Chapter 2
Saturday June 30th, 1928, Los Angeles, California
Near the Los Angeles Athletic Club and Hotel
"Ugh!"
Jeff scowled as he slowly climbed off the pile of trash he'd landed in and brushed some refuse off his pants. He was slightly disoriented and tried to remember why he was here. City noises could be heard coming from the entrance of the alley he'd landed in, reminding Jeff of home. All at once he remembered fighting with Drake and looked around for his foe, as well as his best friend.
"Bogg?"
To his right was a short flight of stairs leading down to the basement of the large brick building at the back end of the alley and he shuddered as he realized just how close he'd come to landing there.
Phineas had landed hard, about fifteen yards away from his partner on a stack of cardboard boxes and was hidden from view of his friend. A shadow crossed his path, and as Bogg rolled off the boxes he was hit on the back of his head by a metal trash can lid.
Hearing the clang of metal against a solid object, Jeff spun around toward the back end of the alley and watched in stunned silence as Bogg staggered and turned to face his attacker only to be grabbed by his vest while the man slammed his fist into his ribs. Phineas tried to defend himself against the attack but was still disoriented and dizzy from the blow to his head. His assailant wore a malicious smile as he struck his foe hard with a swift uppercut to the jaw.
"Bogg!"
The teen ran to his aid as Bogg crumbled in a heap and Jeff grabbed the attacker by the back of the shirt, spun the man around and punched him in the jaw. Drake staggered back a few steps and then came at him with a wicked left hook. Jeff ducked the blow and while still bent over, slugged his nemesis in the stomach. Drake retaliated by grabbing Jeff by the shoulders and kneeing him in the chest, followed quickly by a double-fisted blow to the middle of his back. He watched in satisfaction as the young man keeled over like a felled tree. He paced between the two Voyagers and taunted Jeff who was gasping for air.
"The mighty Phineas Bogg and valiant Jeffrey Jones, once again thwarted in their efforts to capture the renegade Voyager Drake." He made a clicking noise with his tongue and then kicked Jeff in the side as he tried to get up. "When will you learn that you can not beat me?"
He knelt down beside the younger man and grabbed a fistful of dark, curly hair and pulled Jeff's head back, causing them to look eye to eye.
"Garth and the others are petty, weak fools to think that anyone can stop me. I, who studied under the great Niccolò Machiavelli himself; I who like my master suffered the humiliating torture of being hung by my writs for hours with my arms bound behind my back because the Spanish dogs and the Medici thought we were anti-Medici conspirators. They called us traitors!"
He spat after naming each group, his hatred for them hotter than for the two men in front of him. "Let's see how long you last, hung by your wrists."
Drake shoved Jeff back to the ground and pinned him down with his knee in the center of his back. He then grabbed Jeff's wrists and pulled the teens arms behind his back and forced them upward toward his head as he applied pressure with his knee. As Jeff cried out in pain his captor gloated over him.
"You see? Not a very comfortable position to be in, is it my young Mr. Jones?"
The renegade Voyager took great pleasure in torturing Jeff, and described to him in detail his harrowing ordeal with Machiavelli back in 1513. As Jeff was forced to listen to and experience Drake's pain, there was some small, still rational part of his brain that realized that this is what made Drake the man he was. But the moment he had the thought, it was gone once more, replaced by searing pain from muscles screaming for relief.
"Please," he gasped, trying not to pass out from the beating his body could no longer endure. "Let me… go."
The laugh that came from the man above him was dark and malicious, and it actually frightened Jeff. "You know, I spoke those very words to that Spanish bastard Fernando. Do you know what he did? He grabbed my legs and pulled down on them, and then laughed as I screamed when my shoulders dislocated."
As he described the scene, he forced Jeff's arms up further and Jeff yelled loudly. But before Drake could do anything else to his captive, there was another scream from the entrance of the alley. Drake looked up to see a young woman running toward him followed closely by a young man who easily caught her and slammed her against the cold brick wall of the building about twenty-five yards away.
"Now, my pretty li'l diver, let's see whot your baving suit covers up, eh?"
As he pulled on her blouse to expose her, the young woman screamed again and her attacker quickly covered her mouth, but she had been heard. In the distance, the occupants of the alley heard an enraged yell.
