with a look of satisfaction on his face. He briefly wondered if he had just done away with one of his client’s competitors. Was that all there was to it? Not that he would ever know. Jack did not give away any information about the client. He took a cellular phone and placed a call to Jack.
“Hey. Yeah, it’s done. It looks to me like it worked.”
“Well done. I’ll still be tracking him for a while. Don’t forget the other call. See me tomorrow about your pay.”
Martin opened up his phone and called one Amy Dirks. When she answered, he abruptly hung up, and called again, breathing heavily. This time she sounded frustrated and worried. Hanging up, he sauntered over to a young girl at another bench.
“Call this number for me, please. Tell the man you’re Amy, and you want him to meet you at the coffee shop outside the university tomorrow. 2 p.m. Oh, if he says you sound different, just say it’s allergies.”
He waited until the call was done. This would hopefully be another nail in George’s coffin, or at least a move toward the end of his career. He really wished he could be there and see what Amy would say when Mahoney showed up unexpected. Surely, some animosity or at least a little distrust had already started before now? Did she have any idea Mahoney was watching her? The heavy breathing calls surely would help as well. Martin was getting creative, way beyond Jack’s instructions. He’d be pleased, though.
For Martin, it was just another day’s work.
#
Milt picked up the phone. “Yes?”
“He did it. It appears that Percival was convinced.”
“Remind me to ask you how sometime. You’ll still keep tabs on him?”
“Of course. In fact, he has just purchased an airline ticket to D.C. It leaves the day after tomorrow. Just enough time to gather his research.”
“Let’s hope he stays there then.”
“Well, I’ll certainly let you know if anything changes.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will. Thanks again, Jack.” He briefly wished he could see how things would turn out for Percival Stein. Would he end up with a contract with the government? Regardless, Milt knew Stein would be better off washing his hands of Mahoney.
Chapter 23
Shine
It was springtime, and Tabitha was wearing a sleeveless dress to match the pleasant weather. The gallery was upbeat with excited chatter and the tinkling of wine and champagne glasses. Milt looked quite handsome in his tux, the usually unruly hair slicked back with gel. He beamed when he looked at Tabitha.
Carl, the owner of the gallery, came over to greet them. “You’re looking as beautiful as ever, Tabitha. And Milt, not bad.” They shook hands.
On the table near Tabitha’s pocketbook was her sketchpad. Carl flipped it open to look at pages of Mars landscape, girls with elfin ears, an ogre with a huge alien-looking gun, and a troll of a woman with messy hair and long skirt, holding what looked like potatoes in both hands. A space captain in his anti-gravity suit, and a woman who looked a lot like Tabitha, sitting in a chair with electrodes attached to her temples, eyes closed, with a peaceful look on her face. Above her head floated the words, “I remember, and I will never forget.”
“Tabitha, this is Colin Marks, from Top Shelf Publishing Company. He’s the guy I told you about.” Colin shook hands with Tabitha.
“I see the sketchpad. Carl had actually sent me a photograph of a couple of them, but they are even more fetching in plain sight.”
Tabitha handed him the sketchpad. “So, you think you have someone who would work with me to get a story for these sketches?”
“If you have an idea where you’re going, yes. The pictures do actually seem to tell a story on their own. That makes this collection so strong. I’m really excited about this project. And now, please meet my niece, Ellie.”
Ellie was all of thirteen years old, with long, flowing hair about her face in a sixties style, cute little blue dress on with a hip looking choker necklace. She looked like a younger version of Ellie from the jail in 2047. Tabitha suppressed a giggle. Here she was, comparing this young girl to a woman who was simply part of a projection of a future that might one day become real. Still, she wondered how old the potato woman would be at this time, then stopped herself from doing the math.
“Pleased to meet you.” She extended her hand, and the young girl shook it.
“Ellie here is also an aspiring graphic novelist. You should see the things she draws and the worlds she creates. I had told her about you, and she was very interested. So, I thought you two would like to meet. You might give Ellie a little inspiration!”
“Ellie, I’ve heard about your talents. And now, here you are. Would you believe that it feels like we’ve met before?” Tabitha asked as she shook little Ellie’s hand.
“Absolutely, Mrs. Braddock. It feels like I already know you somehow, too.” She spoke very fluently, with a mature and polite tone of voice.
“Can you show me some of your work?” Tabitha asked.
“Of course!” Ellie took a sketchpad out of a messenger bag that completely clashed with her dainty blue dress. Inside of it were all kinds of water creatures and a woman at the bottom of the sea, sitting on a throne.
That woman looked like Tabitha. Those sea creatures resembled some of the people she had seen in the year 2047. One of them had skin of lavender.
