Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust (53 page)

“Angel investors?”

“Silent Trillionaires; at least, that’s my understanding. We didn’t know it was to be a Brock enterprise, until the announcement, yesterday.”

Randall handed Jake a drink and offered a toast, “Then, to your success Sir…”

Jake giggled, and they sipped.

“…Please, make yourself comfortable. How can I help you?”

“O.P.A.S…I always wanted to visit here, and understand physics; but, I don’t think I ever will really. I became a flatfoot, in New York, you know. I worked my way up, through the five boroughs.”

Jake noticed the words etched on the rock wall, up to the right of the bar, behind Randall, and walked closer to read them.

“Interesting motto, ‘
Hope and Love abide with all who believe. May we all believe in the future’...

Is that your logo?

             
“No, actually, that’s quite an ancient art design. I think it was a family logo, at one time. I just like the way it makes a rose from one continuous line. It reminds me of how successful and beautiful our efforts can be, if we just push on, step by step, steadfast. The words and flower were created almost a thousand years ago…” Randall walked over and stood beside Burns…“I had it etched there, when I got this job. It’s sort of my daily mantra.”

“I see…Mr. Randall, how long have you been C.E.O. of O.P.A.S.?”

“A little over a year, now; why?”

“Do you remember an employee, Dr. Hamil G. Stevens?”

“Yes, he was quite favored, before he quit. He was pirated, stolen by T.T.I., when they bought one of our old facilities; an older warehouse, really, with a smaller particle accelerator below it. The deal closed the first quarter I started.”

“Smaller accelerator?”

“Mr. Burns, do you have any idea what we do?”

“Somewhat; you came from the famous Switzerland Complex, right? Company assets are roughly $160 trillion, up twelve percent in one year. You have invested heavily, not only in man’s effort to find the answer to what makes up matter; but, also in practical space exploration; fuel, to run the space stations and vehicular gyroscopes. The company also partners to keep our intercontinental
transportation in tune, indirectly of course. You yourself have published two dissertations, in the last five years, focusing on Brock’s space mining, supplying fuels from the moon to Mars, and for private sector travel. Of late, your investment firms; excuse me, Angel investors have partnered with Mr. Charles Rosse, to address and hopefully contract fixing the Bering Strait tunnel systems. You are quite the busy man, Mr. Randall.”

“Well, thank you; impressive knowledge, to say the least, Inspector. You obviously know more about me, than I do you. But; I am still waiting for you to get to the point.”

“To start with, I want to know about Marion Brock. How exactly are you and Mr. Rosse involved with him?”

Randall stood in front of the etched words Jake read and took a breath. Then, he turned, put his glass down and lit a cigar.

“Would you like one?”

“No, thanks.”

“Mr. Burns, I first read those two sentences in a book that Charlie Rosse gave me, before I started here. Everything had been going wonderfully in my life. I am a very lucky man, so far. At the time, I had been involved with the two greatest discoveries, mankind had ever made, ‘The Sidron Examination’ and now, here, ‘The Bridge Particle’.”

Jake interrupted, “Believe it or not, I know what Sidron is; go on.”

“Ah; well then, the Sidron was first discovered centuries ago; of all places here in the United States. Who would have thought?  Unfortunately, at that time, neither the mindset, nor the technology, was advanced enough to investigate it; so, they suppressed the discovery; filed it for a later date. Recently, you must have heard, we found a new subatomic particle. We labeled it the ‘Bridge’, because it pulses back and forth, from one time to another. We are certain time travel is within our reach. Can you imagine? Anyway, Rosse and his group of companies offered me this position; specifically, to lead this company into the next great adventure, Time Travel.”

“So Rosse owns controlling shares in O.P.A.S.?”

“It’s a public company; but, most shares are split between governments and some very powerful private sectors. Rosse is one of those, on the board of boards, you might say.”

“Back to Stevens, please.”

Unfortunately, the man, who had the hands on experience, in the research of time travel, was, in fact, Stevens. He is a brilliant mind. Anyway, Rosse’s interests pumped money into O.P.A.S.; and, the funding is building us the largest Particle Accelerator in the world, only 20 miles north of here. And also, one in orbit around Earth, to support our time travel efforts. We are one of only eight locations around the world that continues to investigate and proof particles, deep within the atom. Over centuries, particle accelerators have evolved, from the linear to our new Paddle Design. It includes some rather plush living quarters.

We are tweaking the finished construction and plan to be on line, within six months. We will change the world and our future.”

“I just need to ask you a few more questions, if you don’t mind.”

              “Anyway, through merger and buy outs, the usual big money deals, O.P.A.S. sold their older smaller gyroscopic accelerator…”

“Can you tell me to whom, and where it is?”

“…To the same outfit that pirated Stevens, Time Travel Inc. That accelerator is located about 30-35 miles south of the city. Their research is supposed to be local, but I’m not sure of the address.”

“Can you find out for me?”

“Randall pushed a button on the couch table display, and his secretary answered, “Yes Sir?”

“Kate, do we have any old files on Hamil Stevens?”

“Perhaps Sir; you need a password though.”

“Send it to me.”