"Get your hands off my girl, you hooligan!"
Drake decided it was time to leave and knelt beside Jeff. "Don't think for a moment that I'm through with either one of you," he snarled in Jeff's ear. "I will have my revenge on you both. Count on it."
He stood up and saw a group of people round the corner into the alley. The man leading the charge looked every inch the part of a circus strong-man, and Drake vanished before he could be seen.
"Coach, help me!"
The panicked cry cut through Jeff's senses and he struggled to sit up to see what was going on. The attacker dragged the young woman with him down the alley, right toward Jeff and Phineas. Without a second thought for himself, Jeff gathered what little strength he had left and tackled them as they passed. The young woman shrieked as she fell and watched the two men as they hit the ground in a rolling heap of arms and legs.
They tumbled into the wall at the end of the alley and the stranger's head slammed against the wall with a satisfying thud. Huh, Jeff thought as he sat pinning the stranger's legs down, Mrs. Smith was right. Onomatopoeia really does imitate the sound it represents. Head hitting the wall goes 'thud'. The absurdity of the thought brought a smile to his face. Guess I did learn something in third grade after all.
The adrenaline rush that allowed him to jump the woman's attacker was ebbing fast away and his arms once more felt leaden and painful. Then he realized that Drake was gone and there was no one else there to explain how he and Bogg were injured. He needed to come up with a story. Fast.
Keeping as firm a grip as he could on his captive, Jeff turned his attention back to the trembling young woman who was now sitting on an overturned trash can. His heart went out to the terrified woman and if he didn't have to sit on the cretin who attacked her, he'd go to her side and hold her, comfort her.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't see the girl's rescuers arrive. He was jolted back to reality by a pair of very large hands grabbing his shirt and lifting him straight off the ground and then shoving him against the cold, unforgiving wall.
"I'll teach you and your low-life hooligan friends to attack women…"
The blow landed to Jeff's midsection before he could lift his arms to defend himself. He gasped loudly and coughed, trying not to throw up from the pain. He knew a second punch was coming but heard a young voice to his right, begging for his release.
"Coach, he saved me from that hoodlum. Coach please!" Georgia grabbed his arm before he could hit the young man again. "It was Buddy, Coach. The guy who's been watching diving practice..." She took a shuddering breath as she pointed to the man still on the ground. "Buddy's the one who…"
Coach Fred Cady glared at the young man he was holding and then turned his attention to the hapless fellow on the ground to his left. With a growl that would frighten Al Capone, he released Jeff and stormed over to the would-be rapist and grabbed him the same way he'd had Jeff.
"Buddy Doyle, you're gonna rue the day you were born!"
As Jeff's feet touched the ground, two pairs of gentle hands tried to support him.
"Don't let him fall, Clara!"
"I won't, Georgia. Betty, put his arm over your shoulder…"
"Ease him down, Clara. Slowly..."
Jeff allowed them to help him to the ground as he tried to regain his senses. The girls kept up a steady stream of concerned chatter and that same small, rational part of his brain registered their care and tried valiantly to make the rest of his body aware of it. It wasn't until a very young female voice cried out that he forced himself to surface from the fog.
"Coach, I found someone and he's hurt bad!"
Jeff tried to stand but Betty put her hand on his chest. "Don't get up, I'll take care of it. Georgia, come over here beside him."
"Gotta help… Bogg…" his voice was barely above a whisper, but there was fear and urgency that carried more power than volume. Georgia saw in his eyes the same fear she felt when Buddy grabbed her and she took hold of his hand.
"Did Buddy attack you guys, too?"
He felt bad for lying about it, but he nodded his head. "Yeah."
There was a flurry of activity as more people came down the alley, and Jeff couldn't keep track of what was going on, other than the fact that Georgia stayed right by his side almost the entire time.
Georgia was able to convince the police that the two men they'd found were attacked by Buddy before he'd gone after her, and after the roughing up he'd received at the coach's hands Buddy was ready to admit to just about anything. The team doctor briefly examined Phineas and ordered him to be taken to the coach's suite, an idea the coach didn't like too well. But when he saw Georgia look at the young man who rescued her, his heart softened just a bit, even though he still thought the two men might have had something to do with his diver being attacked.