Having moved way beyond freak-out moments, Tabitha merely smiled.
“Where do you get your inspiration?” she asked the girl.
“Mostly from my dreams,” Ellie answered.
“Would you believe, that’s where I get mine, too?” She handed Ellie the sketch pad, imagining her as an older woman, stuck in a jail cell, ranting and raving, then briefly wondered if there were any way she could save her from such a fate. It’s just your imagination, she reminded herself.
Ellie shook her head no. “Mrs. Braddock, your pictures look too real to only be based on dreams.” She spoke in such a knowing manner that Tabitha was taken aback.
“So, then, where do you think I could come up with all this?”
“Oh, I don’t know Mrs. Braddock. I mean, I believe you. But those dreams must seem so real to you, just as mine seem real to me.” She looked up at Tabitha in earnest, as if she herself felt the same way. So much so that it made Tabitha wonder, Did I wake up in one of this girl’s dreams?
“Yes. Yes, Ellie. They do.” That is all Tabitha needed to say. Ellie smiled up at her, for it had just been established that they were two kindred souls. She could already tell there was nothing simple about this extraordinary girl.
#
&nbs
p; Out on the patio for a breather, Tabitha looked up at a sky sprinkled with stars. A cherry blossom tree bloomed beside the patio, and she felt her nose twitch, an urge to sneeze. The urge left as soon as it came, and it couldn’t eclipse the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
“May I join you?” Milt asked.
“I suppose so.” Tabitha smiled.
“You don’t seem to be nervous at all, meeting Mr. Marks, I mean. I’d have at least a small case of nerves.”
“I was nervous on the way here. But everything here seems right. It all seems as if it is meant to be. That girl, Milt, her drawings. The underwater world! Of course, for me it’s just a metaphor. I wonder what it is for her. Is she just a dreamer? How could her thoughts be so similar to my experiences?”
Milt looked at her, concerned.
“I’m not freaking out, but I feel like I found a kindred spirit. I feel good.”
Music drifted out to them from the gallery. Tabitha recognized “Under the Milky Way,” by the Church, reminding her of younger years. The dreamy melody and the singer’s edgy voice created a background for the sky above.
“Do you want to be alone, or should I stay? I don’t want to intrude,” Milt added, in a low, gentlemanly voice.
“Oh, Milt, please do. You belong here. Look at that sky. All those infinite possibilities. Some scary, some reassuring. We’re just tiny specs here. No one knows what tomorrow brings. But my world is not so small anymore. I see them, all the possibilities reflected in the stars. The things you told me about, the things I have glimpsed. You belong here, by my side.”
Milt took her hand in his. She was right. Their journey was a journey to be taken together. He struggled for the words to tell her just what they had achieved at the airport and how they achieved it. His private detective had helped convince Percival to distance himself from Mahoney. That, and Mahoney may have been stopped once and for all. It all seemed to be good news. Did he dare believe it would last? One thing was obvious; he couldn’t keep this all to himself.
“Tabitha, you won’t believe this.” He paused and looked into her eyes.
“Do you think you could tell me something I wouldn’t believe? After all I’ve seen?” Tabitha chuckled.
“Touché.” He lowered his voice. “Seriously, though. Jack called earlier. He said Mahoney’s in jail.”
“Oh. That. Him.” Her voice turned serious.
“All of the steps in our plan seem to have worked. I intercepted Stein and a would-be financial backer. Jack will still keep his eyes and ears alert as to Stein’s coming and goings. He got someone to convince him that Mahoney was bad news. It seems Stein may have been the one to turn Mahoney in. There was also a stalking matter. I don’t know how, but Jack got proof. It was likely the same woman who might prompt him to one day go back in time to kill the family of a would-be suitor.”
Tabitha nodded. She let out a sigh of relief.
Milt knew that now might not have been the best time to bring it up, yet he felt so close to her, it was hard to keep something to himself. He also wanted to get it off of his chest so he could stop musing over it.
“I’m so glad to hear that. It does make me feel better,” Tabitha whispered.
“Still, you know, there are no guarantees. I am not looking into a crystal ball anymore. Sometimes I think it would have been better not knowing.”
“You mean he’s not guaranteed to stay there?”
“It is possible, but then, anything is possible.” He rested his head on her shoulder. “Of course, he would now be a man with a record, and that will certainly get in his way.”
“So, then, what if he gets out? Will you have Jack watching for that, too? Does he know you were behind all this?”
“No, no. He doesn’t; he didn’t need to know. That’s the beauty of it. And yes, we would need to keep tabs on him. Jack will be watching. Maybe that is why I did it in the first place, partnering with Mahoney. I mean, will do it, or will have done it in the future, the future that we saw. Am I even making sense?”
