"Your hand, good Sir."
  Professor Darnell Brown narrowed his eyes on William Franks. He knew Franks did not mean the 'good sir." He thought he was going to win this care game. Brown had aces. He could not lose.
  Franks frowned. "Well?"
  Brown laid his aces down. A smile was on his face. "Aces. I guess I win."
  Brown reached for the money on the table. Franks grabbed his hand.
  "Do not think so, Mr. Brown," Franks said, revealing his hand.
  Brown frowned at the cards. "Kings. So? I had aces. I win."
  Several of the on-lookers laugh. Franks also started to laugh. Brown felt his anger growing.
  Suddenly, a green vortex opened next to the table. Franks gasped in shock. Brown grabbed the money. He would need it later.
  Black-clad men jumped out of the vortex. One of them had what appeared like a flashlight. They all had lasers. The one with the flashlight pointed at Brown.
  "Anomaly," he said.
  All of the black-clad men aimed their lasers. Brown jumped from the table in time to miss being shot. he could not say the same for Franks and some of the onlookers.
  Screaming exploded in the casino. Onlookers started to run about. Brown started to get up. His eyes widened.
  "No," Brown muttered.
  His legs. They would not move.
  A shadow fell over Brown. He looked up to see the Foundation's henchmen. One of them had a microchip in his hand. Brown knew what it did. It erased a person's ability to think of sliding equations or to even think. It would make him a vegetable.
  The henchman leaned down with the microchip. His face met Randy Heim's fist.
  "Get away from him," Randy demanded.
  Two of the Foundation's men aimed their lasers at Randy.
  "Hey, fellows."
  The men turned around. Melissa Clark punched one of the men. She grabbed his laser and shot the other men.
  "Professor, you okay?" Randy asked.
  "No," Brown replied.

  The vortex shot open.
  Melissa shot out first. Then Katherine Rye jumped out of the vortex next. randy came out of the vortex next. Randy came out of the vortex next, Professor Brown in his arms. The vortex closed behind them.
  Randy took in his surroundings. Judging by the boxes and rectangular windows, he would say they were in an attic. A dusty attic at that. Outside, rain poured down.
  "So...narrow break," Melissa said as she stood up.
  "I thought after...their home base was destroyed, the Foundation was dead," Kat said.
  "You thought wrong...obviously," Melissa said.
  "Will you shut it?" Kat asked.
  Melissa frowned. "Shut it?"
  "Guys!" Randy cut the girls off. "The Professor can't walk."
  "I am sorry," Kat said. "However, Melissa has become unbearable as of late and I have had e-"
  Kat tripped over something. She fell to the ground. When she turned to see what she fell over, Kat screamed.

I FOUND THE GATEWAY! I FOUND A WAY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN WORLDS. WHERE IT'S THE SAME TIME, SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT DIMENSION. FOR TWO YEARS, MY FRIENDS AND I SEARCHED FOR HOME. OUR ENEMIES ARE CLOSING IN...NOW THE QUESTION IS...DO WE GO HOME?

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 3
EPISODE 14: BUILDING A MYSTERY

  Randy sat down next to Professor Brown. They had manged to find a wheelchair in the attic and put Brown against a wall when the policemen showed up. Now they walked around the body and took pictures.
  Kat looked out of the window at the rain. Melissa tapped her toe as she glared at the policemen. Her arms were crossed over the red turtleneck she had on.
  "What's taking so long?" Melissa demanded.
  "We wait for the detective," one of the policemen, a female, said.
  "What in the world-"
  Randy stared at the attic door. Two figures stood in the door. He did not recognize the man in the robe. However, he did recognize Maggie Beckett in her nightgown. Her eyes narrowed on Melissa as she stormed over to her.
  "You!" Maggie spit out. "This is your fault! You bitch!"
  Maggie lunged at Melissa. Two policemen grabbed her in time. She struggled against them.
  "Miss, clam down," the female policeman said next to Melissa.
  "She did it!" Maggie shrieked. "She killed him!"
  "She's nuts," Melissa said.
  "And you like to lick them!" Maggie shot back. "Slut!"
  "Uh...no," Melissa said. "I wouldn't touch him with a pole."
  "Liar!"
  "Maggie," the man who had appeared with her said calmly as he touched her shoulder, "calm down. We will get to the bottom of this."
  "But, Joel-"
  "Shhh!" Joel said. He looked around the room. His eyes narrowed. "Though I say why you would freak out. This is a room of suspects. Mr. Heim. Mr. Brown. Miss Rye? How did you even get in?"
  Kat stared at Joel in confusion. "What?"
  "She's...with me," Randy said.
  "I bet," Maggie snapped. "You ganged up on him."
  "Uh...no," Melissa said.
  "I can't believe he loved you over me," Maggie said.
  "Trust me: not mutual," Melissa said.
  "Is that suppose to make me feel better?"
  "It should," Melissa snapped.
  "Ladies," the female policeman said.
  "She has a point, Officer," Joel said. "I know my former partner well. He had a lot of enemies..most of who seem to be in the same room. I don't think it's a coincidence."
  "Neither do I."
  Randy looked at the attic door. The voice sounded familiar. The gasp from Professor Brown made it real.
  The female policeman smiled. "Detective Hall."
  Richard Hall walked into the room. His hands were in the pockets of his trenchcoat. His dark hair was pulled back. He also had a beard.
  "Officer Hayes," Hall said. "Nice to see you again."
  "Ditto," Hayes said.
  "Now," Hall said, looking around, "who are you people?"