-0-
While Dr. Walsh made sure that Georgia was okay, Jeff and Phineas were taken to Coach Cady's room. Once he was satisfied that she was not injured, he went over to check on the men, under the coach's watchful eye. Georgia followed him to the room and sat in the living room with Jeff and Betty while Dr. Walsh examined Phineas.
Even though he was in a considerable amount of pain Jeff had insisted his uncle be looked at first, and Georgia's heart melted with compassion for her wounded rescuer. He kept pacing the room, and watched the closed door to the bedroom with anxious eyes. After almost ten minutes of this the sixteen year old diver looked over at Betty, who was nine years her senior, turning on her undeniable charm.
"Betty, would you please tell Coach that Jeff needs to see his uncle? I'm afraid he's going to wear a hole in the carpet if he keeps pacing like that."
The older diver harrumphed and shook her head. "Nuh uh. No way. Coach is as mad as a hornet about what Buddy tried to do to you, and I'm still not entirely sure he doesn't think Jeff and his uncle were involved in your attack. Why do you think he left me with the two of you?"
The younger diver had to smile and nod her head in the face of that glaring truth. The first time Buddy Doyle snuck into the girls locker room to 'catch 'imself a little peek', it was Betty who grabbed the young man and held him in a vice grip until the security guard got there to escort him off the premises. And the only thing slightly less scary than an angry Coach Cady was an angry Elizabeth Becker.
"Oh Applesauce, Betty. You can stand up to Coach! I've seen you do it. Now will you please go tell him that Jeff needs to see his uncle, and the doctor for that matter?"
Just for good measure, she turned on the smile that she was becoming well known for, besides her diving, and Betty relented. Having been sixteen once, and smitten with her fair share of handsome young men, Betty knew Georgia wanted to talk to Jeff alone.
Betty shook her head and smiled. "I'll be right back."
When Georgia smiled, it was like the sun peeking through the clouds, burning off the fog in Jeff's pain-numbed brain. His entire body ached deeply, but it lessened whenever he looked into Georgia's eyes.
The rational part of his brain laughed at him, You're such a sap, Jeff. Get a grip!
Once Betty turned toward the bedroom Georgia sighed and let her true emotions come to the surface. Her smile was gone but there was deep respect and admiration in her eyes as she looked into Jeff's dark and slightly confused eyes. She wrapped both of her hands around his as the tears formed but refused to fall.
"I just wanted to, to thank you for what you did for me."
Her voice was shaking and Jeff could see her fear coming back with vicious strength. He put his free hand on top of hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I couldn't let him hurt you, no matter how badly I'd been hurt." He avoided saying who had hurt him but allowed her to still think it had been Buddy.
Georgia tried to speak but she couldn't keep up the facade any longer and started to cry, letting Jeff take her in his arms. The protectiveness he'd felt for her down in the alley intensified, and for the first time in his life, he started to understand how and why Bogg did what he did. He didn't even really know this young woman, but he already knew he would do anything to protect her from harm.
-0-
Phineas became aware of his surroundings slowly. He ached all over and felt like his head had been stuffed with cotton. Something was touching him and he tried to swat it away but his arms only twitched in response. There was a buzzing sound in his ears and he tried to wade through the cotton in his head to get to the lower part of consciousness, but it was difficult.
Dr. Walsh noticed that his patient was coming around and glanced over at Coach Cady. "You'd better go get the boy. Things will go better if he's in here."
Fred Cady glared at the young doctor with distrust. "I'll not have those hooligans in here collaborating on their stories," he growled in what the girls called his 'angry coach voice.' "It's bad enough that my girls are out there alone with that young ruffian…"
The young doctor shook his head. He had been with the team when they found Georgia and he heard her defend the young man who was in the other room. Buddy Doyle had been known to harass the male and female divers at the Athletic Club and Dr. Walsh had patched up men's diver Mickey Riley after he got in a scrape with Buddy, so he knew the young Irishman was capable of holding his own in a fight. He was also strong enough to do the kind of damage the man before him suffered. But the arrogance of Coach Cady had worn thin, and though Dr. Walsh was merely twenty-five and fresh out of medical school that was no reason to question his judgment. He knew his authority was once again being questioned simply because of his age, and he'd finally had enough.
