Message-ID: <6cd3114c.358ac531@aol.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:08:15 EDT From: Maryilee@aol.com Subject: "And Then There Were Two" Part 6 Chapter 6 "Gary? What's going on?" Gary shook his head in bewilderment, rubbing the back of his neck. His gaze was still fixed on the door by which Chuck had exited. "I...I...don't know, Marissa." Gary didn't know how to explain the eerie sensation he had had when Chuck had asked about the paper. He had felt like he had been talking to a stranger. Gary had noticed Chuck acting differently than normal last night, but had shrugged it off to fatigue. Gary absently folded his newspaper, tucking it into his back pocket. What if Chuck was losing it? Gary had always thought that he himself would be the first one driven nuts by the paper. It had never occurred to him that Chuck would crack under the pressure. He hesitantly opened the door to the bar area, intending to straighten things out with Chuck. He abruptly stopped with the door only part way open, when he caught sight of Chuck pacing and talking to himself. Chuck's voice was too quiet for Gary to catch what he was saying, but from the way he was angrily gesturing towards the door that Gary was now hiding behind, he surmised that Chuck was talking about him...but to who? Gary quietly closed the door. He needed to think. Gary turned back towards the kitchen, slowly sinking onto a stool. Marissa had poured herself a cup of coffee, and was seated at the counter, a troubled expression on her face. "Did you and Chuck argue?" "No. Yeah. Well...not really." Gary struggled to understand just exactly what had happened, he sighed in frustration. "We didn't argue at all. Chuck was just acting very...strange." Baffled, Marissa wrinkled her brow, "How do you mean? What did he do?" Gary half-turned, checking the door to the bar, worried that Chuck would walk in and find them discussing him. "Marissa," he said in a low voice, "He asked about the date, and why my paper had tomorrow's date on it." Gary paused, "It was like he had no clue about tomorrow's paper." Marissa rested elbows on the table, her chin propped on her hands, "That doesn't make sense, Gary." "I know it doesn't make sense!" Gary barked, his voice louder than he had intended. "Sorry, Marissa, I didn't mean to snap at you." Gary said contritely. Marissa gave Gary a forgiving smile, "I know, don't worry about it." Gary glanced at his watch, it was already ten o'clock. If he was going to track down the correct Antonio Herrara in time, he had better get going. He had been planning on asking Chuck to help him, but now he wasn't so sure. Uncertainly, he approached the door to the other room, then hesitated. Maybe it would be better to go alone. He gave Marissa a quick look, "Hey Marissa, I...uh...I have to go. Could you, ah...could you sort of keep an eye on Chuck today?" At Marissa's wide smile, Gary realized his blunder, and grinned sheepishly, "Well, you know what I mean." Chuckling, Marissa answered, "Yes, Gary. I'll watch him like a hawk." She grew serious, "Don't worry Gary, I'm sure it's nothing. Probably just Chuck's idea of a joke." Gary glanced at the door, and then quickly back to Marissa, "Yeah, well, I hope so." He grabbed his coat, and quickly exited through the back doors. "You know what this means, Al?" Sam asked in wonder. "It means that I'm not the only one. God, Time, Fate or whatever is giving Gary the paper the same way as he is leaping me through time; for the same purpose." "Whoa, Sam!" Al said, putting his hand up. "I think you're getting ahead of yourself. You don't know for sure what that he gets the paper a day early. I mean, how would that happen? You had to build the Accelerator to get started. How did Gary get started?" Al punched some buttons on his handlink, "See, look, Hobson used to be a stockbroker. Hardly what I would call a scientific mind." Al finished sarcastically. Sam shot him a dirty look, but acknowledged that Al was probably right. He needed more proof. Wearily he nodded, "You're right." Suddenly, he thought of something, "Al, check to see if your data has changed regarding Gary getting shot." Sam hovered impatiently over Al as he entered the request into the handlink. Sorrowfully, Al shook his head when the answer flashed on his screen. "Sorry Sam, he still gets murdered." How can that be? Sam thought, rubbing his forehead, a dull throb beginning. He was sure about the paper, whether Al believed him or not, but if Gary had the next day's paper, then he should be able to avoid getting murdered. "Al, what's the date of the paper that runs the article about Gary getting murdered?" Al shrugged, but punched the buttons, "Ah, November tenth. That's next Monday." Sam flinched at the news, he had been afraid of that. Gary had been...will be...murdered too late in the evening for it to make the next day's paper.