Momentum (17 page)

“I’m here already! What’s this about? You said I was due some money?”

“Here where?” Raj queried.

“In San Francisco. This is where Olivia lives, right?”

There was a pause. “It is, but I was hoping you would come to me first. I’m in the Bahamas.”

“That’s way too far. I don’t want to take another flight, not right now. How do I get this money, anyway?”

“Well, if you can’t make it over here, I suggest you book into a motel and wait for instructions. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow would be soon enough; a night at a motel would be perfect at this point. Dillard’s body ached from having sat in that cramped United Airlines seat for hours and hours. Lying in a bed, any
real
bed, would be a relief.

“Okay.” He hung up and walked to the concierge station.

K
evin froze as he heard a key turn in the lock again. What if Dan came back with Raj this time? He was stiff from sitting tied up on the hard floor; his lips felt encrusted with dried blood from where the tape had been ripped from his mouth earlier. He was in no position to fight anyone. It was all he could do to keep breathing. Even that was a challenge with fear overpowering him, making him hyperventilate.

He felt slightly relieved when only Dan and Sophie walked in. There was no sign of Raj… yet.

Dan eyed him, looking tense. “You don’t look so good. Why are you breathing funny?”

Sophie laughed. “He’s scared, like a rabbit.”

“Scared?” Dan looked genuinely surprised. “No need. I’m not going to hurt you. You still upset about the tape? I already said I was sorry ‘bout that. I didn’t know that would happen, that’s all.”

Kevin nodded, unable to speak. His mouth was dry, so dry that his throat was pretty much closed up.

“Give him some water so we can get on with things. We don’t have all night!” Sophie snapped.

Kevin noticed that she’d changed her looks a lot since the last time he’d seen her. Somehow, she looked much younger. However, she still had that mean demeanor. He sucked on the straw Dan put to his mouth, sipping the water gently at first, letting the stream flow down his throat, and then gulping the rest.

“That better?” Dan put the bottle on the floor. “You must be hungry. Lemme see what I can get you. How ‘bout some chips? Got some barbecue-flavored ones right here.” He held up a package.

Kevin nodded. Chips were the last thing he wanted. His throat hurt too much to be contemplating choking those down; however, he felt sick with hunger. So when Dan put a couple into his mouth, he chewed, then gasped with pain as they slid down his throat.

“All right! Done playing house now, Dan?” Sophie asked. “It. ’s time to get down to business. I’m guessing you want to know what we want?”

Kevin nodded.

“It’s simple, really. We just want to go back home. Of course, there’re some complications we have to work out. I’m guessing that the FBI is looking for us back home? Right?”

Kevin nodded.

“Have you heard from Raj?”

Kevin struggled to decide whether to part with what he knew. Why shouldn’t he? Raj needed to be put in his place, and who best to do it than the two people he’d run out on? He nodded. Plus, it would hopefully help him get out of here.

Sophie looked surprised. She’d clearly not expected him to nod. “Well? Where is he?”

“Da–” Kevin coughed. Dan gave him another drink of water.

“–rley,” he whispered.

“Say what?” Dan frowned, looking puzzled.

“Darley! You big lump,” Sophie snarled. “He must be back in the Darley dimension.”

Kevin tried to speak again, but all that left his mouth were deep, raspy coughs.

“Oh, never mind!” Sophie barked. “Just nod
yes
and shake
no
. Understand?”

Kevin made sure to nod emphatically.

“Good. Is he in the Darley dimension?”

Kevin nodded.

“Where exactly?”

Kevin shrugged.

“Is the portal functional?”

He nodded again.

“Can you transport Dan and me through?”

He didn’t want to say a
yes
or a
no
. What was he supposed to do for an
I
don’t know
, or a
maybe
? Technically, he probably could, but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure. A
yes
would at least stall them for a while.

“Well?”

He nodded.

“We’re going to need money,” Dan muttered. “I guess we could take him over to the bank in the morning to get us some, right?”

“No,” Sophie said. “We
could
have,
if
you hadn’t messed up his face like that. We can’t bring him with us anywhere he might be seen looking like that.” Dan rolled his eyes.

“We’ll just have to get what cash we can using his cards. You do have some on you?”

Kevin nodded.

“Get them, Dan.”

