Close Your Eyes, Clear Your Heart, 4/? (Duke Devlin, #31)
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh!
Title: Close Your Eyes, Clear Your Heart, Chapter 3
Author/Artist: Lucky_Ladybug/insaneladybug
Theme(s): #31 - Cold (Bloody Destiny) [Written for both again. ^^; I like the added challenge.]
Pairing/Characters: Duke Devlin/Serenity Wheeler, David Tanaka (canonically unnamed manager from episode #46)
Rating: T/PG-13
Disclaimer/claimer (if needed): The characters are not mine and the story is!
Summary (if needed): The suits move in and Duke must think of a plan to get David and the amethyst out of the store.
Cross-posted to http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5852293/4/ and ladybug_tales.
Notes: Gomen ne, minna-san! This chapter had me puzzled and stalled until this morning. Suddenly I realized the solution was staring me in the face.
Chapter Three
Prompt: #31 at 30 Angsts - Cold (Bloody Destiny)
The storm Duke had predicted burst open that evening. The music of the rain pounding against the windows and the roof accompanied him while he was fixing dinner. But in spite of his best efforts, he was barely able to concentrate on staying in the present. He put the recipes together in an almost mechanical fashion, his thoughts wandering far from his modest kitchen.
David remembered weird things too. Duke was right; how could he believe himself to be insane any longer when he now knew that he was not the only one? But on the other hand, what could the explanation possibly be?
He frowned as he took the finished lasagna out of the oven. He had been going over it again and again in his head, never coming to any satisfactory conclusion. He should really try to take David’s advice and put it behind him. Yet at the same time, he was too disturbed to even try.
I mean, feeling like you’re having memories of someone being dead who isn’t dead is not something that happens every day, he thought to himself. How do you stop thinking about something like that?
And David’s descriptions of what he had felt driving past the cemetery creeped Duke out to no end. David himself must be feeling even worse about it. If Duke ever started getting the sensation that he had actually been dead and buried in the ground, he would be too freaked out to even sleep-no matter how much he denied being affected.
The sudden ring of the doorbell caused him to jump a mile. He came back to the present, shaking his head in disbelief. It was time to put all of these thoughts aside, at least for a few hours. Not only did he want to be a good host, he wanted to enjoy this time with Serenity and not be pestered by the fleeting ghosts of whatever nightmare world were tormenting him.
Crossing to the door, he smiled as he opened it. He always had been good at facades.
“Hey,” he greeted, seeing Serenity standing on the mat with a dripping umbrella. “You look beautiful tonight. Come on in.”
Serenity laughed a bit as she entered, depositing the umbrella by the door in a container that already contained another of the objects. “Well, I don’t know about that,” she said, shrugging off her coat and placing it on a hook. “The weather really gave me a time of it!”
“You didn’t walk over here, did you?” Duke said in surprise, shutting the door.
She shook her head. “I got a cab,” she said. “But the rain was coming down so strong that it took a long time to get here. I was afraid I’d be late!”
Duke glanced at the clock, which read 7:10. “You made good time,” he said. “I just finished getting everything ready.”
“Oh good,” Serenity smiled. “I’d hate for you to have to reheat everything.”
The meal was indeed enjoyable. Duke put on his most charming persona, visiting with Serenity without a hint of anxiety (he hoped). And she mentioned nothing about their awkward parting that afternoon. She appeared to be fully enjoying herself. By the time the food was consumed and the dishes were washed and they were sinking onto the couch in the living room, they were both relaxed.
“It’s cozy here,” Serenity commented as Duke placed an arm around her shoulders.
“That’s why I like it,” Duke said with a smooth smile.
She leaned back against the couch. “The girls at school wonder why you live here instead of in a house,” she said. “Or a mansion.”
“I always have to keep an air of mystery about me,” Duke smirked.
Serenity laughed. “And you do it well,” she said. Sobering, she added, “Even with people who aren’t just passing acquaintances.”
He tensed just slightly, but not enough that he thought it would be noticed. “Yeah?” he said.
She nodded. “Duke, I want to know,” she said, looking up at him. “Did I say something wrong this afternoon? You really did act upset.”
“You didn’t say anything wrong,” Duke reassured her.
His thoughts tumbled over each other. Should he tell her the truth? He did not like keeping things from her, especially when he had ended up telling David. For all he knew, maybe she was having weird memories too. Then again, he was sure he would know if something was amiss with her. She would not be able to hide her distress over remembrances like Duke’s and David’s, even if she tried.
“It looked like you were in pain,” she said now.
He looked away. “It just made me think of something crazy,” he said. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
She pushed herself away from the backrest, turning to face him better. “It bothered you,” she said. “Are you trying to fool me with more of your masks?”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “What makes you think I’m using a mask?” he said.
