“Yes, we just need a ride,” she said.

  The driver scratched his chin.

  “I don’t want no trouble,” he said.

  While Dr. Jackson was talking to the driver, Kasia got in the back seat.

  “What are you doing?” Rahim asked.

  “Get in! Unless you feel like going back to that attic!” Kasia said. Rahim looked over his shoulder. The three hooded robots were maybe fifty feet away.

  He climbed in the back seat. Dr. Jackson ran around to the passenger side and climbed in the car.

  “Hey, wait a minute! I said I don’t want no trouble!” the driver said.

  One of the hooded figures had reached the car. He gripped the handle.

  Rahim locked the door.

  The robot pulled on it. When it didn’t open, he pulled again.

  This time he ripped the door off the frame. Over the sound of torn metal, Kasia started yelling at the driver. “Too late!” she said. “You got trouble. Now drive!!”

  The driver slammed the gas pedal to the floor and ran through the red light. A panel truck with a pineapple sign on the side missed slamming into the car by a few inches. The robot stood in the intersection holding the car door and flanked by his two associates. The three tried to run around the panel truck, but then a car came barreling through the intersection. All three hooded figures jumped straight up in the air and let the car pass under their feet. When they landed, the one holding the car door tossed it onto the sidewalk. They scanned the area. Rahim and Kasia and Dr. Jackson were long gone.

  “They lost them,” Rashad said. He tapped the screen on the tablet he was holding.

  Kenta put her hands over her face.

  “We still have the phone. They’ll need it if they want to go home.”

  13

  The driver dropped them off at Dr. Jackson’s hotel. A man came running up to her when they entered the lobby.

  “Evelyn! Oh my God, I thought I’d lost you!” he said as he hugged Dr. Jackson. She hugged him back.

  “Oh, Nat. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be right here.”

  “One cop said you’d probably just run off. I told him that you love me and my sweet potato pie recipe too much to ever do that. Where were you, honey? What happened, and more importantly, are you okay?” Nat said.

  “I’m fine, darling. Thanks to these two brave and brilliant young people. Rahim, Kasia, I’d like you to meet my husband, Nat Jackson. He’s an economist. And as you heard, he makes one mean sweet potato pie.”

  “Well, I can’t thank either of you enough. But, Evelyn, where were you?” Nat asked again.

  “I think we should all go up to the room to talk about that,” Dr. Jackson said.

  * * *

  The room was a suite, but to Rahim it looked like a house. It wasn’t as big as the mansion, but it was plenty big, with a kitchen, a couch, a chair, and a balcony that overlooked the ocean. The sun was beginning to set as Dr. Jackson explained everything to her husband.

  When she was done, he stared straight ahead with one finger on his lips. Kasia came out of the kitchen area with a banana and sat next to Rahim on the couch. She nudged him and offered him a bite, but he shook his head. She nudged him again. “You need to eat,” she whispered. He shook his head again. He didn’t have much of an appetite. That was unusual, but these were unusual times.

  “Well,” Nat said. “It seems to me that those people who kidnapped you are very dangerous. But it also seems like there is a lot more going on than meets the eye. You two being connected to Evelyn’s work and ending up finding her and saving her, and all this talk about your … what did you call them?”

  “Future selves,” Rahim said.

  “Yes. Your future selves. And you can’t contact them without your phone, which is still in that mansion?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Now, according to your theories, us just having this conversation may have changed all our futures. And yet you say you were able to correct everything. Is that right, young man?”

  Rahim looked at Kasia. Kasia looked at what was left of her banana.

  “Yes, sir, I guess that’s right,” Rahim said.

  Nat got up and stood next to Dr. Jackson, who was sitting in the chair near the balcony. He put his hand on her shoulder.

  “I think the first thing we need to do is get that phone back. You say it’s totally cordless and it’s the size of a deck of cards? Fascinating, just fascinating. I can’t help but think what impact that kind of device will have on our economy and society at large. People won’t have to sit in their homes or office to have a meeting? Can you just imagine? Sorry, that’s the economist in me talking.”