“Future, past, a future we saw in the past. It is very confusing.”
Milt was about to speak when he turned and saw the young girl, Ellie, standing in the sliding glass door.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It sounds like you are having a heavy conversation.”
“Did you hear us?” Milt had an edge to his voice.
“No. I mean, I wasn’t listening or eavesdropping. No, I heard you talk about the future. I just….wanted to tell you they’re serving dessert.” The girl looked visibly upset. Perhaps Milt had been a little too harsh with her.
“It’s okay, Ellie. I’m not sure I want dessert. Milt, do you?”
“I’m still so full from the dinner. We may in a little while. I’m not cross with you, Ellie. Sorry if it seemed that way.”
“Alright. If I don’t see you again tonight, it was so nice meeting you, and--”
“Ellie, if you leave before we do, please come out and let me know. I want to talk about meeting up again and discussing these talents of yours.”
The young girl’s eyes lit up. “If it wouldn’t be intruding?”
“Not at all,” Tabitha answered.
Milt just looked down at his shoes, holding in his thoughts, knowing that Tabitha had taken a liking to the girl. Not that he didn’t, but he felt anxious over what Ellie may or may not have overheard.
Ellie smiled. “Of course, I will let you know. For now, I’ll leave you two alone.” She spoke like an adult. Bowing, she went in and closed the sliding glass door.
“Dessert is starting to sound better with each passing moment. If you don’t make me eat it alone. Tomorrow is probably a better time to talk about this anyhow,” Milt went on. “There are more journeys to be taken, even if here at home. We will take them together, well, mostly.”
“You were a little curt with that girl,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry. I’m losing my social edge.”
Tabitha laughed. “As if you ever had one.”
“Now that’s not fair!”
Tabitha pulled closer. “Seeing you are a dad, you need to be mindful of a youngster’s feelings.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
“So what evidence could have done Mahoney in?”
“The blue notebook he carried around, and the evidence it contained. He was recording the daily activities of this girl, the one he was in love with. That and he showed up outside her workplace at the university and it turned into a huge confrontation. It’s like he did this to himself! Too perfect, really. She pressed charges, police went to his lab to speak with him about it, and all Jack and I can figure is that they must have tripped him up and gotten him to admit something even worse, or maybe they even found something.”
“How did Jack know all this?”
“He has friends on the police force.”
“You keep such strange company these days.”
He grabbed her hand. “Look who’s talking, she who consorts with fairies and homeless women.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Don’t forget jailbirds, and dragons, and Tomas with the fish scale arms.”
“Indeed. I wonder whatever became of him.”
“I don’t know, but I am imagining something peaceful and hopeful.” She put an arm around his neck, gazing up at the stars. She lowered her voice. “Our journeys will take place here. You did say there’d be no more travels in the Envo.”
Milt looked her in the eye. “Yes, that’s right. It’s already in pieces. I agree, we have an adventure here. An important one, a future to protect for our child and any others to come.”
Tabitha smiled, trusting him. No, their life together was never meant to be “normal.”
“Any regrets?” she asked.
“Well, at times, I wish I hadn’t even started this goose chase after a man I’ve never met yet. Still, if he gets the power to travel, you know what I mean, he could come back here, from the
re. I want to be sure that doesn’t happen.”
“You’re right, Milt. I think you’ve been doing the right thing. I also believe everything will be okay.”
He looked back at her and ran a hand over her hair.
At the corner of Tabitha’s eye she saw a pond reflecting the stars that were shining in the moonlit sky. She turned toward him, and Milt put his arms around her. She gazed into his eyes, two dark blue ponds, reflecting the starry sky above them. She willingly fell into them.
Credit for research and inspiration:
“Cabbage Leaves for Breast Engorgement and Weaning.” https://www.verywellfamily.com/cabbage-leaves-breastfeeding-and-breast-engorgement-431593
“History and Basics of Graphic Novels, Internet Public Library.” http://www.ipl.org/div/graphicnovels/gnsHistBasics.html
“Manipulating the brain controls maternal behavior in females and reduces aggression in males, mouse study shows.”
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151007110749.htm
“Post-Partum Depression, PPD.” http://www.aapsus.org/news/article/postpartum-depression-ppd
“Post-Partum Depression--Diagnosis, Medications, and Treatment.” http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/understanding-postpartum-depression-treatment#2
“What is Mars?” http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-mars-58.html
Y2K- (For a laugh and a walk down memory lane): http://www.everything2000.com/news/news/partyY2Kready.asp
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Undercurrents in Time Page 20