“Because you always do,” she returned. She reached up, taking his hand in both of hers. “I worry about you, Duke. Half the time I don’t know whether you’re in pain or not, because you hide it so well.”
“Why would I be in pain?” he said. “I have everything I could want-fame, fortune, a beautiful girl. . . .” He laid his other hand on top of hers, running it over her fingers. “There’s no reason for me to be in pain.”
She fell silent, just watching the movement of his hand. Her hair fell forward, concealing her expression.
“You keep throwing questions back at me,” she observed. “You’re not actually denying what I’m asking.”
He paused. “. . . I’m just wondering about this amethyst,” he said. Well, it was partially true. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of it. Those guys today meant business.”
She sighed. Somehow she did not think that had been the source of his reaction in the afternoon, but there was little she could do about it. He did not seem willing to talk about anything else. It was a miracle she had gotten this out of him.
“Did you call Officer Valesquez yet?” she said.
“Not yet,” he told her. “It was pretty busy today. I didn’t have the chance.”
She looked at him, trying to discern what he was thinking from his eyes. “Duke, you’re not really going to try to solve this on your own, are you?” she said.
“I said I wouldn’t,” Duke said.
“But you still aren’t crazy about bringing the police in on this,” she said. “You’re probably going to put it off as long as you can.”
“I just don’t know how close they’re watching me,” Duke said, a bit of frustration slipping into his voice. “If I make a wrong move, someone could get hurt.”
As if on cue, his phone rang. Frowning at it, he leaned across the couch and grabbed up the receiver. “Hello?” There were only a few people who knew his number. Would it be one of them calling? Or maybe a telemarketer? They always seemed to slip past his defenses against them.
“Duke, we’ve got a problem.”
He froze at David’s announcement. “What are you talking about?” he demanded. At his side, Serenity was now fixated on the phone, trying to hear the conversation.
“Those same suits showed up here at the store,” David told him. “They all but forced their way in while I was trying to close up. They showed me the half-million dollars and asked about the Star of Bennu. They acted like they thought maybe I had it and hadn’t told you.”
Duke’s eyes widened. In an instant the message on the scrap of business card flashed through his mind.
Try them both, if the first refuses. There’s a chance it could have been the other one.
They had been referring to him and David!
“What did you tell them?” he asked.
“I said I didn’t know what they were talking about,” David said. “I don’t think they believed me. One of them got kind of rough.”
“Are you okay?!” Duke exclaimed.
Serenity gasped. “Is someone hurt?!” she said in alarm.
“I’m fine,” David assured. “But they’re not giving up. There’s a dark car across the street that wasn’t there before. I’m sure it’s them.”
“They’re spying on you?” Duke slumped into the couch. This really was a problem. What were they going to do about this?
“I wondered if there might be more of them hanging out at your place,” David said. “Maybe even at mine, too.”
“There could be,” Duke frowned. “I’ll try to find out.”
“In any case, what are we going to do about this?” David asked, voicing Duke’s own thoughts.
“Right now, I don’t have any idea,” Duke said. “Look, I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Don’t leave the store until you hear from me again. Okay?”
“Sure. I’ll be waiting.”
Duke hung up, running a hand over his face. Before he could look up, he felt another, gentle hand on his shoulder. “Duke, what’s wrong?” Serenity asked. “Please tell me.”
He sighed, glancing over at the girl he loved. “There’s just more trouble because of that amethyst,” he said. “Those guys from this afternoon are watching David at the store. They might be watching other places too.”
“You mean here,” said Serenity, her voice quiet.
After a pause, Duke nodded. “Or David’s house,” he said.
Would they watch Serenity’s house too? The thought had just occurred to him. And the idea that his problems might put her in danger too made his stomach turn in knots. He could not let that happen.
Serenity swallowed hard. “What are we going to do?” she gasped.
Duke looked to her. “‘We’?” he repeated.
“Well, you don’t think I’m going to let you deal with this all by yourself,” Serenity said. “Anyway, this is happening during our time together, so there’s another reason why it affects me as well as you and David.”
Duke let out a sigh, rubbing at his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’d planned on a quiet night with just the two of us alone. But David’s trapped in the store until we figure out what to do. Now that these guys are closing in like this, I don’t like the thought of leaving the amethyst in the safe. But if David tries to leave carrying it in anything, even a briefcase, they’ll probably suspect.”
Serenity frowned, leaning back into the couch. “What if we could create a distraction?” she said. “And David could get away with it then.”
Duke blinked. “What kind of a distraction?” he asked.
Serenity gave a helpless shake of her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “But I’m sure we could think of something.”
“It would have to be natural enough that it wouldn’t look like a distraction,” Duke said. “Maybe I shouldn’t be involved at all, at least not where they could see.” A bit of a smirk crept over his features. “You know, it might actually work. Especially on a dark, rainy night like this.”