  Kat crossed her arms over her chest. She turned to face the others in the make-shift interrogation room they were in. Her eyes narrowed.
  "Who was the body?" Kat demanded. "Why does that woman think we have anything to do with it?"
  "Obviously, our doubles are mixed up in all of this," Brown said from the table he was in front of.
  Randy sat next to him. "As for the body...it's Daniel Peckin. This sleazeball we keep running into."
  "And obviously, my double has no taste."
  Kat stared over at Melissa. She leaned against the wall near the door. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Noting the similarity, Kat dropped her arms.
  "In any case, I think we should lie low," Randy said. "We have a little over a day here. Let's not get in any trouble."
  "Trouble?" Melissa said. "There's a killer in this house. I'm not ending up like someone in a slasher movie."
  "So what will you do?" Kat demanded. "Sell us out?"
  Randy's head looked down at the table. Brown frowned. Melissa glared at Kat.
  "What is that suppose to mean?" Melissa demanded.
  "Well," Kat began, "you are quite shady, Melissa. You sold out a lot of people on Ethan's world. Then your digs at me about Scott on that evolutionary world. Can anyone trust you?"
  Melissa laughed bitterly. "That's rich! You were with the Foundation. Who's to say, you're not a spy and this 'non-violence' stand you took isn't a ruse to trick us?"
  "I've proven myself," Kat said.
  "To who?" Melissa challenged. "No one knows you, Kitten. And the only one who did...is dead."
  "Don't ye dare!" Kat snapped.
  "Or what?" Melissa said, moving away from the wall. "You'll hit me?"
  Randy shot up. "Leave Kat alone, Melissa."
  "All I'm saying, Randy, is that everyone knows me here," Melissa said. She looked at Kat. "No one knows her."
  "Right now," Randy said, "I think I know her better than I know you."
  Melissa looked at Randy. Kat saw shock on her face. She was sure she looked it as well. She was not a big supporter of Randy Heim since Richard died. She treated him badly in fact. Now here he was standing up to the girl he liked.
  "Et tu, Randy?" Melissa said.
  "Give me a reason not to say it, Melissa," Randy shot back.
  The door opened. Richard Hall stood int he door. He took in the scene. A smile danced onto his face. Kat saw it and crossed her arms over her chest again.
  "Did I miss something?" Hall asked.
  "No," Melissa said, her eyes on Randy. "You missed nothing."
  Melissa stormed out of the room. Randy was right behind her. Hall watched them go before turning to face Brown and Kat.
  "So," Hall said, "who wants to go first?"

  Randy caught up to Melissa as she got to the staircase. He grabbed her arm. Melissa snatched it away from him. The fury in her eyes shocked Randy for a second and he backed off.
  "What was that about?" Melissa demanded.
  "Telling the truth," Randy said. "You think Kat's a spy. She thinks you're a spy. I admit I don't know you anymore. No one does."
  "I'm still me," Melissa stated.
  "Not really," Randy said.
  Melissa's eyes narrowed on him. "You mean the fact that I don't love you."
  "Melissa, you don't even remember," Randy stated. "Who knows what else they did to you?"
  "I could say the same about you," Melissa spit out. "Stone did put a psychic suggestion in you after all."
  Randy frowned. He did not know what to say to her.
  "I said I was sorry about that," Randy said. "If I could turn back time, I would. I wish Stone had never gotten his hands on you." He gestured at her. "Because this girl...I don't know her." His eyes narrowed on her. "Who are you?"
  Melissa glared at him. "Melissa Clark. The girl who was your best friend."
  Randy headed back to the room. "Could have fooled me."

