"We're an a.s.sisted living care facility, sir," came the voice on the phone.

Ah, of course, Steven thought. "What are your visiting hours?"

"Anytime between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., every day."

"Yes, would you leave Mr. Wilmon a message?" Steven asked. "Tell him that Mr. Hall needs to meet with him, and I'll be there tomorrow morning first thing."

"Can I tell him what it's regarding?"

Steven thought. "Yes, tell him it's regarding Frank."

"OK, I'll leave this message for him."

"Thank you," Steven said, hanging up.

Steven turned to Daniel, who was focused on the readout once again. "There's no way I'll make it to Olympia before 10 p.m. tonight when they stop visiting hours," he told him.

Daniel looked up. "Your dad's protection is off the charts. It has more variants than any I've ever seen, and at the same time it's the most pure I've ever seen. Impressive."

"Variants?" Steven asked.

"Different elements of the recipe that protect against specific things. The most common protection is a generic protect-all kind of mixture. People who know what they're doing can add variants that make the protection strong in specific areas, like the one I gave you; it has time protection variants. Your dad's protection - it has dozens of variants, some I've never seen before."

Steven didn't know exactly what to make of this information, but he felt a little pride well up in him. Roy had always been just a father, and a distant one at that. Learning that Roy had the gift had distinguished him in Steven's eyes and over the course of the past year Steven had learned that his father knew far more than he could ever imagine. But to hear that he was distinguished even within these esoteric circles surprised him.

"You've had it, I presume?" Daniel asked.

"Several times," Steven answered. "When he and I were working on a few problems."

"If he ever decides to market that stuff," Daniel said, "he'll make a fortune. I could spend the next ten years trying to duplicate it and wouldn't get close."

"I'll tell him that," Steven said, wondering which day Roy had said he planned on returning from his boat trip with Dixon.

Daniel's phone rang and he stepped into another room to answer it. Steven took the opportunity to look around Daniel's workshop a little more. It reminded him of Eliza's but without the feminine touches. There was no comfortable sitting area, just tables loaded with projects and devices. Along one wall there were bookcases with objects placed on them about a foot apart from each other. They seemed to be on display rather than for use.

Daniel returned from the other room. "That was the auto place in Ellensburg. The car's done. Oh, I see you've found the unknowns."

"I thought you might call them the antiques, but based on the condition of some of them I was wondering if they were just art," Steven said.

"The term 'antique' doesn't mean much in my world," Daniel said. "Those are the devices that I haven't figured out yet. Some of them I've had for years. I may never figure them out. But every now and again I come across something that unlocks what one of them does, and then I'm glad I kept it."

Steven surveyed the contraptions. They seemed like odd pieces of junk, without any value or technological elements. One even looked like an old rusty can.

"Jump in," Daniel said. "You'll see what I mean."

Steven entered the flow and the objects transformed. The rusty can looked like a round ball with deep etchings. Several of the objects had a light yellow hue to them. The hue pulsed on a few of them. He slipped back out of the River, feeling the slight stab of pain in the back of his neck.

"Wow," Steven said, turning to Daniel. "You've just collected them over the years?"

"Some I came across, a couple I bought and some were gifts," he said. "When people know you collect a certain thing, they feel compelled to give you more of that thing for your birthday or Christmas. I've got boxes of the duplicative c.r.a.p I've been given by well-meaning friends. My work and collection is more specialized now, and most of these objects on the shelves are rare."

"If I ever decide to give you a gift," Steven said, "it will be a CD or something. No time objects."

"Thank you," Daniel said. "Unless, of course, you want to give me some really cool and rare time object. Please don't hesitate in that case."

"How would I know if it was cool or rare?" Steven asked. "I'm guessing you can't determine the value of these items on the internet?"

"Ah, giving gifts to collectors is a b.i.t.c.h, isn't it? A CD will be fine."

Chapter Four.

Steven drove back to Seattle, dropping Daniel in Ellensburg to retrieve his car. On the way, Steven quizzed Daniel more about the time objects and their capabilities. Daniel had some interesting stories to tell and the two hour drive went quickly.

As they pulled into Ellensburg, Daniel turned to Steven.

"Do you mind if I tag along?" he asked. "On your visit to Olympia?"

"No, I wouldn't mind at all," Steven replied. "You've been extremely helpful so far. It would be nice to have you along."

"I have to admit I'm intrigued," Daniel said. "I'd like to hear what he has to say."

"Sure, you can stay at my place tonight," Steven said, "and we'll drive to Olympia first thing in the morning. Should we just continue on and I'll bring you back out to get your car?"

"Oh no," Daniel said, "that's way out of your way. I'll pick my car up now and follow you. That way you won't have to drive back out here."

Steven drove Daniel to the auto repair shop and dropped him off. Soon they were back on the interstate, convoying to Seattle.

As he drove, observing Daniel's car in the rear view mirror, Steven was grateful Daniel was available and willing to help. He felt a little lost without Roy around. He'd come to rely on his father far more than he realized. What a change, he thought. I hardly ever see him for most of my life, now I miss the b.u.g.g.e.r when he's gone for a week.

He tried to remember what day Roy said he'd be back. He said he'd be gone a week, Steven thought. It's been about that. Maybe he's back today?

Certainly Roy would have a perspective on this. Roy always had a perspective. He could be cranky and cra.s.s, but his heart was in the right place and he'd been there to help Steven when he needed him most. Steven had come to rely on him.

What happens when he pa.s.ses on? Steven thought, then immediately felt guilty for considering the idea. I shouldn't be thinking about that. Drop the subject.

They arrived in Seattle around midnight.

