Time Trap

by Danele J Rotharmel

  “Can you tell if I’ve managed to loosen them?” he asked.

  She felt the steel borders. “The screws are holding firm—your thrashing didn’t accomplish a thing. I know you want to get free, but please don’t pull anymore. If your cuffs slice your radial arteries, we’re going to be in big trouble.”

  Although she knew it was useless, Laura tried to tackle the screws with her fingernails. When her last nail broke, she had an inspiration. “Hey!” she exclaimed. “Do you still have Dan’s key on a chain around your neck? Maybe I can use it to loosen the screws.”

  “I should,” he said excitedly. “I haven’t taken it off.”

  Unbuttoning his collar, Laura felt his neck. Her heart sank.

  “The key’s not there?” he asked in a dull voice.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something else out.” Laura’s tender fingers explored the tight knots in his shoulders. “Oh, Peter,” she said softly, “that position must be dreadfully painful.”

  “Maybe not dreadfully,” he replied, “but I’ll admit it isn’t comfortable.”

  Kneeling beside him, she began massaging the knots.

  Peter sighed. “Thank you, love. That feels terrific.”

  “Remember when I said you were a lucky man?”

  “Yep.” He chuckled. “I also remember how you proved it in a rather enjoyable way.”

  Laughing lowly, she kissed his neck in his favorite spot. “I neglected to tell you at the time, but I’ve taken some classes in massage. I was planning on becoming a physical therapist until I discovered the fascination of sinusoidal temporal waves.”

  “You little wonder!” he said, attempting to kiss her. He missed his target, and his kiss landed on her chin.

  “Need some help?” she asked, bringing her lips firmly to his.

  When they came up for air, Peter murmured, “How many men get a trained masseuse for a wife? How many other surprises do you have up your sleeve?”

  “Several,” she replied. “I started college at sixteen, and even before that, I had a wide range of interests. I have lots of hidden talents, and you have a lifetime to discover what they are.”

  “I like the sound of that!”

  Laura continued massaging Peter’s shoulders. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “We need to make plans. Spider’s going to be back. He chained you to the wall for a reason.”

  She felt Peter shuddering violently as he said in a tortured whisper, “And he kept you loose for one as well.”

  “I know,” she replied quietly.

  “Laura—”

  She stopped his words with a kiss. “Our goal hasn’t changed. We still need to incapacitate Spider in order to escape. The only thing that’s different is I’m the one who has to fight him.”

  “Laura—”

  She stopped his mouth with another kiss. “Since we met in college, you’ve been teaching me self-defense moves. I guess we’re going to find out just how good of a teacher you are.”

  “Laura—”

  “Stop interrupting me.” She laughed, kissing him again. “Spider left me unbound because he doesn’t think I’m a threat. I’m going to prove him wrong.”

  “He has five inches on you and at least a hundred pounds. And he’s—”

  “—insane. I know. But, Peter, what other choice do we have?”

  He was silent. There was no other choice.

  “I’m not afraid…at least, not much.”

  Peter spoke again, and this time she let him. His words were tender. “Laura, my love, you are a wonder.”

  She smiled. “Tell me that after I’ve knocked the snot out of Spider. In the meantime, I’d appreciate some prayer.”

  Laura laid her head on Peter’s chest as he began to pray out loud against the darkness.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

  Standing in front of the Westchester Children’s Home, Nicole watched as Zeke tossed a bag over his shoulder and gave her a schoolboy grin. “Get ready for an onslaught!” he exclaimed.

  “What do you mean?” she asked as he closed the trunk.

  Before he could respond, a dozen boys ran out of the institution and surrounded him. He was literally mobbed by their enthusiasm. After things quieted down, Zeke asked the boys about their week, and if they’d accomplished preset goals, he gave them treats ranging from comic books to basketballs. Afterward, they played a riotous game of softball. They were having so much fun that Nicole felt sorry when a supervisor called the boys in for lunch.

  “He’s so dependable and such a wonder with the children,” a female supervisor said to Nicole as Zeke said goodbye to the orphans. “I wish I had forty more like him.” The woman raised an inquiring brow. “Are you his girlfriend?”

