The Shadow Watcher

About a mile and a half down, we came up on Mom and Jayden pulled over in a turnout. “Shouldn’t we stop?” He sounded concerned.

  I smiled and waved back at Mom as we passed. “No, she was just getting out of the way.”

  As we made our way down the mountain, at speeds not recommended in some areas, the sun raced against us, until it dipped beyond view behind the mountain peaks, setting the sky above ablaze with the palette of flames in those last fifteen minutes, before slipping under the blanket of Earth’s horizon for the night.

  “Your mom’s place is secure,” my Shadow Watcher assured me. “I had my team go through it yesterday, they didn’t find any bugs or signs that anyone had been there, and they’ve been watching it ever since.”

  “And Jay’s place?”

  “Her place had been tossed, shortly after she was taken.”

  “Well, that’s good to know.” I was sure his team had gone through my place too. I almost forgot about the mess we left behind.

  “It doesn’t appear that anything was missing or damaged. They just wanted to see what she knew.”

  “But we don’t know which ‘they’ it was?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  We drove on for a few more minutes without talking, but once we were back down to the outskirts of civilization, where the road required less of my attention, I was ready to ask more questions. “Tell me more about the Hoppers, Michael. Where do they come from? Do you make them?”

  “No, Daniel used to. These days we have most of the components subcontracted through different manufacturers, who have no idea what they are for. They receive instructions; they gather the materials and assemble them. The pieces are then shipped to Zhou, and he inspects them before they are assembled. There are now six different people who can put them together. There were twelve once....

  “Your father was the first one lost. The other five have gone much more recently, in the last five years actually. Grier was just saying the other day that we need to train some replacements.”

  “Is Dave one of the six left?”

  He nodded. “I only know how to program them to the receivers, Daniel taught me that much.”

  “Were they all assassinated, like Dad and Samuel?”

  “We believe so, though two looked enough like an accident, they may have been.”

  “I suppose anything that looks like an accident to others is suspect from your perspective.”

  “That about sums it up.” He went on to describe more of the logistics behind them. “The Hoppers can be set to jump forward as short as three minutes time, or as long as three days. But the amount of time that actually passes is also dependent on the physical distance we travel.”

  “What?”

  “If I’m standing right next to the receiver and my Hopper is set for an hour, I’ll hop one hour. But if I’m, say, a hundred miles away, four or five hours may pass. The numbers guys are still crunching figures trying to make sense of it, sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “I don’t have a better explanation.”

  I shook my head at him. “You’re doing fine. I don’t know if I could process more than what you’re telling me anyway.”

  He smiled, and continued, “Once the programming is set, it can’t be changed. Each device is programmed to a specific receiver, and they’re not interchangeable. The receivers themselves never have to be replaced, but the Hoppers are only good for five or six hops total before they burn out. Then, the receivers are swapped out to be programmed with new Hoppers.”

  “That sounds like a lot of work,” I remarked.

  “It is, which is why it’s not our preferred method of travel.”

  The last mile or two went by in silence. When we found my Blazer where we left it two days ago, I saw the parking ticket on the windshield as I pulled up to park. “Damn.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t check the parking restrictions in the area first.” Michael seemed truly apologetic.

  “Stop apologizing to me already! It’s really not that big a deal,” I said, smiling at him. “I’m lucky it didn’t get towed. Besides, fifty bucks is a small price to pay for escaping with my life. Dad’s money can pay for this one, since it’s his sort of his fault.”

  He smiled, “That’s fair, I suppose.” Then his expression sobered, “He wanted you to have the money, you know, so you wouldn’t have to bartend, and write articles for pennies per word.”

  “I know,” I said, and shrugged. I didn’t know how to explain it. “I guess it’s just a stubbornness thing. I want to prove that I can do it on my own. That’s why the whole Dave Grier thing bothers me so much.”

  “Sometimes, you are so like Samuel, it’s scary.” I had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but I could see in his eyes that he understood how I felt. “I get it, Sam, honestly I do. But I hope you know the last thing any of us wants is for you to think you’re not in control of your own destiny. You are. I’m just here to make sure that you get to have it, whatever it is that you want.”

  It was a heady concept to take in. “I’m getting there, Michael. It’s going to take some time for it all to sink in.”

  “Time is something you now have in abundance.”

  We both got out of the car. “See you back at Mom’s?”

  “If not sooner,” he winked as he walked around to the driver’s side of the Camaro.

  I opened the door to my Blazer. “Seriously, you don’t need to follow me home.” It gave me a little thrill to know that he would.

  “I promise I won’t follow you.” He didn’t say he wouldn’t hop there.

  ***

  I parked my Blazer in the carport and opened the door, which Artemis eagerly jumped out of to go take care of business. She knew I would open the balcony door for her when I got upstairs; just as I knew that Michael would be there somewhere, lurking in the shadows, rather than going straight over to Mom’s place, but I wasn’t sure if he would have used a Hopper or not to get there ahead of me.

  I mulled over these technical details of my new world as I walked into the building and up the stairs. As I opened the door to my studio, I thought about the kiss Michael and I shared. I closed the door and banged my forehead on it when I thought about the opportunity I’d missed for another one before I got out of the Camaro. “Stupid.”

