Chapter 10
Charlie McKay had just hung up with Patrice. He had apologized for being late for lunch and promised to meet her for dinner. It had been three thirty in the morning by the time he got back to Kate’s apartment, now his. He didn’t know how he was going to afford living there by himself, so he would need a roommate to share expenses.
He had depended on his older sister all his life, ever since Maggie and Sean McKay died when the train they were traveling in had derailed. They had just left New York City and were on their way down to Florida to look for a place that they could retire to. They weren’t the only ones, twenty other people died with them.
At least Kate was older by than and had just started her job at CRG. She was young, only twenty seven years old. Charlie had just turned twenty-two and was studying to become an actor. He worked on and off at whatever he could get to help Kate with the expenses. When she started going out with Stuart, she paid for expenses while he worked on his “projects�, the time portal being one of them.
He had gone to what Kate always called “actor camp,� a workshop which was always held at the Bear Mountain Inn and had come back to find Leopold, whom he thought was a fellow actor. He had lost his sister to him a week later, but had gained a new friend, one Amber Coulter from the New York of 2030. He had meant to ask if she was related in any way to his mother’s side of the family. He never got the chance because Amber became involved with J.J. when he had come to the door looking for Kate. She had told her old boss that Kate had traveled a long way to visit distant relatives and she was probably not coming back anytime soon, although this had been a disappointment to Charlie because he not only missed his sister, but Leo as well. This seemed to satisfy J.J. as well as her taking over Kate’s job temporarily.
However, when Charlie had seen her that morning, she had clued him in on one thing, that whatever he was to do the rest of the day, he shouldn’t miss the audition that was to start at 2:30 today. Amber had told him that this was the turning point in his life, even if he didn’t get the job that he had come in for. That’s all she would tell him, she said she couldn’t ruin the space time continuum, he had to see for himself
So Charlie was excited as he dressed for audition and for his dinner with Patrice.
As he was about to leave, a knock came on the door.
Charlie opened it and frowned. Two men in suits were standing in the doorway of the apartment.
“May I help either of you?� Charlie asked, trying to make light of the situation.
“Are you Mr. Charles McKay?� asked the shorter of the two men.
Charlie brightened up at that. “That’s me,â€Â? he said, “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Can we see some ID?� the taller one spoke this time.
“Look, what’s this all about?â€Â? Charlie asked, a little angrily as he took out his wallet from his pant’s pocket. He took out his driver’s license and handed it to the taller one.
He took it and looked at Charlie, then at the license, then back again. He handed it to the shorter one, who just looked at the picture, nodded and handed it back to Charlie.
Then the shorter one flashed an identification badge.
Charlie was getting nervous as he put his driver’s license back in his wallet.
“I am Detective Philip Garner of the NYPD and this is Mr. Lester Stovall, president of the Bank of New York,� the shorter of the two said. “And this,� he said, introducing a third man, “is Mr. Barney Seagraves of the law firm, Seagraves and Seagraves.�
Charlie looked from one to the other and back again. “And what does all this have to do with me?�
“Well,� Detective Garner piped up. “We have a letter here from 1876 addressed to a Mr. Charles McKay,� He smiled and handed Charlie the letter. “We also have a key to a safe deposit box, which Mr. Stovall is handing out to you. There are contents in there for your eyes only, Mr. McKay.�
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. He took the keys dangling from Lester Stovall’s hand.
“This box was opened especially for you, Mr. McKay.”
When Charlie didn’t answer, the detective continued. “Mr. Seagraves is here to take a signed affidavit that you received both the key and the letter. I am here to make sure you do that.�
Charlie was excited now. “Do you have any idea what’s in the box?� he said, signing the piece of paper that Seagraves handed him. He handed it back.
Garner shook his head. “Have no clue, Mr. McKay. It was opened for you in your name. Whatever is in there belongs to you.� Seagraves looked down at the signature. Satisfied, he put the paper in his pocket.
“Well, we should be off now,� the detective said. “If you need any assistance while you’re at the bank, don’t hesitate to ask for Mr. Stovall.�
Charlie looked up at him and smiled. “Of course I will and thank you very much for stopping by.�
Charlie watched as the three of them made their way down the hall, then closed the door. He stared at the letter dated April 29, 1876 and looked at his watch. It was late, just a little after two o’clock. He didn’t have to go far, but he should leave or else he would miss the audition.
He left the letter on the kitchen table, took one last look in the mirror and opened the door and left.
Chapter 11
Kate folded the letter, put on the sealing wax and stamped it with the Montbattan initial. If it had worked in Back to the Future, it would probably work in this situation, she thought as she picked up the letter. She turned it over and wrote Charlie’s name on the front. She just wanted to let everyone know back in the year 2001 that she was fine.