  Nat patted Dr. Jackson on the arm.

  “I don’t know if the police would be much help, but I suppose that should be our first move. What do you think, dear?” Nat asked.

  Dr. Jackson was looking down at her hands. Rahim thought she was counting on her fingers.

  “Sorry,” she said. “That’s a nervous tic I have. As we said earlier, I don’t believe in coincidences. These two individuals taking me hostage, taking your phone, and then abducting you two is all obviously connected. Now, you children said that in the future, far into the future, I help perfect a process for time travel and teleportation that you hack into to make your phone work. Yes?”

  Kasia nodded.

  Dr. Jackson stood and walked over to the couch where Rahim and Kasia were sitting. She sat down next to them.

  “But let’s back up,” she said. “Let’s say, theoretically, I’m never able to make time travel work. What would that mean?”

  Kasia spoke calmly, like she was speaking to someone she knew would understand her. It was the tone she used when she was relaxed around Rahim. He liked it. “If you’re not able to untangle the problems posed by the Philadelphia Experiment, then the theoretical basis for time travel is never clear. If it’s not clear, I don’t invent the phone. If I don’t invent the phone, Rahim never goes back in time. Our future selves would not have access to time-travel tech. Basically we wouldn’t be here.”

  “Exactly. It seems that what you’ve just described is what Rashad and Kenta want to accomplish. Keeping me in the attic means, in one sense, that you two would never end up there as well. What I think we should try to deduce is why.”

  “Well, they lied about the rock,” Rahim mumbled.

  “What?” Dr. Jackson asked.

  “Our future selves. They told me I had to come back here and get a volcanic rock, but when I went home without it, they acted like they hadn’t cared about it in the first place. That seemed weird.”

  “You still on that rock?” Kasia said. “We both know the things we do have an effect on the timeline. You not bringing the rock back set off a cascade of events that changed the mission. I mean, you did stop a Black man from becoming president.”

  “A Black man did what now?” Nat asked.

  Rahim shook his head. “That’s why it’s bugging me so much that they stopped caring about it.”

  “You gotta let it go, Rahim. Seriously, you’re obsessed.”

  “Wait, am I missing in your time?” Dr. Jackson asked.

  “Yeah, but you’re like really old, so anything could have happened to you,” Kasia said. She just shrugged when Rahim shot her a look.

  “Do you really think our future selves, who are us, would lie to our faces? Like think about that for a second. We would be lying to ourselves,” Kasia said.

  “I don’t know,” Rahim said. “But that’s why I keep bringing up the rock. They have been really sketchy lately. And they look scared. All the time. Look, there’s somebody or something out there that wants us to have nothing to do with the time stream. It wants us out—or worse. Maybe … like maybe we should try to…” Rahim paused. His thoughts were going a mile a minute and he needed his words to catch up.

  “Take your time,” Nat said.

  “What do you think we should do?” Dr. Jackson said.

  He took a deep breath. “Well,” he said, “maybe we should try to talk to Rashad and Kenta. Find out why they were trying to kidnap you. They didn’t hurt anyone, and they could have. I’ve been around a lot of bullies. They like hurting people. But Kenta and Rashad, they don’t give off those vibes. I don’t know. Just seems like we should hear them out.”

  “Are you loopy?” Kasia said. “I’ll bet you that these are those Chrononauts our future selves were talking about. They have like official supervillain names. What are they going to tell us? That they like building robots and stealing stuff that doesn’t belong to them? You must really like the idea of being in that attic forever.”

  Rahim rubbed his forehead.

  “I’m just saying. Look, isn’t Iago still in their house?” Rahim asked.

  Kasia sat straight up and nearly dropped the last of her banana.

  “I forgot,” she wailed. “Oh man, I forgot him. I can’t believe I left him there!”

  “Right. But can’t we use him to talk to them? Can’t we … I don’t know … patch our voices through him? That’s a safe way to ask questions, ain’t it?”

