by R. L. King
“Right, then,” he murmured. “There’s that sorted—for now, at least.”
He collected his pack and his coat, stepped away from the rift, and summoned his disregarding and levitation spells, drifting up and back toward where he’d left his car with one final backward look. The faint tugging sensation weakened, disappearing entirely by the time he’d made it fifty feet away.
He hoped he was right, that this was sorted. He was confident his illusion would keep any mundanes from getting too close to the rift, but far less confident about what might happen if something else popped through it before he could work out how to deal with it.
9
He half expected to find Todd in his room again when he returned to Gunnison to collect the rest of his things. He’d thought about leaving a warning ward in the room to alert him if anyone entered it, but decided it was pointless. He wasn’t doing anything illegal, and if the man wanted to spend his time trying to locate incriminating evidence about him, he could knock himself out.
Nobody was there, nor did Stone find any evidence anyone had been there, beyond the maid replacing the towels and making the bed.
He sat at the small table with the roast beef sandwich and coffee he’d picked up from a mom-and-pop sub shop on the way back, scrolling through the texts he’d received while out of cell range. There were three: one from Jason earlier that day, wondering when he’d be returning home and inviting him to dinner when he did, and two from Verity. The first updated him on her location: she’d made it to Idaho and was staying in a quaint little bed-and-breakfast near Idaho Falls (“no potatoes in sight—I’m disappointed!”). The second, only an hour ago, said, Call if you want to talk. I’m bored.
He finished the sandwich—the shop had seemed popular with the student crowd, and the roast beef was delicious—and leaned back to respond to the texts.
To Jason, he sent, I’m back in communication now. Should be heading home tomorrow.
He waited a moment to see if he’d get an immediate reply. When he didn’t, he switched to Verity’s last one. I’m back in Gunnison. Still searching for potatoes?
Her reply did come back nearly instantly. I had some french fries. Does that count?
Still want me to call?
Absolutely.
He chuckled. That was the old Verity. He switched to the phone app and almost tapped her contact button, then stopped, looking around the room.
Maybe it was paranoia, but Todd had entered his room before and Stone still wasn’t convinced he hadn’t left anything behind. He slipped his boots back on and left the room, setting off at a meandering pace away from the hotel. He waited until he’d cleared the parking lot before calling.
“Hey, Doc. Good to hear your voice. How’s Colorado?”
“It’s…interesting.”
“Come on…I know what you mean by ‘interesting’.” Her tone was sly and amused. “What’s this puzzle you’re working on?”
“I…can’t discuss it.” He deliberately put emphasis on the words, hoping she’d pick up what he wasn’t saying.
“Why, is it a secret?” She paused. “Oh…wait. You can’t discuss it.”
“Right.”
“You found another one?”
He smiled. Sharp as ever, his former apprentice. “I’ll neither confirm nor deny that.”
Another pause. “You said this was something Gina found.”
“It was…indirectly, anyway. She discovered a news story that led me to suspect something was going on.”
“And you were right.”
“Yes, it appears so.”
“So that’s where you’ve been all day—off somewhere in the sticks hunting for it.”
“Yes.” He hated having to be so closed-mouthed about it, but he knew from experience that even if he tried to tell her more, the oath would prevent him from speaking the words.
“And you found it.”
“Yes.”
“What…did you do about it? You didn’t close it, did you?”
“No. I…arranged it so it’s unlikely anyone will go near the area. Fortunately, it was quite remote.”
“But it could still cause trouble, right?” Her tone sounded pondering. “Did it already cause trouble? Is that what the article Gina found was about?”
“Yes. But I can’t discuss that, either. I’ve still got more to do, but I’m not sure of my next steps.”
“You sure you don’t need any help?”
I do need help, he thought bitterly. But unfortunately, it’s from a man who’s nearly impossible to contact. “No—I’ve got this. I want you to enjoy the rest of your trip. I’ll want to hear all about it when you return. I’m assuming you’ve taken loads of photos.”
He was obviously trying to change the subject, and she gracefully conceded. “Yeah, loads. I’m sure you can’t wait to sit and swipe through all my vacation pictures. That’s got to be the most exciting thing ever.”
“Perhaps you could pick out a few highlights to show me.”
“Yeah—we’ll get together at Jason and Amber’s new place, eat till we’re sick, and watch them then.”
“That sounds brilliant.” Stone slowed; he’d unconsciously picked up his pace as he talked, and was now nearly half a mile up the street from the hotel. “I’d best go now, though—I’ve still got some things to do, and I want to get an early start tomorrow.”
His phone buzzed, and another text popped up over the phone screen. As he guessed, it was from Jason: Great, call when you get back. I want to get on with this as soon as you’re willing.
Stone still couldn’t blame him for being impatient. It would be world-class hypocritical of him to rag on anyone else for excessive curiosity. “Right, then, Verity,” he said. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“G’night, Doc. Pleasant dreams of moose and potatoes.”