  Nicole nodded.

  “Don’t let him get away, he’s a—”

  “—keeper.” Nicole laughed. “I know.”

  The woman’s smile grew. “I was going to say he’s a gem, but the same idea applies.”

  Joining them, Zeke exclaimed, “Those kids are tons of fun!”

  “They think the same about you,” the supervisor said with a friendly wave of her hand. “I’ll see you next week, Zeke.”

  As Nicole walked toward the car, she asked, “There aren’t any girls in your group—why?”

  “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to relate to them,” Zeke replied. “But I’d like to include some girls—I think it’d be good for my boys.” He cleared his throat. “You know, if we join forces, adding girls wouldn’t present a problem.”

  She didn’t reply, but inside, she was starting to think that joining forces with Zeke wasn’t that bad of an idea.

  Zeke held her car door open, and Nicole climbed in with a silent groan. The day was getting warmer, and the car’s fishy smell was growing stronger. She was too polite to mention it, but she was grateful the windows were rolled down as they drove to their next destination. Zeke wouldn’t tell her where it was, and she’d given up guessing.

  “Do you want some music?” Zeke asked, slowing as the traffic light turned yellow.

  She nodded. “But I chose last time—it’s your turn to pick.”

  Stopping for the red light, Zeke tugged on the Popsicle stick. Leaning across her, he started rummaging through the glove compartment. “Keep an eye on the light for me, will you?” he said. “Tell me when it changes.”

  Studying the way his hair was curling on the back of his neck, Nicole murmured an absent reply. Being close to Zeke was like being next to a live wire. The air was simply sizzling with electricity, and it was taking all of her self-control not to touch him.

  A car honked. Nicole jumped.

  Chuckling, Zeke glanced at her. “Concentrating on something other than the light, are you?”

  Blushing, she tried to ignore the fact that he was only inches away. “The light just turned,” she said in a dignified voice. “The driver behind us is simply impatient.”

  Zeke’s lips twitched as he drove through the intersection. “You shouldn’t fib. You need to remember that your ‘tattling’ eyebrow always gives you away.”

  “Oh, hush up!” she muttered crossly.

  “Mr. Sandman” began pumping through the speakers with cheery abandon. Giving her a wink, Zeke began singing with The Chordettes. “Come on,” he coaxed. “I know you’re peeved at me, but don’t make me sing alone.”

  Feeling extremely self-conscious, she joined in tentatively. Giving her an encouraging nod, Zeke sang even louder, exaggerating his words and wiggling his eyebrows. He looked so funny that her singing came to an abrupt halt and her eyes widened.

  Zeke gave a goofball grin. “Don’t stop now! We’re a hit!”

  Trying to hold back laughter, Nicole leaned toward him and tried to harmonize. Egging her on, Zeke began yodeling like a mountain man on steroids.

  Nicole lost it.

  Whether it was his comic yodels, or simply a release of built up tension, she started to laugh and couldn’t stop. By the final note of “Mr. Sandman,” her inhib
ition had vanished and she was singing just as loudly as Zeke.

  They turned a corner as “Rock Around the Clock” started to roll. Giving Zeke a flirty smile, she let it rip, singing louder than Bill Haley and his Comets combined. She was having such a marvelous time that she forgot the windows were down, and when they stopped at another light, she was still singing at the top of her lungs. The people in the car next to them began clapping and calling for an encore. Gasping with laughter, Nicole ducked in her seat. Waving at their audience, Zeke continued singing with flamboyant flare. When the light turned green, they sped away to the sound of thunderous applause.

  Nicole gave a giggling gasp. “Doesn’t anything embarrass you?”

  “Not really,” he replied. “Life’s too short to sweat the small stuff.”

  She turned the volume of the music down. “But doesn’t anything intimidate you?”

  Zeke was silent. After a moment, he said in a voice devoid of humor, “You do.”

  Blinking, she traced her finger over the dash. “But I’m not intimidating at all.”

  Keeping his eyes firmly on the road, he said quietly, “You’re the most intimidating person I’ve ever met. You could crush my world in a second.”

  Nicole gave an uncertain laugh. “Really? How would I do that?”