  “Is that possible, Kasia?” Dr. Jackson asked.

  Kasia exhaled and moved her hair out of her face.

  “I mean, yeah, it is. I just … I don’t want them to hurt him.”

  “Who is Iago? Is he one of your friends?” Nat asked.

  Rahim said “no” at the same time that Kasia said “yes.”

  “Actually, sir,” Rahim said, “he is a drone that Kasia made into a mini-robot with artificial intelligence.”

  “Oh,” Nat said.

  “And all I’m saying,” Rahim said, “is that if we get him near a window, we can communicate with him and maybe with them.”

  Dr. Jackson sat down next to Kasia.

  “I know Iago means a lot to you, but I think Rahim has a point. The more information we have, the easier it will be to decide what we should do next. I’m curious about what my former captors have to say as well.”

  “Okay,” Kasia said. “If you say so.”

  “If I say so?” Dr. Jackson said. “Are we friends in your time?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes you talk to me about high-level math stuff.” Kasia paused. “I mean, high level for other people.”

  Dr. Jackson chuckled. “That sounds about right. You know, you remind me of myself. I was a very smart little Black girl. And sometimes that made some people very nervous. It can be hard to make friends. It can seem like people don’t understand you and how you see the world. I recognize that Iago is important to you. But maybe he can help untangle this situation.”

  Kasia nodded.

  And that was the moment Rahim’s stomach decided to growl.

  “Oh man, excuse me,” Rahim said.

  “When was the last time either of you had something to eat?” Dr. Jackson asked.

  Rahim and Kasia looked at each other.

  “Technically it’s only been since lunch.”

  “Which is what?” Rahim said. “Forty-five years from now?”

  “I did have a bite of a banana,” Kasia said.

  Dr. Jackson laughed.

  “Oh, children, let me introduce you to the wonders of room service,” she said.

  14

  Professor reynolds and Mr. Collins and Agents Brown and Green piled into the agents’ car. Agent Brown started the engine.

  “Okay, where do you gentlemen think we should start?” he asked.

  Mr. Collins pulled out his cell phone.

  “The only places Kasia likes to go are the co-op grocery store we run and that summer program she attended with Dr. Jackson,” Mr. Collins said. “And according to you, she’s missing.”

  “What about Rahim, Professor?” Agent Brown asked.

  Professor Reynolds cleared his throat.

  “Perhaps we should go by the school. I know Rahim likes to play chess. He is an avid reader, and he … wants to be a rapper. I know Kasia makes the … um … the beats for him to rap over. That’s why we had him taking music lessons. I was hoping he’d grow out of it and get serious about music.”

  “Not a fan of hip-hop, Professor?” Agent Green said.

  “I used to be,” Professor Reynolds said.

  “Well, let’s see if they actually did return to the school,” Agent Brown said. “If it’s a safe place for Rahim and Kasia, then these androids may return there.”

  “I don’t know if I’d call it a safe place,” Mr. Collins said.

  “Why would you say that?” Professor Reynolds said.

  “I … I just … I’ve overheard Rahim talking to Kasia. He gets bullied sometimes. A kid named Man Man is the main instigator, I believe.”

  “I didn’t know. Rahim never said anything to me about that,” Professor Reynolds said. “If something like that was happening, I would hope that he would share it with me and…” Professor Reynolds looked out the window and tapped his fingers against the armrest. “Now we are definitely going to that school. I want to have a talk with the principal. If we don’t find them there, we can go to the library. I know both Rahim and Kasia like the library. Libraries can be a safe place for kids like them. Most bullies don’t like to read.”

  * * *

  Professor Reynolds went to the entrance of Rahim and Kasia’s school and pulled on the door. Even though class had ended a few hours earlier, the door was unlocked. The four of them went in and headed for the main office. They saw a few kids still hanging around. There was a math club meeting going on in one classroom and a prose and poetry club meeting in another one.

  On their way to the office, they passed the school library. Mr. Collins looked through the window in the door and stopped.

  “There’s some kids playing chess in there,” he said. “Maybe we should talk to them.”

