Author's
Note: "Choices In Time" is a sequel to "A Time For Love".
It is recommended if the reader is not familiar with the storyline and characters
therein it would be beneficial to read the first installment. This piece has
been renamed from it's former title "Choices". Please let me know
what you think. I enjoy any feedback from you readers!
Choices In Time
by Jeanette © 2001
"What?!" Jimmy shouted into the cool night air. The same shocked expression marred his face as it had his best friend upon hearing that their old friend Lewis was in their very midsts. They found refuge by the stern of the boat, the huge wheel now stilled in the dark night their only other companion.
"What are we going to do? He knows who we are AND what we are. There is no way we'll be able to pull this off with Lewis around," Lou said worriedly.
"Let's not panic," Kid sought to ease their concern. "This may not be such a bad thing."
"Hello Kid...this is Lewis we're speaking of!" she retorted.
"Listen...Lewis is our friend right? If we cut him in on the deal, he's got the connection we need. He's got free reign of the ship, can go anywhere he pleases without questions. If we tell him what we're really in New Orleans for, he can help us find the coin we need and the final clue to the gold."
Jimmy shook his head adamantly. "No way. Lewis? A partner?"
"It makes perfect sense Jimmy...besides, we don't have a choice anymore."
"Kid's right Jimmy. He already knows we're here. He's gonna wonder what we're up to knowing how pushy he is. I put him off for a night but he wants us to get together for breakfast tomorrow."
"What did you tell him?"
"I said yes." Jimmy looked at her perplexed. "What was I supposed to say? He is afterall OUR friend! He would've gotten suspicious if I hadn't."
"Alright I see your point," Jimmy regressed. "So we have breakfast with Lewis tomorrow and tell him, by the way...we're on a treasure hunt...and your boss has the next clue to the gold...care to join us?" Jimmy's voice riddled with sarcasm.
"Wait a minute!" Lou interrupted, grabbing hold of Jimmy's forearm. The two boys flashed their attention at her, the tone she spoke with, piking their curiosity.
"Lewis said he was working for Carson temporarily...that, that there was some secret assignment he was hired for..."
"What're you hitting at?" frowned Kid.
"It all makes sense now!"
"What?" they both asked.
"Lewis said that the payoff was huge and he couldn't really speak on it when I asked him what he was up to. I think Lewis knows about the gold and if he knows that means that Carson Moore does too." Louise's eyes fell from one face to the next. The realization was grim. If Moore knew of the gold, now they knew it was a matter of wits and cunning to keep Moore in the dark for as long as possible and get to the gold first. Lewis had now become not just an irritation, but the most important component in their search.
"So what're we going to do? This makes everything ten times more difficult," stated Kid.
Jimmy looked to Kid. "Nothing's gonna stop us from getting to that money...it's our destiny and a promise I aim to keep."
"Okay so we clue Lewis in but how do we know he will help us, how do we know we can trust him?"
"We're gonna have to. We have no choice." Jimmy's stern reply came flying forth with power.
True, they couldn't afford mistakes, and not calculating a run in with Lewis was a bigger mistake they had obviously overlooked. Still, they were in this together and before anything would be final, one more person had to be consulted. "Well we can't make a decision without Victoria. Where is she by the way?" Jimmy asked.
"I don't know...I haven't seen her since we split up," Louise noted.
"Let's get to it and find her...we need to head back to the hotel and figure out what the hell we're going to do." The three friends agreed and walked back into the bustling casino. They separated once more whisking off to find Victoria.
Victoria's heart raced with such fervor, her body felt as if it were on the verge of explosion itself. It couldn't have been a better evening if she'd planned it so herself. Lady Luck indeed had her hand upon them tonight.
The tour of the Southern Belle had borne much to the eye and to the mind. Luxuries beyond compare, unlike anything she'd previously seen on such a vessel. The furniture alone made her gasp in awe, not to mention the fineries of the huge scale dining area and lavishly decorated cabins. Victoria couldn't help to express her appreciation for the class of the vessel as well as the detailed eye of its owner.
Though she was taken by the surroundings, her mission had not been forgotten. Perusing along with the handsome owner, Victoria kept an attentive eye to any sign that would give the slightest hint of the clue playing over and over like a broken record in her head. She smiled along and commented on this and that, listening with as much attention possible under the circumstances. Realizing that this was or probably could well be their only opportunity to tour the vessel unquestioned, she hoped on finding something to help them locate the coveted coin.
Victoria thanked the dashing Mr. Moore at the end of the tour seeking to keep her own excitement under a tight lid. She had to hurry and find her friends before she screamed into the night. Carson charged that he would be honored to meet the man who had won the graces of such a lady as herself, but having been called to take care of a debt in the casino, regretted that the meeting would have to take place at another opportune time. The invitation to the cruise was left open as he extended it once again and hoped they would accept.