Brown walked Detective Richard Hall pace around the table. He wished the others were still in the room, but the detective told them to wait outside. he knew it was an attempt to unnerve him. He was already unnerved being around the dead man.
Hall stared at him. His hands were behind his back. Brown could not recall Richard being so...formal.
"How do you feel about Daniel Peckin being dead?" Hall asked.
"I do not feel...anything," Brown answered.
"Bad blood?"
"I...would not call it that."
"Selling you out to be with Joel Smeedough...and you not knowing? Bad blood? Pal...you're a walking definition."
"Now see here-" Brown start to rise, but remembered he could not.
"Touch a nerve, did I?" Hall asked.
"Something you were always good at," Brown mumbled.
"What was that?" Hall demanded.
"I need to get to the hospital," Brown said.
"Yeah...the wheel chair," Hall said with a nod. "Several witnesses said earlier tonight when you found out about the...shall we say, double-cross...you were walking."
"I fell down the stairs," Brown lied.
"You look awfully well for someone who fell."
"I recover well."
"I bet."
"Can I go?"
"For now. Send Miss Rye in."
Brown wheeled himself to the door. As he did, he felt the detective's eyes on him. Did he think that Brown was the killer?

Randy watched the lightning flash outside. The rain had grown heavier since they slid in. He stared about the room at the other suspects.
Maggie Beckett sat on the study's couch with Joel. He whispered something to her. Whatever he said appeared to be calming down. She was the picture of the hysteric, grief-stricken widow. Could it be an act?
The maid dusted things off in the room. If it was any other maid, Randy would not be bugged. However, it was Rebecca Pryce. Could she have an agenda?
Melissa glared at her talking companion. It was Conrad Bennish, Jr. From what Randy could gather, Bennish was Peckin's rival in real estate. There had been some kind of announcement tonight at a dinner party here in the mansion. Bennish had been invited. At the moment, he was hitting on Melissa. She did not like it.
Randy wondered what did Melissa like now. It wasn't him. That's for sure.
Randy felt his face darken. The Foundation. They were responsible for this. Melissa would be all right if not for them. And the Foundation was still active regardless of him destroying their base. He had to do something about that. First, he had to find a way out of this.
"Miss Rye?"
Randy looked over at the study door. Professor Brown wheeled himself into the room. He looked over at Kat.
"Rich...I mean, Detective Hall...would like to see you," Brown said.
"Saints preserve me," Kat said as she headed for the door.
As Kat walked past him, Randy reached out and touched her shoulder. Kat flinched, but stopped. she turned to face him, her eyes full of fear and fury.
"For what it's worth," Randy said, "be careful."
"Aye," Kat said simply. She managed a smile. "Thanks."
Kat headed out of the door. Randy looked at Professor Brown. He nodded and headed for the window when the rain continued to pour down. He stole a look at Melissa. She glared at him.
"I see the criminals are communicating," Maggie snarled.
"Oh, give it a rest!" Melissa yelled.
"Something I'm sure you're used to," Maggie said as she turned on the couch to face Melissa. "Laying on your back and all."
Melissa smirked. "Maybe if someone satisfied in the bedroom..."
"Tramp!" Maggie snapped.
"Hag!" Melissa shot back.
"Hey...babes!" Bennish said, standing in Melissa's way. "There's like...a lot going on. Could we chill?"
"Funny you should say that, Bennish," Joel said, standing up. "I would think you would be upset over Peckin calling you out on the real estate floor tonight at dinner. Maybe you couldn't cut it?"
"Dude, I've been Kingo Sumpremeo for two years now," Bennish said with pride. "Peckin could bring it. Now all I got now...is little you."
Joel frowned. "Meaning?"
"Peckin was a big fish, man," Bennish said. He pointed at Professor brown. "I would rather take on Wheelchair Brownie. He's a challenge. You? Not so much."
Joel stormed over to Bennish. "Bring it on. I will prove you wrong."
"How?"
"Peckin did hire me as his new partner."
"Did Babe Beckett suggest it? Cuz you two seem like Macbeth and his woman right-"
"Son of-"
Joel lunged at Bennish. They both fell to the floor behind the couch. Maggie ran behind it and gasped. Melissa headed for the door. Randy headed with her.
"Could we have some help in here!" Melissa yelled out.
Randy backed away to let the police run in. Melissa stared at him.
"Want to find a killer?" Melissa asked.
Randy looked at the policemen. They were focused on the fighting men. Bennish punched Joel into one of the policemen. Maggie and Brown were focused on the craziness. Meanwhile, Rebecca continued to dust like someone used to all of it.
Randy stared at Melissa. "Sure."

