CHAPTER 25

A SHORT REST

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I squinted as the salty air washed over me. Off in the distance the sound seagulls squawking mingled with guitar music. I gripped the railing and looked down into the green ocean water. Fish shot by just beneath the surface like ghostly apparitions. I’d had a night of deep restful sleep. My joints still ached considerably, but my head was clearer and my strength was returning.

“Thomas,” Annie's voice called from inside the bungalow. “Would you like some eggs or something?”

“Thanks,” I yelled back through the sliding doors, “an egg sounds wonderful.”

Her voice sounded strange to me, wrong somehow, and I had to remind myself, this wasn’t the Annie of my memory. She was not standing in the kitchen with a big pregnant belly. And little Rebecca was not sitting on the living room floor surrounded by a million tiny toys. No, this was not the vacation we were headed to after New York City. --I had slept through that one.

I looked over at the envelope laying on the glass table next to me. This was quite the mystery I’d found myself entangled in: virtual worlds, science fiction experiments, cryptic notes... It was all just a little more than I could wrap my brain around. I was used to solving things like product launch schedules and media campaigns, not government conspiracies. --Not that I wanted to solve anything at the moment. But, I knew myself well enough to know, that I could not just sit back and do nothing to try to solve this mystery. It was in my nature to solve puzzles. Some would even call it an addiction.

Again I read the name and address on the envelope. Who was this Hazel Brown? How did she fit into the puzzle? Was she an associate of Dr. Solomon? If she was, why wasn’t she at the center? And why did the envelope contain my name, and only my name? Even with a night of restful sleep behind me, I couldn’t even begin to make sense of that one.

I tucked the envelope back into my pocket and hefted myself out of the chair. Whatever it meant was irrelevant. Hazel Brown was my only lead, and it was with her I would start my investigation. I slid the screen door open, and followed the scent of breakfast.

Sam was intently watching a news clip glowing from the paint on the living room wall. I looked for the source of the projection, but found none. Rebecca was sitting on the couch with a book.

Whatcha readin’?”

“Davata Notrals.” She looked up with a bright smile. “There was a copy in the dresser.”

“Are they still putting those things in hotel drawers?”

“They sure are.” Her smile got even wider.

“I made you one sunny side up if that's okay,” Annie called.

“Yes, sounds great.” I stepped into the kitchen. “It smells wonderful in here,” I said, scanning the room.

“What are you looking for?”

“The phone. I want to call Stephen.”

She laughed. “You're wearing it.”

I padded myself down.

Her eyebrows rose. “On your wrist,” she said, pointing.

“What?” I brought up my hand. “The watch?”

“Wow. I haven’t heard it called that in awhile.” She gave a crooked smile and started buttering toast.

I studied it closely; leather band, face trimmed in silver. But there were no buttons. The obsidian material inside the trimming had a life of its own. Faint numbers faded in and out in a cryptic pattern. I let out a sigh.

“Come here.” Annie put down the toast and came around the counter. “I'll show you.” She lifted my hand and touched the face. “Dial Stephen Andrews.” The watch came to life. Annie gave me a wink, and returned to her work.

“Hello?” said the watch.

“Hi, Stephen, this is Thomas!” I spoke loudly into the watch.

“Thomas! It’s great to hear your voice! Why are you yelling?”

“Oh, sorry.” I pulled my hand away and lowered my voice. “Is this better?”

“Much. Hey, Annie said you were awake! How are you, man?”

“Not bad considering the circumstances.”

“I can’t imagine.”

“Yeah, well, I need you to do something for me.”

“Sure thing. What can I do for you?”

“Find a number for a woman named Hazel Brown. Her address is 128 Pinrow Street, Marathon, Florida.”

Annie shot me a look of curiosity.

“You could just...” He stopped. “You know what-- no problem. Hold on a sec.”

Sam looked over his shoulder. You can just ask the terminal to snatch the data.”

I squinted at him. “Oh. --I’ll do that next time. I’m just used to calling the office to have someone search for information.”

Sam smiled. “We don’t search for information anymore. We have digital servants for that.”

“Thomas?” The watch spoke up.

“Yes, Stephen.”

“Do you, ah, have a pen?”