  “Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea,” Professor Reynolds said.

  They went into the library and headed toward the back wall, where there were three small tables set up. Each table had two kids sitting across from each other playing chess. The pieces on the board weren’t traditional ones. They looked like tiny superheroes. Professor Reynolds went up to the first table, where two boys were playing.

  “Excuse me, but I was wondering if—” he started to say, but one of the boys looked at him and put his finger to his lips. Professor Reynolds raised his eyebrows, and Mr. Collins started to say something, but the young man didn’t drop his gaze until his opponent completed his move.

  “Okay, now we can talk,” the boy said.

  “We’re looking for Rahim Reynolds and Kasia Collins. Have any of you seen them since school ended?” he said.

  None of the kids spoke. Finally, a boy sitting at the last table raised his hand.

  “Yes?” Professor Reynolds said. He thought he had seen the boy walking with his son once or twice. “Do you know where they are?”

  “I mean, maybe,” Harris said. “I know Rahim had to go to his trumpet lesson, but they might be at Kasia’s house practicing.”

  “I’m Kasia’s father. They aren’t there,” Mr. Collins said.

  “Practicing for what?” Professor Reynolds said.

  “Um … the talent show,” Harris said. “Rahim wasn’t sure about performing, but Kasia convinced him.”

  “Performing? In front of people? I don’t think so. Kasia is pretty shy.”

  Harris raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t know about that. She came in here and fit right in. Especially after she and Rahim stood up to Man Man.”

  “Man Man? Is that the kid who was bullying Rahim?” Professor Reynolds said.

  The boy Harris was playing laughed. “Ha,” he said. “Not anymore.”

  “What do you mean by ‘stood up to’ him?” Professor Reynolds asked.

  Harris looked down at the chess board. He didn’t want to get Rahim in trouble for fighting. He was thinking about how to answer when Mr. Collins spoke. “Kasia came here and fit right in?”

  This was an easier question to answer, so Harris answered it. “Yeah. Her and Dasha and Jaleen and Tomas are like best buddies now. Rahim, too. She’s really smart. I think even some of the teachers are afraid of her,” Harris said.

  “I guess we made the right decision letting her come to this school,” Mr. Collins said.

  “Seems like we’re both learning things about our kids,” Professor Reynolds said. He looked at Harris.

  “What’s your name, son?” he asked. “Howard? Harold?”

  “Harris.”

  “Harris, I want you to do me a favor. If you hear from Rahim, please tell him to give me a call. Can you do that for me, please?” Professor Reynolds asked.

  “Sure thing. He’s not in trouble, is he?” Harris asked.

  “I hope not,” Professor Reynolds said.

  * * *

  On their way to talk with the principal, Agent Brown’s and Agent Green’s phones went off at the same time. They pulled them out of their gray blazers and touched the screens. Both agents’ faces twisted into deep frowns.

  “What? Is it the kids?” Mr. Collins asked.

  “Not exactly. We just got an order to return to our agency and terminate our investigation of your children,” Agent Brown said.

  “So, we’re on our own,” Professor Reynolds said.

  “Hold on,” Agent Brown said. He touched the screen again.

  “Hello, this is Agent Brown. Confirmation code Yeats, 42, Artemis. Yes. I am calling to confirm conclusion order 564, just received. I see. Is it advisable to have the coordinates sent to myself and Agent Green when they are available? Thank you, ma’am,” Agent Brown said. He ended the call.

  “Those orders were false. Our system was hacked. They are reverse tracking it now,” Agent Brown said.

  “Maybe it’s Kasia trying to get you off her back. She hacked you before,” Mr. Collins said.

  “Sir, your daughter is talented, but after her initial infiltration of our system we improved our security,” Agent Green said.

  “Kasia has an IQ of 221,” Mr. Collins said.

  “That may be true, but even she couldn’t crack this new firewall,” Agent Brown said. “It would take the most talented human being six months to just pierce the first level. Someone just broke through the whole system in four minutes.”