by Alexia James
Jeremy sat at a tall table by the open doorway. The rich smell of coffee mixing with the musty scent of rain on hot concrete. Traffic was busy at this time of day. Cars sweeping over the rain-drenched road.
Murmuring at the edge of his attention was the grinding of beans, the dull metallic thud of strainer hitting bin, and the low din of conversation from patrons. Combined with the rain, it all conspired to have a soporific effect on him.
He absorbed the sensual tapestry in contented silence. Warm air clung to the windows, leaving raindrops as brilliant points of light on opaque glass; the aspect outside, dark with cloud cover.
It took effort to shake off the feeling. The waitress came to re-fill his cup, and he took the opportunity to beg an A-Z from the girl; then sat yawning over the pages, waiting for the caffeine to kick in. Finding what he was looking for, he compared the address he had noted with the map in front of him and a slight smile curved his mouth.
His time device buzzed in his pocket and he checked the caller ID, answered, “Sanders.”
“Jeremy. Greg Jones here, I heard a rumour you were around. Thought I’d give a call to see if there’s anything you need.”
“Jones, good to hear you. I’ve just arrived. Coffee’s good.”
“Yeah, you can’t beat the 21st century for coffee. You’re okay for money then?”
“Matt supplied me with a card from the office.”
“Speak of the devil, Matt tells me you’re hunting down a girl here. If you want me to run her through the system, I’ll need an address.”
“All right, but I doubt you’ll find anything. I believe she has happened on a device by chance and does not fully understand its function. In fact, she may not have realised she travelled at all.” Jeremy took another sip of coffee.
“Doesn’t hurt to be careful. You gonna DNA?”
“I expect so. In any case, I doubt she will give me any trouble. The only problem will be in not scaring her half to death. This kind of thing is what Matt is employed for; it is his area of expertise not mine. Unfortunately, he is otherwise engaged at present. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything like this. I only hope I can remember how to go about it.”
Greg laughter sounded down the line, “I’d offer to help you out, but I have to confess I’m curious to see how you get on.”
“Thank you. You certainly learn who your friends are.”
More laughter. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. What made you suspect her? Matt said you didn’t nail her on the first visit.”
“True. Her clothing was consistent on both occasions, but was nothing out of the ordinary for this era. However, having learned of my bookkeeping abilities, she came back to ask for help with her business accounts. The date was printed on every page of her ledger book and as if that were not enough, she left her diary behind. I cannot imagine someone who was not innocent making such a basic error.”
“Poor kid’s gonna get a shock when you catch up with her. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes. “I suppose it is inevitable that she is going to be unhappy with me, but we don’t have a lot of choice in this matter. Unless you would like to assign someone else to this.”
“Sorry, all our operatives are otherwise engaged at this time. Besides, I think it will be good for you, Sanders. It’s a great opportunity to practise your people skills.”
“Somehow I doubt she will agree. Well, I will deal with this as best I can and hopefully it will be resolved amicably.”
“Drop in if you get time. It’d be good to catch up a bit. What’s Matthew working on that’s so important?”
“He tells me he has a new lead and does not want to arouse suspicion by disappearing at this time, but unfortunately it leaves me at a loose end to pursue this girl.”
“You never know, you might get to enjoy yourself.”
“I’m not sure that would be a good idea for either of us. I cannot see that she would want some jaded man from 2112 dictating to her, especially when I take her DNA and newest toy away. Try as I may, I cannot see that she will view me particularly favourably afterwards.”
“What’s wrong, losing your knack?”
“Give it up, Jones.”
“Maybe you could introduce me.” There was a telling silence then Greg burst out laughing. “I think I want to meet this girl. I think I’m going to teach her some karate moves so she can deck you when you get out of line.”
“Keep dreaming,” said Jeremy, but he was smiling as he hung up. He finished his coffee and as the rain had eased, he took his leave and walked briskly down the high street under a sky bulging with clouds.
Once he found Freya’s address he looked around the area carefully. He walked around the block, taking note of vehicles and housing, while watching out for anything that might be suspicious or out of place. Despite his attitude with Greg, he was careful.
Only when he had finished all his checks did he go down the steps to her flat. Standing slightly to one side, he knocked on the front door. Then waited a full five minutes before he used his time device to enter.
Her flat was small and cluttered, and he stood still for a moment breathing in her scent. He called out her name while making a quick run through of the rooms to ensure she was not there. While he waited for her to return, he began his search.
It did not take long, and by the time he had finished he was certain that she was from 2008. Her ID matched up perfectly for the era; her name coming up on the census he accessed from his time device. She had not one single thing from 2100, and all her documentation clearly showed a life lived in the 21st century. No one could manufacture such a history, right down to the faded ink on some of her older utility bills. She was no runaway from a future century, but a legitimate citizen of this time and place.
He would still need to discover where she had found her time device before he took it from her, and he was certain she would not want to give up either information or hardware. Still, it was not as if he had any choice in the matter. He sighed and sat down to wait, hoping she would not be too long.
