The Gadgeteer

Chapter 22

ARABETH TURNED TO get her satchel. What would she need for this excursion? Clement's would be a short visit. After a few moments with him, she'd need to head out to the hospital again.

She replenished her usual hand and ankle cuffs, knock-out sprays, and fox snacks. Imagining where she might wind up, she decided to bring a few candles and matches. Her portable lantern stood only four inches high, but it drank kerosene like it was dying of thirst.

This barely counted as reconnaissance. It would be a conversation, nothing more. She closed her bag. There were answers to be had, and it seemed she was the right person to ask them. No one else cared. No one else saw the trends and contradictions she did. Noble friends said they'd help, but they either didn't believe her, or didn't have the full picture.

Clement was in his garden, staring at a particularly tall rose bush.

"I'm going to find the secret of that hospital," Arabeth said as she walked up.

"Are you sure that's the best use of your time?"

"What do you mean?"

"Harbertrope's got a problem. If we fix that, he'll owe us, so the other problems will keep," he said. "His wife and daughter have been kidnapped."

"What? How? Who would be stupid enough to kidnap the police chief's family?"

"The war is shifting. War... well, it was a war. Now it's a power-hungry madman living in a cave. He's trying to influence the police chief and kidnapped his family to manipulate him. They were rescued early today and I want you to pick them up and get them safely back here. Would you be up to that sort of task? It's a little different from bounty hunting in that you have to do this in complete secrecy."

"Of course I'll help. And I am not a glory hound. There are a couple reports that stalk me, that's all."

"Sure, sure." The old man started walking at a livelier gait than Arabeth thought possible. "I'm actually quite disappointed with you, Arabeth. You should have found a way into your grandfather's workshop by now. The books he has in there are akin to the thinking of Da Vinci and Galileo, but centuries forward."

"Where are you going?" she said, hurrying to keep up.

"To let you in."

They walked south. Her house was west.

"To grandfather's lab?"

"No, I have no idea where that is."

Suddenly Marble whimpered and stopped, walking in a small, worried circle before sitting. Arabeth turned to pick her up, then realized why she'd acted that way.

"We're headed to the checkerboard?" she sputtered. "Why?"

"To bring back Wilma and Camilla."

"I can't bring Marble."

"The sonics are shut off for now. We use them to keep the area empty."

"Ah, I knew that area was too strange to not have a greater purpose. Most people I talk to think it's a rich man throwing his money away to make a statement."

"A secret only stays that way if it's well hidden, and when it's hidden in plain sight, it is overlooked the most."

"It also explains Larry's interest in the area."

"Who?"

"There's a young reporter who gives me information on some of the more dangerous happenings in our city. I can only guess that he's heard rumours about that place and figured I knew its secrets. He got pretty steamed when nothing happened." She shook her head. "I suspect he thinks I have a death wish. It's that, or he's trying to get rid of me."