  “Don’t talk about the woman I love that way,” Bailey’s voice behind me nearly made me jump out of my skin.

  Instead I screamed, loudly, then shut my mouth and said a silent prayer that Michael would not come dashing in from the balcony to my aid. Thankfully he didn’t, though I was sure he was out there. “Hi Bail, I wasn’t expecting you. How did you get in?”

  “I picked your pocket a couple of weeks ago and had a copy of the key made so I could sneak in and surprise you on such an occasion.”

  Creepy. Unnerving. Red-flag warning. “Ummm,” was all that would come out of my mouth.

  He disarmed me with that blindingly brilliant smile, and came across the room to put his arms around my waist and kiss me. I let him, and I felt guilty. Either he had nothing to do with Morrison, or he really was a good actor, or I was just gullible. But at the moment, I was putting on the act, and it had to be convincing, so I kissed him back. If he really wasn’t a part of some conspiracy to uncover the Society, it didn’t feel right for him to be hurt in all of this.

  When he came up for air, he said, “I’m sorry, I just missed you.” He held my head against his chest and stroked my hair. “I’m glad you’re home.”

  I thought about it, and his timing seemed all too perfect. “How did you know when I would be home? I caught an early flight. I didn’t know I would be home yet.”

  “I guess I felt an echo across the universe.” He glanced around behind me. “No luggage?”

  Acting quickly, I kissed him again, “I left it in the car,” and one more peck for good measure, “I missed you too.”

  We moved toward the couch. I gestured for him to sit as I went to open the balcony doo
r for Artemis. I peeked, and found Michael crouched in the shadows, scratching my cat’s chin. He mouthed one word, “Hurry,” before I turned back to Bailey.

  Joining him on the couch, he immediately pounced on me, and I not so gently pushed him away. “Slow down there, big boy. Can a girl catch her breath?”

  Then he got angry again, like the other day, “Excuse me for wanting to spend some time with you. I don’t get it, Sam. What’s going on? I told you a week ago that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and it seems like you have been pushing me farther and farther away ever since.”

  “Bailey, it’s been a long week....”

  “I know, you were attacked, and then you had your assignment. You didn’t have time for me, but I did notice you had time to make your shift at The Keg. Planning on going in tomorrow? Couldn’t possibly miss a night of flirting at that dive?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I’ve seen you in there, smiling, laughing at jokes that aren’t funny, and flirting.”

  “With the dirty old men that come in there? Really, Bailey, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Be straight with me, Sam. Are you seeing someone else?”

  It’s not like Michael and I had been out on a string of hot dates or anything. “No, Bailey, I haven’t been seeing anyone else. It’s my job to be friendly with customers at the bar - I don’t make tips otherwise! It’s what keeps customers coming back.”

  He softened, “Then Raeanne owes you all the business she does have.”

  “You’re probably right on that one. That’s probably why she keeps trying to get me to work other nights.”

  “You’re not working tonight, right? Let’s go out to dinner.”

  I sighed, “Bail, I wish I could, but my cousin, Mary, just flew in from Seattle. I have to go over to get her settled in at my Mom’s. Can I meet you at your place later?”

  The disappointment was evident on his face, but mentioning coming over later cheered him right back up, “Sure. When can I expect you?”

  “Give me a couple hours at least. Say around nine?”

  He kissed me again, and then got up to go, “I’ll be waiting for you,” he winked and then was out the door.

  ***

  As soon as I locked the door, I turned and found Michael sitting where Bailey had been on my couch, with Artemis curled up contentedly beside him.

  “You move fast,” I commented.

  He gave me one of his mysterious smiles in return, “The seat was still warm.”

  “What if he forgot something and came back?”

  “Then I would disappear like the magician I am.”

  “Can you make me disappear with you?” I asked.

  He raised an eyebrow. “That depends on what you mean.”

  I sat down next to him and shook my head, “I don’t know if I can do this; keep up this act with Bailey. That was like five minutes, and I felt like he could see right through me the entire time.”

  “And if he did, I was right outside the window to take him out.”

  “That’s not what I want. I mean, I don’t want him hurt, not if he’s innocent. If he’s not, then it’s another story.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Have you ever been betrayed, by someone you love?”

  “I’ve never heard you say that you love him.”

  “I haven’t, I-” I thought about what he said for a second, and the conversation took another turn. “If I had, how would you know?”

  “Sam, you don’t want all of the details, do you?”

  “Are you saying you hear every word I say, to everyone?”

  He put up his hands defensively, “No, not everyone, but we had a strange feeling about Bailey right away. He hit town, headed straight for you, and jumped into your bed. Pardon my bluntness, but most people don’t zero in on their soul mate the minute they move to a new place. So, to answer your question, yes, we have monitored all of your interactions with him. And Annika, a member of my team, is usually the one listening. I’m always near, waiting, but not listening. In fact, I prefer not to know anything about your, shall we say, encounters.”