He paced. As he circled her, Kat realized how she hated the concept of doubles. For all the differences, a double was still the person. Doubles made her think of her encounter with a double in front of her brought back other memories as well. Memories of how she was in love.
"So...Miss Rye," began Richard, "what are you doing here?"
Kat frowned. "What?"
"Well, I know your history, Miss Rye," Hall continued, "and your presence makes you stick out like white shoes after Labor Day."
"You heard what Randy Heim said," Kat lied. "We had something to discuss."
"Such as?"
"That, sir, is nae your business."
"Nice account."
Kat found herself frowning again. "What does that-"
"You. Randy." Hall cut her off. "Both lose estate land to Peckin. Your father hanged himself. Randy swore vengeance for the loss of land. Maybe you two cooked up a scheme to off him."
"I did no such-"
"Then what is your business with him?" Hall demanded. "What do you have to hide? Are you protecting Heim? What-"
Kat laughed. "Me? Protect Randy?"
"Oh," Hall said. "It is bad blood then. Interesting."
"I did not say that at-"
"Didn't have to," Hall cut her off.
Kat went red in the face. "How dare ye? Do nae put words in my mouth!"
"An accent and feisty," Hall said, staring at Kat from across the table. "You can't be single."
"What does that have to do-"
"So tell me about how you killed Peckin?"
"Enough!" Kat yelled, standing up. "I do nae have tae take this!"
Hall frowned. "As a suspect in a murder, yes you do."
Kat opened the door and turned around. hall stood at the table. A smile crossed his face.
"This could be fun," he commented.
Kat glared. Then she slammed the door behind her. Her heart felt like it was going to burst for a second there, he reminded her of her Richard...and that scared her.

"So...back to the scene of the crime."
Randy said nothing to Melissa's comment as he entered the attic. The body was gone, replaced with police chalk where it had been. Yellow police tape fell to the floor.
Melissa walked over to the police chalk. "The police definitely did a number over on this place. See any clues?"
Randy looked over the attic. "None." He walked over to the windows. Outside was a ledge. He looked right and left, seeing if it went all around. He walked around the attic.
"What are you doing?" Melissa asked.
"Brainstorming," Randy said. He hopped over a box on the wall. He continued to follow the wall like it was a line. Everything seem to fall away and there was only this puzzle.
A puzzle. Was that what this was to him?
Randy ran into some boxes. They fell to the floor, but he barely noticed as he made it to the end of the wall. The windows were lined up on the next wall like the first. The ledge was there, too. Randy could even see a ladder. He opened the first window and climbed out.
"Randy!"
Randy said nothing. In fact, he barely heard it. He barely even noticed the rain falling on him. He made it to the ladder and looked down. It reached all the way down to the ground. Next to it, Randy noticed small holes in the wall. As if something had been there...
Melissa was at the window. Her face was a grimace.
"What is going on with you?" Melissa demanded. "It was like you didn't hear me."
Randy made it back through the window. He looked down at his shoes shyly.
"Sorry," Randy said. "I was just so focused...I-oh, I'm wet."
"Yeah," Melissa said.
"Find anything in here?"
"Nothing. You?"
"Yeah. Peckin did not get murdered in the attic."
Melissa frowned at him, but Randy was already heading for the stairs. He had an idea and he had to follow it through.

Kat came out of the bathroom. She frowned as she ran the comb through her hair. She was till not sue to having it short. Still she liked it.
A smile crossed her face as Kat sat down at the vanity table. She also liked this guest room. the police would not let anyone leave so they all had separate rooms.
Kat put the brush down and headed for the closet. She was going to check on Professor Brown. Like her, he appeared thrown by Richard's double's appearance.
Kat paused with her hand on the knob to the closet.
Richard. The double's cockiness was very reminiscent of Richard. His ability to flirt was so similar. Yet...
Kat swung the closet door open. Her face gasped as the body fell out and hit the floor.
Maggie Beckett stared back at Kat. Her eyes wide open as if they saw heaven. Blood covered her nightgown. Kat screamed.

