The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)
Chapter 10

Chronix Bay’s downtown area is not unlike any major metropolitan area in that it has its ups and downs. The city’s shining body of water, the Sea of Hope, leads into the vast network of rivers and streams that feeds out into the Atlantic Ocean. Also, at the city’s heart is the tallest structure at the center of town. This structure exceeds the other buildings in the area in both attractiveness and uniqueness. Recently refurbished, the structure is made of pure nickel and glass metal and shines like an obelisk, a beacon, against the backdrop of the clear waters of the Sea of Hope in the distance. It is a mighty fortress by the bay for the world to see, the Chronix Bay Central Tower aptly named as being constructed exactly in the center of the city coordinates. Its history is a legend known to every elementary school boy and girl. The Museum of Ancient History is nearby showing the old and the new reminiscent of that old blending to the new in the pages of history.

“Watch it, buddy” screams Sylvia bumping into someone on the streets. Sylvia is trying to squeeze her way through the crowd near the museum of ancient history during the day. There are press vans and police cruisers maintaining their position from the burglary the night before. Sylvia shows a press badge to the police officer guarding the crime scene area near an array of yellow tape. The officer shakes his head and refuses to let Sylvia through.

“Sorry, I have strict orders. No one can pass through!” the officer exclaims.

“Haven’t you become familiar with the rights of the fifth estate, freedom of the press, and so forth at the academy…?” Sylvia yells in response as she struggles to lead her camera crew through the crowd. Sylvia is disgruntled at the idea of being thwarted from going in to report the truth about the crime scene. “Come on people, press coming through” Sylvia yells.

The officer shakes his head and held out his hands refusing them access. Other officers soon approach including an overweight plainclothes detective with a beige trench coat and hat.

“What’s going on here?” screams the detective with a pompous attitude and toothpick in his mouth.

“Detective Cartwright, we’re trying to get through. I’m Sylvia Armstrong, Channel Nine news. Are you refusing us access? You know this is highly irregular. We have a right to report this” scolds Sylvia.

“Not now, you will get a chance later when we’re done investigating” says Cartwright.

I need to be there” Sylvia points to the floor where several suited men and uniformed officers snoop about and examine the scene.

“I’m sorry madam, but I was told no by the Lieutenant and Agent in charge” says Detective Cartwright.

“This is ridiculous. I think you’re aching for a lawsuit, again” says Sylvia moving closer to the detective.

“Hey” says Cartwright pointing his finger in her face “you will have to wait. This is a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and we will have a press statement released shortly. In the meantime, hang tight or you will be taken into custody” he adds.

“What?” Sylvia responds rhetorically with a shocked grin as Cartwright walks away with the officers, but the original one who continues to stand by blocking their path. “Hey, hey” Sylvia yells again at the other officers and suited agents walking by. The agents and officers continue to ignore Sylvia and her camera crew. “We just want to know what happened to the guard. Is there any word on him?”

“Sorry” says the officer refusing access to Sylvia and her crew along with the several other reporters and pedestrians behind them.

Nearby, Agent Adam Stone talks with his old buddy Lieutenant Brock Walton.

“This time of year is especially difficult with the news. This breaking and entering job at the museum really put an extra spin on things” says Brock.

“Well it isn’t each day something of this magnitude happens in a town as isolated. I heard about your local muggings and riots, but nothing like this. I bet everyone in town is a bit shaken up” says Adam.

“I know. We are letting people in on a case by case basis. Your division has issued top clearance only orders on this case. Back there you can observe a lot of ruckus from the press.” Brock looks at Sylvia and her crew trying to get through the police blockade and waving their arms over to the lieutenant and agent.

“Who is that?” asks Adam looking at Sylvia.

“That’s hard-nosed investigative journalist Sylvia Armstrong. She is used to unorthodox methods of getting to the truth, as she calls it. I collared her myself a couple of times for breaking and entering where she didn’t belong. It looks like she is behaving herself this time” says Brock.

Sylvia stops and stands still suddenly looking at the agent wearing a navy blue shirt and a purple tie as he looks back at Sylvia. Sylvia ignores the lieutenant barking out orders to the uniformed officers around the area running back and forth with evidence bags. Sylvia’s eyes lock with Adam’s. Adam has his hands placed on his hips and speaks to the lieutenant. There is a sudden attraction between Sylvia and Adam. Sylvia begins to wonder who he is, but in the midst of the confusion of the crowd, Sylvia’s main cameraman yells out to Sylvia because of her crew replaceing another point to get a clear shot from without crossing the tape and they were heading in that direction. Sylvia follows them passing by the agent and lieutenant on their way to the vantage point. As Sylvia and her crew were in earshot of the pair of law enforcement officers, Sylvia yells out rhetorically “when are we going to be allowed to eat at the big kids table?”

Adam and Brock turn to Sylvia, seeing her walk away. They were in shock and Adam stares with a curious frown at the young woman who he feels an unearthly attraction to. “That Sylvia is interesting and feisty” Adam whispers to Brock.

“I think she just crossed the line, Adam. Do you want me to shut her up?” Brock asks.

“Don’t you dare” Adam scolds.

Sylvia walks coolly down the sidewalk next to her cameraman who nods to Sylvia in recognition “you got some guts, we’re lucky they didn’t come after us.”

“I don’t care about that. I want to replace out why the feds are on this” says Sylvia.

“We got to wait for the press release. There is no other way” says the cameraman. Besides what makes you so interested in that suit anyway?”

“I don’t know, but I have to replace out … somehow” replies Sylvia.