Now if she could only get it out the door without anyone seeing.
She opened up the bedroom door and looked around. The hallway was quiet except for the hustle and bustle of the maids and servants. Kate closed the door and started down the steps. She was still wearing the beautiful nightgown that Kathleen, her new personal maid, had left on her bed.
She had made it to the bottom and looked around again before she opened it. She walked out in her bare feet to the tall mailbox marked “Letters� and put it into the box. She wanted to pick it up later when the two of them went out for a short walk sometime in the afternoon With that done, she headed into the house where Otis was waiting for her.
“You are invited into the dining room for a wonderful handmade breakfast, milady.� Otis held out his arm and Kate smiled and put her own arm through his. “Thank you, Otis,� she said simply and once again, Otis felt a tingling sensation go through him. She wasn’t like anyone that he had ever met before.
“And please, feel free to call me Kate,� she said, smiling at him.
Otis smiled back. “You will still have to meet Leopold’s Uncle Millard. That has been postponed to 2 pm this afternoon.�
“Postponed?� Kate asked.
“By Leopold, who wanted to surprise you,� Leopold’s voice called from the kitchen. “Sit down, Kate. I made breakfast especially for you.�
Chapter 12
“Known about what?� Stuart said, taking the last bite out of his sandwich, he was listening intently now.
“Known that Grandfather would be that way,� Amber said, shaking her head, “but I held out, hoping that he would change.�
Stuart looked at her, intrigued. “When and how did you find your first time portal?�
Amber smiled. “Believe it or not, the first one was to 2001, to your time, Stuart. I came by it accidentally. I was running away from Grandfather again and walked out onto the girder, but I wasn’t so careful and I fell forward into the water. I came up and I hadn’t realized what century it was or if indeed, it was a different one. You were still in the hospital then, after falling down the elevator shaft. I walked to the apartment house where you, Kate and Charlie lived and looked around. I actually wanted to see if it was still the same, Stuart.�
“And was it?�
Amber shook her head. “It looks so much better in this time period. Where you live in the future is the poorest section in town, Stuart. I know you can’t imagine it, but it’s true. The most desirable place to live in my time is the Bronx.�
Stuart smiled and shook his head. “You’re right, Amber. I can’t believe it. What a switch.�
“I found some papers that had floated down from the roof, they were calculations, Stuart. At first, I didn’t know what they were, but I picked them up and studied them, when I arrived back in my own time.�
“By finding those papers, you’ve already altered the future,� Stuart said.
Amber looked at him. “I guess I never realized that. I thought that if I found those papers and returned without disturbing anything, the future would still be the same.�
“You found all those portals, Amber,� Stuart whispered, looking at her in amazement. “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking.�
Amber smiled. “I’m twenty eight years old, Stuart. I will be born November 26 in the year 2002.�
Chapter 13
Charlie ran all the way home. He had never been so happy in his whole life. He had gotten the part, finally.
All right, so this one was small, but it was a pivotal role. The entire film centered on his character and he only had three lines to utter.
He was so excited that he almost missed the lock entirely when he stuck the key into it. He had to tell Amber that she had been right, but why shouldn’t she. She was from the future and she knew what would happen. He looked at his watch and noticed that the time was 4:30 pm, but he knew that she would be doing Kate’s job temporarily. All she had was an hour left and then she’d be back and he could share the letter with her and Stuart and then…
Oh, damn! He had forgotten all about Patrice. She was meeting him at that restaurant, the one the where he and Leopold walked into while Kate was sitting having dinner with J.J.
Well, he just had to get ready and started for his bedroom when something hit him. Kate’s letter, he thought, I forgot about Kate’s letter. He ran back into the dining room, to the table where he had left it.
And, he thought as he picked up the letter, there’s more.
Dear Charlie, the letter began.
Remember Back to the Future 3 when Doc Brown wrote his letter in 1885 and sent it to Marty McFly in 1955? Well, I wondered if it would work in this situation. Unfortunately, there is no way I will find out, I just assume that it will.
Anyway, I needed to tell you and Stuart that I arrived a little before midnight and a little later than I arrived the first time. Otis let me in after I explained to him that Leopold had invited me and I hesitated to come at first, but I needed to tell him something of importance. When he asked what it was, it all came spilling out, the fact that I lived in New York and that we had met a few days ago. He fell in love with me quickly and I just didn’t know how to handle that. When Leopold left me, I realized that I loved him and needed him, which is why I came here to see him. He smiled and let me in.
Please apologize to J.J. and explain that I was not ready to be the new VP of CRG Janssen and I hope he can find my replacement quickly.
Must go, I hear footsteps and I will have to get rid of this letter quickly before someone sees me. I will write more, I promise.
All my love,
Kate