  His eyes gave him away; I saw his discomfort with discussing the intimate side of my relationship. Again, I felt a pang of guilt, and then a flash of anger. Why should I feel guilty over making some guy, I didn’t even know existed until a week ago, uncomfortable? He’s the one spying on me! “You still haven’t answered my previous question.”

  His focus drifted away, I could tell his mind was somewhere else. “No, I don’t suppose I have.”

  “I don’t know if it’s love, but before all this started, I certainly had feelings for Bailey. He says he loves me, and he asked me to move in.” The surprise on Michael’s face told me it was news to him. Annika must have left that part out. “Then literally two days later, I find out the whole relationship may be a lie? And then I find out my whole life is a lie? I am the one who is hurt and betrayed here, and pardon me for having a hard time making out with someone I want to punch in the face.”

  “You want to punch him in the face?” He grinned.

  “If he’s a part of this conspiracy, hell yes, I want to break every bone in his body. If not, then I feel really bad for feeling that way. If not, he wants me for me, or then again it might just be because he knows I’m rich.”

  “And what scares you more, the thought of him lying about his intentions, or the thought of moving in with him?”

  I just sat there a few minutes and looked at the floor, not giving him an answer. The truth was, before I met Michael, I really wasn’t sure how I felt about a future with Bailey - I’d never considered one. After the plans I made with Jeff hadn’t worked out, I focused on living in the here and now and avoided thinking about the rest of my life as much as possible. “I’ll see you over at Mom’s in a little bit. Artemis and I are going to settle in first.”

  “Okay,” he said, and then he was gone off the balcony again.

  I looked at Artemis, who was contentedly rubbing her head on my shin, “Does he have to disappear like that every time?”

  She looked up at me and yawned.

  “You’re no help.”

  CHAPTER 16

  09/26/2006: Strategy Session

  I walked in the front door at Mom’s and found her with Michael and Jayden as I expected, but there were two other men and a woman I’d never seen before sitting with them around the dining room table. The pizza had already been delivered, and was almost gone.

  Before anyone said anything, I turned around and went back in the kitchen to get a Pepsi, but decided to go for a beer instead when I found them in the fridge. I twisted the top off the bottle and got the first couple gulps before returning for introductions.

  Mom got up and pulled out the chair next to her for me. “Sam, this is Kristoff,” I smiled and shook his hand. His light hazel eyes lit up with his smile, and contrasted beautifully with the bronzed glow of his skin.

  “Nice to meet you.” I smiled back, and then I turned to the other man and woman, both blonde and blue eyed. “You must be Alec? And Annika?” Their resemblances went beyond pigmentation.

  “His sister, we’re twins.” She smiled brightly at me across the table as she stuck out her hand. “It’s so nice to actually get to meet you in person.”

  I took her hand and decided I liked her. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

  Michael opened the discussion we’d all gathered. “Everything is in motion. The council has been called together, and we are expected to be at the Chambers by Friday night. That will give us a little time to tie up loose ends.”

  Mom picked up where he left off, “We’ll probably get on the road late Thursday.”

  “You will give Bailey the story that you are going to care for Marion.” Annika continued. “Tell Raeanne, and now that I think about it, find a reason to bump into that cop friend of yours and tell him too.”

  “Tim? Why does he need to be involved?”
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  “In case he tries to contact you regarding the Morrison case, for one. He’ll know that you weren’t abducted,” she reasoned.

  That made sense.

  “For two, it lends credibility to the story, if Bailey happens to run into him,” Kristoff offered.

  “Why would Bailey run into him?”

  Alec answered, “Because the police are already looking at Morrison’s past, looking for connections in the area, and if they don’t find the blatantly obvious connection from High School, then I will drop it in their laps.”

  Jayden asked, “How do you know what the police are looking at?”

  This time Kristoff answered again, “Alec is a whiz at getting into secure networks. He sees everything they are doing.”

  Alec shrugged, “These systems are so rudimentary, compared to our time. It’s like a grad student going back to pre-school.”

  My turn, “You three are from the future too?”

  They gave a joint nod.

  “Did you come with Samuel?”

  They gave a collective head shake, indicating no.

  Michael explained, “They are all like me, sent back on a mission based on a lie. That’s why we wear the glasses, so we can identify other Travelers -”

  I interrupted, “Travelers?”

  “That’s how we refer to anyone who has come from the future.”

  “You mean the assassins?” Jayden was seeking clarification.

  “Yes,” Annika admitted, “the majority of us were.”

  “A handful were sent as observers,” Alec continued.

  “The twins forget about the missions that were sent before Samuel,” Kristoff added.

  “What were those?” Jayden’s curiosity peaked, as did mine.

  “Mostly one-man missions to see if the time machine worked,” Mom explained. “They really aren’t relevant. Only one of them is still alive, and is part of the Society.”

  “Donnovan Morcavo, and yes, he was with us from the day after he landed,” Michael finished explaining.

  I could tell he was ready for a change in the subject matter, “So what should we pack for this Society convention? What will the weather be like? How long will we be there?” Once I started, I realized I had a lot of questions.

  “It will be a bit cooler than here, but nothing too extreme. It’s not like we’ll be outside.” He looked to Mom for her input, she nodded. “I would think we should be done there Saturday, but definitely by Sunday....”