OMG, A CUL8R Time Travel Mystery (16 page)

3.
We also agree not to change anything of significance that would alter historical events.

4.
We agree not to tell anyone that this technology exists or about any of our missions and this includes our family.

5.
We will use this technology only to help other people and not for frivolous or personal means.

6.
We will interact as little as possible with people from the past so as to not create any suspicion.

7.
We will always travel together.

“Does this mean we can’t go back and keep Lincoln from going to the theater or block the entrances to the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11th?” Austin asked, wondering about the boundaries.

“That’s exactly what it means.  We can’t change major events in history.  That would cause chaos,” Scott explained.

“But it would right things that were very wrong,” Kelly pointed out.

“Yes, but it would change everything that happened since.  What seems like a tragedy might have had something positive or powerful result because of it.  You’ve heard of the butterfly effect?  Well, we can’t disrupt what is supposed to happen.”

“Then how will we help Wendy?” Kelly asked.

“We’ll find out when we get there.  She hasn’t been very specific,” Scott said.  “I’ve already signed mine.”  He showed them his contract.  “Here’s a pen, Kelly.”  He flipped the pen over to her.

“
Sounds reasonable . . . all things considered.”  Kelly signed the form and passed the pen back to Austin.

Austin sat there for a minute.  “Ok
ay,” He signed his form and returned it and the pen to Scott.

“I’ve been
making a list of stuff we need to take with us, you know, extra cell phone batteries, money that will work in 1966.  I’ve got that covered with my coin collection.”

“Oh no, you can’t take that,” Kelly cried.  “That’s for your college.”

“I’ve got some coins and bills that aren’t really collectible that I’m willing to donate for the cause,” he reassured her, then continued, “All of us should take what we’ll need for a few days.”

“I can’t
be gone for a few days,” Austin objected.  “I have a job.  Plus, my dad would flip out.”

“Neither can I.
” Kelly shook her head.

“Wait, wait . . . that won’t be a problem.  All we have to do is set the app for exactly the moment we leave, so we’ll be back before anyone misses us.”

“That’s too weird.” Austin squinted one eye in disbelief.

“Have I been wrong yet?”

“Not wrong . . . just surprising . . . very surprising.”  Kelly raised her eyebrows and looked at Austin.

“
So, when is this going to happen?” Austin asked.

“Tomorrow night. 
I’ll set our arrival so that we’ll have three full days to get things together.  I figure if we get here around 10 p.m., the beach will be deserted.”

Kelly and Austin exchanged alarmed looks.  Neither had expected it to happen so soon.  But then, w
hy wait?  Neither of them believed it was really going to work anyway.  They both, secretly, still believed that Violet was hiding in the weeds.

“One more thing I did was
put together a package about 1966 that we can study today or tonight . . . what words kids use, TV shows, music and all that.  We need to fit in and get close to Wendy and figure out what happened to her without anyone getting suspicious.”

“You really are a
great planner Scott,” Kelly said as she glanced over the pages. “This will come in handy.”

“
And no one will know we’re gone . . . you’re sure?” Austin repeated.

“Absolutely.”

Neither Austin nor Kelly appeared comforted.

“Come on guys . . . trust me
.”

They stood up, brushed their clothes and hair off
.  Scott stood back, extended his hand out, palm down . . . and waited.  ”Come on now.”

Kate and Austin stacked their hands on his.

“What are we yelling?” Scott asked.

“How about
Travelers?” Austin suggested.

“One, two, three
, Travelers!” Their hands went up in the air, and the team was launched.

The drive back to their neighborhood was quiet.  They stopped for lunch a
t McDonalds. Kelly felt like everyone in line was looking at her like she was a migrant worker.  When she visited the restroom she saw why.  She looked like she had been rolling on the beach or sleeping under the pier.  Even Homeless Dan hadn’t looked this bad.  She combed through her hair with her fingers and washed her face and hands.    She was definitely going to have to find a way to clean up better than this when they travelled tomorrow.  Ha, she thought, like they were really going to travel back in time.

A
fter lunch, Austin parked the stallion in the street, and they walked through the yard to Scott’s lab.

“Listen, I
’ve got to get some zzz’s before work, and I need to grab a shower first.”

“
I’d love to take a swim, but I’d clog the filter.  I think I’ll shower first, too.  I want to make sure my hair is clean for our trip tomorrow.”  Kelly smiled.

“
Why don’t we meet here about six tonight and brainstorm a plan on what to do when we get there?” Scott suggested.

“Good idea,”
Austin said.  “Late.”

“Yeah.
”  Kelly waved and followed Austin to the sidewalk where she split away and went to her house.

THEY WERE NOTHING
if not prompt . . . a good trait to have when you’re traveling through time.

“Hey
,” Scott greeted her as he turned away from his white board.  “Austin is on his way.”

As if on cue, t
he lab door opened and Austin walked in.  “Did I miss anything?”

“Just getting started,” Kelly told him as she settled on one of the barstools in front of the workbench.

“So, what’s the plan Einstein?”  Austin pulled up one of the other barstools and sat down.  He and Kelly focused on Scott expectantly.

“Okay,
I’m pretty confident I can get us there and back. We’ll hit the beach four nights before the Friday night she was killed.”

Austin looked at Kelly and rolled his eyes back.  “
Pretty confident
?”

“
Hit the beach
?” she repeated unenthusiastically.

