Through Time She Came

Ch. 1 Headstrong and Foolhardy

December 2009

Time. It's always in motion. Always moving forward— like a ship at sea.

I have found a way to step out of that forward motion— a way to step off the gangplank of the present and into the sea of time.

Like plunging into the sea, so is the dangers of stepping out into time— you may get swept away... lost... or possibly drown in it.

Thus, the final step in this endeavor of stepping through time...

An anchor.

Professor Olivier places the final piece onto a leather band. In his hand, what any other would assume to be a commonplace wristwatch, his final piece to his biggest discovery.

~•~

Elsewhere...
Papers fly off the desk as Anet's body meets the solid oak with unforeseen force. Hands wrap in an iron grip on her throat. Air harder and harder to take in.

Mentally, she hears her partner Jay's voice, 'I told you you shouldn't have taken this case.'

"You were smart to clean out my bullets, but I don't need a gun to kill you." Chase Heller. Head of Heller Inc. Candidate for mayor. Suspected pawn of crime lord Maggio. "I'm not afraid to get my own hands dirty. Maggio wouldn't like to know that I'd hired a cop as my own personal secretary." Pawn confirmed. "I won't be so careless next time."

Darkness floods her vision.

Anytime now!

"Too bad. This isn't how I saw this evening going."

Bang!

His laughter, painting mental images in her mind, suddenly silenced by a single shot.  Blood splatters her face, open blouse. She gasps for air as Heller's body flings back. Lifeless, he hits the floor.

Gentler hands help her.

"'bout time." she rasps. Pain shoots through her throat. Wince.

"Don't give me that. You told me to wait until he admitted he was working with Maggio. Did you really think he was just going to tell you first then attack you? Even after the way you approached him?"

Police sirens near.

Anet fumbles with her blouse buttons. Blackness receding from her vision, she takes in Chase Heller's crumpled body. Slides off the desk. Checks vitals. "Great." Standing, she punches Jay's arm. "He's dead!"

"Do you really think he would've told us anything if we'd gotten him alive?" he retorts. "These guys only fear Maggio. Maggio would have had Heller killed just for being taken in."

"I know that!" She recalls two small time criminals somehow  mixed with Maggio. Shot before they'd walked into the precinct.

"He 'fessed up to working for Maggio. We can work with that."

Angry with herself for the outcome, Anet replies, "We needed him. He knew things no one else here knew about, I just know it."

"It's not a total loss, Anet."

"I—,"

"Save it. You'll ruin your pretty voice if you keep talking. It's to the hospital with you, young lady."

Anet nods. Deep breath. His arms wrap around her.

"It was a close one tonight. You need to be smarter in the future. I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you."

Holding him, she looks up. Wise-guy smirk on her face, "You'd cry for awhile then cry some more when Bates assigns you a partner, someone mind-numbingly dull and as stiff as a corpse."