The Golden Telescope

16 - ESCAPE

PORTLAND, OREGON – PRESENT DAY

"Crap!" Bart balked as the two boys stopped, out of breath, just as the train pulled away from the station. "I hate it when that happens!" He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation as they watched their ride move down the tracks.

Jack bent over and placed his hands on his thighs to recover from the mad dash they'd made, trying to reach the train on time.

With one long exhale, he stood erect again to face his friend.

"Guess we'll just have to wait fifteen minutes for the next one," he shrugged and looked behind them, spying a vacant city bench. He flopped down on the cold metal seat without waiting for Bart to follow.

Buzz-buzz, Bart's phone vibrated in his pocket.

"I'll bet that's my mom," he said, digging into his shorts to pull his cell out. "Close—-It's Pop," he said as he swiped across the read the text. "I'm sure they are expecting me home for dinner."

His eyebrows furrowed. "He's wondering where I am and if you're still with me. I texted mom when I was leaving school to let them know I was meeting you downtown," he said. And he began composing his response.

The reply came almost instantaneously; I'm right around the corner. Head to the shop, and I'll give you guys a ride. Bart read it out loud.

"Brilliant!" Jack grabbed his backpack off the cement and threw it over his right shoulder. "Let's head!" And so the two of them stood up and headed back toward Flanagan

Halfway between Davis and 2nd, Jack glanced behind them, not for the first time. A creeping sensation was crawling up his spine as he spied the shadowy figure walking about one hundred feet behind them. Edging closer to Bart, he leaned in to whisper:

"Hey, don't look now, but I think that guy might be following us."

"Which guy?" Bart asked and instinctively started to turn his head when Jack stopped him. "I said don't look, geez!" And Bart looked at Jack instead. "There's a guy back there with a beard and a black beanie. I noticed him standing across the street from the hobby shop when we came out. He also went to catch the same train we did; no biggie there. But then when we left to head back this way..." Jack quickly glanced over his shoulder again before meeting Bart's eyes. "Seems pretty suspicious, if you ask me."

"Yeah, especially considering..." Bart's words trailed off as he began waving his arm aggressively at his dad, who was standing outside Flanagan's facing their direction. "Thank god," Bart exclaimed, and they both began running toward Bill.

"Hey, boys! I was lucky enough to grab a parking spot right in front." Pop said as both boys opened doors on the green SUV and climbed in. Once they were all inside with the doors closed, Bart blurted, "Hey, Dad, see that guy over there in the black beanie? Jack thinks he might be following us." He discreetly motioned in the man's direction.

Bill casually glanced in the rearview mirror. "Really? Why do you think that, Jack?" Bill turned to gaze at Jack in the back seat.

Jack replied, telling him the same thing he told Bart, then added, "It freaks me out a bit."

Bill glanced again out the window, Jack following his gaze, and to his surprise, the man was no longer there.

Bill sighed. "I don't blame you for being freaked out, Jack. And it's no accident that I'm here right now, either. I know something is going on with you two." Bill looked intently at Jack, then Bart.

Bart turned to Jack and rolled his eyes. Jack's reaction was similar, and he spoke first. "What do you mean you know something is going on with us?"