Paradox (Travelers Series Book 2)

“You know, without the scowl, she’s actually quite cute,” Moose says.

  “Really? You think that’s going to upset me?” I know this jerk is trying to get me riled up, especially after the slot incident, but you’d think he’d be the bigger person and accept that accidents happen.

  Before he can come up with a witty comeback, Cooper jumps in. “It’s Thornberry.”

  Moose pulls his legs from atop the table and straightens up in his chair. “I’m listening.”

  “We finally have a way of getting back. You in?”

  I can tell from the look on Moose’s face all Cooper had to do was mention Thornberry and he’s as good as ours, very much like Jenny had been when we approached her in Mexico. Thornberry must have done some pretty awful things if Moose is willing to leave a lucrative career here in Vegas behind in order to help us destroy him.

  “Count me in,” Moose begins. “But I do have one question. What’s up with the dork twins?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Basket Case

  It’s Saturday, and for the first time in days, I don’t feel guilty about not being in school. No one other than Alex has stopped by or called to check-up on me, so I guess my earlier feelings that no one would miss me was warranted. I haven’t even heard from April. Now that I find strange. I was so sure she’d either call or show-up when she realized I haven’t been in class. But wondering about who’s keeping track of my schedule doesn’t stop me from thinking about Jaime and where she is. I wonder if she knows I’m doing everything I can to try to locate her. Not that she knows I have the ability to try to track her down via astral projection, but still, I hope she knows I’m at the very least thinking of her.

  After all the traveling with Cooper and everything I’ve been through these last few days, all I want to do is rest. I feel like the whole world is resting on my shoulders and I could use a break. Since it’s technically the weekend, I don’t feel the need to get up and do something productive. I decide to give myself a few more minutes in bed and wait for someone to wake me up.

  I must have dozed off again for awhile, because the next thing I know, Cooper is nudging me awake. I manage to pop open one eye. “Does Aunt Maggie know you’re up here?”

  She’s pretty cool about a lot of things, but having a hot guy in my bedroom is where I think she’d draw the line. Personally, it’s kinda nice to be woken up by him. I wonder what it’ll be like when we’re married and I get to wake up beside him. So far, it’s a damn fine way to start the day. I’ll take this wake-up call any day over the alarm.

  “She’s the one who sent me up here to wake you up. Do you realize it’s almost eleven?

  “Hmm,” I hum, as I stretch, while at the same time, covering up my excitement over him being so close to me.

  He nudges me again, only this time with a little more force. “Darlin’, you have to get ready.”

  “For what?” It is Saturday, right? It’s nice being able to sleep in, and as much as I enjoy spending time with Cooper and getting to travel, I’m glad we’re done rounding folks up. As far as I know, I’m not meeting April today, since she hasn’t bothered to call me or stop by, nor do I have anything else planned for the day.

  “We have one more person to meet.”

  What he says puts me in full alert mode. I shoot up from my lying position on the bed. I’m glad I’m not wearing one of my ratty tank tops with the holes in them. “I thought we already met up with everyone?”

  “Nope, we still haven’t met up with Taylor.”

  “Oh,” I say, a little disappointed that we still have another trip scheduled. Then again, being with Cooper gives me more time to get to know him better. I mean, I’m going to be married to him after all. But as much as traveling to all those different places was fun, I don’t know if I have another trip left in me. At least for awhile. Why can’t this wait until tomorrow?

  “So, where to this time? Los Angeles, Dallas… Oh, Paris! Tell me we’re going somewhere exciting.” I know Taylor isn’t the kind of name you’d typically hear roaming along the streets of Paris, but maybe she’s in some kind of boarding school or something. Sure, I’m physically beat from all the traveling, but I won’t mind if we have to go to some cool location. I only hope it’s better, not to mention safer, than our trip to Mexico City.

  A big smile forms on Cooper’s lips. “Sorry to disappoint you darlin’, but we’re staying right here.”