"You do know we're out in the rain, right?" Melissa asked from behind Randy.
"If I didn't," Randy said as he moved through the bushes, "you wouldn't have the umbrella."
"Not afraid I'll hurt you?"
Randy frowned. He moved through more bushes.
"You already did that," Randy said.
There was no comment from behind him. Randy was grateful for the silence. Melissa's presence were distracting him from his hunt.
The bushes parted, revealing a boat house near a river. It stood like a dark spire in the area.
"The footsteps head over there," Randy said. "So I"m sure what I"m looking for is over there."
"You still haven't told me what we're looking for," Melissa said. "We followed the footsteps from the bottom of the ladder to here without a word."
Randy headed across the field without a word. He made it to the door. There was a lock on it. It was a simple matter to kick it off the door. Randy started to walk into the bathhouse when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Melissa frown at him.
"Okay, what's going on?" Melissa asked. "You been different for a while."
"You wanted me to be focus, right?" Randy asked back to her. "Focusing on whether the Foundation was active. We know they are. I'm on the problem. How about you worry about yourself?"
Melissa's frown turned into a glare. She released his arm and stormed into the boathouse.
"Fine," Melissa said. "That's all I can count on."
"Whatever, Melissa," Randy said. "How about you try to remember your feelings?"
Randy ignored the glare Melissa was shooting him. Right now, he was not there to comfort her. He had to solve this mystery.
He found the light switch. He turned it on. He stared about the boathouse. His eyes fell on what he was looking for. It appeared to be a long pole long enough to be attached to the side of the mansion. He walked over to it and kneeled down. There was a pulley with strings at one end. A smile spreaded over Randy's face.
"Uh...Randy."
Randy stared over at Melissa. She was a few steps away, also kneeling. She ran her hand through something on the ground. Her fingers came up with something. She stared up at him, her eyes widened in shock.
"I think...I think it's blood," Melissa said.
"Well...there you are!"
Randy looked over at the door. Detective Richard Hall stood in the door. He walked into the room and headed over to Melissa. He stared down at the ground by her.
"Hmmm...looks like blood," he commented. "Things not looking for you, Miss Clark. I'm bringing you back up for questioning. Miss Beckett just turned up dead and we know you two just loved each other." He smiled. "Note the sarcasm."

Kat wiped the tears from her eyes. Sh She did not know Maggie Beckett from a hole in the wall, but it was another death. How much of this journey was going to be full of violence?
"Miss Rye?"
Kat looked up from her bed. Officer Hayes moved out of the door, letting the wheelchair-bound Professor Brown in. He wheeled over to the bed.
"Miss Rye, are you un-un-okay?" Brown asked.
"Aye," Kat answered. "Just a wee bit...unnerved." She stared at Brown. "There is a killer in the house. What if one of us is next?"
"Don't worry, Miss Rye," Officer Hayes said. "I'm sure Detective Hall will get to the bottom of it."
"Know him, do ye?" Kat asked.
Hayes smiled. "Dated him."
Hayes closed the door without another word. Kat glared after her. How could Richard date anyone like her?
"Because she's...woman," Brown said.
"What?" Kat said looking away from the door.
"If she was a fe-fe-female, chances are good Mr. Hall would hit on her," Brown said. "He was quite the charmer."
Kat looked down at her feet. "I bet. Now...he's gone."
Kat felt a hand on her shoulder.
"And that," Brown said, "is something I am deeply sorry for. I shouldn't have told the truth in the first place. He might still be here."
Kat looked up at Professor Brown. He looked so sad and alone. She remembered how they were together.
"Och...I am sorry," Kat said. "He was your...best friend?"
"Fought together on one world for three months," Brown said, looking down. "He helped me live. Now...I guess I am paying for it."
Now it was time for Kat to put a hand on his shoulder.
"We all are," Kat said.
The door flew open. Kat looked at it to see Randy in it. His hair and clothes were soaked in water. he looked like some bum.
Professor Brown wheeled around. "Mr. Heim?"
"Melissa's in trouble," Randy said. "We need to help her."