"Mister Cady." The doctor's tone was ice cold and his green eyes blazed in emerald flames. He purposely did not use the title 'coach', and it had the desired affect- the coach's undivided, though angry attention.
"Let me first point out that malcontents like Buddy are not in the habit of rescuing victims, but are more likely to work together to 'share the spoils,' as it were. So I'm quite confident that these two men are not in cahoots with him but were simply victims like Georgia."
Coach Cady glared hotly at the younger man. "You're 'quite confidant', are you? You young whipper-snapper! What do you know-"
"Ah, yes," Dr. Walsh's voice rose above the coach's until the older man was quiet, "You are now going to remind me that you are at least eighteen years my senior, so what do I know of life? Well, I wish to remind you that I have completed four years of college and four years of medical school. Though I am looked down upon and snubbed for my age and 'lack of experience', I daresay that the Head Team Doctor would not be pleased that his hand picked, personal choice for this medical team was questioned in any way, for any reason, or under any circumstances. Have I made my position perfectly clear Sir?"
The title was said with equal amounts of respect and distain, as one might speak to an equal who you were forced to respect out of propriety, but in reality felt they were beneath you. The doctor's eyes blazed with a determination the coach had not seen in any individual in quite some time, and Fred Cady stared hard at the young man, sizing him up. Dr. Walsh held his gaze and ever-so-slightly inclined his head with an arched eyebrow, and the coach cracked. He smiled the devilish smile his divers loved, and he stuck out his hand.
"Bravo and well said sir! As many of my divers will tell you, I do need to be put in my place on occasion. And today was one of those occasions. Though I'm still not as trusting of these two as you youngsters seem to be, but I will go and fetch the young man…"
Betty knocked on the door and both men said, "Come in!"
"Coach, Doctor," Betty addressed both men and blushed as the handsome doctor smiled in response. "Um, Jeff wants to see his uncle right away, and I think he's hurt more than he's letting on…"
While the men were talking Phineas was finally able to clear his head. He heard the tone in the coach's voice, and the not-so-veiled threat as well, and then heard a woman say Jeffrey was hurt. He wasn't sure who they were or what was going on, but he knew he had to somehow protect Jeff so he forced his eyes open and tried to sit up. Unfortunately his mild concussion caused him instant and dizzying pain and he gasped, startling the trio in the room.
Dr. Walsh put a reassuring hand on the man's chest, but he became agitated. Coach Fred Cady took hold of Phineas' hand and gripped it while speaking in a firm but kind voice. "It's alright young man. Easy does it." He glanced at the doctor and then turned to Betty. "Go get the boy. Now."
-0-
Georgia had finally convinced Jeff to sit down, but within a minute or so, they heard someone cry out in pain, and the distinct voice of the coach ordering Betty to get Jeff. Georgia helped him off the couch and they nearly collided with Betty as she was coming out the door. Georgia pulled her friend out the door and shoved Jeff in with one fluid motion, but kept a hold of Betty's hand and stood in the doorway and watched Jeff calm his uncle.
"Bogg, it's okay. I'm right here! We're safe now."
Jeff went to his friend and forced him to lie still. Once Phineas saw Jeffrey, he relaxed somewhat, but was still agitated as he glanced at Fred. Coach Cady stepped back and let Jeff talk to his uncle.
"Just relax, Bogg. It's okay. We're with friends. Don't try to get up you'll-"
Bogg clutched his head and gasped in pain as he fell back onto the pillows again and Jeff just shook his head. "I think that creep may have given you a concussion when he attacked you in the alley."
Jeff's tone of voice cut through the pain and Phineas realized he was getting their 'cover story.' He also noted that Jeff didn't identify his attacker as Drake.
"Oh... right. He jumped me and then..."
"Don't worry yourself about it now, son," Fred cut in. "The police have that young rapscallion in custody, thanks in part to this young man beside you."
