Short on Time

Chapter 147

Esther

"Eva's been missing for over twenty-four hours," Dad announced.

"We can count too," I reminded him. 

"Where are we with facial recognition?" Dad asked. 

"Satellites have turned up zilch," Ralph answered. 

"The Artificial Speed Force isn't finished yet, so I still can't do my usual sweeps of the city," Dad said. 

"Right. Uh, why are we meeting here?" Allegra asked. 

"I have a backlog of cases," Dad said.

"Which I'm helping you with," I reminded. "Because you should be at the hospital. 

"I can't lose my CSI job along with everything else," Dad said, ignoring me.

"How's your mom?" Nash asked.

"They're doing everything they can, but it looks like she's going to need a C-section," I told them. "Which means, she'll be spending most of her time split between NICU and home." 

"A job," Dad mused and I rolled my eyes. "Eva said that she had unfinished business. Is there any way that she meant that literally?"

"Oh, if she wants to get McCulloch back, she does have to deal with Black Hole," Nash said. 

"So, find Black Hole, find Eva," Allegra concluded. "Any idea where to start?"

"Nope," I said brightly. 

"Maybe," Ralph said as he took a diamond out of his pocket. 

"Ralph," we scolded. 

"Where'd you get that?" Dad and Nash asked. 

"Sue gave it to me," Ralph said.

"Of course she did," I said as I started mumbling curse words in a corner. 

"She gave you that?" Dad asked at the same time Nash questioned, "she gave that to you?"

"She gave that to me," Ralph confirmed. "And it turns out that Black Hole's logo is embedded inside." 

"Dude, there's serious UV energy coming off that thing," Allegra said. I stepped closer and my eyebrows rose in surprise. 

"Do you want to or should I?" I asked her. 

"Can I?" Allegra asked, and Ralph handed it to her. She pushed her light through it, and a map appeared.

"Neat," I said. 

"This is a Triangulation Cartograph," Nash said, and got confused expressions from everyone else. "It's a treasure map."

"More like a plain ol' map," I told him as I pointed at the map of the city. "Allegra, aim it over this."

"The center's at 42nd and Darby," Dad said. 

"Hang on," Ralph said as he looked it up. "42nd and Darby. Holy heck."

"What?" Dad and I asked. 

"Well, it turns out that is a ginormous warehouse with five subterranean levels," Ralph said. 

"Ralph and I will check it out," Dad said. "You two take comms." 

"What about Esther?" Ralph asked. "I wouldn't mind having her watching our backs."

"Someone needs to be at the hospital," Dad reminded. "Cecile is there now, but she's watching the kids."

"Shifts, we're working in shifts?" I asked him. "Why didn't you tell me?"