by Terry Persun
The men looked at one another in question. Then after a moment, the first man from the walkway reached into his jacket pocket and removed a long-range listening device and placed it into Neil’s palm. “I’ll need that back, you know.” He nodded to the others to hand over their devices.
“I’ll give them to Rogers,” Neil said. “In the mean time, you can hang around if you like, but we’re going to eat a quick dinner, talk — in private — for a few minutes, and go home for the evening. He knew not to ask them to end their surveillance. There would be enough embarrassment for them when they handed in their reports from the evening and everyone found out that Neil had collected their parabolic microphones.
All three men wandered off in different directions. Neil didn’t monitor where they went.
“Come on, honey,” Mavra patted the bench beside her. She had removed sandwiches and two bowls of take-out soup. “I’m glad it was that simple,” she said as though she hadn’t been worried at all.
“You weren’t nervous?”
“I didn’t get the sense that I was in danger, just that I was being followed,” she said.
“You are some woman.”
“That’s why you married me,” she said. “So, did you get anywhere?”
Neil looked around to be sure that the men who were watching them were far enough away to allow them to talk openly. He accepted that even after being caught the FBI would settle into position again anyway. They would want to finish their shift before turning things over. “Steffenbraun is brilliant and has gone insane.”
“How so?”
“I just don’t believe all this time travel stuff. He was such a practical scientist most of his life, applied physics and applied medicine. I can accept that he theorized about time travel, but he appears to believe in it wholeheartedly now, even if it doesn’t work. After all, he’s jeopardizing his career to continue his research. Why not just let it go?”
“Your parents didn’t let it go,” she said.
“That’s a bit low isn’t it?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” She uncapped one of the cardboard soup bowls and shoved a spoon into it before handing it to him. “They believed in their theories so much that they took the life of their child into their hands. And look at you?”
Neil stared at his wife, tracing the line of her cheek with his gaze. She was beautiful in what others might consider a plain way. But to him, there was no one like her. “I don’t know anything different,” he said.
“According to our societal rules and mores, as they are expressed, what your parents chose to do was horrifying to a lot of people. You know that.”
“I do. They were acquitted, though, so…”
She placed a finger over his lips. “That’s all I was saying. It has nothing to do with our legal system, or our system of morals for that matter. It has to do with their conviction, their belief. They knew they were right.” She paused for a moment. “And they were.”
“You think Steffenbraun’s theories are right?”
“I’m not saying that yet, but I’m not ruling it out and I don’t think you should either. One thing I do know, from what you’re telling me, is that he believes he’s right, and if he is, these robots, or people dressed in suits, are more dangerous than you might think. They too have a purpose for being here, something they believe in, and you are most likely going to get in their way.” She lifted her eyes in his direction. “You know that.”
The conversation had turned very serious. “You pulled more cards on the subject,” he said, guessing from her response.
“It’s a feeling,” she said. “Let’s stick with that for now.”
He gave her a sidewise glance and ate some of the soup. He had both eyes on her, knowing that she liked it that way. “Are you still as worried as you were when I got the call?”
“I think having these guys watching over us helps me feel a little safer, but I know you. You’re going to want to be on your own. Please.” She placed a hand on his knee. “Don’t do this one by yourself. Pick one of these guys and go with a backup. We both know how well you focus. Have someone there to watch your back.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said.
Eating dinner didn’t take very long, and afterward they didn’t linger like they might have done had they actually been alone in the park. A few other couples walked through, but nothing more concerning happened, and they made the stroll back home hand in hand.
Once the front door fell shut and locked, Mavra threw the bag of trash away and leaned against the countertop. “I’ve been home all day, so the place probably isn’t bugged,” she said. “I suppose that they know you and I talked about this, though.”
“Yeah. I should come clean about it.”
“I don’t think you’re in jeopardy of losing the work. They appear to need you,” she said.
“They always do,” he said.
“You feel confident about that?”
“Confident, plus I have some power, don’t I?”
“You don’t need power, you need help.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed the pun and began to laugh.
It took Neil a second to get it, but then he laughed too. “You always knew that I needed help. Now there’s no mistaking it,” he said. He wandered over, leaned against her, and wrapped his arms around her back. “I’ll probably regret saying this for a long time, but if I’ve got to come clean, how about I suggest you join me as my assistant?”
Her eyes brightened.
“See, this is what I was afraid of—that you’d get too excited about it. Remember, I’m in charge of this investigation. It’s done my way. You do not follow me around. What I’m suggesting is that I use you as an information source, one that they can’t offer.” He bent down and looked her in the eyes. “I call, you give me your impressions. I don’t care if you use astrology or Tarot cards or numerology. I want your impression of the situation that I call about. Fair?”
“I do that anyway.”
“Not officially.” He was trying to legitimize her talents, but she wasn’t biting. He may have been right when he told her that he’d regret mentioning it.