“Poor choice of words,” Scott looked up from the list in his hands.  “I’m
very
confident, and hopefully, our landing on the beach will be cushioned by sand.  Apparently, it’ll be messy, but we can clean up.”

“Where?” Kelly asked, suddenly realizing that they wouldn’t have any families to go home to each night.  “And where will we sleep?”

“I’ve been researching that, and we’ll be able to stay at a motel.  They were really cheap back then.  We can actually get two rooms for less than $20 a night.”

Kelly hadn’t travelled much, so she didn’t react, but Austin l
ooked horrified.  “$10 a night per room!  Does it have a bed?  A TV?  Cable?”

“Yes on the bed, probably on the TV and no on the cable.  They didn’t have cable in the area yet.”

“Holy crap.  I’m going to miss
The Walking Dead
,” Austin moaned.

“No you won’t.  We’ll be back the same day . . . sort of.  Besides, you’ll have a chance to see first run
Star Trek
episodes and
Man From U.N.C.L.E.
and even
The Monkees
.  No wait, that’s on Monday night, and we won’t be there on a Monday.”

“
The original
Star Trek
?  Really?  That’s way cool.”  Austin was clearly impressed.

“It was the first season.  But that’s not what we’re here to talk about,” Scott said, trying to get their attention.  “We’ve got to figure out a way to get close to Wendy without arousing her suspicions.”

“Too bad we can’t pretend to be students,” Kelly offered.  “Then we could just bump into her in class or in the hall between classes.”

“That’s exactly what we have to do . . . become students,” Scott exclaimed.

“But how?  I can’t even get into this school without shot records and grades and test scores,” Kelly said.

“You heard what Mrs. Carter said.  B
ack then school records weren’t computerized.  Maybe we could just fill out some forms and they’d let us stay.  By the time they figure out we don’t belong, we’ll be gone,” Austin figured.

“If we can’t get into the school
, then we’ll have to do it all after school . . . like go to the game, follow her around . . . do whatever and hope she doesn’t get freaked out because we’re stalking her,” Kelly said. Even to her own ears, the idea sounded kind of farfetched.

They continued to
toss around options until the lab door opened and Lilly came running in.  “Scott, have you seen Violet?”

Scott glanced at Kelly
, knowing this was a true test of his character in front of his new friend.  “Violet?  Not since this morning.  I’m sure she’s not here in the lab.  Have you looked in all her usual hiding places?”

Lilly’s eyes filled with tears
as she nodded.  “I’ve looked everywhere.”

“We’ll all look for Violet . . . tomorrow . . . won’t we guys?” Kelly hurried to say.

“I hope you find her.  She’s the bestest turtle in the world.”  Lilly broke into sobs and ran out of the lab.

“
Jeez, that makes me feel bad.” Scott sank back on his stool.  “We’ve got to find that turtle.”

“How far could she go?” Kelly pointed out.  “Turtles move pretty slow.”

“We’ll find her,” Austin agreed.  “Or we’ll come up with a reasonable facsimile.”

“A fake Violet?” Kelly asked.

“Face it, they all look the same.  All we have to do is glue some jewels on its back.”  Austin held his hands up like it was no big deal.

Scott began to write on the white board. 
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, old money, chargers, batteries, notebook, ink pens . . .
  They continued adding to the list until they had more than could fit in both Scott’s and Austin’s backpacks.

“Seems like
a pretty good list,” Kelly said as she copied down her part of the supplies.

Austin leaned forward in his chair and studied them closely.  “If we’re going to be there for any time at all
, we don’t have clothes that will fit in.”

“I figured we would go to the Salvation Army store and buy stuff,” Scott said as he circled the old money words on the white board.

“We could look in some of those boxes of my grandma’s old clothes.  Maybe we could find a couple of things there and save some money,” Kelly suggested.

“Good idea.  We’ll come over tomorrow and check them out,” Austin agreed.

“What time tomorrow?” Kelly asked.

They looked at each other solemnly, as if they had just realized the magnitude of their adventure.
   “Well, tomorrow’s the big day.  Better get some sleep tonight.  Who knows what time we’ll get to bed tomorrow.  But right now, I’ve got to get to work.  Wouldn’t want to get fired the night before I disappear.”  Austin stood up and turned to leave.  Kelly and Scott followed him through the gate and to the front yard.

“So, we’re really doing this?” Kelly asked.

“Looks like it,” Scott confirmed.  They all nodded, then split off to go to their own homes.

Kelly locked the front door behind her and was going to slip upstairs and go straight to her room.  For once, she was so distracted, she wasn’t even thinking about grabbing a late snack.  But as she passed the kitchen, her aunt called out.

“Kelly, do you have a minute?  I think we need to have a talk.”

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

All sorts of things raced through Kelly’s mind as she hesitated just outside the kitchen doorway.  Had she done something wrong?  Had she forgotten to do the dishes or make her bed?  Had her aunt somehow found out about their plans?  But it was obvious her aunt was aware Kelly was home.  There was no putting off whatever it was that needed to be discussed.

“Sure.”  Kelly took a deep breath and tried to look as innocent as possible as she walked into the kitchen.

Her aunt was sitting at her favorite place at the bar.  She had a half-full glass of lemonade and her laptop on the granite countertop.  Her reading glasses had slid down to the end of her nose, and she looked over the top of them at Kelly as she gingerly
sat on the bar stool at the other end.

Aunt Jane’s smile wasn’t reflected in her eyes.  In fact, she looked really nervous and unsettled.  Kelly had never seen her aunt acting quite like that.