Dan reached into Kevin’s pockets for his wallet. He found it and passed it to Sophie.

“Nice and fat.” She looked pleased as she opened it and rummaged through the contents. “Plenty of cards and a nice bit of cash. This will have to do. You emptied your account this morning like I asked you to, didn’t you, Dan?”

“Yup, and I made a good amount in tips tonight.”

“Is our luggage in the van?”

“Yup. We’re all set.”

“Okay. Get him up, and let’s go.”

Dan cut off Kevin’s ankle restraints and pulled him to his feet. His wrists were still tied in front of him.

“Stick some tape back over his mouth,” Sophie ordered.

“No. Plea–” Kevin begged hoarsely, but to no avail. He flinched as Dan pressed the tape back onto his raw skin.”

“Sorry!” Dan threw a glance over at Sophie, and then took him by his elbow and walked him out of the room.

Kevin’s legs felt like jelly at first, giving way under his weight. Had he not been able to support himself against Dan, he’d have collapsed in a heap. Dan practically carried him up the dark, wooden staircase. He was unprepared for the bright light as they walked into the main bar and shielded his eyes momentarily with his free elbow. Then he scanned his surroundings. He wasn’t much into hanging out in bars; his lifestyle didn’t really allow for that. He lived way out in the middle of nowhere, with no public transportation. The only way to get to a bar would be to drive, and then he wouldn’t be able to drink. What would be the point in that? The only times he enjoyed bars were during conference outings. One of the perks of being a scientist was that he got to attend a few conferences a year. The last one he’d attended was in London, and he’d certainly enjoyed the bars, or pubs, as they were called there. Looking around, he was fairly certain that he hadn’t been to this one before, although he couldn’t be sure. They all looked fairly similar, though he felt that he would have remembered the four-foot poster of the scary-looking chinchilla that covered one wall.

“We’re all set? Dan, we’re not coming back, so if there’s anything you need to get, now’s the time.”

“Nope. All set. I even loaded up with booze and snacks. We’re ready to go.”

They walked out into the darkness. Parked right outside the door was a blue van. Dan opened the back doors and told Kevin to climb in. Thankfully, his legs had regained some feeling, but his wrists were still bound, so Dan clumsily helped him in. Then the doors closed.

And then they opened.

“I need the passwords for the credit cards.” Sophie peered in at him expectantly.

He was in no position to fight, so he stretched his fingers out in five combinations to indicate his PIN numbers.”

“Good boy.” She slammed the door.

The back of the van was full of suitcases and stuff–pillows, a small television, even a lamp. He hoped Sophie and Dan weren’t under the delusion that they could bring any of this through the portal. He made himself comfortable wedged between a cushion and a suitcase, laying his head on top of the suitcase. The van started up and drove along, the engine humming away. Kevin fought the urge to give in to the narcoleptic drone, forcing his eyes to stay open. He had to remain alert. The van stopped three times for about fifteen minutes each, to get money from cash machines, Kevin guessed. The fourth time it stopped, the door opened.

“Come on. Slide over, and I’ll help you out,” Dan muttered.

Kevin scooted forward with difficulty. His legs had begun to go numb again. He managed to bring them forward and throw them down the side of the van, and Dan helped him stand up.

They were at Ames.

“So, what’s the best way to get in?” Sophie asked.

Kevin mumbled through the tape.

“Remove it!” Sophie hissed. “One word, even a whisper out of place, and you’re toast! Get it?”

Kevin nodded while Dan peeled off the tape, gently this time, but it hurt even more, if that was possible. Kevin whimpered in pain.

“Don’t be a baby!” Sophie mocked. “Now, where to?”

They might as well have left the tape on, he was in too much pain to speak. He nodded toward the left entrance and mumbled, “Muuhuu.”

“I guess that means
over there
?” sighed Sophie.

Kevin nodded.

“All right, lead the way.” They walked with Kevin hanging onto Dan. He could feel his legs recovering somewhat, but he wasn’t ready to try walking on his own quite yet.

When they got to the door, Dan and Sophie looked at Kevin expectantly.

“Wallet,” he whispered.

Dan scrunched his nose. “What do you need your wallet for?”

“Card.”

“Oh.”

“Untie his wrists,” Sophie ordered. “Don’t even think of doing anything stupid,” she warned.