He stood, crossing to the entryway and taking down his own raincoat. Looking it over, he smirked more. “Yeah,” he mused. “I think it will.”
He glanced back to Serenity. “You gave me a great idea, Serenity,” he said. “A crazy one, but good. I’ll call David and fill him in. But first, I need you to call a cab and tell the driver to meet us on the street behind this one. We’ll sneak out the back way, while leaving the lights on to make it look like we’re still in here.”
Serenity looked at him in surprise. “Okay,” she said, reaching for the phone on the table.
Duke held up his cellphone. “Call on this,” he said, taking it over to her. “I didn’t think of this when I was on with David, but the home phone might be tapped. I wouldn’t put anything past these guys now.”
Serenity’s eyes widened. As she accepted the cellphone, her hands trembled.
****
Duke had considered all possible angles. In case the phone was tapped, those listening in would be expecting him to call David back on it. So, while Serenity went into the kitchen to call the cab, Duke called David on the home phone and told him only to finish closing up and then leave. Then, upon both of their calls ending, Duke took his cellphone from Serenity and dialed David’s cellphone.
“I want you to bring some stuff with you when you leave,” he said, keeping his voice low. He had to hope the apartment was not bugged, as if it was, the mysterious thugs would already know from his conversation with Serenity that they had the amethyst. But he spoke in an undertone anyway, while Serenity hastened to put on her raincoat and collect her umbrella.
“I wondered if you did,” David said. “But how will I do that?” He picked up on the words Duke was not saying. As he talked, he stepped out of his office and to Duke’s next-door.
“Serenity and I will take care of things outside,” Duke said. “Be ready at the back door. When you hear the screeching of brakes and angry yelling, run for it.”
David pulled the phone away from his ear, frowning at it. “You’re not going to do something dangerous, are you?” he said.
“With Serenity along? Of course I won’t,” Duke objected.
David sighed. “Okay, Duke. I’ll do what you say. I’ll find a way to keep the papers and files safe from the rain. But what if my car’s being watched? Someone could be right in it.”
“Or they could’ve put a tracking device on it,” Duke said. “When you get outside, stay in the shadows and make a break for the alley behind the Turtle Game Shop. We’ll meet you there.”
“Then what?” David returned. He crouched down by the safe, his free hand shaking as he worked the combination. This was dangerous stuff that they had suddenly got mixed up in. All things considered, he supposed it was a good thing that they had become aware of the amethyst. Otherwise, they would not even know why they were being stalked like this. Yet there were still so many things that remained unclear.
“Then . . . we’ll figure it out from there.” Duke glanced over his shoulder. “Serenity’s ready to go. We have to hurry and meet our cab. Take care of things on your end. And above everything else, be careful!”
“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of getting shot up like Swiss cheese tonight.” David ended the call, shoving the phone back in his pocket as the safe clicked. Pulling open the door, he reached for the items inside.
“This is going to be interesting,” he muttered, balancing the purple gem with care on top of the folders and important papers.
Duke also hung up the phone at his apartment, absently slipping it into his pants pocket. It was hard to ignore how shaken he was by David’s final choice of words in their conversation, but he was trying. David would not die. None of them would. The nightmare from whenever was not going to come true.
Drawing a stilted breath, he turned to look at Serenity. “Are you ready?” he said.
She nodded. “Are you okay, Duke?” she asked, worry in her hazel eyes.
Mentally he cursed himself. “Yeah,” he said aloud. “Everything’s going to be fine, Serenity. Don’t worry.” He smiled and opened the door, leading her into the quiet hall. Keeping hold of her hand, he led her down the corridor and to the back stairway.
Now, if he could just apply his words to his own mindset, he thought as they hurried down the steps. He was certainly worried.
The rain was still pounding down when he silently opened the back door of the apartment complex several moments later. He slipped outside, going first for safety’s sake before ushering Serenity out as well. As they hurried across the parking lot, Serenity glanced over her shoulder.
“I think there’s a car parked in front!” she gasped. “The streetlight is reflecting off of something dark and shiny.”
Duke gritted his teeth. “It’s nothing we weren’t expecting,” he said. “But there’d better not be a car out back too.”
He could not see anything suspicious in the lot, but he was not willing to take chances. Still holding Serenity’s hand, he led her along the rows of cars and through the back gate.
“Perfect timing,” he noted, seeing the yellow cab pulling up to the curb.
Serenity regarded the vehicle in relief as she and Duke hurried over. Duke opened the back door, letting Serenity enter before climbing in himself.
“Take us to the Turtle Game Shop,” he ordered. As he shut the door he continued, “There’s a car parked near it that shouldn’t be there. When we get to it, I want you to do something.” He passed an extra bill into the front of the cab while explaining his plan. The driver’s eyes went wide, staring at the proffered money.
“Have you got that?” Duke said at the conclusion.