Stone got an early start the following morning, leaving Gunnison before eight a.m. after grabbing an abbreviated breakfast at an indie coffee shop he found near the hotel. If things went well, he’d be in Santa Fe in less than five hours, and back home in the Bay Area shortly after that. He thought about staying longer, but he had no resources here. If he had any chance of finding out where the authorities had taken the Traveler, he’d need to consult some sources that weren’t reachable by telephone.
He was fifty miles outside Santa Fe, passing through a small town called Ojo Caliente and wondering if he should stop to stretch his legs or push through the rest of the way, when his phone rang.
The ringtone was generic. He’d specified personal versions for most of his close friends and colleagues so he wouldn’t miss their calls, so the generic ring almost always indicated either a telemarketer or a student. Since he was off work for the summer he almost didn’t answer it, but then wondered if it might be Todd trying to reach him about something. He pulled into a gas-station parking lot and dug the phone from his pocket.
The number was blocked. Damn, that probably did mean a telemarketer, but he’d stopped now. “Yes, hello?”
“Dr. Stone.”
Stone nearly dropped the phone. Of all the voices he’d expected to hear at the other end, that was probably the last one. Even Stefan Kolinsky, who didn’t even use phones, was more likely.
“Mr. Harrison. This is…unexpected.”
10
Stone quickly moved the car into a parking space. “I didn’t expect you to get back to me. You never get back to me—certainly not this quickly.”
“I had business at the Obsidian. Mr. Nakamura has given me some troubling news.” Trevor Harrison’s voice sounded as even and unruffled as it ever did.
Still mindful of the possibility the car might be bugged, Stone got out and walked a short distance away before continuing. “Yes. And I’ve learned more since then that’s convinced me what I told him is correct.”
“You have located her?”
“No, I wish. I’m at something of a dead end about that at present. But the article that led me to investigate w
asn’t a hoax. I’m certain of it.”
“Article?”
Stone pondered. “Mr. Harrison, I’m standing in a gas-station parking lot in New Mexico. I don’t really want to go into all the details over the phone. Can we meet somewhere?”
“New Mexico? Is that where this occurred?”
It was odd that Harrison didn’t have all the answers this time. Stone supposed it would have been more unsettling if he did, considering the only information Nakamura had to pass on to him was that a Traveler might be in trouble on Earth.
“No. It’s actually Colorado. But I just left there three hours ago, and I don’t fancy turning around and driving back. I was planning to take the portal home and do some investigation. Can you come to the Bay Area?”
“If possible, I would prefer it if you came to Las Vegas. As I mentioned, I have some business I must attend to here.”
Stone wondered what business could possibly be more important than a lost Traveler, but sighed. “Fine. It will take me a bit of time, though. I’ll need to take the portal home and then find a flight to Las Vegas. Unless you’ve got a private portal there, or a personal jet idling at the San Jose airport.”
“I have neither. When you arrive, inform Mr. Nakamura. He will know where to find me.”
“All right. Give me a few hours.” Stone wasn’t surprised Harrison didn’t have a private portal—it seemed he didn’t need one.
“In the meantime, please send Mr. Nakamura any information you have about the incident.”
“All I’ve got is a screenshot of an article that disappeared off the internet, and a blurry photo.”
“Send them on, please. We can speak more when you arrive. Good afternoon, Dr. Stone.”
The line went dead.
Stone stared at the phone. He supposed he should be used to Harrison’s abruptness by now, but the man was maddening.
He trudged back to the car and got in. He’d hoped to have at least a short time at home, but it wasn’t looking like that would be possible.
An hour later, he stepped through the portal at A Passage to India after dropping off the rental car at the agency (if it’s bugged, it’s not my problem anymore).
Marta Bellwood greeted him as he headed through the dining room. “Alastair, hello. Staying for lunch? We’ve got a lovely vindaloo today as the special.”
It was tempting—he hadn’t eaten since his pastry and coffee this morning. “Sorry,” he said ruefully. “I’d love to, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
“Ah, that’s too bad.” She sounded like she was getting used to it by now. “Jason came by with Amber last night. We had a lovely chat. I’m so happy they were able to buy their new house.”
Damn. He’d forgotten about Jason. “So am I, Marta. I’m sure they’ll be very happy there. You take care, and I’ll see you soon, I promise.”
He’d left the BMW in the parking lot—because of the portal, A Passage to India never had its regulars’ vehicles towed—and it was right where he left it. He climbed in with a sigh, pulling out his phone. It was the coward’s way out, he knew, but he dashed off a quick text to Jason instead of calling him.
I’m sorry, Jason, but can’t come by tonight after all. Something urgent has come up.
He hoped it would once again go unanswered until later, but the little dots appeared immediately.
What the hell, Al? It almost feels like you’re avoiding this. Something I should know?
Stone winced. He was avoiding it, but not for any reason Jason might suspect. He was as curious about what was going on as his friend was, and in fact would much prefer spending his evening trying to figure it out than chasing all over the country with or without Harrison.
Nothing, I promise. I’m keen to get back to you, but this can’t wait.
The dots stopped, cycled, stopped again. Fine. Got any idea how long you’ll be?
He realized he didn’t. This had the potential to blow up into something big, or fizzle out quickly. He had no way to know. No, unfortunately.