  “By deciding I’m not worthy of your love.”

  Her breath caught. “We’re only on our second date. It’s too early to start talking about love.”

  Zeke’s eyes caught hers for a magic moment. “Nevertheless, it’s the topic of our current conversation. How do you explain that?”

  * * *

  Taking a sip of coffee in the hospital cafeteria, Sam said to Thomas, “I want to go upstairs and see Alex.”

  Thomas shook his head. “Phoebe’s nurse says visitors aren’t allowed.”

  “That pertains to Phoebe, not Alex,” Sam replied. “I won’t go inside the room. I’ll talk to my son in the hall.”

  “I don’t know if that’s wise.” Thomas rubbed his bald head. “Poppa said we needed to give Alex and Phoebe some space.”

  “They’ve had space.” Sam rose with a determined glint in his eye. “I want to see my son, and I don’t need permission.”

  As Thomas gave a reluctant nod, Sam turned to Sue. “Coming?”

  She shook her head. “I have a feeling that Alex may need to talk to you alone, but ask him if I can visit later tonight. Tell him his momma needs a hug.”

  * * *

  In the TEMCO lab, Crystal sat with her chin in her hands and thought about Marc. Her heart cartwheeled as she pictured his handsome face. In a fit of nerves, she jerked and accidently knocked a jar of pencils to the floor.

  “Crystal Stuart!” she spat, speaking to herself sternly. “You’d better get a handle on your emotions, or you’ll be more than just a klutzy mess when you see Marc—you’ll be a disaster zone. Now get a grip!”

  Bending over to retrieve the pencils, she pictured his smile. Her heart hammered. Her whole body shivered. Losing her balance, she felt her chair tipping. Her foot caught a cord as she fell. A lamp crashed to the ground. Glass splintered around her.

  Blinking at the mess, she groaned. “Sheesh! This is ridiculous! If this is how I get a grip, I’m gonna end up making an idiot of myself!”

  * * *

  The soft sound came again. Standing to her feet, Laura tried to calm her breathing. The furtive sounds could only mean one thing—Spider was approaching.

  “Whatever happens,” she said quietly, laying a hand on Peter’s shoulder, “don’t tug against your cuffs. You can’t afford to lose more blood.”

  “Keep your head and take your time,” Peter said stiffly. “Be patient. Stay out of his reach until you see an opening. If he has a gun, you can use a roundhouse kick to disarm him, but you’ll have to be quick. If he gets you down and starts kicking you, curl into a ball and protect your head and stomach.”

  Laura squeezed Peter’s shoulder. She could hear the tension in his voice, and she knew he was terrified for her. She also knew that his inability to protect her was ripping him apart.

  Peter spoke quickly, “If he manages to get his hands on you, use the heel of your palm and thrust it up against his nose. Don’t be afraid to be vicious. Go for his eyes, throat, and groin.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said in a focused, determined voice. “I’ll fight dirty.”

  The door opened.

  Moving to the center of the room, Laura took a solid stance.

  A brick was kicked into place. A man walked into the room, carrying a lantern.

  “Drake!” Laura exclaimed, her whole body relaxing. “You’re alive!”

  The cadet’s lips curled into a smile as he set the lantern on the floor.

  Laura stepped forward, her voice vibrating with relief, “I’m so glad you’re all right! We thought you were dead. Please, help me free Director Matthews before our assailant arrives.”

  “Get back, Laura!” Peter shouted harshly.

  Laura paused, feeling confused. “It’s Drake, Peter. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not!” he yelled. “Look at his neck!”

  Laura’s eyes flew to the welt disfiguring the cadet’s skin. “It can’t be!” She gasped.

  Drake began chuckling in a strange, demented way. Blood turned to ice in Laura’s veins as she stepped back slowly.

  “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” Drake sneered. “Can’t put me in my place anymore, can you, Dr. Nelson? Or should I say ‘Laura?’”

  “It’s Dr. Nelson to you,” she spat. “What’s going on?”

  “Payback.”

  Laura backed away. They circled each other.

  “You ruined my life,” he snarled. “All of you. You took everything from me.”