  “Oh, but I thought…”

  “No, we still have to do a jump, but the Taylor we’re looking for resides in an alternate Alexandria. So…” He pulls the covers off me. “You have plenty of time to get ready.”

  That’s right. Taylor’s the one in the mental hospital. Okay, so I’m a bit disappointed we’re not going somewhere exciting, but in the end, I’m glad we don’t have to travel far. “I think I remember you mentioning her. I guess I must have forgotten.”

  “Yeah, that always seems to be a problem when it comes to Taylor. She’s easily overlooked. You’ll really like her, darlin’. She’s a difficult one to get to know, but she’s sweet and has a good heart.”

  Oh no. To hear Cooper talk about her, is she my competition?

  Cooper laughs. “No, you don’t need to worry. Trust me, when you meet her, you’ll understand.”

  “Coop! Do I have to keep reminding you how much I hate you reading my mind?”

  “Sorry, occupational hazard.” He grins. “It’s not like I don’t already know everything about you.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. Don’t remind me.” I grumble as I head to the bathroom to get ready. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get dressed.”

  • • •

  Cooper doesn’t have to wait long for me to come down, but it was long enough for me to find him chatting with my dad in the kitchen. I hope they didn’t spend the last half-hour arguing over the merits of our mission. I know from experience that Cooper can be very convincing, but I also know my dad isn’t an easy sell.

  I head straight for the coffee pot and grab one of the larger mugs from the cabinet. If I’m going to spend the day rounding up yet another member of our team, I need fuel in order to recharge. Since Cooper said we have plenty of time before we head out, seeing we’re only jumping from here, I don’t think he’ll begrudge me a few cups of my precious java before we head out. As an afterthought, I also pick up a box of cereal.

  “So, what are you two kids up to today?” As busy as my dad is—at least I assume he’s a busy man, working for the government—he certainly seems to have made himself available these last few days. I wonder if he’s trying to keep tabs on me.

  “Well, I can definitely say that we’re staying in town,” I say. Even though my dad gave permission for me and Cooper to enlist the help of my future friends, he still hasn’t warmed up to the idea. I don’t want to rock the boat by informing him of Cooper’s plans for the day.

  “That’s good. All this running around isn’t good for you. You need to go back to school and I expect you to be there Monday morning.” Aunt Maggie probably had a talk with him about my skipping school.

  It was only a couple of days, I want to say, but I don’t. “Don’t worry, Victor. I’ll be back on Monday.”

  “Good, now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be in my office.” Then again, maybe he does manage to get some work done on the weekends.

  “You lied,” Cooper says, bemused.

  “No I didn’t. I told him we were staying in town. I just didn’t say in which reality.” I say, in between mouthfuls of cereal. By sleeping in, I’d missed breakfast, so it’s Sugar Bombs for me. “Besides, didn’t we lie when we said we were visiting college campuses?”

  “Touché. In any event, I wish you’d be more truthful to Victor. I know he’s messed up a few things, but I really think he’s trying. Besides, we need him to support us on this.”

  “I know. But I can’t help but feel he’s still hiding something from me. Like, there’s something I still need to know.”

  “Like what
?”

  “I don’t know. That seems to be the catch phrase in my life these days.” I look him at him directly. “You aren’t keeping anything from me are you?”

  “Of course not. Why would I?” He gives me a look. Maybe my comment wasn’t fair. As far as I know, he’s been nothing but honest with me. Sure, he waits like forever to tell me things, but still.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “I think I’m just imagining things. Although, I can’t help but think that he is. Call it women’s intuition. Victors’s so resistant about us working on building our team and with me eventually going to the other reality with you, I think there’s something he knows he’s not telling. You said it yourself the other morning.”

  Cooper’s expression softens. “Well, if he is keeping something from you, I’m sure it’s for your own protection. At least as far as he’s concerned.”

