messages stored on a laptop computer indicates that Gabriel is probably a few miles away from here— in New York City. We still don’t have the computing power to search the entire world, but now we can focus on this particular location.”
Becoming a Traveler had given Michael certain abilities that helped him survive. If he relaxed in a certain way— didn’t think, just observed— he could slow his perceptions so that he could see split-second changes in someone’s facial expressions. Michael could tell when someone was lying, could detect the thoughts and emotions that everyone concealed in their day-to-day lives.
“How long will it take to find my brother?” he asked.
“I can’t say. But this is a very positive step. Up until now, we’ve been searching for them in Canada and Mexico. I never thought they’d go to New York.” Nash chuckled softly. “This young Harlequin is crazy.”
And now the world began to slow within Michael’s mind. He could see a hesitation in Nash’s smile. A quick look to the left. And then a split-second twisting of the lips into a sneer. Perhaps the general wasn’t lying, but he was definitely hiding some fact that made him feel superior.
“Let someone else finish the work in Arizona,” Michael said. “I think Boone should fly to New York immediately.”
Once again, Nash smiled as if he had the high cards in a poker game. “Mr. Boone will stay there for one more day evaluating some additional information. His team found a letter during a search of the compound.” General Nash paused and let the statement linger in the air.
Michael watched Nash’s eyes. “And why is that important?”
“The letter is from your father. He’s been hiding from us for quite a long time, but it appears that he’s still alive.”
“What? Are you sure?” Michael jumped out of the chair and almost ran across the room. Was Nash telling him the truth, or was this just another test of loyalty? He examined the general’s face and the movements of his eyes. Nash looked superior and proud— as if he enjoyed this demonstration of his authority.
“So where is he? How can we find him?”
“I can’t tell you at this time. We don’t know when the letter was written. Boone couldn’t find an envelope with a postmark or a return address.”
“But what did the letter say?”
“Your father inspired the formation of New Harmony. He wanted to encourage his friends and warn them about the Brethren.” Nash watched Michael pace around the room. “You don’t look very happy about this news.”
“After your men burned down our house, Gabe and I kept this fantasy going. We convinced each other that our father had survived and was looking for us as we drove around the country. When I got older, I realized that my father wasn’t going to help me at all. I was on my own.”
“So you decided he was dead?”
“Wherever my father went, he was never coming back. He might as well have been dead.”
“Who knows? Maybe we can arrange a family reunion.”
Michael wanted to slam Nash against the wall and slap the smile off his face. But he turned away from the older man and regained his composure. He was still a prisoner, but there were ways around that. He had to assert himself and guide the Brethren in a certain direction.
“You killed everyone at New Harmony. Correct?”
Nash seemed annoyed by Michael’s blunt language. “Boone’s team achieved its objectives.”
“Do the police know what happened? Has it become news?”
“Why should you be concerned with that?”
“I’m telling you how to find Gabriel. If the media doesn’t know about this, then Boone should make sure they find out.”
Nash nodded. “That’s definitely part of the plan.”
“I know my brother. Gabriel visited New Harmony and met the people who lived there. This event is really going to affect him. He’ll have to react, do something on impulse. We need to be ready.”
** CHAPTER 2
Gabriel and his friends
Becoming a Traveler had given Michael certain abilities that helped him survive. If he relaxed in a certain way— didn’t think, just observed— he could slow his perceptions so that he could see split-second changes in someone’s facial expressions. Michael could tell when someone was lying, could detect the thoughts and emotions that everyone concealed in their day-to-day lives.
“How long will it take to find my brother?” he asked.
“I can’t say. But this is a very positive step. Up until now, we’ve been searching for them in Canada and Mexico. I never thought they’d go to New York.” Nash chuckled softly. “This young Harlequin is crazy.”
And now the world began to slow within Michael’s mind. He could see a hesitation in Nash’s smile. A quick look to the left. And then a split-second twisting of the lips into a sneer. Perhaps the general wasn’t lying, but he was definitely hiding some fact that made him feel superior.
“Let someone else finish the work in Arizona,” Michael said. “I think Boone should fly to New York immediately.”
Once again, Nash smiled as if he had the high cards in a poker game. “Mr. Boone will stay there for one more day evaluating some additional information. His team found a letter during a search of the compound.” General Nash paused and let the statement linger in the air.
Michael watched Nash’s eyes. “And why is that important?”
“The letter is from your father. He’s been hiding from us for quite a long time, but it appears that he’s still alive.”
“What? Are you sure?” Michael jumped out of the chair and almost ran across the room. Was Nash telling him the truth, or was this just another test of loyalty? He examined the general’s face and the movements of his eyes. Nash looked superior and proud— as if he enjoyed this demonstration of his authority.
“So where is he? How can we find him?”
“I can’t tell you at this time. We don’t know when the letter was written. Boone couldn’t find an envelope with a postmark or a return address.”
“But what did the letter say?”
“Your father inspired the formation of New Harmony. He wanted to encourage his friends and warn them about the Brethren.” Nash watched Michael pace around the room. “You don’t look very happy about this news.”
“After your men burned down our house, Gabe and I kept this fantasy going. We convinced each other that our father had survived and was looking for us as we drove around the country. When I got older, I realized that my father wasn’t going to help me at all. I was on my own.”
“So you decided he was dead?”
“Wherever my father went, he was never coming back. He might as well have been dead.”
“Who knows? Maybe we can arrange a family reunion.”
Michael wanted to slam Nash against the wall and slap the smile off his face. But he turned away from the older man and regained his composure. He was still a prisoner, but there were ways around that. He had to assert himself and guide the Brethren in a certain direction.
“You killed everyone at New Harmony. Correct?”
Nash seemed annoyed by Michael’s blunt language. “Boone’s team achieved its objectives.”
“Do the police know what happened? Has it become news?”
“Why should you be concerned with that?”
“I’m telling you how to find Gabriel. If the media doesn’t know about this, then Boone should make sure they find out.”
Nash nodded. “That’s definitely part of the plan.”
“I know my brother. Gabriel visited New Harmony and met the people who lived there. This event is really going to affect him. He’ll have to react, do something on impulse. We need to be ready.”
** CHAPTER 2
Gabriel and his friends
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