And so they parted ways amicably on the condition that they would all come to tour the vessel together; herself, Miss Louise and their two beaus. Victoria jumped at the golden opportunity with lady-like sensibilities and with a much reserved manner.
It didn't take long to find the three, having gathered at the bar speaking of matters unknown to her but even the looks on their faces couldn't dampen her excitement. Whatever the matter was she knew it wouldn't make a difference once she broke the news.
"Victoria! Where have you been?!" Louise asked in a tone that showed little pleasure.
"Oh never mind that! I've got the best news ever!" Her giddy response floated a little louder than she would've liked but at once she urged them all to a private place to talk.
Back to the stern they gathered and looked at her big, wide eyes as she said, "I found it!"
A three ring chorus of murmurs surrounded her as they turned to each other inquiring, "What? What did you find? This is crazy, what is she talking about?"
"Will you all shut up and listen! I said, I found it...IT being the painting...It's a painting hanging in Carson Moore's office. It's here!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure Jimmy. I saw it. The woman, the well, everything...is on that painting. I was standing in the very room where the next clue is." Victoria's eyes beamed, "We are one step closer to the gold!"
There was a lack of the excitement she was hoping from them. She frowned, studying pensive faces that looked none too glad. "Did I miss something?"
"Come on Vic..." Jimmy said, grabbing her by the hand. "We have to go."
"But...but..." Victoria walked along, being pulled by Jimmy, asking all the obvious questions coming to mind. What was the matter? Why were they leaving? What was going on? Why the big hurry?, so on and so forth, while Lou and Kid kept an attentive eye.
"We'll explain everything once we get to the hotel. Right now be better get out of here." Kid told her, calming her and quelching the line of questions she'd shot at them from their thirty second walk to fetch their coats.
"Okay, we're here...safe, sound, away from all listening ears!" she blurted, visibly frustrated. Even on their walk back to the hotel neither would answer her questions. The only thing she kept hearing was wait, wait, wait. Now, she'd waited and wanted answers.
"Now what is going on?!" she cried out, tossing her shawl on the bed.
"There's an unexpected problem you could say." started Kid.
"What?"
"Lewis is here."
"Lewis?" she asked puzzled.
"Yes, remember we told you about Lewis. He's the one that Teaspoon had to protect because he was a witness to a murder and the very man who brought a living hell into our lives," Louise snickered.
"But I thought he was a friend."
Jimmy nodded as he leaned against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. "He is. That's the problem. He is here in New Orleans and worst, he's working for Carson Moore."
Victoria let the news slowly sink in. "How is this a bad thing?" Her look showed puzzlement. "If he's a friend, then we have an insider that can help us."
"No...not so fast," interrupted Kid as he straddled the chair from the table. "Here is the problem. Lewis knows we're not who we're pretending to be. If he blows our cover, there's no way we'd even come close to getting into the Southern Belle again."
"And besides, he told me he's working on some big secret assignment for Moore, which gave him a big payoff, which means he can very well know about the gold."
"But you're not sure," Victoria immediately added.
Lou shifted from her seat on the bed. "Well...from all he said, I think he knows about it."
"But you are not sure," she pointed out again.
Lou assumed her conclusion. It all fit perfectly but she wasn't sure. Afterall, Lewis had never given a definite answer. "She's got a point," Lou sighed. "Everything Lewis said made me think he knew about the gold but now that I think about it, I could be jumping to the wrong conclusions."
"But then again maybe you aren't," Kid noted.
"Kid's right. We can't assume Lewis doesn't know anything. If he does, we have to weigh what we're going to do...cut him in or keep him at bay. If he doesn't then the better off we are," Jimmy said.
Kid rose from his seat. "Well we'll know tomorrow for sure. We'll have breakfast with Lewis, find out what we need to know. Then, we'll take things from there."
"We're having breakfast with him...and you want to wait until when to discuss this?" Victoria frowned.
"We can discuss it now if it'll make you sleep better Vic," Jimmy frowned quite annoyed.
"Yes it will as a matter of fact."
"Fine by me," Lou sighed.
"Since obviously this is a committee we all need to be on the same page before tomorrow. So what are we going to do?"
Jimmy was right. This was a committe and as it was true with all such arrangements, not everyone agreed first hand on how to go about things. Suggestions were given and reasons followed as to why such an idea would serve no good. It seemed that hours passed on faster than a blowing wind until finally, as the clock struck two in the morning, a plan was in order which suited all to satisfaction.
Tomorrow would be a very
important day. Careful steps needed to be taken and no one would take anything
for granted. Lewis was a blind ace and if they played their cards right, he
was the most valuable pawn in their possession.
Back to The Reading Room Continiuos Stories