The doctor, Betty and Georgia all looked at the coach in shock. Fred Cady was known for his temper and for being man enough to admit when he was wrong. He winked at Dr. Walsh as he continued. "You should be very proud of your nephew, Mr. Bogg. He's a brave young man. Now, you just lay back and rest while our team doctor takes a look at Jeffrey."
The others noted his use of Jeff's first name and knew that these two were now under the coach's protection, and Georgia smiled.
Phineas looked at Jeff, confused. "Team doctor?"
Jeff smiled, "Yeah, the US Olympic team doctor. Georgia's on the diving team."
"Alright ladies," the coach said in his I-mean-business voice. "Let's leave these two to Dr. Walsh. I'll order dinner up here and we'll eat when the doctor is done. Head on back to your room now and rest."
He walked over to Georgia and put his hands on both her shoulders, his expression both tender and fiercely protective. "And you, young lady…"
Georgia wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him tightly. Coach didn't like to show how deeply he cared, and she knew this attack today scared all of them, but possibly him most of all and she couldn't stand to see the tears in his eyes. She smiled as he hugged her just as tightly and tried hard to not cry herself.
"C'mon squirt," Betty said as she gently pried the two apart. "I'm sure the other girls are dying to find out what exactly happened and how you're doing. Let's head back to our room and we'll leave the boys alone."
-0-
Back in the diver's room, Betty and Georgia were peppered with questions from the other three divers about Jeff and his uncle and just exactly what had happened. Georgia glossed over how Buddy got her separated from the group and then chased her out of the club and down the alley, choosing to focus instead on her knight in shining armor.
Thirteen year old Dorothy clutched the arm of her 'diving-momma', Clarita, and the twenty-two year old stroked her hair as she gently rocked back and forth on the settee with her young protégée.
"I told you Buddy was a lounge lizard," Dorothy said, eyes wide with fear. "He gives me the heebie-jeebies!"
Helen nodded in agreement as she sat down next to Georgia. "Why do you think Mickey got into that fight with him? Mickey was protecting us, that's for sure. When the boys get back from their meet, you're gonna be the center of attention once again, Miss Georgia."
"Maybe," Georgia conceded. She looked a little apprehensive, but then smiled as she brought up her new favorite subject. "But I think Jeff is keen. Isn't he just the cat's meow?"
It was obvious to the three older divers that she didn't want to talk about the attack, and Betty had told the others how Georgia was carrying a torch for Jeff, so this statement sent them into a fit of giggles.
"Oh Georgie," Betty said as she caught her breath. "Yes, he is the cat's meow, but I really think he's the bee's knees."
"Elizabeth Becker," Georgia feigned shock, "He's much too young for you."
Betty was glad to see the playful spark in the sixteen year olds eyes and laughed. "I'm only twenty-five for heaven's sake!"
"Well, I'm sixteen, and he's seventeen. You're too old for him and you can't have him."
"And I suppose you can?" Clarita shook her head as the laughter continued. "Georgie, my 'little sister,' you and that smile of yours are going to get us in trouble! First you flirt with Mickey and the guys diving team, then Bobby from the bakery, and now this guy? When we get to Amsterdam for the Olympics, you'll be known as the Diving Flapper if you keep this up."
Georgia's face went white. Buddy had called her a flapper, which was a huge insult to the sixteen year old. He told her all about places in Amsterdam "good girls like 'er" wouldn't go but flappers would and then described what he would do to her there. He'd said, "You're a flapper, missy. You 'an your short blond hair and your big smile leadin' da men on. Men like me know what t'do wif a girl like you."
Georgia stood up quickly, crossing the room to the window and looked at the cars passing below. Her parents were coming to visit this evening before the team left on the first leg of their journey the following Friday and she knew it was now or never. Her daddy would protect her and no one would ever call her a flapper again. Even if it meant giving up on her dream.
"I'm not going to Amsterdam."
-0-
While the girls were talking, Dr. Walsh finished examining Phineas and then checked out Jeff as well.
"They're tough young men Coach, and will just be sore for a while," Dr. Walsh said as he finished checking Jeff's sternum and ribs. "Buddy gave the two of you quite a beating."