Melissa sat at the table in the room. Detective Hall stood in front of her. His arms were over his chest. His face was wrinkled up into a grimace.
"Interesting boathouse," Detective Hall said.
"I thought so," Melissa said sarcastically.
"Want to know my favorite part?" Hall asked.
"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me," Melissa shot back.
"Remember that gunk you were kneeling over?" Hall continued. "Well...some good friends of mine braved the storm to have a look at it. Guess what it was?"
"Blood maybe?"
"You're a sarcastic one, aren't you?"
"One of my best qualities."
"And the other one must be intelligence because you get the door prize," Hall exclaimed as he put his hands on the table and leaned in. "It was blood. Think you can guess who's?"
Melissa became the one to cross her arms. "I didn't kill that slimeball."
"Slimeball? Really?" Hall said. A smile crept onto his face. "He must have been a real sleaze for you to sleep with him...really jerky...to get you into his will."
Melissa frowned. "Excuse me?"
"Save the shocked act," Hall said. "If Peckin was to die...with no children to boot...you get it all. The mansion. The business. Everything. Even the boathouse."
"Oh," Melissa muttered.
"Sounds like motive to me," Hall commented.
"I didn't kill him," Melissa said.
"And now, look," Hall continued as Melissa hadn't spoken. "Your only rival to that fortune...namely Maggie Beckett...falls over dead."
Melissa shot out of her seat. "This is crazy! I didn't kill anyone! Maybe I'm being framed."
"I called Peckin's lawyer," Hall said. "He backs up the will. I also talked to a few of the others about the dinner party earlier this evening...where Peckin fired Brown, hired Joel, and announced you as the heir. Things got really ugly between you and Maggie Beckett. Would you like me to go over it again?"
Melissa felt like she was floating. This could not be happening. Not only did she have a double who would actually sleep with that troll Peckin, but she slept her way to his fortune. Now she was accused of murder.
"If I was you," Hall said as he headed for the door, "I would call my lawyer."

Randy entered the study in the mansion. He shut the door quietly. Lightning flinched outside, lighting up the room for a second. Randy found himself wondering if the storm was going to let up.
He watched the lightning brighten up the room again. He made out the shadow of a desk near one of the large Victorian-like windows. He moved over tot it and smiled. There was a lamp over it. He turned it on and sat down.

Kat hesitated for a second. Then she took a breath and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
Kat frowned. She was sure this was the room that the police assigned to Conrad Bennish, Jr. She also recalled that Brown had said he had decided to retire to it after his fight with Joel.
Kat knocked on the door again. There was still no answer. Kat tried the knob and saw that it was open. She walked right in.
"Mr. Bennish, I am sorry to disturb you, but-" Kat started.
She felt the breath catch in her throat. Lightning flinched in the window, letting the room fill Kat's sight though she didn't need it to tell her what she sensed.
Bennish was not in the room. In fact, the bed was completely made. It was as if he had never slept there at all.
Kat frowned.
Maybe he never did.
Kat headed for the door. She turned around to close it. She turned back to run when she ran into the chest of someone. Hands grabbed her.
"What are you doing, troublemaker?" Joel demanded.
Kat backed away from him. "No trouble. I wanted tae talk tae Bennish."
"Jerk," Joel muttered, rubbing his right eye. "I still cannot believe Peckin invited him to my inauguration."
"Perhaps it was to size up the competition," Kat suggested.
"With Bennish's cunning?" Joel said. "It's like being a wolf in a henhouse. I heard he had relations with the maid. For all we know, he's dallying with her now."
Kat corked an eyebrow. "Dallying?"

Brown opened the door to Rebecca's room. He felt his arms shoot out in pain. Being in a wheelchair was annoying as heck.
Of course, he might be in one forever.
Brown pushed the wheelchair into the room. It was sparsely decorated. A few pictures dotted the wall. There was a bed, a drawer, and a vanity mirror. Nothing else seem to be there.
Brown wheeled over to the closet. He opened it up. In the closet was several maid uniforms, a white shirt, and a red dress.
Brown frowned as something else caught his eye. He pushed the other clothes away to look at it hanging in the right hand corner.
It was a black leather suit. At first, he was tempted to chalk it up to a maid's fetish behavior. Then he realized where he had seen it before and got a chill.
It was the suit of an agent of the Foundation. He had seen enough of them to know the difference.
Brown closed the closet and turned his wheelchair around. He had to get out of here. They were all in danger.
A whir sounded through the room. Then a green vortex opened in front of the door. A figure emerged from it and frowned at Brown. The vortex closed behind her.
"Well, Professor Brown," Rebecca Pryce said. "Nice meeting you here."
"Rebecca Pryce," Brown said, glaring "Can the Foundation be far behind?"
Rebecca pulled out a gun.
"You'll never know," Rebecca replied.

