4

Lunch had long passed and James West was way past waiting; a ripe mixture of boredom and lull had become a concoction of anxiousness, with a growing dash of fear just bubbling underneath the surface. Gordon was seated at the desk in the parlor, engrossed within the pages of the latest and most updated Service Equipment Manual. It had always been a passion of Artie's; Innovation and imagination, the game of puzzle-piecing the most practical, functional, and valuable tools into stealthy, concealable, and yet, readily accessible when needed.

Gordon had submitted a few devices for review by the Science Department of the Service and he was eager to see if they had accepted his ideas. For the last six months Gordon had, in his spare time, taken an idea and from blueprint to model, made three, separate functioning, and working versions. All three born from one idea, Artie had over-achieved as usual, and the result was his 'door-stop'. The first type consisted of a small metal-alloy doorjamb that was activated by the pressure from an opening door; a spike would to dig into the floor as far as an inch, if the door were solid it would never be opened. Gordon elaborated the wedge by creating one that emitted a foaming cloud of sleeping-gas when tripped, and last version housed a small but highly-concentrated explosive, just enough to stun and disable an intruder. West chuckled to himself as he remembered the day their manservant Tennyson had stumbled into a sleeping-gas wedge that Artie supposedly 'forgotten' to remove from the door leading into the parlor-West, Gordon and two breath-taking sisters they had an engagement with that night, came upon his unconscious body, sprawled, with his head resting on his serving tray, sleeping on the floor. Although Tennyson was angry and did not speak to Artie for a week, it was he who suggested that Gordon send in his ideas. After all the times Tennyson had bumbled into Artie's experiments, Jim knew that Tennyson felt that Artemus would never truly harm him and felt it an honor to help in any capacity. Tennyson was like that. Both Jim and Artie felt that he was a valuable part of the team and hoped that Tennyson realized it.

"Ah-ha!" Artie stood, slapping the page with the back of his hand, "They're going to start producing and utilizing all the 'door-stop' devices in the field."

"Congratulations Artie," West jumped on the opportunity and sat up from the sofa, turning to his partner, "Let's celebrate," he hurriedly snatched his jacket that was draped over the arm of the couch and preceded to put it on, "I know the perfect place; the scotch is old and the ladies are young…"

"James," Artie inched a word in, "why don't we let Inspector Hudson and the Chicago Police continue their search," he sat the book upon the table, "I don't feel that you should be exposing yourself while Loveless and his goons whereabouts are still unknown."

"You know Artie," West approached and threw his arm over Gordon's shoulder, "I hadn't even thought about the Doctor," he said behind a small yet devilish grin, "probably because I'll be with the great inventor and part-time guardian angel, Artemus Gordon." West plopped Artie's hat upon his head.

Artie shot a disapproving gaze at Jim, "Drinks are on you."

**********

The adventurous duo had left Tennyson in charge of the Wanderer and took a cab into the city. Dusk was only moments away and the summer night promised to be a warm one, very few clouds hovered in the sky and the wind had shifted earlier pushing the coolness of Lake Michigan away from the town. Gordon and West found themselves at the Robin's Roost, one of the nicer taverns in the area that both men often frequented in the past whenever they had a chance to be in Chicago. True to his word, West had bought their libations and they found a table in the corner away from the piano player, but not far enough to loose the lively melodies the musician was pounding out.

West raised his glass in a toast, "To my good friend, Artemus. Brilliant as he is charming."

Their glasses met in salute and while they sipped their Scotches Artemus thanked West and he took another drink supposing, "Do you ever think that someday our luck will run out and all this danger will catch up with us?"

"We can't afford to think that way."

Gordon shifted in his seat, "I have the feeling that we are being watched, I sensed it the moment we left the train."

West motioned for the barkeep to bring two more, "That's from years of experience, Artie, I feel it too."

"Well this time it feels different," Gordon stated matter-of-factly, "more ominous."

"I definitely think there's one thing we've overlooked," West leaned in Gordon's direction, Artie turned a concerned ear, "Cigars…We forgot cigars," West spun from his seat, "There's a tobacconist across the street, you wait for our drinks."

And before Gordon could protest West was halfway out the door and into the street.

Gordon realized that his friend was not going to talk about it and with that, he sat back and finished his drink.

**********

He had successfully avoided discussing what they were both experiencing, the dreadful specter of doom that had attached itself to them earlier that morning was growing stronger and stronger, even though West was doing his best to keep it at bay.

Here was a chance to comb the area, retrace his steps from the night before and maybe discover when and where he had picked up his three barbershop assailants.

Traffic was thick as people were returning from work; the sidewalks bustled with individuals weaving their pathways in every direction, taxis and wagons loudly lumbered over the stone-paved street with bells and whistles announcing their presence.

James made sure he scanned the area indiscreetly as he made his way through the crowd; he thought he caught sight of one of the attackers near an adjacent alleyway, but when he checked again the alley was empty. He stopped at the curb to let some wagons by; he paid little attention to the group of children playing on the steps of the apartment building behind him. If he had, he would have noticed one of the children, one that seemed oddly different than the others, begin to slowly approach him from behind.