“Yes Sir; on its way.”

Jake’s eyes perked up, “Your secretary has passwords?”

“Not quite. She has one to get into where I enter mine. Quite secure, I assure you.”

Randall tapped a section of the tabletop, and it displayed a 3D screen on his lap.

“There; now I do this; enter hers, and then, here, mine; voila, Hamil Stevens.”

A bust size 3D model of Stevens appeared, along with a flat display of his history and personnel file.

“There, Mr. Burns; read for yourself.”

Burns did, “There is a mailing address here, but no title to the location; 4822 S. P. Way, Seattle, WA…Nothing else, eh?”

“I’m afraid not, everything we have is there before you.”

“Well, that confirms it.”

“What?”

“Brock and Rosse; they are so obvious. My bet is Stevens doesn’t live at this address, either. But, I have to start somewhere. Thanks for your help, Mr. Randall.”

“You are welcome; but, exactly how do you know I’m not a bad guy and involved with Rosse or Brock?”

Burns smiled, as he put on his fedora, “Because, my dear fellow, I am a detective.”

They shook hands and Jake turned to walk out.

“Oh, one more thing; I checked your complete history up to our meeting. You are clean...Oh, and I know the guy who wrote the words etched on your wall.”

Jake tipped his hat and left.

“That’s two more things,” Randal giggled.

Chapter 24

Time Travel Inc

              Jakes Carrier, Miriam, travelled the short trip, and docked at the Post Platform under Seattle’s subway station off of 15
th
Avenue.

             
“We have arrived at destination, Jake Burns. Thank you for the most stimulating ride.”

             
“Great, you are welcome.”

             
“I have integrated into your Knofer and will maintain security protocols.”

             
“I have it covered, thanks.”

             
“I will remain here, for your return trip.”

             
“I shouldn’t be too long.”

             
Jake exited the beast and took a bubble unit, to the surface. Then, he hailed a taxi and road to the address, which he got from Oscar Randall. When the cab stopped in front of Lucian High School, he sat in the back seat silent, perplexed.

“This is it,” the cab driver said.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Yes, Sir, I have picked up kids here, on occasion, and taken them home. Granted it’s very rare; but, this is 4822 S.P. Way. It’s the only one, in the city.”

Jake shook his head; and, wearing a frown, he paid the cabby, got out of the car and watched it drive away.

“Now what? I guess I’ll talk to the Principal.”

**********

Time Travel Inc.’s facility housed 4 underground floors dedicated to research and administration. The mailing address was an old post office box; to keep the would be curious away.

“Hamil Stevens had a private experimental lab extending off, directly from the decoy surface building. His lab was completed within the last six months, specifically to accommodate secrecy, regarding Semitri, and any new particle discoveries. The lab looked more like a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.

**********

Jake Burns entered and walked down the hallway of the high school. He passed several classrooms and stopped at one, briefly, to watch through the half glass door. A teacher was demonstrating a new tool, holding up a small Knofer-like object that projected holograms in front of each student. She began instructing them, regarding something. Each one began to touch the holograms and giggle. Some students noticed Burns at the door. The teacher looked at him, and stopped the lecture. Burns looked embarrassed and walked on. A sign and arrow guided him into the principal’s office.

“Good morning, Sir. May I help you,” one lady asked. She got up from her desk and walked to the chest high counter, where Burns stood. Burns removed his hat.

“Yes please; I’d like to see your principal. It’s a police matter.”

“Oh my; I’ll try and reach him. Frankly, I am not sure if he is still here. We only have three classes going on, right now. Very different hours, since the new policies went into effect.”

“I noticed one class, as I was walking; why only three?”

The woman smiled kindly, and replied, “We are a special needs facility, and cater to single parents with strange work hours.” She leaned a bit over the counter toward Burns, and whispered, “You understand.”

As she did so, Jake noticed out the window, next to them, that a limo had just pulled up to a shed, across the parking lot in back of the school. He watched as the driver got out and opened the back door. Jake nodded and smiled to the lady. She went back to her desk and paged the principal. Burns couldn’t believe his eyes. The figure of the man getting out of the limo was unmistakable. It was Marion Brock. Jake had no way of knowing it was really Clone-Brock. The billionaire nodded thanks to his driver; and then, he quickly walked around the car and into the common looking brick shed. It resembled a small old garage. The limo quickly sped off, and Burns thought,
A high school, brilliant; why can’t I think of things like this?

He turned to the lady again.

“Excuse me, ma’am, is that a garage or storage facility across the parking lot, over there?”

“Oh, we don’t own that. It’s not part of the school. I believe it’s a storage unit, for one of the houses down the
block, I think; but don’t quote me. Would you like some coffee, Mr.? I am sorry; I didn’t catch your name.”

“Burns, ma’am; and yours?”

“Dolly,” she giggled, “Dolly, Miss Dolly Waddel. Are you married, Mr. Burns?”

Jake was flustered at the flirt, and replied instinctively, “Why yes; 22 years, this month.”

Her expression changed immediately to a frown.

“Oh, I see. Well; I will try Mr. Taft, the principal, again. He hasn’t answered, yet.”