Randy continued to type on the computer. He had already found a copy of the will. Melissa's double was the heir. With Maggie Beckett her only obstacle out of the way, Melissa's chances of being free looked real slim.
Randy shook his head. There had to be a way. He wasn't going to let Melissa die even though she didn't like him much right now.
So far Randy had found out that this world was all about bout real estate--selling and buying it. California was the place to do so and make it. Daniel Peckin had been a TV executive here who had canceled too many good shows so he got canned. He tried his hand at real estate and did quite well. Of course, his tactics were as cut-throat as his TV policies. Naturally he had enemies.
Katherine Rye's family's land was in the way of a corporation's attempt to built a large mall complete with parking lot. Peckin found a way to get it.
Randy's own double found a shock awaiting him after returning from Europe. His family had fallen on hard times. Their land was now Daniel Peckin's.
Randy was now looking at data on Conrad Bennish, Jr. His tactics...and his love life was just as ruthless as Peckin's. He hit on every woman that moved and did just about everything to get them. The same can be said about how he got land.
Randy leaned back from the computer. His face formed into a frown. Katherine and Randall did not have the means to kill Peckin or the money. Brown's profile was such that he was too meek. Melissa's double...scarily enough...seem to like Peckin too much to.
Randy stared at Bennish's profile. He had the money to kill Peckin. However, he could not do it without help or at least someone who knew the grounds.
Randy shot up from his seat with an idea in mind. The lightning flashed outside, causing his mind to freeze at the sight of Bennish in the door.
Bennish shut the door behind him.
"Dude, what's up?" Bennish asked.
"Nothing," Randy said, closing down the computer. "Heard Melissa might have been the killer."
"Bummer," Bennish said. "She's a hotie."
Randy managed a grin. "Yeah. I wondered who she put in charge of her affairs if something like that happened. Maybe I'll go ask her-"
Randy tried to pass Bennish. He blocked his way.
"You look tense," Bennish said.
"You just blocked my way," Randy said. "Of course, I'm tense."
"You never explained why you're surfing the web in here."
"Don't have to."
Randy tried to moved past Bennish again. Bennish pulled out a gun.
"Really do, man," Bennish replied.

Brown stared at the gun pointed at him. He found it extremely funny since he was dying after all.
"Okay...why?" Brown asked. "Why kill Peckin? What does he know about sliding tech?"
Rebecca laughed. "Him? I didn't kill Peckin. He was dead when I slid in. So I don't know." She pulled back the nozzle. "However...Maggie Beckett happened to be in my room when I slid back in. Couldn't have her telling anyone. Good thing Melissa looks guilty."
"Where's the maid?" Brown demanded.
"Don't know that, either," Rebecca said. "She was gone when I got here. Interesting setup she had going on though. Managed to set up a nice operation tonight."
"Always about the con with-"
Brown coughed. He cleared his throat.
"What else is there?" Rebecca asked.
Brown tried to speak again. Words were not coming out.
"No words?" Rebecca asked. "Good. That will make it easy."
The door swung open behind her. Rebecca turned to look. It was the one chance Brown had. He pushed himself out of the wheelchair. He threw himself at Rebecca. They fell to the floor. Rebecca still held onto the gun. Brown did not give her the chance to use it. He punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious.
Brown looked up at the visitor. It was Kat. She stared at the scene in front of her in shock. Brown frowned at her for an explanation.
"Och!" Kat said, sensing something was wrong. "I heard from Joel that Rebecca and Bennish was a thang. He's nae in his room so I thought there might be a connection."
Brown nodded. Something was definitely up here.