"Yes sir," Jeff nodded. The young Voyager had answered most questions the doctor and coach asked the two newcomers, which was made easier by the fact that Phineas had fallen asleep. Coach Cady told them all about Buddy Doyle and how he had harassed the male and female diving teams, so Jeff had no problem making them believe he had attacked them as well.
"That young hooligan needs to be taught a lesson, and I'm just the man to do it," the coach growled and flexed his massive biceps. He reminded Jeff of a shorter, yet older version of David Prowse, and looked every bit the part of a strong man from a 1920's circus- complete with the short, waxed handlebar moustache. This was one man Jeff never wanted to cross. Ever.
As he put his shirt back on, Jeff asked casually, "So, when can my uncle and I leave? We don't want to impose-"
"Nonsense, m'boy," Coach Cady said jovially. "You're no inconvenience at all! We have plenty of room for the two of you, and having you stay with us is the least I can do to repay your kindness. No, don't argue. It's already been decided," he said as he raised his hand to silent the boy's protest.
Dr. Walsh nodded in agreement. "I recommend you both rest for a day or two before traveling again. Your uncle's concussion isn't bad but I don't want him traveling quite yet. I'll check back again on Monday and see how he's doing. And you, young man will be rather sore for several days. Don't be surprised to see some solid bruising where his knee hit you, and make sure to stretch out your arms, but carefully. You should be more comfortable by Monday or Tuesday."
"Thank you, Dr. Walsh. Now young man," Coah Cady turned to Jeff. "you get in bed and I'll have them bring up some food."
There was no arguing with the coach, so Jeff climbed into the second bed in the room. He had to admit, it was pretty comfortable and after the beating he took, it felt good to relax.
"Thanks again, Doc. For everything," Fred said as he walked the doctor to the door. "And I do mean everything."
The twinkle in the irascible coach's eyes held deep respect, and Dr. Walsh smiled as he gripped the coach's hand in a firm shake. "You, sir, are most welcome. Good evening to you."
As the doctor started to walk down the hallway, the door to the girl's room flew open and he was nearly knocked over by Clarita.
"Oh! Dr. Walsh I'm so sorry. Excuse me…"
Before he could ask what was wrong, she was pounding on Coach Cady's door. "Coach, open up, please!"
"Clare… what's wrong, my girl?" Fred swung open the door and she nearly tumbled in. The noise brought Jeff in and he stood beside the coach.
"It's Georgie. She's refusing to go to Amsterdam. She says she won't dive!"
-0-
"Georgia, wait… please?" Jeff called out to her from the elevator.
She glanced back at Jeff and then ran into her mother's open arms. She said something to her father and he stepped protectively in front of the two women, adjusted his fedora and glared at the young man, who now stood about ten feet away.
Drake sat in a large red velvet wingback chair across the lobby and watched in amusement from behind a newspaper as Jeff tried to explain to Mr. Coleman that he wasn't a threat to his daughter, and was clearly getting nowhere with the man. A moment later, Coach Fred Cady burst from the second elevator followed closely by the rest of the women's diving team. Phineas exited last, moving very carefully.
"Oh, this should be interesting," Drake muttered as he watched the unfolding drama. The coach got into an animated discussion with Mr. Coleman, pointing to Jeff and Phineas and miming a fight. Meanwhile Mrs. Coleman had her arm around her daughter and watched them apprehensively, glancing at the other divers and the dark haired young man from time to time.
The front desk agent watched the exchange, hand on phone ready to call the manager at a moments notice. A few employees observed quietly as they passed through the lobby, but knew better than to interfere, especially when Fred Cady was involved.
After a few tense minutes, it appeared that the coach had made his point and Georgia was once again part of the Olympic diving team.
"Georgie-Porgie, you listen to 'ole Fred Cady. You are an amazing diver, and I promise you, this is a decision you won't regret. I see a gold medal in your future, my dear. You're gonna be the 'big cheese' around here in no time!"
The divers ran to Georgia and enveloped her in a group hug while Mr. Coleman firmly shook Jeff's hand. Mrs. Coleman was dabbing her eyes with her kerchief and then warmly embraced the young man who had saved her daughter's life.