  I sigh. “Maybe you’re right. By the way, what were you two talking about while you were waiting for me?”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Taylor McGee

  The Year 2018

  Etta’s Office

  There was a slight rasp at the door. Etta knew it wasn’t Cooper, because he generally preferred to keep his entrances silent so he could watch her from afar. Not that she’d ever let on she knew.

  Before Etta could answer, the door opened a crack. She could see the wisps of blonde hair peeking through the opening. It could only be Taylor, she figured. While Jenny was also a blonde, only Taylor was polite enough to knock. Besides, she’d asked for her to stop by her office when she had the time.

  “Taylor? Is that you? Come on in.” She wasn’t working on anything important, just some more schematics Moose had given her after the last Council meeting. Strategic planning always left her feeling frustrated, so she welcomed the interruption.

  Taylor entered the room as quietly as she had knocked and stood near the entrance. “You wanted to see me?”

  “I did, thanks for coming over,” Etta said.

  “Sure, I had some things I needed to work on anyways.” Taylor didn’t like to come to the warehouse often, unless it was to be briefed on the latest troop activity, or when she was tasked with an assignment.

  “The troop’s nest,” Etta began, referencing Thornberry’s secret units that recently surfaced near their warehouse. Their headquarters was in a remote location in the area, but lately, they’d gathered intel that Thornberry’s troops had assembled small command centers surrounding the perimeter of the warehouse. Upon hearing about the units, she’d sent Taylor and Moose to investigate.

  Taylor smiled. “Consider them toast.”

  Etta knew she was being literal and was glad she could count on both of them to get the job done. With their combined strengths, she knew they would not only be able to detect the mobile command centers with Moose’s empathic ability, but disintegrate them, thanks to Taylor’s gift of fire. “Seriously, I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you. Hey, you don’t think they had time to alert Thornberry before you guys struck do you?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. We made sure to stay far enough away, but close enough to cause some serious damage.”

  “Good job, really. If you run into Moose, let him know I appreciate you guys stepping in like that.”

  Etta noticed her friend get a bit flustered, at the mention of Moose’s name. “Hey, what’s up? Did anything else happen?”

  “This is kind of embarrassing, but I kinda need your advice.”

  This was something different, Etta thought. Taylor never brought up anything personal. Not even after these last few years working together. She’d certainly come out of her shell, but still clung to whatever personal thoughts she had to herself. So naturally, Etta’s curiosity was piqued. “You know you can ask me anything.”

  “Well, the thing is, I don’t know what to do about a certain situation.” Taylor was still struggling with getting the words out.

  Etta really hoped this didn’t have anything to do with Jenny. While, yes, the Jenny she knew in this world is much different than the alternate one she knew back in school, she could still be a handful. She wouldn’t doubt it if Jenny was giving Taylor a hard time. Even after all these years, the two still didn’t get along. While Jenny was more outgoing, Etta doubted if Taylor ever stood up for herself. Having spent years in an institution could do that to a person. “Is it about Jenny?”

  “Oh, no. Nothing like that,” Taylor said, shaking her head. “Trust me, she knows full well I could light her up faster than a pile of briquettes if she ever messed with me.” She giggled at the thought.

  So, she does have a backbone, Etta thought. This pleased her to know that when time came to fight, Taylor would be ready. She wouldn’t have to worry that her friend couldn’t defend herself. She felt confident knowing she could count on Taylor.

  “So, what is it then?” Etta was dying to know what her friend was so worried about. If it’s not about Jenny, then what?

  “It’s about Moose,” Taylor said this in a soft whisper. Like she was still afraid to confide in Etta.

  “Yes,” Etta drawled, trying to pull whatever it was out of her.

  By now, Taylor chose to take a seat next to Etta. Whether it was a stall tactic or she simply wanted to make herself comfortable, was anyone’s guess. Etta was dying to know what issue she had with Moose.

  “I think, well, I think…” Taylor’s stumbled over the words.

  “Did he do something inappropriate?” Even if Moose was interested in Taylor it didn’t mean she was comfortable with it. Perhaps he took his crush a little bit too far and it made Taylor uneasy, Etta thought.

