Imogen Rose - Equilibrium: Portal Chronicles Book Two

K evin needed to talk to Inez. Although he was almost completely drained, he sat down to think, to gather his thoughts. Kevin was relieved that the children were safefor now. They would be safe at Morenas house for as long as he didnt go back there. His own house was probably under surveillance by Rajs people and now that he was back here, he was certain that his every move was probably being watched. After all, he was Raj Sens only link to the kids now. He couldnt go back to Morenas. He couldnt contact her by phone either. In a way it had been stupid to come back here, he should maybe have stayed at Morenas as well. But all his data was here.

He scrambled up the stairs to his officea room that doubled as a spare guestroom when he was still married. The house had always been full of people then. Theyd always needed more than one guestroom.

Hed left the door unlocked, as usual. There had never been a reason to lock it in the past. He looked around with a sick emptiness bubbling up inside him. He sat down on the stuffed leather chair by his desk, defeated. The office had been ransacked. Not entirely surprising, but it left him totally beat. He was tired, lonely and suddenly scared.

The heavy footsteps coming up the stairs didnt help. They couldnt belong to Raj Sen, Kevin decided as he picked up the heavy vase from his desk, readying himself behind the door. They had to belong to a much larger person. Images of Dan flashed through Kevins mind. He wouldnt stand a chance, unless he managed to get him on the right spot.

Dr. Sanderson. Its Dan. Please come downstairs, the voice from outside the office boomed.

Kevin put down the vase resignedly and opened the door. Dan stood waiting for him halfway up the stairs. He was a large man, Kevin sighed to himself. He followed him downstairs and into the kitchen.

Do ya have beer? Dan asked, opening the refrigerator door.

No, but theres some wine in there, help yourself, Kevin offered, and sat down by the kitchen table.

Dan returned to Kevin with a couple of cans of Coke and handed him one.

Not a beer drinker? Dan remarked.

Sometimes, Kevin replied. Ran out.

Too bad. Its going to be a long day, Dan continued.

It is? Kevin queried.

Yup, nodded Dan and closed his eyes.

So, whats going on? Kevin asked carefully.

The boss aint none too pleased, he mumbled. He lost all the kids. Know where they are?

No, Kevin said. I need to be out looking for them.

Nah, you dont. The boss is looking for them. My orders are to keep an eye on you till we find them. Its a nuisance.

Boss? You mean Dr. Sen? Kevin asked for confirmation.

Sort of. Him and Sophie, Dan muttered.

Kevin wondered who Sophie was and how she was connected to this mess. Sophie? he asked, not expecting a response.

Yup, my sister-in-law. Annoying woman, Dan sighed. This isnt the kind of thing I like to get involved with, but she insisted. I dont think even she had expected this, though, he complained.

This? Kevin encouraged.

Naw, I shouldnt be talking to you. Im supposed to just watch you. This is boring. Lets watch a DVD or somethin, he said, and beckoned Kevin to follow him into the den where he flicked through the DVD collection. Sheesh, this is a lot of odd stuff. You got Terminator or somethin like that? he complained.

You could always order something on-demand, Kevin suggested.

Great idea! Dan exclaimed happily, and settled himself into the comfortable couch with Kevin next to him, for four hours of action movies.

~

She should have heard back from Kevin by now. Morena considered calling him. Hed been exhausted, but even taking into account some time for a nap, he still should have had plenty of time to call her. So why hadnt he? She had been uncomfortable about him heading back to his house. The people who had abducted him and the kids may be watching his house. What if he had been captured again? She needed to find out. However, she could not risk compromising the kids. They had to be her number one priority. It was the kids they were after. Shed give him until the morning to contact her. If she didnt hear from him by then, shed have to get in touch with Inez.

~

Dans phone rang, startling him into action. He looked annoyed at being disturbed from his movie. The conversation was one-sided with occasional grunting at Dans end. He turned his phone off and looked at Kevin grimly.

Well, fun times are over. Dr. Sen is on his way over, he said, and turned the movie back on.

Kevin stared at the wall, trying to drown out the annoying sounds of crashes and shooting coming from his TV. He needed to think. He would obviously stick to maintaining that he was unaware of the kids whereabouts. That did not sound implausible at all. After all, he had arrived here alone. Could Dr. Sen want something else from him, something related to the portal? Dr. Sen had obviously hacked into the portal system, so why would he need Kevin?

There was no way he would or could know about Kevins connection with the Wanderers, could he? Kevin and Inez had been very careful, very few people knew about her. To most, they had appeared like any other normal couple. They had entertained a lot when she was aroundmainly her Wanderer friends. Their whole social network centered on her. Hed never really had any friends of his own. Even Larry had been her contact. Larrys wife and Inez had been close. Inez was devastated when Larrys wife died and had made it her mission to watch over Larry and Kellan ever since. Their marriage had eventually died, but they remained close friends. He needed her now.

~

Inez felt a twinge. She closed her eyes. Kevin needed her. Where was he though? David had said that he had been at the back of the van when David transported through with Ella. She wouldnt be able to find him without a precise location.

She looked over at Olivia and Ella, who were still sleeping peacefully on the couch. Inez then went over to David, who still looked drained, and kissed his head.

Hon, Ill see you in a little while. Im going to head over and see whats going on at Ames.

David nodded. Bring them back, Mom. Bring Arizona back home.

Inez noticed Agent Adams car parked right outside the front entrance at Ames. She would have to be careful. She slipped around the back and texted Larry.

where

Larry texted back, almost instantaneously :

op

She assumed that they were down at the portal, what else would op mean? She let herself in using the key that Larry had given her, and hurried through the corridors to the OP elevator and headed to the basement hangar.

Inez, we just got here, Larry said, pointing to Rupert. Rups managed to recode the portal and hack into the system so that we have sole control.

Hows Ella? And Ollie? Rupert asked, as he walked over.

Theyre good, both are sleeping soundly. David is watching over them. Theyll be fine. Whats going on here? Inez asked.

Not a lot, Larry said. We have control, but we cant do much. The energy source to run the portal is completely depleted. We wont be able to get it up and running for months. All weve really achieved is confirming that Ericas computer was involved in recoding the portal. Were sure that it was Raj, rather than Erica, who used it, though.

Inez nodded, Im certain that Erica wouldnt do anything like that.

Larry continued. So we know that Raj is over in the other dimension with the kids. We have no way to get to them. Then he looked at Inez thoughtfully. Unless you help us, of course.

And I will obviously do so, in any way I can, replied Inez. We dont know where they are, though. I need a location. Then if we are going to bring them over, three of us will have to go over. Who? David is drained.