She didn’t look happy, but she said, “Fine. I accept.”
Neil cocked his head. “You sure? I admit this isn’t a big step.”
“I’m sure. Thank you,” she said. “Do you think they’ll go for it? I mean, knowing what my particular talents are, will they feel as though you’re just trying to milk them for more money on the case?”
“I’m sure they know what you do, and I don’t care what they think. This is just the next step in a full investigation. I’m good with it, and they will be too. You just have to let me run the operation.”
She moved him gently out of her way and walked halfway across the kitchen before turning as though she had something to say. But she just stared at him, a most serious look on her face. “I know how you can be.”
He knew what she meant by those words: that he didn’t always listen to her. “That’s why I said that you needed to let me run this. I have to check in with my own instincts too. And your readings aren’t always clear. Symbols are like that. It’s not a matter of right and wrong; it’s a matter of two different viewpoints and being able to merge the two. You have an equal amount of belief and commitment to your way of operating in life as I do. But, as far as this particular job is concerned, I’m in charge.” He said the last few words slowly, emphasizing his authority while working on the case.
Mavra cocked her head to her shoulder and back upright in a quick off-handed acceptance. “You’ve said that a few times already. I get it. At least I’ll be able to keep you out of danger. But you have to listen to me when I know that you’re unsafe. Promise?”
Reluctantly, Neil promised, but Mavra’s demeanor didn’t change. She had turned cold. “I can’t guarantee they’ll go for it,” he said to try to lighten the mood.
“Are you thinking that you won’t ask and then tell me they sa
id no?”
“I can’t lie to you,” he said, “you know that.”
A trace of a smile came over her lips. “You remember that.”
They sat in the living room and read for a while before retiring to the bedroom. The longer Neil considered their little bargain, the more he felt that he had done the wrong thing. He didn’t even know why he had suggested that she get involved. Was it because he thought she’d worry less? Maybe, but now he’d worry. She was a strong woman and would play this as she wished. His last thoughts before falling off to sleep were worrisome. He had placed her in danger by including her. And he couldn’t change his mind now that she had accepted the offer. That combination meant that he’d have to be on task while simultaneously making sure that she’d be watched over, which could ultimately put him in even more danger. The whole case escalated several levels with his one decision. What had he done?
CHAPTER 9
THAT MORNING the secretary was missing from her desk and Neil made his way into the lab on his own. There was an air of boredom in the space. Only the scientists were there, but they didn’t seem very busy. Steffenbraun strolled over to where Neil had stopped once he got inside. “Coffee?”
“Had a cup on the way.”
“Your appointed lackeys are in the conference room waiting for you. They’ve been there all morning.”
“They can wait,” Neil said. “I wanted to talk with you about my needing an assistant.”
“What about those guys?” Steffenbraun pointed through the wall to where the FBI agents were sitting at a conference table.
Neil didn’t mince words. “I want to use Mavra as an information source.”
“Your wife?” Steffenbraun put a hand to his chin and turned around. He took a few steps away from Neil as though thinking about it. Neil couldn’t see his face. He didn’t know if Steffenbraun was laughing or seriously considering the request.
“She’s worked on the Krenshaw serial murder case,” Neil said after him.
Steffenbraun stopped and swung back. His intense stare unnerved Neil. “Yes,” he said with a head jerk. “I want this thing back, but even more than that, I want to know who or what these beings are and why they stole the equipment. I want to study them. Do you have any idea how much information about our future they must have? If she can help, then she’s hired.”
Steffenbraun’s reaction drove home the importance of the project to him. Mavra was right. Steffenbraun passionately believed in the project, which caused Neil to nudge his believe further toward Steffenbraun’s side. After all, the man had years of hard work and research behind him, helping him form those beliefs.
“There,” Steffenbraun said, “you got your approval. I’ll let Donovan know and you’re all set. So, what are you standing here for? Your men are waiting. Find that thing before they bring in the army and destroy the machine altogether. I’ve got research to carry out.” Steffenbraun waved Neil away as though he were a small boy asking for permission to go out and play. “Get,” he said.
The gesture surprised Neil, but no more so than the rude dismissal. He shook his head. The doctor didn’t exactly have manners, let alone tact. But he was right about one thing. It was time to strategize and find the machine.
Neil left the lab and wandered down the hall to the conference room. Rogers and Matthews were laughing about something when he stepped inside, but quieted and sat up straight when they saw Neil. “Your men have to be more subtle,” Neil said.
“We were just saying that,” Rogers said. “Did you bring the listening devices?”
Neil reached into his coat pocket and removed all three devices and slid them down the table to Rogers.
Rogers picked them up in one hand and held them toward Matthews to take care of. “These things are expensive, you know?”
