Restored (The Missing: Book 9) [Formerly Titled Rescued]

Chapter Eighteen

JB turned from the wall and stared, his face a mixture of surprise and horror. "What? How!" he stuttered, unable to form a full sentence.

"It's you!" Alexander declared, jumping up and pointing at the strange man. "He's the one who made me steal that Elucidator! I recognize his voice!"

"Yeah, sorry about that, but that's the only way this whole thing could have worked out."

Jonah's mind raced. He and Katherine, Al and Alexander, and JB were all in separate corners of the room. What if he tried to send them spinning through time again, like he had back in the mall? JB wouldn't survive by himself.

He glanced at Katherine, then at JB. She gave a tiny nod, understanding what he meant.

"Don't try it, kids," the artist said, turning his attention back their way. "I'll have you frozen before you can blink."

Alexander shouted, "You set me up!" and charged toward the artist. Al stood still, uncertain.

"Wait!" Jonah yelled back at him, but it was already too late. He's been frozen after taking no more than two steps.

Jonah narrowed his eyes, knowing there was nothing they could do without a proper elucidator. The five of them were at his mercy. He grabbed Katherine's arm. There, at least we won't get separated, he thought, trying to make himself feel better. But he knew it was JB, not Katherine, that needed protecting right now.

"What do you want?" Katherine asked without blinking. But Jonah could feel the muscles in her arm tensing.

"Believe it or not, I want to help you," he replied in a slightly softer voice.

JB snorted. "When was the last time you were able fool me?"

"Uh, JB, do you know him?" Katherine asked, glancing back to where JB was standing.

"He never mentioned me? How rude," the artist said, faking a pout. "I'm his big brother."

"Was," JB corrected icily, "until you almost got me killed and fired on the same day. Then I wised up and cut you off for good."

Jonah's head started spinning as he tried to comprehend what was happening. It felt like JB had barely scratched the surface; if Jonah had to guess, he'd say their relationship had been strained for years. JB's brother. But I guess he's not a good guy.

"How did you get here?" Jonah asked, his question sounding like an accusation, but he wasn't entirely sure where he was going with it.

"Yeah, none of JB's coworkers are supposed to know where we are," Katherine said, picking up where Jonah left off, "so you must be working for her."

Does that mean...

"For? No, no, you've got it wrong. I don't want the exact same things that she wants, nor am I her pawn," he tried to clarify, sounding offended.

Jonah jumped when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He hadn't heard JB's footsteps as he was walking over to their corner of the room.

"I don't know exactly what you're scheming, but why'd you have to get the kids involved?" JB asked, stepping in front of Jonah and Katherine. She immediately grabbed on to the back of his shirt, but JB didn't respond to her. "You know you hurt everyone you touch."

Jonah rarely heard JB speak so harshly to somebody. Jonah decided that this man must have done something horrible to evoke such anger from JB.

Something flickered in his eyes for barely a moment before he continued. "I really am trying to help this time."