“Yes sir!” The cabbie nodded, pocketing the extra gain. “I’ll do just what you say.”
Duke leaned back, satisfied. “Good.”
****
David was waiting near the back door of the Black Crown, briefcase in hand. His other hand was poised on the lightswitch, ready to extinguish the lights in the store when he heard the signal to leave. He was tense, his palms clammy as he shifted position.
What if something went wrong? What if Duke got hurt? What if he got hurt?
What if the weird feelings and memories he and Duke thought they were having were not of the past, but of the future?
He shifted again. No, that was ridiculous. He was not going to die. Duke wouldn’t, either.
He had always feared death, when he thought about it. Maybe that was one reason why he had tried his best to stay away from any potentially fatal situations. Even though he had been raised to believe in an afterlife, and he felt sure that he had not done anything so terrible in his life that would prevent him from going to the better one, he wanted to live.
The sound of squealing brakes interrupted his thoughts. He jumped a mile, tense as he listened to first one, then two, car doors slam. The lights were off in the next instant as he sprinted out into the cold rain. Pulling his coat close around him, he fled into the shadows.
The angry confrontation across the street wafted to his ears while he ran, even louder than the pounding drops from the heavens.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” That voice he recognized as the leader of the thugs.
“What am I doing?!” An outraged, unfamiliar voice. “I was minding my business, driving my cab down this street, and what do you think I see? Another car right in my path! But because it’s black, I almost ran into it on this crazy night! What kind of idiocy is going on here-parking a dark car like this and staying in it when it could get hit!”
“We’re at the curb! If you had any kind of driving skills, you wouldn’t have been going so fast in the rain!” The thug swore, spitting in the road.
That only enraged the cab driver further. “And you have no manners and no decency!” he exclaimed. “I’m sickened and revolted!” With that he stormed back into his cab and revved the engine, driving around his new adversary.
David smirked to himself as he hurried across the street. That was a good distraction, alright. Trust Dukey-boy to think of it. He dove into the shadow of the Turtle Game Shop as the cab sped past. Cursing, the thug got back in his car as well. Seeing the darkened Black Crown building, he stiffened in shock.
“He wasn’t expecting that one,” David mused. “But when they see my car’s still there, they’ll know something’s up.” He prayed Duke was waiting for him as he dashed into the alley.
A flashlight was shining in his face in the next moment. “Glad you could make it,” Duke’s smirking voice came to him then.
David turned his head, raising his free hand to shield his eyes. “Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to point those things at people?” he said.
Duke drew the light away. “Sorry. Did you get it?” he asked.
“That was the whole point of the mission, wasn’t it?” David said, holding up the briefcase. “But those guys will be coming after me any minute. I really hope you’ve got a way for us to get out of here.”
“Of course I do,” Duke said. “And here it comes.”
The cab stopped at the head of the alley, its headlights shining on the small group. It was only now, as Duke led them towards it, that David realized Serenity was there too.
“You’re quiet,” he said as he came alongside her.
She gave a weak smile wreathed in shadows. “I’m just worried,” she said. “These people scare me. But I’m glad you’re safe, David.”
Duke threw open the back door. “Come on, get inside!” he directed. “We have to get out of here before they catch on. We don’t want to put Yugi and Mr. Muto in danger, either!”
Serenity’s eyes widened. She scrambled into the cab, followed by Duke and then David, who shut the door. As the tires screeched and water flew in the air, the sound of another car starting met their ears.
Duke groaned. “Please don’t let that be the black car,” he said, casting his gaze to the roof of the cab.
“I don’t think that prayer is going to be answered with a Yes,” David remarked. Another vehicle’s headlights lit up the opposite end of the alley. As the cab backed the rest of the way out and began to turn, he caught a glimpse of the main thug leaning out the window.
“Come back here!” the man roared, shaking a fist.
“Well, now the charade is finally over,” Duke said, his tone dark. “He’s not going to play polite any longer.”
Serenity gripped his arm. “Duke, we’re in danger!” she said urgently. “We have to get to the police.”
“I agree with you, Serenity,” Duke said. “Right now I’m just wondering if we’ll make it that far.”
A bullet sailed past the left rear window.
“Holy Mackerel!” the cabbie said in horror. “What did you guys do to those people?”
“We haven’t done anything,” Duke said in irritation. “We’re the good guys here. Drive as fast as you can without breaking the speed limit and get us to the nearest police station! Now!”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” The driver sped away, another spray of water flying up in their wake.
Duke had to smirk when some of it hit the lead thug in the other, advancing car. Again shaking a fist, he swore and cursed at the lot of them.
“Stay low,” Duke directed. “Even though we’ve got rain hats, I’m sure he’ll know we’re the other ones in the car.”
Serenity nodded, ducking down under the window. Duke and David followed suit.
