Time Trap

by Danele J Rotharmel

“What do we do now?” Laura asked in a voice that held just a hint of a tremor.

  “We wait and hope for a chance to try again.”

  “He’s going to be ready next time,” she said quietly.

  “I know.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  Weaving her way through traffic, Nicole drove toward the NSU campus. “Do you want dropped off at Hawking Hall?” she asked, glancing at Zeke.

  “Not yet,” he replied, looking at his watch. “We have time for supper before I report to the lab. Pull over and let’s eat.”

  Nicole looked at him in confusion. “But there aren’t any restaurants on this block.”

  “You need to look closer.” He chuckled.

  Spotting an Israeli food cart on the corner, she began to laugh. “I haven’t eaten a mobile meal since I was a kid.”

  “In that case, you’re in for a treat. Abrahem makes the best pita sandwiches in town. His tahini sauce is outta this world.”

  “What’s that?” she asked, parking the car.

  “It’s hard to describe, but tahini sauce on a pita is even better than sauerkraut on a hotdog—and that’s saying something.”

  “Sauerkraut?” She giggled. “Zeke, your German side is showing.”

  “That’s good, my German side has impeccable taste in food.” He smacked his lips. “I’ll even treat you to some falafel balls—they’re so delicious, you’ll think you’re in heaven.”

  * * *

  Pressing the button for the roof, Alex said, “You can open your eyes, Phoebe. We’re alone.”

  “Any problems?” she asked, gazing up at him.

  “Nope, I had ’em quaking in their boots.” Swaying in time with the elevator music, he gave her an electric grin. “Happy memories officially start now. Would you like to dance?”

  “Here?”

  “I’ll admit the closed space will hinder my fancy moves, but I think we can manage.”

  Phoebe’s uninjured eye twinkled. “In that case, dance away.”

  Alex twirled with her in his arms. As he danced around the elevator, Phoebe laughed. His heart soared at the lovely sound. “You have a beautiful laugh,” he said. “Laugh again.”

  “You’ll hear me scold if you’re not careful,” she teased. “Your last twirl almost spilled the bowl. I want to eat the gelatin—not wear it.”

  Chuckling, Alex gave an energetic spin that set her giggling again. When the elevator opened at the rooftop, he danced Phoebe over to a bench by the railing and sat down.

  Scrunching into her typical ball on his lap, she murmured, “It’s so peaceful up here.”

  Tucking the blanket snugly around her shoulders, Alex gazed at the city lights. The Charles Shipley Medical Center was one of the tallest buildings in Washington D.C., and it towered over the surrounding streets. He smiled as Phoebe began pointing out landmarks. When she finished acquainting him with the skyline, she said, “Nothing’s prettier than D.C. at night.”

  Smiling, Alex motioned toward the stars. “What about those?”

  Phoebe grinned. “They’re kinda nice too, but I don’t know them as well as D.C.”

  Enjoying the way her hair was tickling his chin, Alex pointed out the constellations. His heart leapt with joy when she grabbed his hand and exclaimed over a shooting star. The enthusiasm in her voice was a sharp contrast to her earlier tears.

  When the sparkling star trail faded away, Phoebe whispered, “Sing me the verse about the stars in our song.”

  Nodding, he sang.

  The stars are shining bright in our sky of love tonight.

  The wind in the pines blows free.

  The happy brook plays a merry melody;

  Come home to the meadow with me.

  Softly, she sighed. “Oh, how I wish I had a place like that to go to.”

  Alex cleared his throat. “You do.”

  Her face shimmered in the starlight. “What do you mean?”

  “I have a home in Colorado, and if you’d like to recuperate there, you’d be welcome. My cabin’s not large, but it’s big enough for the two of us.”

  “Really?”

  “Positively and truly.”

  “And you’d let me come?”

  His voice was soft. “Yes, Phoebe, I’ll let you come. I think you’ll like my cabin. It’s nestled in a meadow filled with wildflowers.” He brushed her cheek with a gentle finger. “The sunsets on the mountain peaks are magnificent, and at night, the soothing songs of the crickets will lull you to sleep.”