The lively chatter of the girls filled the lobby and Drake watched as Bogg and Jeff separated themselves from the group for a private chat. He smiled darkly as his nemesis took his omni off his belt and opened it up, knowing that he would be greeted with darkness. Jeffrey was agitated, raising his arms and gesturing with his hands, pointing first to Georgia, then her parents and the team in obvious frustration.
"Tsk, tsk tsk. Poor boy can't tell if they've got a red light or a green light. What a pity." Taking his own omni out of his pocket, he opened it up and saw the bright green light shining back at him; he had managed to disable that irritating happy little 'ding!' sound years ago. "It seems our little trip with my omni and its open time calibration has made your sad, ancient little tinker toy malfunction yet again."
Phineas said something that had a calming effect on his friend and smiled that annoyingly gracious smile Drake had come to despise. After Jeff nodded, Bogg patted him on the shoulder and moved back toward the group of girls who had now been joined by the boys diving team. Betty took Phineas by the hand and led him over to the group, but not before he was able to glance back at Jeff with a wink and a smile.
"Oh how droll," Dante Drake sneered. "Now I'm sure they'll all start talking about diving and Mr. Perfect Pike will just have to show them how good he is… pathetic! Oh, but wait. What's this?"
He sat up with interest as Jeff walked over to Georgia and he put his arm around her. Even from across the room their feelings for each other were evident and Drake's eyes narrowed as they walked toward the elevators.
"Now this could be interesting. Yes, very interesting indeed."
-0-
Later that night as Phineas worked on the omni, Jeff was finally able to fill him in on what had happened after leaving Tanzania and what he had learned from Drake about his time with Machiavelli. Listening to Jeff describe what Drake did to him, Phineas felt both sick and proud at the same time. Pride in that Jeff withstood the attack from both Drake and Coach, giving him a new appreciation for his young friend. But the fact that he wasn't able to defend Jeff irritated him to no end.
"By the way," Jeff said as he sat down on the bed, "what's with this whole Dante thing anyway? I thought his first name was Drake."
Phineas smiled and gave a soft chuckle, the most he could do with his sore ribs and moderate headache. "Nah. I started calling him Drake in Academy because he was so pompous about his name: Dante Ebenezer Drake." Phineas' eyes twinkled in amusement at his partners shocked expression.
"I thought 'Dante' was bad enough, but Ebenezer? You're joking."
Phineas looked up from the omni with a smile. "Nope. 'Da Geezer Ebenezer' is what most of us in Academy called him at some point or another. Seemed to fit him, even then."
"No kidding," Jeff chortled. "He could certainly give Scrooge a run for his money! So, what's wrong with the 'ol omni thistime?" He walked back over to his friend and peered over Bogg's shoulder, staring at the flickering red light and dark globe.
"I wish I knew kid," he sighed heavily and rubbed a hand across his eyes. "I still can't quite see straight thanks to the concussion Geezer gave me. But as near as I can figure, Drake's omni must have been triggered before mine. But mine was set for VHQ, so that should have over-ridden anything he'd set his for…"
"I told youwe should have upgraded your stupid omni the last time they offered. Damn it!" Jeff picked up a pillow off the settee and threw it across the room. "This is just great. He's out there in the great wide somewhere while we're stuck here with no clue as to what we're supposed to be doing, or if we've even got a red light. What the hell are we supposed to do, huh?"
Bogg looked up at his friend and said sternly, "Stay calm for starters, kid. And don't shout, you're giving me a headache."
Jeff completely ignored the playful tone in Bogg's voice; in fact it just mad him madder. "Stay calm? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to protect her if I don't know what the hell's going on? I'm outta here."
"Jeff, come back here. Jeffrey!"
The hotel room door slammed in response and Phineas winced as his head started to throb again. He fought the urge to swipe the omni parts off the desk and across the room and just sighed instead.
"Next on the list of things to talk about," he said quietly, "How to control your temper."
He stood up slowly and stared at the door as a flash of memory ran through his brain, causing him to flush with guilt and some understanding. He looked up to the ceiling, eyes pleading that his words were accepted.
"I get it now, Mom. And I'm sorry for everything I ever did between the ages of twelve and seventeen."
He sat down on the bed and then added, "Oh, and by the way. Your um, grandchild is indeed paying me back for everything I put you through. With interest."