“I wish I could duck too,” the cabbie moaned as another bullet soared by the window.
Title: Close Your Eyes, Clear Your Heart, Chapter 3
Author/Artist: Lucky_Ladybug/insaneladybug
Theme(s): #31 - Cold (Bloody Destiny) [Written for both again. ^^; I like the added challenge.]
Pairing/Characters: Duke Devlin/Serenity Wheeler, David Tanaka (canonically unnamed manager from episode #46)
Rating: T/PG-13
Disclaimer/claimer (if needed): The characters are not mine and the story is!
Summary (if needed): The suits move in and Duke must think of a plan to get David and the amethyst out of the store.
Cross-posted to http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5852293/4/ and ladybug_tales.
Notes: Gomen ne, minna-san! This chapter had me puzzled and stalled until this morning. Suddenly I realized the solution was staring me in the face.
Chapter Three
Prompt: #31 at 30 Angsts - Cold (Bloody Destiny)
The storm Duke had predicted burst open that evening. The music of the rain pounding against the windows and the roof accompanied him while he was fixing dinner. But in spite of his best efforts, he was barely able to concentrate on staying in the present. He put the recipes together in an almost mechanical fashion, his thoughts wandering far from his modest kitchen.
David remembered weird things too. Duke was right; how could he believe himself to be insane any longer when he now knew that he was not the only one? But on the other hand, what could the explanation possibly be?
He frowned as he took the finished lasagna out of the oven. He had been going over it again and again in his head, never coming to any satisfactory conclusion. He should really try to take David’s advice and put it behind him. Yet at the same time, he was too disturbed to even try.
I mean, feeling like you’re having memories of someone being dead who isn’t dead is not something that happens every day, he thought to himself. How do you stop thinking about something like that?
And David’s descriptions of what he had felt driving past the cemetery creeped Duke out to no end. David himself must be feeling even worse about it. If Duke ever started getting the sensation that he had actually been dead and buried in the ground, he would be too freaked out to even sleep-no matter how much he denied being affected.
The sudden ring of the doorbell caused him to jump a mile. He came back to the present, shaking his head in disbelief. It was time to put all of these thoughts aside, at least for a few hours. Not only did he want to be a good host, he wanted to enjoy this time with Serenity and not be pestered by the fleeting ghosts of whatever nightmare world were tormenting him.
Crossing to the door, he smiled as he opened it. He always had been good at facades.
“Hey,” he greeted, seeing Serenity standing on the mat with a dripping umbrella. “You look beautiful tonight. Come on in.”
Serenity laughed a bit as she entered, depositing the umbrella by the door in a container that already contained another of the objects. “Well, I don’t know about that,” she said, shrugging off her coat and placing it on a hook. “The weather really gave me a time of it!”
“You didn’t walk over here, did you?” Duke said in surprise, shutting the door.
She shook her head. “I got a cab,” she said. “But the rain was coming down so strong that it took a long time to get here. I was afraid I’d be late!”
Duke glanced at the clock, which read 7:10. “You made good time,” he said. “I just finished getting everything ready.”
“Oh good,” Serenity smiled. “I’d hate for you to have to reheat everything.”
The meal was indeed enjoyable. Duke put on his most charming persona, visiting with Serenity without a hint of anxiety (he hoped). And she mentioned nothing about their awkward parting that afternoon. She appeared to be fully enjoying herself. By the time the food was consumed and the dishes were washed and they were sinking onto the couch in the living room, they were both relaxed.
“It’s cozy here,” Serenity commented as Duke placed an arm around her shoulders.
“That’s why I like it,” Duke said with a smooth smile.
She leaned back against the couch. “The girls at school wonder why you live here instead of in a house,” she said. “Or a mansion.”
“I always have to keep an air of mystery about me,” Duke smirked.
Serenity laughed. “And you do it well,” she said. Sobering, she added, “Even with people who aren’t just passing acquaintances.”
He tensed just slightly, but not enough that he thought it would be noticed. “Yeah?” he said.
She nodded. “Duke, I want to know,” she said, looking up at him. “Did I say something wrong this afternoon? You really did act upset.”
“You didn’t say anything wrong,” Duke reassured her.
His thoughts tumbled over each other. Should he tell her the truth? He did not like keeping things from her, especially when he had ended up telling David. For all he knew, maybe she was having weird memories too. Then again, he was sure he would know if something was amiss with her. She would not be able to hide her distress over remembrances like Duke’s and David’s, even if she tried.
“It looked like you were in pain,” she said now.
He looked away. “It just made me think of something crazy,” he said. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
She pushed herself away from the backrest, turning to face him better. “It bothered you,” she said. “Are you trying to fool me with more of your masks?”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “What makes you think I’m using a mask?” he said.
“Because you always do,” she returned. She reached up, taking his hand in both of hers. “I worry about you, Duke. Half the time I don’t know whether you’re in pain or not, because you hide it so well.”