  She looked at him with shining eyes. “It sounds wonderful.”

  “It’s a peaceful place. It’s safe and beautiful, and when you’re strong enough, I’ll take you there.” After a moment, he chuckled. “I think I’ve been preparing for your arrival for quite a while without knowing it. I have two bedrooms, two rocking chairs, and even two horses.”

  “You have horses?”

  Alex smiled—her voice was full of excitement. “Silverfire is a Palomino stallion, and Lovely Lass is a chestnut mare. When you’re better, we’ll go riding in the woods.”

  “I’d like that,” she murmured, snuggling close. “Tell me more.”

  “I have a golden retriever named Shep. He’s as loyal as the day is long, but he’s kinda skittish.”

  “So am I,” Phoebe said. “I never used to be, but I am now.”

  “When Shep gets scared, he hides behind the couch. There’s only room for him back there, so don’t get any fancy ideas. The cabin’s peaceful enough that nothing should startle you, but if you do get scared, come right into my arms.”

  She smiled and nuzzled his chest. “I will.”

  “Good.” Looking at her tenderly, he sighed. “I’m getting so used to holding you that I’m gonna miss it when you go away and don’t need me anymore.”

  “I won’t go away,” she said fervently. “I’ll always need you. Always.”

  Alex felt his heart leap. For the first time, he kissed her gently on the forehead. In a low voice that trembled with the intensity of his emotion, he whispered, “I’ll always need you too.”

  Silence fell.

  In that single moment, Alex felt his life shifting. He cleared his throat. “We have other animals besides Shep and the horses. We have cats. One of them, Mrs. Tibbs, just had kittens in our barn. Six of them. Little balls of yellow fur.”

  “I’m glad. I always wanted pets.”

  “You can have as many as you want. There’s enough land around our cabin to hold a menagerie. If you want more than horses, dogs, and cats, just name it.”

  “I want bunnies.”

  “We’ll buy some as soon as we get home.”

  “And ducks.” Phoebe grinned. “White ones.”

  “Consider it done. We have a pond that’ll be perfect for them.”

  “And a giraffe.”

  Laughing lowly, Alex gently tugged her ponytail, “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Phoebe wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.

  Feeling his heart thumping in his chest, Alex rescued the bowl teetering on her knee. “Dancing, starlight, serenading,” he murmured. “All we need to make this happy memory complete is a fancy meal. How do you feel about some gourmet gelatin?”

  She smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”

  Tucking her in the crook of his arm, he raised the spoon to her lips. Phoebe gave him a positively naughty little grin and began slurping the gelatin even more noisily than he had earlier. Laughing lightly, he kissed her cheek.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

  Under the glow of streetlights, Nicole pulled her convertible next to Hawking Hall and gave Zeke a dimpled smile. “This happens to be one of the most unusual dates I’ve been on, but one of the best.”

  Zeke reached for her hand. Just as he had at the gallery, he trapped it between both of his own and held it.

  Nicole smiled as she felt the calluses on his palms. “What do you do in your free time?” she asked.

  “You mean other than hike?”

/>   She nodded. “I’m curious to know what gives a computer tech callused hands.”

  His eyes twinkled behind his glasses. “If you want to know, join me on my day off tomorrow.”

  Laughing, she said in a cheeky voice, “That’s short notice. I’ll have to consult my calendar.”

  He brushed his thumb over her wrist. Her laughter stilled. Smiling, he brushed her wrist again. “I’m sure you can fit me into your schedule.”

  Trying to control her breathing, she pulled her hand away slowly. Even though he wasn’t touching her anymore, she could still feel the warmth of his fingers. “What time do you want to meet?” she asked in a shaky voice.

  The twinkle in Zeke’s eyes grew more pronounced. “Five a.m.”

  “What?” she sputtered. “I haven’t been up that early in years. Are you on the level?”

  “We need to get an early start. There’s lots to do and lots of area to cover.” His eyes captured hers. “Still interested?”

  Moaning inwardly, Nicole nodded. Unbelievably, the chance to learn about Zeke was more compelling than her beauty rest.