  “Okay, so, do you think he’s the type of guy that, you know, would be interested in someone like me?”

  “Oh, Taylor.” It made Etta sad to think her friend didn’t think she was worthy enough to be noticed.

  Taylor’s face fell. It was clearly not the response she expected from Etta. “It’s okay, I kinda figured I was imagining things.”

  “Oh, that’s not what I meant. How could you not notice how much he’s into you?”

  For the first time since they started this conversation, Taylor’s eyes widened. “You think so? I mean, he’s so smart and strong. I don’t know what he would see in me, but I kinda hoped…” Then her voice trailed off. “Do you really think so?”

  While Etta was happy Taylor shared Moose’s affection, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her friend. Taylor had been sheltered for most of her life and the only people who’d ever cared for her were both long gone. Even in the predicament they’re in right now, with trying to defeat Thornberry’s army, Etta felt a surge of emotion just knowing that no matter how dire a situation is, hope is still lingering around, waiting to be claimed.

  “Um, yeah.” Etta slid her chair closer to Taylor’s and leaned in. “You mean you’ve never noticed the way he looks at you? Or the way he always looks out for you?” That was one of the reasons she’d paired the two for the assignment. She knew Moose would watch out for her friend.

  “No.” She shakes her head. “I mean yes, but I thought it was because he felt he had to. You know, because I was in the looney-bin for so long. I just figured he felt obligated to stick up for me.”

  Etta laughed. “No, honey, I think it has more to do with him having the hot’s for you.”

  Taylor was thoughtful for a moment. “You know, I never really understood the need for people to protect me. Yes, I know I come with some major baggage, but no more so than anybody else here.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Somebody’s Watching Me

  After I finish up my breakfast and gulp the last of my coffee, I climb into the passenger seat of Cooper’s Rover, ready to meet Taylor. From what he described of her the other day on our trip to Mexico, I don’t know what to expect. Is she really crazy enough to be housed in a mental institution? I have my doubts about the entire deal, but I trust Cooper. If he has faith in her, then I’ll do my best
not to be judgmental.

  We’re heading in the direction of Dominion Hall. I know the route so well now, I can get there in my sleep. “Hey, this is the way to school. Shouldn’t we be jumping over soon?”

  Now, we’re only a few feet away from the school’s entrance. I get a funny feeling about this. Can the school’s building be part of Taylor’s reality somehow? I think back to the military building I astraled to when I almost got busted by the mystery woman. That place was definitely another version of Dominion Hall. But is this one?

  “Get ready, we’ll be at Dominion Hospital in a sec,” Cooper says.

  Seriously, what gives? It’s like the building is another central player in all the realities I’ve been to. It was an orphanage, a private school, some sort of government facility, and now a mental hospital.

  As usual, the jump is predictable. I hardly notice the split between realities. But I do notice the subtle differences. There’s a cast iron metal gate outside the building with a sign that reads, DOMINION HOSPITAL. The grounds were pristine, with rows of perennials that line the sides of the driveway. It’s not much different than the version I go to everyday for school.

  We pass through the gate and for the first time I question how we’re going to get a committed patient out of the institution. Surely they just don’t release patients on a stranger’s say so.

  “So, do you have a game plan?” I ask Cooper.

  “I do.” He gives me his best devious grin. “Do you think I’d make a convincing doctor?”

  I’m nervous as we step into the building. Everything looks so cold and impersonal, very much like the version I saw when I astraled. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around and I hope Cooper knows what he’s doing, because I sure don’t. We finally locate the nurse’s station and I leave the talking up to Cooper.

  “I’m Dr. Everett. I’m here to evaluate Ms. Taylor McGee.” He tells the nurse at the front desk.

  Cooper is so cool and collected, I almost believe his lie. As nervous as I am, I manage to suppress the chuckle that wants to come out. I don’t want to blow our chance of talking with Taylor.