“Why would I be in pain?” he said. “I have everything I could want-fame, fortune, a beautiful girl. . . .” He laid his other hand on top of hers, running it over her fingers. “There’s no reason for me to be in pain.”
She fell silent, just watching the movement of his hand. Her hair fell forward, concealing her expression.
“You keep throwing questions back at me,” she observed. “You’re not actually denying what I’m asking.”
He paused. “. . . I’m just wondering about this amethyst,” he said. Well, it was partially true. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of it. Those guys today meant business.”
She sighed. Somehow she did not think that had been the source of his reaction in the afternoon, but there was little she could do about it. He did not seem willing to talk about anything else. It was a miracle she had gotten this out of him.
“Did you call Officer Valesquez yet?” she said.
“Not yet,” he told her. “It was pretty busy today. I didn’t have the chance.”
She looked at him, trying to discern what he was thinking from his eyes. “Duke, you’re not really going to try to solve this on your own, are you?” she said.
“I said I wouldn’t,” Duke said.
“But you still aren’t crazy about bringing the police in on this,” she said. “You’re probably going to put it off as long as you can.”
“I just don’t know how close they’re watching me,” Duke said, a bit of frustration slipping into his voice. “If I make a wrong move, someone could get hurt.”
As if on cue, his phone rang. Frowning at it, he leaned across the couch and grabbed up the receiver. “Hello?” There were only a few people who knew his number. Would it be one of them calling? Or maybe a telemarketer? They always seemed to slip past his defenses against them.
“Duke, we’ve got a problem.”
He froze at David’s announcement. “What are you talking about?” he demanded. At his side, Serenity was now fixated on the phone, trying to hear the conversation.
“Those same suits showed up here at the store,” David told him. “They all but forced their way in while I was trying to close up. They showed me the half-million dollars and asked about the Star of Bennu. They acted like they thought maybe I had it and hadn’t told you.”
Duke’s eyes widened. In an instant the message on the scrap of business card flashed through his mind.
Try them both, if the first refuses. There’s a chance it could have been the other one.
They had been referring to him and David!
“What did you tell them?” he asked.
“I said I didn’t know what they were talking about,” David said. “I don’t think they believed me. One of them got kind of rough.”
“Are you okay?!” Duke exclaimed.
Serenity gasped. “Is someone hurt?!” she said in alarm.
“I’m fine,” David assured. “But they’re not giving up. There’s a dark car across the street that wasn’t there before. I’m sure it’s them.”
“They’re spying on you?” Duke slumped into the couch. This really was a problem. What were they going to do about this?
“I wondered if there might be more of them hanging out at your place,” David said. “Maybe even at mine, too.”
“There could be,” Duke frowned. “I’ll try to find out.”
“In any case, what are we going to do about this?” David asked, voicing Duke’s own thoughts.
“Right now, I don’t have any idea,” Duke said. “Look, I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Don’t leave the store until you hear from me again. Okay?”
“Sure. I’ll be waiting.”
Duke hung up, running a hand over his face. Before he could look up, he felt another, gentle hand on his shoulder. “Duke, what’s wrong?” Serenity asked. “Please tell me.”
He sighed, glancing over at the girl he loved. “There’s just more trouble because of that amethyst,” he said. “Those guys from this afternoon are watching David at the store. They might be watching other places too.”
“You mean here,” said Serenity, her voice quiet.
After a pause, Duke nodded. “Or David’s house,” he said.
Would they watch Serenity’s house too? The thought had just occurred to him. And the idea that his problems might put her in danger too made his stomach turn in knots. He could not let that happen.
Serenity swallowed hard. “What are we going to do?” she gasped.
Duke looked to her. “‘We’?” he repeated.
“Well, you don’t think I’m going to let you deal with this all by yourself,” Serenity said. “Anyway, this is happening during our time together, so there’s another reason why it affects me as well as you and David.”
Duke let out a sigh, rubbing at his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’d planned on a quiet night with just the two of us alone. But David’s trapped in the store until we figure out what to do. Now that these guys are closing in like this, I don’t like the thought of leaving the amethyst in the safe. But if David tries to leave carrying it in anything, even a briefcase, they’ll probably suspect.”
Serenity frowned, leaning back into the couch. “What if we could create a distraction?” she said. “And David could get away with it then.”
Duke blinked. “What kind of a distraction?” he asked.
Serenity gave a helpless shake of her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “But I’m sure we could think of something.”
“It would have to be natural enough that it wouldn’t look like a distraction,” Duke said. “Maybe I shouldn’t be involved at all, at least not where they could see.” A bit of a smirk crept over his features. “You know, it might actually work. Especially on a dark, rainy night like this.”
He stood, crossing to the entryway and taking down his own raincoat. Looking it over, he smirked more. “Yeah,” he mused. “I think it will.”
