Convergence - The Last Science #2.1 - In Plain Sight

B2: Chapter 15 - Making Friends and Influencing People - II

  The "Marvelous Mr. Hudson" went through a few magic routines while Jeremy tried not to get bored. He'd never cared for magicians, and the kid didn't really have a well-developed theatrical presence. High school plays maybe, but Mr. Hudson wasn't ready for the prime time by a long shot. Even the idea that some of his stuff might not actually be tricks wasn't enough to hold Jeremy's attention.

  As Jeremy scanned the crowd, though, he saw something that could be interesting. Or fuckin' alarming.

  A few others were standing as well, since all the seats were taken. Apparently Mr. Hudson was a big draw in the area. One man in particular, though, didn't seem awed or entertained. Jeremy couldn't really blame him for getting bored, but something else about the guy seemed off. He was concentrating very hard on something, and Jeremy couldn't figure it out.

  Is he that into figuring out magic tricks?

  "For my next illusion, I require a volunteer! You there! Dare you brave the mystical for a chance at the sublime?"

  An excited young woman got to her feet and sprang onto the stage, breathless.

  Hudson glanced around dramatically. "I'm terribly sorry, I seem to have forgotten your chair." He flourished his fingers, pointing back at the crowd. The woman's cheap wooden chair floated into the air and landed on the stage with a thump, sliding across the smooth stage to halt right next to him. "I hope this will do, my dear."

  The crowd burst into applause. Okay, that wasn't bad. Jeremy ignored whatever Hudson's trick was, focused on the man in the other corner. He was fiddling with something in his jacket. A gun? Holy shit, they wouldn't, would they?

  No, it didn't have the right shape for a gun. Jeremy forced his heart rate back down. The man turned slightly, and as Jeremy got a better look at his face, he recognized him.

  It was the same man who'd been guarding Hailey in the bar.

  Jesus Christ, they really might.

  Jeremy's hand went for his own holster, reassuring himself it was still there, but the man didn't seem to be making a move. The show kept going, heedless of the sudden danger in the room.

  Do I arrest him? I don't actually have jurisdiction here, and I'm not even supposed to be investigating this case. If I tap him, I'm gonna be fucked even more than I already am.

  Follow the guy, maybe get an ID on the guys from the bar. Maybe catch a killer or potential killer. Or stay here, talk to Hudson, get in contact with Hailey and find Jackie, and get some fuckin' answers.

  Whatever he's got in his pocket is important. I need it. Split the difference.

  Jeremy had picked up a few tricks of his own over the years. If he was gonna pull this off, he needed to move now.

  While the show kept going, he exited the rear door on his side of the theater, and crossed over to the opposite door immediately. The guy was already leaving, hands in his pockets. Jeremy only had a few seconds.

  Fuck it.

  Keeping his face turned up toward the sign for the bathroom, Jeremy walked straight into the man. As they both stumbled, Jeremy's hand snuck into the suddenly handless pocket. There was a small, rough object inside, like a stone. He didn't have time to look at it. It went straight into his own jacket.

  "Sorry," he grunted. The man grumbled something rude, but kept walking nonetheless, beelining for the sunlight outside the front door. He hadn't noticed the stone vanish from his heavy jacket. Jeremy continued right into the bathroom, into the first unoccupied stall and locked the door tight. And fuck you too, Skinny, sayin' I could never actually make a pull.

  He pulled out the stone. It was a strange rock, with most of the surface almost featureless and gray. The same as the fuckin' monsters, Jeremy realized with a shock. It was the same plain gray they'd been made of—the ones that hadn't grown straight out of the asphalt, anyway. This stone was a bit different though, as if it had been merged with a different rock. Patches of purple crystal filled in the gaps, giving it the rough texture he'd originally felt.

  As Jeremy touched it, he felt something. A kind of pulling, as if the stone wanted something from him. He recoiled and dropped it on the bathroom floor. It sat quite innocently, just a strange-looking rock, not moving or throwing police cruisers across the streets.

  Gingerly, he reached down and touched it again. It still pulled, but Jeremy overcame his revulsion and picked it up. He prayed he wasn't about to be corrupted somehow by it, like it were made of evil itself. Suddenly, the wailing old woman on the tip line didn't seem quite so crazy.

  But as he thought about how much he wished it would stop, it did. Quite suddenly, quite extraordinarily, the sensation stopped. The stone sat in his palm, still strange and unsettling, but no longer actively reaching for his soul.

  Or I'm just being insane. Making this all sound mystical and shit. I'm turning into Lani.