The TALONS Files: the chronicles of telepathic agent Ryan Dart

This is a Vacation Spot?

The ferry shoved off, and, despite the temps being in the fifties, Ryan tried to enjoy the blue of the water, the green of the Island and the quaintness of the lighthouses.  The cold winds were Icy, strong, unseen walls colliding with his body.  The wind reddened his face- blowing forcefully through his hoodie and causing shivers.

Ignoring the torment, Ryan monitored the SCARE operative and, after a little prodding, found out the meeting was scheduled at 2:15 pm at a place called the Grand Hotel. 

He also searched the man's thoughts further, hoping to learn where the SD card would be placed.  He did sense a thought, however it was so cryptic, and Ryan didn't really have any knowledge of the Island, that it really left him guessing.  'If moron puts it in the wrong one, it'll end up in the lake.' 

By the time they had reached the Island, Ryan was relieved the trip was over- so was Mai.  One of the crew came up to them, as everyone left the ferry, "Man, you guys are crazy."

Ryan stood up and patted the young man on the back.  The chilled agent attempted steady speech, not letting the shivers reduce his words to sheep's speak. "Yes, but the view was absolutely worth it!"

As they left the boat, with the bustling town before them and his shivers gradually subsiding,  Ryan was kind of at a loss.  "Hey I don't see any cars."

Mai smirked as she shook her head,  "You didn't read a thing about the Island."

"Uhh...not really, something about fudge and I got bored."

"This place is like back in the old days, Victorian times, look at the buildings.  See the Horse drawn carriages?"

"Yeah,"  Ryan said as they hit the first intersection.

Ryan could see buildings, decked out in white clapboard attire, stretching along a paved road to his left.  As a large grassy expanse, highlighted with a fairly big statue, was before him.  "There's also a lot of bikes."  He said, as he gazed at the lively scene to his left.   Bicycles were continuously parked along both sides of the street.  People sauntered along the boarded walks with light coats on.  "This is like for old people, you know, when their heart can't handle roller coasters any more."

Mai looked at Ryan as if he told her glass was unbreakable.  "I like this place.  It's kind of ...."  'Romantic'

"Really?"  Ryan said.  "It's a bit old fashioned, you know, just a bunch of old buildings and horses and that stuff."  He scanned the green expanse in front of them.  The grass swept upward following a steep slope.  At the top of that slope stood an old stone wall, painted white.

"Hey, what's up there?"  Ryan asked.

Mai screwed up her face.  "That's fort Mackinac."

"Why is it here?"

"The British built it during the Revolutionary war."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, I'm serious."

"Maybe this place ain't so bad after all."  Ryan glanced at a watch tower peeking over the wall."  He had a thought, actually he remembered the Yellow jacketed man's thoughts.  'If moron picks the wrong one, it'll end up in the lake.'

"What's wrong?"  Mai asked.

"Nothing,"  Ryan said.  "I think I know where the the SD card is hidden.  But we'll go to the Grand Hotel to make sure."

Mai took a step back and surveyed Ryan's face.  She smiled broadly and let her words bubble out, "Wow, you actually have deduced something this time."

Ryan smirked.  "Of course,"  he said,  "At least I'm pretty positive I'm right."  Then he added,  "Besides, my hunch about the senator proved to be true."

Mai's smile fell from her face. 'I doubt that was you.'

"What? Then who would could it have been?"  Ryan was trying to hide his guilty face. 

'I really don't want to think about it now'  Mai turned from Ryan.

"What? I'm not allowed to have hunches?"  He tried to reason, although he knew he was defending a lie.

'That was a pretty bold hunch'  "Look, let's go rent bikes and find the Grand hotel."

Ryan shrugged, also happy to change the subject.  "Fine, we've got about forty five minutes.