He glanced back to Serenity. “You gave me a great idea, Serenity,” he said. “A crazy one, but good. I’ll call David and fill him in. But first, I need you to call a cab and tell the driver to meet us on the street behind this one. We’ll sneak out the back way, while leaving the lights on to make it look like we’re still in here.”
Serenity looked at him in surprise. “Okay,” she said, reaching for the phone on the table.
Duke held up his cellphone. “Call on this,” he said, taking it over to her. “I didn’t think of this when I was on with David, but the home phone might be tapped. I wouldn’t put anything past these guys now.”
Serenity’s eyes widened. As she accepted the cellphone, her hands trembled.
****
Duke had considered all possible angles. In case the phone was tapped, those listening in would be expecting him to call David back on it. So, while Serenity went into the kitchen to call the cab, Duke called David on the home phone and told him only to finish closing up and then leave. Then, upon both of their calls ending, Duke took his cellphone from Serenity and dialed David’s cellphone.
“I want you to bring some stuff with you when you leave,” he said, keeping his voice low. He had to hope the apartment was not bugged, as if it was, the mysterious thugs would already know from his conversation with Serenity that they had the amethyst. But he spoke in an undertone anyway, while Serenity hastened to put on her raincoat and collect her umbrella.
“I wondered if you did,” David said. “But how will I do that?” He picked up on the words Duke was not saying. As he talked, he stepped out of his office and to Duke’s next-door.
“Serenity and I will take care of things outside,” Duke said. “Be ready at the back door. When you hear the screeching of brakes and angry yelling, run for it.”
David pulled the phone away from his ear, frowning at it. “You’re not going to do something dangerous, are you?” he said.
“With Serenity along? Of course I won’t,” Duke objected.
David sighed. “Okay, Duke. I’ll do what you say. I’ll find a way to keep the papers and files safe from the rain. But what if my car’s being watched? Someone could be right in it.”
“Or they could’ve put a tracking device on it,” Duke said. “When you get outside, stay in the shadows and make a break for the alley behind the Turtle Game Shop. We’ll meet you there.”
“Then what?” David returned. He crouched down by the safe, his free hand shaking as he worked the combination. This was dangerous stuff that they had suddenly got mixed up in. All things considered, he supposed it was a good thing that they had become aware of the amethyst. Otherwise, they would not even know why they were being stalked like this. Yet there were still so many things that remained unclear.
“Then . . . we’ll figure it out from there.” Duke glanced over his shoulder. “Serenity’s ready to go. We have to hurry and meet our cab. Take care of things on your end. And above everything else, be careful!”
“Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of getting shot up like Swiss cheese tonight.” David ended the call, shoving the phone back in his pocket as the safe clicked. Pulling open the door, he reached for the items inside.
“This is going to be interesting,” he muttered, balancing the purple gem with care on top of the folders and important papers.
Duke also hung up the phone at his apartment, absently slipping it into his pants pocket. It was hard to ignore how shaken he was by David’s final choice of words in their conversation, but he was trying. David would not die. None of them would. The nightmare from whenever was not going to come true.
Drawing a stilted breath, he turned to look at Serenity. “Are you ready?” he said.
She nodded. “Are you okay, Duke?” she asked, worry in her hazel eyes.
Mentally he cursed himself. “Yeah,” he said aloud. “Everything’s going to be fine, Serenity. Don’t worry.” He smiled and opened the door, leading her into the quiet hall. Keeping hold of her hand, he led her down the corridor and to the back stairway.
Now, if he could just apply his words to his own mindset, he thought as they hurried down the steps. He was certainly worried.
The rain was still pounding down when he silently opened the back door of the apartment complex several moments later. He slipped outside, going first for safety’s sake before ushering Serenity out as well. As they hurried across the parking lot, Serenity glanced over her shoulder.
“I think there’s a car parked in front!” she gasped. “The streetlight is reflecting off of something dark and shiny.”
Duke gritted his teeth. “It’s nothing we weren’t expecting,” he said. “But there’d better not be a car out back too.”
He could not see anything suspicious in the lot, but he was not willing to take chances. Still holding Serenity’s hand, he led her along the rows of cars and through the back gate.
“Perfect timing,” he noted, seeing the yellow cab pulling up to the curb.
Serenity regarded the vehicle in relief as she and Duke hurried over. Duke opened the back door, letting Serenity enter before climbing in himself.
“Take us to the Turtle Game Shop,” he ordered. As he shut the door he continued, “There’s a car parked near it that shouldn’t be there. When we get to it, I want you to do something.” He passed an extra bill into the front of the cab while explaining his plan. The driver’s eyes went wide, staring at the proffered money.
“Have you got that?” Duke said at the conclusion.