That, of course, depended on where she was. Since it was late Sunday afternoon, he was working on the assumption that she would come home for dinner, or at least come back to change if she intended to be out for the evening.
He tried not to speculate over whether she had already returned and left. If that were the case, she could well be gone until late in the evening. Well, there was little else he could do now except wait. He flicked idly through his time device. Perhaps he would give Matt a call to keep him in the loop.
Freya eased through the pub on Camrose Street. The Ship was a favourite haunt for Freya and Janet, combining a dingy, comforting atmosphere with good food and crowds. She spotted Janet at a table to one side, close to the back door. Cigarette smoke drifted in from the patio garden where the door had been propped open to counteract the heat.
Despite all the Government’s warnings and legislation over tobacco, and the fact she had never smoked, or wished to, Freya found the smell immensely comforting. It was a piece of childhood, of history, the scent mingling with the rain, beer and chips to create a sense of belonging when she knew, in reality, she was alone. Then Janet caught her eye and smiled in welcome.
Freya felt herself relax as she acknowledged her friend, returning the smile and nodding. Janet had originally been Nathan’s girlfriend, and it was not until after his death that the two girls had become close.
Grief had sliced Freya’s family apart. Her parents, fathoms deep in mourning for their lost boy, had forgotten their daughter was still alive. Freya’s brother was dead and she could not help but think it should have been her.
Janet had been her anchor. Freya had taken it all out on her. Every last perceived betrayal and fractured piece of trust and, somehow, Janet had turned all that rage, hate and grief into friendship and love.
She had given Freya back her life and Freya still did not understand why Janet had wanted her. It was not
as if Janet didn’t make friends everywhere she went. Whatever Janet’s reasons, Freya would never let her down. Would always be there for her, no matter what.
Freya pushed herself into a space near the bar. She placed her order, indicating the table where Janet was sitting, before taking her drink and joining her friend.
“Freya, can you believe this monsoon?” Janet gestured to her soaked jacket hanging on the back of her chair. “Have to say though, the relief from the heat is welcome. Anyway, how are you? How is the accounting going?
“Um, I got a new accountant.” Freya paused, “So how’s life treating you? Is Greystone—?”
“Whoa, girl. Not so fast,” Janet interrupted, eyes gleaming, “You can’t just drop that in and not give me the rest. It’s that guy you saw last week isn’t it; the tall handsome one with the dark eyes?”
Freya tried her hardest not to smile and completely failed. Her gaze tracked to the bar while she struggled to reply. Janet’s delighted laughter had Freya rolling her eyes.
“So what happened? Are you going out with him?”
Freya flicked another glance at her friend, “I don’t know, Jan, he’s freaking quick. Perceptive doesn’t even come close. I swear he has some kind of mind reading thing going on. No way am I going out with someone I can’t lie to.”
Janet choked back a laugh, “How many lies did he catch you in? You’ve always been shocking. Remember that fete thing you tried to get us out of?”
“Rubbish. I’m a brilliant liar, and that stupid project was doomed from the start. Anyway, the guy is far too arrogant for my taste. Fit but he knows it, and probably expects all the girls to chase after him just because he thinks he’s tall and good-looking.”
“I thought you said he was?”
“Tall and good-looking? Yeah, I’ll give him that. He’s one fine piece of eye candy. Just a shame that he probably knows it only too well.”
“Poor guy, he can’t help how he looks. You really shouldn’t discriminate against him because of it.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Janet laughed, and as their dinners arrived they both tucked in hungrily, conversation forgotten for the moment as they ate.
“What made you take your accounts to him, I thought you were doing okay on them?” Janet asked.
“I was doing okay. I only intended to sound him out a bit, see if he would be any good, but he guessed what I wanted. I mean, I barely said anything about it. We were talking about school days and I was saying how he must have been good at maths, and the next thing I know, he’s going through my figures and making me feel stupid if I say I don’t want his help. I don’t know, Jan, he’s really sharp and I don’t just mean at the maths. I think he’s properly interested in me, too, and I’m not sure what I want to do about it.”
“Don’t you want him to be interested? C’mon Freya, tell me this is not some psycho rubbish left over from your family. He’s good looking, intelligent, and he’s interested in you. What’s wrong with that picture?”
“Easy for you to say, but what if he turns out to be some psychopath? Then you’d be going: I told you not to get involved with that guy.”
“Why would he be a psychopath, honestly I didn’t think your taste in men was that bad?”
Freya rolled her eyes and threw a chip at her friend. Janet laughed and gave up for the moment, concentrating instead on her meal.
After a short space Janet began again, “Speaking of psychos, how’s it going with Martin? Have you heard anymore from him or has he finally taken the hint?”
“Oh, God, don’t. I had a dreadful phone call from him earlier today.”
“I thought you were avoiding his calls.”
“I am. He left a message on the answer-phone. Some rant about us being perfect for each other and, apparently, I’m just being coy and wanting him to chase me, which he assures me he is happy to do.”
“You’re joking!” Janet let out a shocked gasp of laughter, “What are you going to do?”
“I have no idea. I kid you not, it was the most cringe worthy garbage, and then something about me having stood him up for our lunch date.”
