Page 74 of Enchanted Hero
The air turned as thick as Alexander’s bank account. “Someone like me?”
“Of course.” Agent Andrews rubbed his hands together. “A powerful businessman, the prodigal pillar of our community.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Despite the flattery, Alexander frowned. “I’m just a businessman.”
“Are you sure?”
Alexander turned to the scientist with a glare that sent most men running, yet Dr. Garrison simply stared at him with fascination. The businessman’s voice was hard, as he responded, “I’m sure.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.” The crowd quieted as the official took the microphone. “We’re here to discuss the unusual occurrences of the past few weeks. There have been a lot of questions, and we want to share what we know. No matter what, be assured we are dedicating substantial resources to discovering the truth.”
“What is the truth?” a man called from the crowd. “Is an alien among us?”
Some in the crowd twittered, but most remained serious, their gazes locked on the official. “We’ll have time for questions lat–”
“He’s not an alien,” a spectator called. “He’s a hero!”
This time the crowd erupted in cheers. Next to her, Alexander breathed deeply.
“Please hold your comments.” The official tried to regain order. “Like I said, we’ll take questions at the end. We want the truth as much as you do, but it’s going to take time.”
“The truth emerges now!” a voice boomed from some sort of hidden speaker. For a moment, the crowd became silent, then it erupted in surprised chatter as both officials and audience searched for its origin. “Up here!” the voice called again.
As the audience collectively looked up, Everleigh gasped and pointed. “There’s someone on the ledge!”
Calls of “Who is it?” and “Is it him?” pierced the air. Everleigh squinted, straining to see the man perched on the ledge, ten stories in the air. Was it her hero?
Not even close.
“It’s that guy from the science fiction group!” one of the officials called. “Timothy Evans.”
“How did he get up there?” the head of security growled. “Someone get him down now!”
“I’m not coming down!” Timothy called, although he couldn’t possibly have heard from so far. “Not until the hero shows himself. He needs to prove he exists!”
He stepped along the ledge, yet his foot slipped. A hundred gasps sounded as he teetered on the thin ledge, in what was clearly no longer a show. All bravado fled, all certainty too, leaving only pure fear. The crowd watched the unfolding tragedy – everyone except Andrews and Garrison.
They were focused solely on Alexander.
This was it. The moment the truth would emerge. Time to discover whether Alexander Stone was even more extraordinary than the world imagined.
CHAPTER 13
He was trapped.
Caught between a man’s life and all-but-certain exposure, his decision would forge the future.
It was unlikely the agitator would actually jump, thus Alexander had planned to wait for emergency personnel unless matters became dire. Yet what started as a scheme to expose the truth had already turned perilous as the man’s balance wavered. He didn’t have a choice.
He had to save him.
He couldn’t avoid suspicion, but perhaps he could avoid exposure. He turned to Everleigh, Andrews and Garrison, who wereallwatching him with undisguised interest. “I’m going to help.”
“Help?” Agent Andrews’ eyes sharpened. “How?”
“What could you possibly do?” Garrison lifted his glasses higher. “Emergency personnel do this for a living. What can you do that they can’t?”
A whole lot.“I own the building. I can tell them the best way to reach him.” It was a paltry excuse, yet he hadn’t time to formulate a better one as the man teetered again. “I have to go. Now.”