Randy held up his hands. "Uh...are you sure you have to-"
"Shut up, man," Bennish ordered. "I see the way you look at the dudette. You wanted to clear her. And your look? You know something."
"Hey! All I know is that Peckin wasn't killed in the attic. Detective Hall told all of us-"
Bennish pulled back the nuzzle. "And how did he know? Police overlooked the ladder before. All of a sudden, they know about the boathouse! Someone told them. Then you know about Melissa and me."
"Melissa and you?" Randy said with a frown.
"Pecks gave her the estate...and she's giving it to me. Sad about her going to jail, but oh, well. At least, I have a sexy maid."
Bennish narrowed his eyes. "And you tried to screw that up."
Randy looked about the room for a sign of escape. He could see none. He knew what he had to do.
"So that's how you got Peckin down to the boathouse!" Randy exclaimed, stalling for time. "You and Rebecca were in cahoots!"
Bennish shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? He couldn't satisfy her in bed."
"So having all his enemies in one spot must have made it easy for you to pin it on somebody and get away clean?" Randy said, looking at the rug on the floor. It was a quaint little rug with red triangles over a black surface. It extended under Bennish's feet.
"Hey, man!" Bennish cut into Randy's thoughts. "I care about Lis, too." He grinned. "I just care about me more."
Randy's eyes narrowed as he focused on Bennish.
"Then obviously you don't care about her," Randy said.
"And you do?" Bennish challenged. "You did something to her. She's mad at you."
"I'll changed that," Randy said.
"Not if you're dead."
Randy smirked. "Who says I'm dying?"
Randy dotted to the floor. His hands went to the rug and yanked. Bennish shot back toward the door. His hand with the gun reached to the roof as the gun went off, putting a bullet in the roof. Bennish continued to fall until he was flat on his back.
Randy saw his chance. He crawled over to Bennish. He grabbed at the gun which was still in Bennish's hand. A hand grabbed his own.
"Hey!" Bennish snapped. "Like...mine."
Randy pulled at the gun. Pain shot into his stomach and he fell back, propelled by the cause: Bennish's right foot. Randy grabbed at his stomach. It was definitely going to hurt. A shadow over his body made him realize Bennish was over him. He looked up to see Bennish had the gun on him.
He saw Bennish's mouth move, but he could not hear it. He heard the words of Cassandra in his ear. He thought about his dreams of staring down the barrel of a gun, signaling his death. He wanted to move, but couldn't as the prediction hit him like an iceberg into a ship.
Bennish turned away from him, surprising Randy out of his thoughts. He stared at the door. Detective Hall stood int he door, his gun trained on Bennish.
Randy's eyes widened. It was Richard's death all over again.
Bennish fired. Hall went flying to the left. Melissa took his place. She screamed as the bullet hit her in the stomach. Her hands went to her stomach as she fell to the floor.
Another gunshot went off. Randy barely registered it as he ran for Melissa. He had her in his arms. She stared into his eyes like she did not recognize him.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked.
Melissa grunted. "Barely...felt it."
Randy ignored the hand on his shoulder.
"We're getting you to a hospital," Randy said. "Just stay with me. Please."
Melissa seem to look past him. Her face was in a frown.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "You're dead."
Detective Hall leaned down beside him, his hand still on Randy's shoulder. He managed a smile for Melissa.
"No way, kiddo," Hall said. "That would be the other guy over there." He picked Melissa up. "Now let's get you to a hospital."

"'It's like something out of 'Cruel Intentions:' A very elaborated plot to get the fortune of one powerful man: Daniel Peckin with many twists and turns. This is Diana Davis reporting...'"
Brown rolled his eyes at the television in the hospital lobby. The name Peckin and powerful man in the same sentence was ridiculous.
"Professor Brown?"
Brown turned his wheelchair away from the television. Kat walked over to him. Detective Hall was right behind her. Kat seem surprisingly comfortable with that.
"Any change?" Kat asked.
Brown shook his head. He had to accept it. His voice was gone.
"On the good side, Miss Clark has stabilized," Hall said. "I cannot wait to get more answers out of her."
Brown frowned. He wished he had his voice back so he could tell Hall to back off.
"On the bad side, Rebecca escaped," Kat said.
Brown just shook his head. No doubt she was telling the associates about seeing them. The rest of the Foundation might bear down on this world if Melissa doesn't heal quick.

Randy held Melissa's hand as she laid in her bed. She managed a smile, the first one she had done for him. Randy felt warm inside at that.
"You didn't have to be here," Melissa said.
"I wanted to," Randy said.
The smile left Melissa's face. "I mean...it's not like I've treated you with the care of the angels since...I got back. I could understand why you hate me."
"I don't hate you," Randy said. "You know that."
"You just don't trust me."
Randy squeezed Melissa's hand. "Honestly? I trust you."
Melissa smiled again. "That's...nice."
Randy patted her hand and stood up. In spite of himself, he smiled.
"Now...get some rest," Randy said. "You have six hours before the slide...and it's going to hurt you for a while."
Melissa looked down. Randy turned to head for the door.
"Randy?"
Randy paused at the door. "Yeah?"
"I...I just..." Melissa started.
Randy turned around. Melissa stared back at him. There was her determination written on her face, but something else was there.
"I just didn't want you to see Richard die again," Melissa finished.
Randy nodded. "Thanks."
Randy walked out of the room. He smiled again. For the first time in weeks, it felt like he had Melissa back. His Melissa.
He could only hope that she got her memory as well.

Melissa laid back in her bed. The last few hours had been crazy for her. However, for the first time in weeks, she did not feel alone.
She turned over in her bed. She shot up in her bed at the sight of Mr. Stone.
"You can't be here," Melissa said. "You're dead."
As soon as the words left her mouth, it all came back to her. Her homeworld where it was a criminal offense to hit mailboxes. Meeting the crazy Logan St. Clair. Being trapped on a world where all sliders past through. Mr. Stone appearing to her and snatching her up. The operation. It all came back.
Melissa remembered...and felt more alone than ever.

THE-END


 

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