The car finally came to a stop in front of what looked like long rows of concrete buildings with metal doors spaced every twenty feet or so along the blocks. A sign read “Public Storage.”
Matthew tapped the computer screen. “This is the place. She’s here somewhere.”
CHAPTER 19
Benjamin idled away another hour at the picnic after the uproar caused by the disappearance of Gideon’s woman. He’d had to fight to keep a self-satisfied grin from his face, pretending instead to be enjoying the festivities of the holiday. Even that had been awkward, however, because concern over what had happened, and the ensuing chaos caused by Gideon’s rage, had soured the mood for everyone. Eventually, the whole party petered out early as people made their excuses and went home. Benjamin’s satisfaction at achieving his task was ruined, as usual, by Gideon upstaging him. But today was the first day of the rest of his life, and he couldn’t wait to get on with it.
Exiting his carriage, he stepped up to his modest, but impeccably manicured two-story, brick row home near Revolution Hall in the center of town. He checked the hour on the foyer grandfather clock as he entered. His timing was perfect. Right on schedule to change into clothing more appropriate to World Two before his rendezvous there with the Prometheus Group. He couldn’t wait to see the look of approval on Philly’s face at just how far above and beyond he’d gone for them.
Lexi Cross had successfully been taken, and just as he’d hoped, Gideon Ashe had raced to her world in pursuit. He’d alert them to grab Gideon at Taco Shots just as soon as he arrived at his appointed pick-up place. He’d then make a special request that they bring him to bid a fond farewell to Mr. Ashe, to revel in the confusion and frustration on Gideon’s face before the Group swept Benjamin off to wherever they planned to set him up to start his new life.
He pulled on a pair of Levi’s, a Philadelphia Flyers t-shirt the rep had brought for him, and slipped his feet into some strangely elaborate shoes they referred to as running shoes. He had a chuckle at that—Benjamin’s greatest gift was the ability to control his metabolic functions, instantly increasing his heart rate, adrenaline flow, and muscle movement such that he could perform amazing, albeit short, bursts of running speed. He certainly didn’t need any fancy shoes to aid him.
He grabbed up the duffel bag he’d packed the night before containing the few objects he’d bring with him to his new world. Most things, including clothing, he’d buy anew once he was set up there with the money he’d receive from the Prometheus Group.
Carrying it into the front room, he placed it near a stack of papers he’d soon be handing over to the Group—lists of people from his world, noting their special abilities and where they could be found. Once he was relocated to their universe, he’d no longer be there to help them, but with each successful capture they made, his “royalties” would continue to pour in, though he himself would be long since safely ensconced in his new life.
He reached for the last thing he wanted to pack, a small, framed portrait sketch of Mary. He ran his fingers over the glass front. The artist had captured the light in her chocolate brown eyes, but for the first time ever Benjamin read a sadness in them. Strange, he’d always before found her expression in the image to be one of joy.
He shook off the thought, having no time for doubts at this point. There was no turning back. It was time to get to the rendezvous place and make his escape before anyone from his world connected the dots to him.
He took one last look around the home that had been his and Mary’s for over a century, then stepped to the door. But as he put his hand on the knob, a movement beyond the glass side panel caught his eye and he pulled back. Chancing a glance again, he saw it was Vikkras and Alana Knight coming up his front steps.
He was too late.
Standing frozen for two solid heartbeats, he considered his options. There were none. Before they even had a chance to knock, he yanked open the door and pushed right past them, shoving Vikkras out of the way with his forearm as he ran down the steps.
“Benjamin!” he heard them shout as he spun left, racing down Fifth Street, the duffel he carried more of an annoyance than a hindrance. “We just want to talk!” they called out.
There was nothing to talk about. He had to keep moving.
When he got to the corner at Walnut, he paused long enough to glance back. They were hailing a carriage taxi and pointing for their driver to follow him. They’d never catch him in the carriage. Had it been Gideon after him, he wouldn’t stand a chance, but Alana’s empathy and Vikkras’ weather skills were of little use to them now.
He smirked and took off again, heading toward Elfreth’s Alley in the oldest part of the city. The sound of the horses’ hooves faded into the background as he rounded a corner, his hand reaching for the device that would send him across dimensions to his new home.
CHAPTER 20
“She’s behind this door,” Matthew said as the three of them jumped out of the car in front of a storage unit isolated at the furthest end of the complex. “At least, her timer is anyway.”
“Lexi? Are you in there?” they all shouted to no response.
Lexi? Alexa, are you in—
But they were adjacent to the airport, and at that moment an approaching jet, a mere thousand feet above them as it came in for a landing, roared over their heads, cutting off Gideon’s thoughts.
It was a new sensation, this degree of hurt. Liquid fire that first ignited his ear drums, then flowed upward to fill his skull, and downward along his spine, melted him into a puddle of pain on the ground.
Matthew was already at the padlock, eyeing it helplessly. “Lexi? Are you in there?” He fiddled with the lock to no avail.
Gideon pulled himself up, putting one foot in front of the other, toward Matthew and the lock. He yanked it with both hands. It should have been easy, should have snapped off for him like a twig with the use of his telekinesis. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t budge, even with his crystal bands lending an extra force. The deafening sound had rendered him far too weak.
This feeling of uselessness turned out to be the most agonizing of all his current sensations.
“It’s not a coincidence they put her next to the airport,” Matt said. “Whoever is doing this knew you’d be weakest here, in the most pain.”
Julian, who’d also collapsed when the jet flew overhead, was at his side now. “Try it again, cousin. You focus on the lock, and I’ll focus what I can on easing your pain, clearing your head. Try now.”
Gideon heard Julian humming softly, and felt the pain abate somewhat with that little bit of help. His tension eased back enough for him to focus and breathe… and the lock gave way, the metal clasp shearing in two. Matthew threw the roll top door up with a crash and the three of them burst in.