Another long wait, so long Stone almost fired up the car and drove off. But then: Okay, fine. Got a case anyway so I’m busy too. But promise me you’re not blowing me off. If there’s something you aren’t telling me, I want to hear it.
Nothing. I’ve got no idea what’s going on, and that’s the truth. We’ll sort it out. Must go now—need to get to the airport.
Airport? Since when do you fly?
Since I’m going somewhere without a portal. Talk to you soon, Jason. Cheers.
He didn’t bother stopping at home. He’d rigged some magical gizmos to keep Raider’s food and water dishes filled, and the cat liked being on his own so he wouldn’t be lonely if Stone was away for another day or two. If it ended up being longer than that, he could ask Jason or one of his grad students to drop by again.
Flights to Las Vegas were frequent and plentiful, so he had no trouble getting a seat on one leaving in less than an hour. He had to put up with being stuck in coach, but he could handle that for a short flight. While he sat in the terminal and waited for it to board, he considered what he’d already discovered.
He’d have to be careful with Harrison. The oath wouldn’t let him reveal the existence of the portal; that could make things difficult, but not necessarily. Harrison would be more interested in tracking the Traveler’s location and getting her back to Calanar than dealing with how she’d gotten here—at least at first.
Stone wasn’t even sure Harrison could find the rift if he discovered where the campers had encountered the Traveler. Stone’s illusions were good, and seeing through illusions wasn’t so much a matter of either magical power or intelligence. If you didn’t expect them to be there, they didn’t even have to be that strong to do their job. Stone wouldn’t put it past Harrison to lean on the campers if he could locate them, but they couldn’t tell him anything except what he already knew.
He’d sent Nakamura the article screenshot and the photo Gina had found. He checked his email and didn’t discover any new messages from her, which meant she either hadn’t found anything else or Jason had redirected her to focus on paying work. Probably the former, since in Stone’s experience, hackers didn’t stop hunting for juicy data when they were off the clock. But there was no reason to expect Harrison to know anything about the rifts. Stone had never told him anything about them, and he doubted the man paid enough attention to what was going on around here to have any suspicions. If he could keep the focus on finding the Traveler and away from how she got here, he might be able to divert Harrison long enough to get away from him before he thought to ask uncomfortable questions.
Yes, and I’ll be crowned King of England any day now, so I’d best get my good suit cleaned.
The boarding announcement broke into his thoughts, and he put his phone away and filed onto the plane with the other passengers. There was no point in worrying about how much Harrison would catch on to until and unless it became a problem.
11
He landed in Vegas an hour later and got a cab to the Obsidian. This time of year, stepping outside the terminal was like stepping into a blast furnace. He was glad the driver had the AC cranked to full strength.
The Obsidian looked the same as it always did: a tall, featureless black tower with the hotel’s name spelled vertically up the side in electric blue. It looked impressive even in the daytime, but Stone wondered what the average tourist would think if they knew the elegant, expensive hotel they were staying in existed simultaneously on at least two dimensions, and parts of it could shift back and forth between them at the will of its powerful master. He chuckled at the thought, but then sobered. So many things the mundanes would never know about.
He wondered how many things were still out there that he didn’t know about.
He exited the cab back into the blast furnace, and hurried inside to another solid wall of arctic cold. Near the registration desk, he stopped to get his bearings. No point in getting a room—not yet, anyway. He had no idea how long
he’d be staying, or what Harrison would want to do. Instead, he pulled out his phone and called Nakamura.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Stone. Mr. Harrison is expecting you. Do you recall where the elevator to his office is?”
It had been a while, but Stone hadn’t forgotten the small, private elevator to Harrison’s subterranean office. He started walking in that direction as he talked. “I remember. Did you get the files I sent you?”
“I did, and passed them on. Tell me when you’ve reached the elevator and I’ll open it for you. If you need some time beforehand, I have a room ready for you.”
“Not sure I’ll need it, but thanks.” He passed the standard bank of elevators available to the public and turned into a smaller hall beyond them. The elevator was at the end of the hall. Stone wondered why it wasn’t hidden behind an illusion, but supposed Harrison must do business with mundanes at least occasionally. He still wasn’t entirely sure what the man’s role was at the Obsidian’s Earth incarnation. “I’m at the elevator.”
“One moment.” A few seconds later, the door slid silently open, revealing a small cubicle.
“Thanks.” Stone stepped inside, and immediately the door slid shut.
The elevator had no visible buttons or controls. As soon as the door closed, it plummeted at stomach-wrenching velocity downward, reminding Stone how glad he was that he suffered from neither claustrophobia nor motion sickness.
It opened to the familiar hallway, ending at a glass-walled reception area that was currently unoccupied. As Stone entered it, a door on the other side opened. He took a deep breath—conversations with Harrison required a bit of mental preparation—and entered the office.
Harrison looked up from behind his large, unadorned desk. “Dr. Stone. Thank you for coming so quickly.”
Stone studied him. He wore a simple black shirt with the sleeves turned back, and as was almost always the case, everything from his clothes to his hair looked perfectly—almost unnaturally—in place. His icy gray eyes held their usual still calm, but Stone also got a subtle impression of stress.