Sam masked another smile. Apparently he was amused at Steven’s attempt to shield me from future shock.

“No. Just give it to me. I’m good with numbers, remember?”

Steven chuckled. “Yes. I remember. I’ve never known anyone who could crunch numbers like you. Here it is, 818-555-3234.”

“Thanks, man. Listen, I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to let you go.”

“Hey, just one thing. Some gentlemen came by a little while ago looking for you. I was going to call you.”

My heart constricted. “Who- what did they want?”

“They were from the FBI, really strange looking guys, they wanted to know if I’d heard from you.

My heart skipped a beat. “You didn’t tell them anything. And what do you mean strange?”

“It was like-- like they were straight out of a men’s catalog or something, every hair in place, perfect clothes, perfect skin, a little too perfect. It was weird.”

I looked at Annie, her eyes were wide.

“But I didn’t tell them anything. Annie told me what happened at the center, so I told them you were in a coma last I knew.”

“When was this?”

“A half hour ago.”

“Okay, Steven. Thanks, man. Let me know if anything else happens, okay?”

“Sure. And hey, when all this blows over, we need to get together. Last time I checked, you still own this company.”

“Yeah,” I said, distracted. “Thanks again. Give my regards to Amy.”

There was a pause. “Sure, no problem, man. Take care.”

I shot Annie another look. She was wincing. “I should have told you. --Amy died in a skiing accident a few years back.”

“Oh,” I said, lowering my arm. “I'll have to be more careful.”

She set a plate back on the counter. “Those men sound like the one I saw at the center.”

“I know.”

“What do you think we should do?” she said, wringing her hands.

“I don’t know.” I studied her expression. “What do you think?”

“Well, we can’t stay here.” She glanced out the window. “They’re probably on their way by now.”

“You’re really scared aren’t you?”

She gave a quick nod.

“You and the kids need to disappear, just go somewhere and don’t tell anyone.”

“Thomas. We’re staying with you.”

“But you’re not safe with me.”

Sam got off the couch and walked toward us. “You’re not in any condition to go anywhere by yourself. We need to stay with you.”

Annie’s eyes were pleading. “Sam’s right, Thomas. We just got you back, I don’t want to take a chance of losing you again.”

I looked at Annie, then back at Sam. “Well, I need to find out what’s going on, and that’s going to draw attention to me...”

Sam gripped my shoulder. “We’re in this together. This is our problem.”

I studied them again, then let out a sigh. “Well if there’s no changing your minds, at least meet me half way.”

The satisfaction on Annie’s face was obvious. “What is it you want us to do?” she asked gently.

“While they track me here, I’m going to scatter my trail and try to find Hazel Brown.”

Again, Annie gave me a curious look.

“She’s the only lead I have.” I pulled the envelope from my pocket and held it out. “Solomon told me to give this to her.” Annie slid it from my grasp and opened it. “I know it doesn’t make any sense,” I said, “but it must be important somehow.”

“This is it?” She held up the tiny piece of paper.

Sam came around and looked over her shoulder.

“Yeah, that’s what doesn’t make sense. Why would he ask me to deliver a packet, with just my name?”

“Are you supposed to mail it?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know. Everything happened so fast, I don’t remember exactly what Solomon said. But I’m guessing this Hazel Brown knows something, and I want to know what she knows.”

They both nodded.

“Which means, I need to go to Florida to find her. And if those men tracking me are the same ones who want me dead, I don’t want to put my family in danger.”

“But you just agreed to let us...”

I put my hand up. “Annie, we can all go to Florida, but when we get to Marathon, you and Rebecca need to stay behind for a bit-- just until we know it’s safe. Okay?” I looked over at Rebecca, quietly sitting on the couch.

She read my expression, then slowly nodded. “I trust you, Dad.”

My whole face became a warm smile.

She returned the warmth.

“Andy lives in Homestead,” Annie said abruptly. “We could stay at his place. Plus, we’ll have access to the Florida branch if we need it.”

“We have a branch in Florida?”

“You always talked about how much you loved it there.” She smiled and shrugged.

I gave her a warm look. “You are a faithful woman, Annie Tardin.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I have my moments.”