  Zeke got out of her car and leaned casually against the hood. “Bring an extra change of clothes, and put your hair up like it is today. You’ll need hiking boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms.”

  “What are we doing?”

  “Not telling. You’re the one who wants to tag along, so you’ve gotta figure it out for yourself.” He paused. “Be sure to wear your swimsuit underneath your clothes.”

  She smiled. “Sounds like we’re going to have an adventure.”

  He grinned. “It’ll definitely be another unusual date.”

  * * *

  Alex felt delightfully content, but as the night wore on, he began to wonder if he should take Phoebe back inside. Her hair rustled against his cheek as he looked at her upturned face and asked, “Do you want to go back to your room?”

  She shook her head. “Please, can we stay a while longer? I was chained up for so long that it’s nice to feel a breeze on my face. It’s nice to see for miles.”

  “We can stay as long as you want,” Alex softly replied. “We can even sleep here tonight.”

  “Do you mean it?”

  “I can’t see why not. We don’t have to be in your room until it’s time for your next dose of medication.”

  Phoebe stretched luxuriously. “I’ll admit I’m awfully comfortable.” She looked at him in concern. “But will you be okay if we stay? I’m sitting on your comfy lap but that bench looks terribly hard.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” He gave her a dimpled grin. “I’m tough as an army boot. Besides, I’m enjoying myself. You’re warm and snuggly as an electric blanket.”

  Giggling, Phoebe cuddled against him. “Gonna sing me to sleep?”

  “Any particular song?” he asked.

  “You know which one.”

  Smiling, Alex began to sing.

  * * *

  Peter tried to ignore the ringing in his ears as he watched the double image of Laura wavering before him. He shook his head and winced as the motion sent crashing pain ripping through his skull.

  “Sit still,” Laura chided. “I can’t fasten the bandages if you move.”

  Peter obediently froze. Smiling, he watched her fuss over his cuts and bruises. If he had to see double, he couldn’t imagine a prettier sight.

  “There you go,” Laura said with chattering teeth as she bandaged his chin. “All better.”

  “I feel like a mummy.” He chuckled. “Do I look like one?”

  Leaning forward, she kissed his nose. “Maybe, but you look awfully cute too.”

  “Cute as in fuzzy-bunny cute?”

  “Nope. Cute as in dashing and heroic.”

  “I guess I can live with that,” Peter said, turning off the flashlight.

  In the icy blackness, he felt Laura crawling onto his lap. Tucking the blankets around her chilly legs, he said, “I have another question for you.”

  “I had no idea you were so vain about your looks.”

  Peter chortled. “That’s not the type of question I was going to ask.”

  “Oh, are we playing our get-acquainted game again?”

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, Peter nuzzled her frosty cheek. He frowned when he felt how cold she was. Pulling the blankets snuggly up to her chin, he asked, “Would you rather play another round of twenty questions?”

  “Not likely.” She groaned. “I’m still smarting over your last victory. How on earth was I supposed to guess a word like rutabaga?”

  “Hey, you’re the vegetable nut. If a French fry king like me knows what a rutabaga is—you sure should.”

  “I can’t believe you actually came up with that word.”

  His voice became smug. “Why shouldn’t I? It happens to be my favorite vegetable.”

  Laura gave a loud hoot. “I’ll bet you’ve never tasted one.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s still my favorite. I like how it sounds—rooot-a-begg-ah. It kinda rolls off my tongue like music—rooot-a-begg-ah.” His voice turned mischievous. “Maybe that’s what I should start calling you—my sweet little romantic rooot-a-begg-ah.”

  “Just try it, mister.” Laura giggled. “I promise you’ll regret it!”

  Peter laughed. He felt her shiver as she gave his ear a nibble with her icy lips.

  “Just to pay you back,” she said, “the next time we play twenty questions, I’m gonna hit you with some horrible word like medulla oblongata.”

  Peter gave her a squeeze. “In that case, let’s forget twenty questions and get more acquainted instead. What was your favorite Christmas gift?”

  “As a k-kid or as an a-adult?” she asked through chattering teeth.

  “Either,” he said, frowning as he heard her words beginning to slur.

