8

Train Trip

The BRT turned out to be an elevated electric train, sometimes running along at street level, other times crossing above them on elevated tracks from one station to the next. For a coin each, they secured a place in the back of one of the cars. They sat in pairs, Agent Hessman with Claire to further question her, Ben with Sam, Agent Harris with Lieutenant Phelps, and Captain Beck across the aisle from Agent Hessman and the reporter, while the city whisked by beneath them.

Sam leaned in to catch Ben’s ear with a whispered remark as their journey began. “I thought all trains were underground in this city?”

“They’re working on it,” Ben whispered back. “A few are already, but what we’ll know as the modern subway system is still only partially complete. The bulk of ridership is still above ground on things like the BRT here. At least until it goes bankrupt in about . . . hmm, later this year, I think.”

“Then we may be among the last people to ride this thing. Sounds like an honor.”

“The fact that we’re riding this train at all in the year‍—when we are, is thrill enough for me.”

“I’d rather think that reporter would be enough of a thrill.” Sam grinned. “Quite the spunky type for this day and age.”

“An unusually tenacious woman even for our own age,” Ben admitted. “To find someone like this back now, it’s remarkable.”

Ben glanced over and tried to catch some of what Claire and Agent Hessman were talking about, which was mostly small details of their environment. What he found more interesting was the woman herself. A young woman from a century in the past, living and breathing before him. Everything about her, down to her dress and large hat, spoke of the period, except her personality seemed to stand out more than their team did in this day and age.

“I’ve been around there a time or two,” she was saying. “Small building, one back door, though they manage to pack quite a few things in what space they have.”

“I’m sure that will be of help, Miss Hill. Just remember not to get in our way when we get there. These people might be dangerous.”

“People that you don’t even know specifically who they are. Got it.”

That’s when she looked up and happened to catch Ben’s eye. She flashed a quick grin in his direction, which got Ben immediately glancing away.

“Excuse me for a second, Lou.”

Agent Hessman moved his legs out of the way while Claire carefully got up, steadying herself against the motion of the train as she stepped across the aisle to where Sam and Ben sat.

“Switching seats,” she told them. “Sam, you’re with Lou.”

Ben hesitated a moment, glancing uncertainly from one to the other, and Sam just shrugged.

“Or are you going to refuse a lady?”

To Claire’s remark, Dr. Weiss stood up, and Claire sat down next to Ben while Dr. Weiss joined Agent Hessman.

“So, what’s your story?” she asked.

“My what? I’m sure I don’t—”

“Everyone has a story, and I’m pretty good at sniffing them out. Lou says he’s a government agent, but the way he looks at things, like he’s examining them with a microscope or he read too much Arthur Conan Doyle, he’s definitely more the detective type. David‍—he’s military if I ever saw one; must have seen a lot of action in the Great War. Your buddy Sam over there, some sort of intellect. He has the look of a scientist, I’d think. Beck . . . he looks like he could have been an officer in the war; too old for anything else. Then Sue . . . she’s a puzzle. If she were a man, I’d say something like for David. I just can’t quite get a line on her.”

“And me? What do you think my story is?”

“You . . . ,” she said, thinking for a moment. “You’re a tricky one. The way I see you looking at everything, like it’s the first time you’ve seen any of it. Even now, as I was talking to Lou, you had half an eye on the scenery passing by outside like you’re some kid seeing the big city for the first time. But it’s just the city, and I don’t think you’re a country boy. For one thing, you don’t talk like one. Too educated.”

“So I’m educated. Lots of people are educated.”

“No, you’re more like . . . a professor. Someone who would be perfectly at home teaching at some stuffy English university. But the rest of it . . . I’m just not sure. But I’ll get it; I always do.”

“You just might at that, if anyone would . . . Claire.”

The train made a stop to exchange passengers, but the team took their lead from Claire and showed no sign of moving.

“Our stop’s the next one,” she stated as they waited.

A moment later the train was starting up again, and now it was Ben’s turn for questions.

“You certainly seem to be a great admirer of Nellie Bly.”

“And what’s not to admire? Reported straight from the warfront, worked undercover to expose those horrible insane asylums, actually made Jules Verne’s fabled trip around the world in less time than the book gave. She’s more of a reporter than most men, and I have no problem admitting that she’s my idol.”

Before Claire could look any more defensive than she already did, Ben quickly interjected, “I see nothing wrong with that, nor with any female reporter. But I have to ask: you don’t look dressed like any reporter I’ve seen. You look more like . . . well, like you’re getting ready for some social event.”

Claire’s defensive stature eased down into a soft smile and slight gleam in her eye as she bent in a little closer to respond. “But that’s the trick. Sure, I can wrap my hair up into a bun and put on my checkered coat if I ever want to look professional, but Nellie herself said that a dress is a great weapon in the hands of a woman if rightly applied. A weapon that men lack. If this dress gets me into places that will keep others out, then why not use it?”

“Then it is a weapon you use quite well, Miss Hill.”

She flashed him a smile. Before anything else might happen, the train once again began to slow. She coughed once and then stood up.

“This is our stop,” she said. “A lot shorter walk from here than you guys were in for before.”

The train came to its stop, the team following Claire out to the station. As they descended the steps to street level, Agent Hessman pulled Ben back for a quick word. “What’d you two talk about?”

“Not much,” Ben replied, “except it appears that Claire is a very perceptive young lady.”

“Then that could make her a possible threat.”

“Nonsense. There’s no way she could really guess. She still puts everything within her worldview of this time.”

“Just be careful.”

Once down on street level, Claire led the way.

“This way, as I remember,” she indicated. “Entrance is shaped like a pagoda. Can’t miss it.”

Agent Hessman marched in front to lead the pack. Agent Harris kept a wary eye on their surroundings as always, while Professor Stein could not stop marveling at the exciting new details of his surroundings, then caught himself as he remembered what Claire had observed about him.

Their walk was a short one, bringing them to an entry whose covering arch was indeed shaped like a pagoda. Agent Hessman immediately took charge.

“Everyone just follow my lead.”

He walked directly to the front and stopped. Beneath the pagoda arch, a trail of red carpeting led inside, to either side a row of waist-high vases holding tall stalks of white flowers. At the end, before the final entrance, stood a pair of stout-looking Japanese gentlemen dressed in samurai robes with swords sheathed at their belts.

“They don’t look too friendly,” Captain Beck remarked quietly. “What’s our cover story?”

“That’s what I’m trying to decide,” Agent Hessman agreed. “Ben, how friendly was‍—is the Japanese Society on drop-in tourists?”

Claire saw their predicament and let out a sigh as she stepped forward. “Getting into this place is important to your investigation?”

“Yes,” Agent Hessman replied, a little uncertainly.

“Then you follow my lead, and remember about my exclusive.”

Without another word, Claire adjusted her hat so the press card was facing directly forward, then walked straight up to the two guards.

“Claire Hill, reporter. I’m doing a story on local Japanese culture. Do you mind if I come in for a tour? Oh, and this is my crew.”

All it took was one smile, and one of the two men standing guard stepped inside for a word with his superior. A minute later they were being led inside.

Claire flashed a quick grin back at the group, to which Agent Hessman shrugged and led the way in behind her.