Chapter 42
Getting into the bank wasn't as difficult as I anticipated.
A call to the manager and an explanation of the situation got us access. We had worked with him previously on a robbery case. He felt obligated to lend his assistance after hours.
Henrik’s memory may have been a little dodgy about where he hid the crystal, but at least the key to the safe deposit box was still on his key ring.
The bank manager had the other key.
Like launching a nuke, both of them inserted their keys into the slots and twisted. The manager opened the door and yanked the box out. He set it on the table in the room. "I'll give you some privacy," he said before stepping out.
We all stared at the box for a moment, hoping against hope that it wouldn't be empty. At this point, I gave it 50-50. Anticipation sizzled my skin, and my heartbeat may have elevated.
Henrik lifted the lid, and a faint blue glow illuminated his smiling face. "I told you."
JD and I peered into the box to marvel at the Vrilkristall.
"Where did this thing come from?" I asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”
He was probably right about that. I didn’t believe half of this nonsense.
"Go ahead, touch it. It won't hurt you."
"It’s not radioactive, is it?" JD asked.
Henrik looked at him like he was crazy. "No. The crystal focuses and amplifies energy. Under the right circumstances, it can create enough negative energy to power a time dilation device.”
I reached into the box and picked up the crystal. It was warm to the touch. “Is this a natural crystal, or something created in a lab?”
Henrik smirked. "That is a very good question."
He knew the answer. He just wasn’t going to say.
“How does it work?” I asked.
“How does anything work?”
I’m not sure Henrik knew the answer to that one.
I didn't really know what the hell it was, but I wasn't about to let this thing out of my sight. I slipped it into my pocket. "I'll hang onto it for now.”
We closed up the box, put it back, and locked it. We called the manager, and he inserted his key into the slot and locked it as well. I thanked him for his cooperation but didn't offer any further explanation beyond the urgent kidnapping situation.
"I hope everything works out for the best," he said.
"Me too.”
We left the bank and loaded into the public works vehicle, then drove back to Willow Bend to see how things were coming along.
Everything was just as we’d left it. No progress had been made.
Juan and Jesus weren’t anywhere to be found. It’s not like we could pick up the phone and call them from here.
Jack looked at me and shrugged. "Contractors."
We’d probably never see them again.
JD and I started cleaning up as best we could, trying to get the place back in order. By the time we were done, it looked pretty good, apart from the square hole in the middle of the living room floor.
The sun angled toward the horizon, and it would be dark before long. We had burned through an entire day fooling with this stuff. I didn't have my cell phone turned on for obvious reasons, and wouldn't be able to take a call from Klaus. I expected to hear from him soon.
I was anxious to get out of there.