“I figured as much.” Neil sat down and looked over the buttons on the remote console that Dr. Steffenbraun had used the day before. “First order of business is to compare all the instruments from those videos of the stolen system with the components that are presently in the lab. You can discuss this with Steffenbraun, but don’t take his word for anything. I want to know exactly what this robot thing took: the hull and some of the equipment, all of the equipment, or just the hull. Check out the rest of this facility in case they’ve stashed some of the stuff outside the lab.” Neil leaned over the table. “Identify every single piece.”
“Inventory,” Matthews said.
“Exactly,” Neil grinned at him, knowing how much a pain in the ass the job would be. But it had to be done, and most likely Matthews wouldn’t be doing the actual work anyway. He’d be supervising. He asked Rogers to update him.
Rogers pulled a pad from his jacket pocked and flipped it open. “You probably knew that you didn’t see all the footage that’s available. Part of the reason is that the remote cameras were disconnected, taped over, or shot out, one by one, as the machine was hauled through the building. We have minimal footage from those cameras. Nothing really useful. It’s the same face, if that’s what you can call it, one shot and no video. Following the progress though, we deduced that the thing left through the back delivery entrance.”
“The largest doors are back there,” Matthews said.
“Forensics had trouble finding anything of value. But we followed its progress out to the parking lot in the back.”
“How many of them were there? Can you tell?”
Rogers shook his head. “Naw, all they found were bits of synthetic. All of it mostly the same. Could have come from one thing or a dozen.”
Neil listened, then asked, “Before and after footage of the lot? Was there a car stolen?”
The corner of Rogers’ mouth scrunched. “Nothing.”
Neil stood. “The machine has got to be close by. Either that or the perpetrators absconded with someone else’s car once they left the grounds.” He pointed a finger at Rogers. “Check with the police about a stolen car, a missing person, anything unusual.”
“Will do,” Rogers said. “May I suggest we put a team on locating this thing? We can have the area scanned in no time. I suspect the woods you pass while entering the area.”
“I’m surprised that wasn’t done already,” Neil said.
“We weren’t on the case long enough and the local police weren’t even notified. These guys have no idea about how long these things can take or about how quickly you have to get started. That guy,” he pointed toward the open door indicating the lab and Steffenbraun, “is only interested in his next experiment.”
“I hear you,” Neil said. “So, run with it. We need something to go on, before our job really begins.”
“Now?” Rogers said. He glanced over at Matthews.
“Good a time as any,” Neil said. “Let’s find this machine, or the things that stole it.”
“You expect more than one?” Rogers asked.
“The hull’s too bulky for one monster regardless of how strong he is,” Neil said.
Activity erupted as though the men were waiting for something to do. The morning must have been unbearable just sitting in the conference room until Neil arrived. He felt for them. But it was good to see them taking action, making suggestions. At first he just wanted them to stay busy so they wouldn’t get in his way. Now he actually thought they might be helpful. They could at least do the boring stuff.
Once they left the room, Neil pulled out his cell phone and called Mavra. He felt excited to give her the news, and knew that she’d be eager to know how it went as well. He held on while the phone rang, fidgeting with the controls for the room.
“They said no,” she said when she answered. She sounded suspicious.
“Not at all,” Neil said. “Steffenbraun thought it was a great idea. He’s really serious about getting this stuff back.”
“Oh my god, he did? That’s great.”
Her enthusiasm was contagious for a minute. Neil grinned into the phone. “I’m glad to be working with you,” he said. “Really. This is an
interesting case and to have you working with me, we’re bound to clear it up quickly.”
“Then you’ve changed your mind about the machine being a fake?”
“I didn’t say that, but I am thinking that there may be more to this than I thought. If it is a scam, it’s a larger, more thought-out scam. And regardless of what’s going on, if these monsters are robots, they’re illegal.”
“Give it the scam idea so you can be creative. Just accept that you need to find out what’s going on,” she said. “So, what would you like me to do?”
“Nothing for now. This is data collection time. The FBI will have a team combing the area for pieces of the machine that may have been left behind. I have Matthews in charge of running inventory so we can find out what’s really missing.”
“Scattered,” Mavra said, reminding him what she’d seen in the cards.
“Right, if it’s been scattered around here they’ll find it. I’m going to interview the doctor a bit more in depth, and talk with the other scientists he’s got here. That will probably take much of the day.” He shifted in the seat and sat back into the plush leather. “This is the slow, boring beginning.” He thought back to other jobs. “Actually, this is most of the job, most of the time. There’s seldom a lot of action. I’ll call you if I find out anything that appears to be strange and let you know what’s going on as often as I can.”
“That’s it?”
“One more thing, sweetie. Are you still getting danger signals?”
“You’re not worried are you?” she said.
“It’s not about me. I’m concerned that some of Rogers’ men might run into something out there while they’re doing their search. If those things are hidden away, who knows what they’ll do if found?”
“Warn him,” she said. “I saw danger and thought about you, but it could be just danger around the situation. You don’t usually have that many people working with you. You’ve diffused the focus with this change in approach.”