  He pulled her closer beneath the scant warmth of their blankets. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but the temperature had been dropping dramatically in their cement vault. Feeling how cold she was, he felt like kicking himself. He should have prevented her from crawling out of their blankets to bandage him, but she’d been so insistent. If only he’d been able to hide the extent of his injuries—but that hadn’t been possible when his blood kept dripping onto her forehead.

  “A tadpole,” she said in a sleepy voice.

  “What?” he asked, jostling her to make sure she stayed awake.

  “A tadpole—a squirmy little froggy-to-be. I was able to watch Taddsie grow into a frog and set him free in the backyard. It was f-fascinating.”

  “I’ll bet so,” he murmured, checking to make sure the blankets were tucked around her feet.

  “Do you think you could get Spider to burn another mattress?” she asked with a shiver. “I’m a little c-cold.”

  “I’ll put in a request when I see him.” Holding her closer, Peter began rubbing her arms vigorously. “Turn around, Laura. Put your hands inside my shirt. Get them warm.”

  He felt her squirming around in their blankets until she was facing him. Unbuttoning his middle buttons, she slipped her hands next to his skin.

  Peter flinched. “When we get married”—he laughed—“I’m going to make you wear gloves to bed. Your hands are like ice.”

  Laura started to pull away, but he prevented her. “Keep your hands there—they need to thaw out. Besides,” he said with a smile, “I kinda like having you touch me.”

  “Like this?” she asked, tickling his ribs.

  He jumped and laughed. “No, you imp! Be still!”

  Laura chuckled and burrowed her head against his chest. She was shivering so hard that her whole body was jerking.

  Peter tried to remember the warning signs of hypothermia as he rubbed her legs. She felt like a block of ice—he had to get her warm.

  “What w-was your favorite p-present?” she asked, pressing her shivering body close.

  “We must be alike. Mine was alive too, but it had fur. Sam gave me a puppy when I was thirteen. Frisky
was a wonderful friend.” He nuzzled the top of her head. “When we have kids, we’ll have to give them puppies and tadpoles for Christmas.”

  “No h-hamsters?” the golden tones of her voice teased.

  He laughed against the darkness. “Definitely not, you scamp. As the future man of the house, I forbid it.”

  “Coming down kinda hard and heavy, aren’t you?” She chuckled.

  “In that case, let’s just say I request it meekly on my knees. Pretty please, my love, no rodents of any description.”

  She giggled in his arms. He thought it was a delicious sound. After a moment, he asked, “Does your brother still have his trained rat?”

  “Mr. Nibbles died years ago.”

  “Good. I’d hate to appear wimpy in front of your brothers when I meet your family.”

  “Peter,” she said in a voice oozing with laughter, “my brother owns six other rats.”

  He groaned.

  “Don’t worry.” She laughed. “We’ll tell my brothers you’re allergic to rodent hair. You can sneeze and leave the room if they bring the little guys around.”

  “Allergic indeed! Just thinking about rats makes my skin—”

  A sharp grinding sound filled the darkness.

  “What’s that?” Laura gasped.

  Flicking on the flashlight, Peter helped Laura to her feet. The grinding grew louder. With his heart thumping in his chest, he looked at Laura. Her face was pale in the dim light.

  “I don’t like this,” she said fearfully. “Do you know what’s making that noise?”

  Wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, he drew her to his side. “I think it’s a concrete drill. He’s up to something.”

  By the light of the flashlight, Peter saw a trickle of dust tumbling down the wall. A circle of light momentarily appeared and then was quenched. Hissing filled the air.

  Biting back an oath, Peter grabbed the other blanket from the floor. “Stay back, Laura!” he shouted, running toward the hole.

  “What is it?” she cried.

  “Gas!”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  Groaning, Nicole buried her head beneath her covers when her alarm clock went off at 4:00 a.m. Her groping fingers found the snooze button, and for a moment, blessed silence fell. Suddenly, the second alarm clock that she’d placed on the other side of the room began to beep. Rolling onto her stomach, she scrunched her pillow over her head. Despite the noise, she was just beginning to drowse when the phone rang. Grumbling, she reached for it.