Edge of Time Read Free Page A

anything. Yet,” Peter said as he leaned forward to tug the drape closed. “What the hell …”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œStand back. Turn off the overhead light.”
    â€œTurn it off yourself,” Alec snapped.
    â€œDo it. Before he sees us.”
    Something in Peter’s voice galvanized Alec and before he could argue he had crossed the few feet to the light switch and flipped the toggle. The room became dark again, except for the street lamp.
    â€œWhat?” Alec returned to Peter’s side.
    â€œSee that guy? Standing under the light? He’s been following me for weeks.”
    Alec peered downward. In the cold pool of lamplight, a young man leaned against the lamp pole. He was wearing a light summer jacket and jeans. He had short, dark blond hair. Alec couldn’t see his face but a creepy feeling started to ooze around his stomach.
    â€œWhat does he want?” Alec asked quietly.
Turn around
, he thought towards the man,
look up for a second
.
    â€œI dunno. But he’s everywhere I go. He was at school before the end of the year. I saw him a couple of times in the cafeteria. And he comes into the bookstore all the time. He never says anything.”
    â€œHow do you know he’s following you?”
    â€œLook, I just do.” Peter yanked the curtain shut. “Leave it alone. And stay away from him.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I said so.” Peter grabbed his book and stalked to the door. “He’s weird. So stay away from him.” The door slammed shut behind him.
    Alec stood by the desk. He couldn’t remember seeing Peter so angry or so off balance. It was just one guy, not the crowd from school again. Alec pulled back the curtain just enough to see through and looked down. The man hadn’t moved. Maybe the guy had a crush on Peter and was working up the nerve to ask him out?
    He was about to drop the curtain when the man turned around. He raised his head and stared straight up. Alec felt himself go cold. His stomach hit the floor. He stepped quickly back into the darkness, out of sight.
    It was the guy from the music store. The one who’d saved his life.

3

    R iley Cohen stepped down from the VIA train onto the crowded platform at Toronto’s Union station. Heaving her heavy backpack more firmly onto her thin shoulders, she followed the streaming crowd. She ignored the jostling, self- absorbed passengers, intent on keeping the exit sign in sight.
    The crowd bottlenecked through the exit hallway and emptied into the larger terminal where a milling throng stared intently at the constantly updating information boards. Unable to see over those ahead, Riley squeezed her way to the front and craned her neck upward. Her eyes scanned the schedule. There it was. Her next train wasn’t leaving for another four hours. Track seven.
    Great. Was nothing on time?
    Riley let the knapsack fall to the ground with relief while she considered what to do. She pulled a battered map and guidebook from the back pocket of her black jeans, and thumbed through the creased pages until she found what she was looking for. The tourist highlights were listed in italic font. Four hours wasn’t long enough to really go anywhere interesting or see anything major. The CN tower wasn’t too far away, at least looking at the map, but was out of the question with the heavy bag.
    She shoved a lock of black hair off her forehead and looked around for a sign indicating facilities for checking luggage. Unfortunately, all she could see were other passengers. With an impatient grunt, she grabbed the straps of the knapsack and swung it back over her shoulders and headed away from the throng.
    â€œMay I help you?”
    Riley stopped abruptly as a young man stepped in front of her and blocked her path. He was of medium height and slim build. His jeans and windbreaker had seen better days but he wore them with a certain style. He was gorgeous, like something