"Let's turn in," Steven said, "I want to be on the road to Olympia by 6 tomorrow."

"Sleep with that object close," Daniel said. "Don't leave it on your nightstand where our visitor might be able to take it from you."

"I think I have a solution," Steven said. He went to the bathroom and removed some ankle tape, then he bound the rectangle Daniel had given him around his arm. The elastic of the tape kept it firmly in place. He showed Daniel his arm.

"Perfect," Daniel said. "And you have the protection I gave you?"

"Yes," Steven said, "I'll down it just before I get into bed."

"All right. Wake me up if he shows up."

"Will do. Goodnight."

Steven tried to sleep, but he was still a little wired from the drive and the protection surging through his body didn't make it any easier. He wished he had Roy's book so he could read more until he felt sleepy. It didn't feel right to remove the book from Roy's house without his permission.

He slipped into bed and turned off the light. He felt around his neck. He could still feel the pain from his encounter with the gla.s.s man the night before. He hoped Daniel's object would help if the man appeared tonight. Antic.i.p.ation of the meeting was another thing keeping him awake. He tried several sleep techniques he'd learned over the years but none of them were working.

He turned over in bed, looking up at the ceiling. Faint moonlight coming in through his bedroom window lit the wall to his right. The shadow of the gla.s.s man was upon it; he turned to his left and the figure was at his bedside. Steven instinctively raised his arm, bandaged with the object inside, to his neck.

The gla.s.s man stood as a statue, like before. Steven slipped into the flow.

"It's almost time," the man said.

Steven was surprised to hear the voice. The gla.s.s must be thinning, he thought. Time for what?

"Time to pay you back," the man said.

I haven't done anything to you, Steven thought.

"I paid with eighty years," the man said. "You're going to pay with your life."

The gla.s.s moved, but this time Steven could observe the movement. The gla.s.s man moved his hand inches from Steven's face, then stopped. The man's brow furrowed, frustrated. "What?" he said, confused.

Steven didn't respond. The man didn't seem to clue in that Steven had taken defensive steps.

The man growled. The gla.s.s moved again, this time to a different pose. Same result, the man's hand stopped inches from Steven.

The man moved around the bed to Steven's other side. He observed Steven's head following his movement, and realized his ability to surprise Steven was gone. He let out another frustrated growl. Then the vertical panes appeared, and within a few seconds he had left the room.

It worked, Steven thought, exiting the flow. If he follows the same pattern he won't be back again tonight.

He considered waking Daniel but then decided against it. The visit was over; he could tell him about it in the morning. Time now to sleep. Six a.m. was only a few hours away.

Steven instead tossed and turned, adrenaline now mixing with the protection. It was going to be a tough night.

On the drive to Olympia, Steven related the incident to Daniel.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Daniel asked.

"He had come and gone within thirty seconds," Steven said. "And the good news is, your protection worked. He tried several times to come at me and was stopped. He was clearly frustrated by that. He eventually gave up and blipped out."

"Well, I'm glad of that," Daniel said.

"He did say 'I paid with eighty years, and you're going to pay with your life.' I wasn't sure what to make of that."

"Well," Daniel offered, "the eighty years must mean the time binding. If the binding was to make him pay for something, like a punishment, I wonder what he did."

"That'll be agenda item number one with Garth," Steven said.

Traffic was still light so early in the morning, and they soon found themselves navigating to the Tall Pines facility in Olympia, a few minutes after 7 a.m.

They walked into the lobby. It was large, open, and beautifully furnished. There were several couches in different areas of the room, and several seniors were moving through to a larger room in the back where breakfast was being served.

Wow, this is much nicer than I imagined, Steven thought.

He noticed a woman sitting behind a beautifully carved desk. She was younger and had a name badge. Steven a.s.sumed she was the receptionist. As he approached the desk, her desktop sign read "Concierge."

"Excuse me," Steven said to her, smiling. "We're here to meet with one of the residents. Are you the person we should talk to?"

"Yes, I can help you," she said, smiling back. "Who were you meeting?"

"Garth Wilmon," Steven answered.

"That's Mr. Wilmon over there," she nodded, referring to a man sitting in a winged back leather chair on the other side of the room. "He's expecting you."

"Thank you," Steven said, turning to walk to towards the man in the chair.

As they approached, Garth Wilmon stood. "You must be Steven," he said.

"I am," Steven said, "Steven Hall. And this is Daniel..." Steven realized he'd never learned Daniel's last name.

"Simmons," Daniel offered, sticking his hand out towards Garth, who held it and gave it a shake. "Daniel Simmons."

"Nice to meet you both," Garth said. "Would either of you like breakfast?"

Steven and Daniel turned to each other. They had left the house so quickly they had only brought coffee. Steven's stomach was beginning to growl.

"Are you going to have breakfast?" Steven asked Garth.

"Well," Garth replied, "I am, and I've made arrangements for it to be served to us over there." He pointed to a small alcove. An elderly couple pa.s.sed behind Steven and Daniel on their way to the dining room and Garth gave them a wave.

"Sure," Steven said. "That would be nice."

This was not what I was expecting from an a.s.sisted care facility, Steven thought.

They all walked over to the alcove. It was lined with bookcases and had a fireplace with a small fire rolling inside. There was another leather chair and a small sofa. Garth took the chair. On the small coffee table between them was a large art book from the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh. As soon as they sat, a waiter appeared and poured coffee for each of them and took their breakfast order.

"They'll make you pretty much anything," Garth said. "No menu. All the normal stuff."

They each gave the waiter an order and he departed. Although Steven could see people pa.s.sing by on their way to breakfast, the alcove was relatively private.