“What? What lunch date?”
“Exactly. What lunch date? And how he forgave me because he knows, get this, he knows how shy I am and that only he is capable of drawing out my true feelings.” Freya paused for breath and shook her head slightly in disbelief, “The cheek of it, thinking it’s acceptable to leave that rubbish on my answer-phone.”
“You’re going to have to deal with him.”
“Yeah, I’ll deal with him. I’ll kick his sorry butt from here to kingdom come.”
“Seriously, you need to tell him clearly that you’re not interested and that he needs to stop calling you.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll tell him, all right, I’ll tell him while he’s hanging upside-down from his toes from the roof of my building.”
Janet rolled her eyes at her friend and took another sip of the drink they were sharing, “Maybe you could ask Jeremy to haul him up there for you.” She batted her eyelashes at Freya and crooned, “Jeremy, that nasty Martin is such a pain.”
Freya sputtered out a laugh, “Actually, I’m tempted just for the fun of it. He strikes me as the kind of man who’d rush to the rescue of his fair maiden. It might be a laugh to test out that little theory. Ah, I can see it now, handbags at dawn.”
“You would too. That poor man, don’t you dare do that to him.”
“Well, he offered!” Freya took another sip of their drink.
“He offered? What—when was this?”
“The last time I saw him. I was sounding off a bit about Martin being my stalker and Jeremy offered to deal with him for me.” Catching the look in Janet’s eye she said, “I know, I know. Am I exchanging one stalker for another, or is he a genuinely nice guy offering to help me get an injunction slapped on Martin?”
Janet shook her head. “Where do you find them?”
“Maybe he was just being polite, it’s hard to tell. I can’t read him at all. I just look at him and go phwoar! And then my brain takes a holiday. It doesn’t bode well for me trying to play it cool with him. Anyway, I think he already guessed I fancied him when he went in for that mind-melting kiss.”
“What mind melting kiss? You didn’t tell me you’d got to the kissing stage with him.”
“That was the first time I met him, and if we hadn’t been interrupted on the second time I think he would have done it again. I swear the man has an A-Level in kissing. The rat has obviously had lots of practise. Honestly, Jan, why couldn’t I fall in love with some shy sweet boy? Why did I have to meet him?”
“You know you just said you were in love with him, don’t you.”
Freya laughed again. “Not in love, but definitely in lust.”
A few hours and a shared pint of cider later, Freya and Janet wandered unsteadily through the pub and out onto the street. The temperature had finally dropped and the sky had cleared to a deep black with tiny points of light glittering coldly.
Freya sucked in fresh air after the stuffy heat of the pub, immensely grateful to feel cool for the first time in days. She stumbled a bit as she kicked at a stone; clung to Janet’s arm. “It’s just like me to fall for some arrogant jerk.”
“Thought you liked him? You said you liked him.”
“More than like him. I’m gonna kiss him brainless.” Freya stopped a moment to grin wickedly at Janet.
“Then he’ll be dumb and you won’t like him anymore.”
Both girls snickered at this.
“Martin is a dumb duck,” Freya pronounced seriously.
“You said duck! Hah!” Janet pointed in delight at her friend.
“I did not. I did not say duck.”
“Yes, you did. I’m gonna call Martin an’ tell him you said he’s a dumb duck.”
“You can’t, you haven’t got his number.”
“Oh. Give me his number then.”
“No. I want Jeremy’
s number.”
“I reckon he’s got yours!”
More sniggering.
“You staying with me tonight girlfriend?” Janet asked, grabbing at Freya’s arm to keep her balance.
“Dunno. Gotta work tomorrow.”
“Less see if we can get you cab then.”
They wandered on up the road, the silent empty street sobering them. Most people were still in the pub or at home. Both girls stumbled to a halt as they surveyed the empty taxi rank in silence. The wind whipped around metal railings, making a mournful sound. Peeling paintwork and fag ends were scattered around an overflowing bin, and an empty crisp packet skittered along the street.
The dull sodium glow of lampposts seemed only to deepen the shadows and Freya shivered suddenly, not wanting to be alone. She caught Janet’s eye and gripped her friend’s arm tighter. Janet was frowning, looking seriously around her, the effect ruined somewhat by her slight swaying.
By ten-thirty, Jeremy was pacing restlessly through the small rooms of Freya’s flat. Where was she? Why was she not back yet? He remembered that she had slept rough in 1908, having been unable to get home, and wondered if she was having problems with her time device.
If it was faulty she could be in all sorts of trouble and, without knowing its ID number, he could not even ask his brother to track it. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration in every line of him. The thought of her being trapped somewhere did nothing for his peace of mind.
It occurred to him that she could simply be out with another man. He was surprised at the flash of anger the thought incurred, and paused a moment to think through his feelings. In spite of all he had said to Greg, he was interested in Freya.
Her shyness and inexperience had brought out a possessive side of his character that he was distinctly uncomfortable with, but he had never been the kind of man to go against his gut feeling and he fully intended to pursue her if she gave him the opportunity.