“Yes sir!” The cabbie nodded, pocketing the extra gain. “I’ll do just what you say.”
Duke leaned back, satisfied. “Good.”
****
David was waiting near the back door of the Black Crown, briefcase in hand. His other hand was poised on the lightswitch, ready to extinguish the lights in the store when he heard the signal to leave. He was tense, his palms clammy as he shifted position.
What if something went wrong? What if Duke got hurt? What if he got hurt?
What if the weird feelings and memories he and Duke thought they were having were not of the past, but of the future?
He shifted again. No, that was ridiculous. He was not going to die. Duke wouldn’t, either.
He had always feared death, when he thought about it. Maybe that was one reason why he had tried his best to stay away from any potentially fatal situations. Even though he had been raised to believe in an afterlife, and he felt sure that he had not done anything so terrible in his life that would prevent him from going to the better one, he wanted to live.
The sound of squealing brakes interrupted his thoughts. He jumped a mile, tense as he listened to first one, then two, car doors slam. The lights were off in the next instant as he sprinted out into the cold rain. Pulling his coat close around him, he fled into the shadows.
The angry confrontation across the street wafted to his ears while he ran, even louder than the pounding drops from the heavens.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” That voice he recognized as the leader of the thugs.
“What am I doing?!” An outraged, unfamiliar voice. “I was minding my business, driving my cab down this street, and what do you think I see? Another car right in my path! But because it’s black, I almost ran into it on this crazy night! What kind of idiocy is going on here-parking a dark car like this and staying in it when it could get hit!”
“We’re at the curb! If you had any kind of driving skills, you wouldn’t have been going so fast in the rain!” The thug swore, spitting in the road.
That only enraged the cab driver further. “And you have no manners and no decency!” he exclaimed. “I’m sickened and revolted!” With that he stormed back into his cab and revved the engine, driving around his new adversary.
David smirked to himself as he hurried across the street. That was a good distraction, alright. Trust Dukey-boy to think of it. He dove into the shadow of the Turtle Game Shop as the cab sped past. Cursing, the thug got back in his car as well. Seeing the darkened Black Crown building, he stiffened in shock.
“He wasn’t expecting that one,” David mused. “But when they see my car’s still there, they’ll know something’s up.” He prayed Duke was waiting for him as he dashed into the alley.
A flashlight was shining in his face in the next moment. “Glad you could make it,” Duke’s smirking voice came to him then.
David turned his head, raising his free hand to shield his eyes. “Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to point those things at people?” he said.
Duke drew the light away. “Sorry. Did you get it?” he asked.
“That was the whole point of the mission, wasn’t it?” David said, holding up the briefcase. “But those guys will be coming after me any minute. I really hope you’ve got a way for us to get out of here.”
“Of course I do,” Duke said. “And here it comes.”
The cab stopped at the head of the alley, its headlights shining on the small group. It was only now, as Duke led them towards it, that David realized Serenity was there too.
“You’re quiet,” he said as he came alongside her.
She gave a weak smile wreathed in shadows. “I’m just worried,” she said. “These people scare me. But I’m glad you’re safe, David.”
Duke threw open the back door. “Come on, get inside!” he directed. “We have to get out of here before they catch on. We don’t want to put Yugi and Mr. Muto in danger, either!”
Serenity’s eyes widened. She scrambled into the cab, followed by Duke and then David, who shut the door. As the tires screeched and water flew in the air, the sound of another car starting met their ears.
Duke groaned. “Please don’t let that be the black car,” he said, casting his gaze to the roof of the cab.
“I don’t think that prayer is going to be answered with a Yes,” David remarked. Another vehicle’s headlights lit up the opposite end of the alley. As the cab backed the rest of the way out and began to turn, he caught a glimpse of the main thug leaning out the window.
“Come back here!” the man roared, shaking a fist.
“Well, now the charade is finally over,” Duke said, his tone dark. “He’s not going to play polite any longer.”
Serenity gripped his arm. “Duke, we’re in danger!” she said urgently. “We have to get to the police.”
“I agree with you, Serenity,” Duke said. “Right now I’m just wondering if we’ll make it that far.”
A bullet sailed past the left rear window.
“Holy Mackerel!” the cabbie said in horror. “What did you guys do to those people?”
“We haven’t done anything,” Duke said in irritation. “We’re the good guys here. Drive as fast as you can without breaking the speed limit and get us to the nearest police station! Now!”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” The driver sped away, another spray of water flying up in their wake.
Duke had to smirk when some of it hit the lead thug in the other, advancing car. Again shaking a fist, he swore and cursed at the lot of them.
“Stay low,” Duke directed. “Even though we’ve got rain hats, I’m sure he’ll know we’re the other ones in the car.”
Serenity nodded, ducking down under the window. Duke and David followed suit.
“I wish I could duck too,” the cabbie moaned as another bullet soared by the window.