  Drake’s eyes burned in their sockets. They gleamed so freakishly that Laura knew he was insane. A chill ran down her spine as his muscles bunched. She sensed he was ready to spring.

  “Cadet, look at me!” Peter shouted. “We’ve never done anything to you. You aren’t in our records.”

  Spinning on his heel, Drake faced Peter. “You counseled someone I loved and told her never to speak to me again. You destroyed my life and then congratulated yourselves on a job well done. Do you call that nothing?”

  “Listen,” Peter said in a calming voice. “You don’t want to hurt anyone.”

  Drake gave an eerie chuckle. “I’m way past ‘hurting’ people. I killed my first man when I was eighteen because he got between me and my girl, and I’ve been killing people ever since to get to my goal. I killed someone just the other day to act as my double in the photo I sent to the lab. I’ve killed for even less than that.”

  Laura gave an involuntary gasp.

  Spinning around, Drake focused on her. Laura’s heart started hammering its way out of her chest as she tried to hide her panic.

  “Over here, Drake!” Peter shouted. “You hurt Wade, didn’t you? Why did you do that?”

  Keeping his eyes locked with Laura’s, Drake replied, “He caught me fixing the lock on Dan’s office. He became a problem.” His voice lowered to a menacing whisper. “Killing is such an easy way to fix a problem.”

  Trying desperately to be brave, Laura raised her fists.

  “Drake! Look at me!” Peter shouted. “Your goal. You mentioned your goal. What is it?”

  The cadet turned. “To kill the leaders of TEMCO. I want you all dead. I’ve been patient. For so many years, I’ve been patient. Setting up a new life. Worming my way into the program. Learning about the Wave Trappers. Now, nothing’s going to stop my vengeance. And when TEMCO’s destroyed, and Dan and Gil are dead, I’ll use a Trapper to travel through time and put my life back together.”

  Swinging around, Drake sprang toward Laura.

  Peter thumped his heels on the floor. “Over here, cadet! Hey, look at me! How are you going to get Dan and Gil?”

  “Bait.” Drake chuckled, turning back to Peter. “I used Phoebe as bait to get you, and I’ll
use you as bait to get them. They’ll be coming to find you soon, and I have a trap all fixed up.”

  “It won’t work,” Peter said quietly.

  Laura knew Peter was lying—Drake’s plan would definitely work, but the firm conviction of his tone made her blink, and it made Drake pause.

  “You don’t know about the seventy-two-hour rule,” Peter said.

  Drake curled his hands into fists. “Go on.”

  “If violence occurs during a time surf, only one rescue attempt is allowed. If the rescue team doesn’t make contact within seventy-two hours, the timewave will be sealed to prevent further casualties.” The certainty in Peter’s voice made his lies seem true. “Dr. Nelson and I are the last ones who will be visiting this particular timewave.”

  Drake hissed.

  Picking up on Peter’s plan, Laura embellished the lie. “Avoiding a Time Tsunami trumps personal safety. If we don’t contact the lab, we’ll be trapped in the past.”

  Spinning around, Drake began kicking the wall. Spit drooled down his chin as he cursed.

  Taking a calming breath, Laura crept toward him, hoping to use his distraction to land a blow. Across the room, she saw Peter shaking his head. With a silent flick of his finger, he indicated that she was to back away. Nodding, she stepped back.

  Suddenly, Drake stopped ranting. He turned off his rage like he was flipping a switch. For some reason, his composure seemed more threatening than his mania. Wiping his chin, he lifted a chain from his neck. On it was the key to Dan’s locked box.

  Spotting another key on the chain, Laura’s eyes gleamed. She was sure it was the key to Peter’s restraints.

  “I can open the locked box,” Drake said calmly, walking toward Peter, “and you’re going to give me the code for the safe. If I can’t lure Dan and Gil here, I’ll finish with them there. It’ll be better that way—it’ll give me a chance to kill their baby. After I’ve murdered them, I’ll use the Wave Trapper in Dan’s office to get my girl.”

  Peter shook his head. “If you want to go home, you’ll need to take us to Nicki’s house. If we don’t contact the lab, the timewave will be sealed. The clock is ticking—make your choice.”