Alternate

Chapter 5

The group walked along the corridor, packed together tightly. The guards in front of them and behind them made certain none of them were going to do anything unexpected. Carl eyed the thugs with slight annoyance, but given the situation he couldn't blame Vincent for rounding up the group. Rand's face was all over the news and the cops were searching for him relentlessly. It was no surprise Vincent wanted to talk with the people who used to Alternate with Rand. The cops wouldn't be aware of the illegal activities their suspect had taken part in and having the situation resolved before they did was in the best interest of Vincent and his continued operations.

The mobster had used John to lure in Carl and Seth. Neither had had plans to Alternate until their friend was well again, so when word reached them that he was all right both had gone to visit him. That was when the guards had rounded them all up and started marching them towards Vincent's office.

Carl glanced at the fat man walking next to him. He'd lost some weight while in the hands of the medics, but there was still plenty of him left. The wound looked completely healed and he was having no trouble moving around.

John noticed Carl looking and gave him a small smile as reassurance.

On his other side was Seth. His nose was as twisted as ever and when he glared at Carl a chill ran down his spine. He knew the man well enough to know there was nothing behind the glare, but even then it was enough to unnerve him. It had worked on strangers to good effect many times.

The guards came to a halt and pushed open a door. Carl grunted and stepped into Vincent's office, followed by his companions.

"Ah, good. You're here. Please, sit down," said Vincent from behind his desk and motioned towards the chairs laid out in front of it. The three men did as told and found their seats.

"What's this all about?" demanded Carl even though he had a pretty good idea. "Why the thugs?"

Vincent gave him one of his apologetic smiles that were infuriating to most people. "It's about Rand. I can't take any risks with things regarding him. Not now."

"Why is he a problem?" asked Seth and waved his hand. "He's out there somewhere, hiding in the city from the cops. He's not here."

Vincent let out a regretful sigh. "I wish that were true. Then there would be no need to bother you with this." He gave each man a look. "Rand came here right after murdering his wife. He Alternated away."

There was a moment of silence.

"The cops know this?" asked John.

"Probably not, but they came here looking for him because he frequents the place. They asked a lot of questions and I can tell you it wasn't cheap to sate their curiosity," replied Vincent in an angry voice. The cops showing up had nearly ruined everything, but Vincent was a slippery bastard that could make a persuasive case even to the most law abiding officer. "But that's not all. I wish it were, but it's not."

"What else is there?" asked Carl. It was bad enough Rand had pulled such a stunt, but it was understandable to a point. It gave him extra days of freedom and a chance to escape.

"It appear Rand has joined up with the woman. The one who went Dark. And he has gone Dark himself," said Vincent in a grim tone. Such matters were not to be taken lightly. Murder was a small crime compared to what the man had gone on to do.

There was a shocked silence among the three men. Disbelief was chief among the emotions on their faces.

"Why would Rand do something like that?" asked John.