Out of Time 01 - Out of Time

manipulating are far different things.”
    “You’ll figure it out.”
    Simon didn’t seem so sure. Elizabeth’s eyes darted down the busy street. They’d actually time traveled back to 1920’s New York. It was absurd, but she felt a growing sense of excitement. Even if they were only there for a day. What an adventure!
    She looked back at Simon. His eyes were dark with concern and uncertainty. He looked down at the watch and put it in his pocket. “This may take some time,” he said.
    The doubt in his voice sent a shiver up her spine. He’d never been anything but certain, and to see him off-balance was incredibly disconcerting. But why should it all be on his shoulders? She wanted to allay his fears, but recognizing he had them would be an insult. Better to lighten the mood. If anyone was ever in need of a little cheering up, it was Simon. “If my boss doesn’t mind that I’m late,” she said. “Then I’m game.”
    His lips quirked into a smile. “You will be docked pay, of course.”
    Elizabeth laughed, but it didn’t last long. They couldn’t exactly stand around on the street while he figured out the watch. There was no telling how long that might take and the sun was already dipping behind the buildings.
    “Speaking of pay,” she said. “We should find someplace to stay the night. Just in case.”
    “Yes. I’d prefer not to stay on the streets. I doubt New York has changed that much in the last seventy years.”
    “Right. Wow. Seventy years. I’m still having a little trouble believing that.”
    “It is... difficult.”
    Elizabeth sighed. “Well, looks like the hand we were dealt anyway. So, we need a place to stay, but that’s going to cost money.”
    “And clothes. I’m afraid we’re garnering a bit too much attention as we are.”
    “I guess we’ll do it the old fashioned way,” Elizabeth said. “Pawn something.”
    “We can do that?”
    Elizabeth swallowed the laugh that threatened to bubble up. He seemed genuinely alarmed at the idea. “It’s not the best bang for your buck, but when you’re in a pinch. And I think this definitely qualifies as a pinch.”
    “All right, but I’m afraid I don’t know...” he said and then shrugged helplessly.
    Elizabeth smiled. This she knew how to do. It was a good feeling to be able to help. “I do. We need jewelry, things like that are the easiest to pawn. What do you have?”
    Simon took stock of his personal items. She’d never seen him wear jewelry of any kind, except for his wristwatch. He pulled back the sleeve of his sweater and took off the watch. “Will this do? It’s not a very modern design.”
    Elizabeth took the watch and frowned. “Broken,” she said. The crystal was smashed. “Must have happened when we crash landed.”
    Simon put the watch back on his wrist. “Your necklace?” he asked.
    Elizabeth self-consciously tugged at the chain. “Not worth anything. My ring’s a fake too,” she added with an embarrassed smile.
    She’d never had any real jewelry, certainly, nothing worth pawning. She looked down at her ring. Fat lot of good it would do them. They needed something real, something gold.
    “The ring!” she blurted and then without further explanation took off back down the street.
    When he caught up, she was on her hands and knees crawling around on the pavement in the alley.
    “What in God’s name are you doing woman?”
    “Ah-ha!” she cried and jumped to her feet. She held out her hand to him in triumph. In her palm rested the small scarab ring. “I thought I remembered holding it when the watch did its thing.”
    Simon’s face paled, and his hand trembled as he took the ring. Elizabeth watched the play of emotions across his face.
    “It’s a good thing, right?” she asked. His face was ashen. “Bad penny?”
    Simon looked up at her and clenched the ring in his hand. “Very much so.”
    She waited, but he offered nothing else in the way of explanation. “We can find another way.”
    “No,” Simon said and put the ring away in his pocket. “It should bring a good price.”
    He stood up a little straighter and nodded toward the street. What was it about the ring that frightened him so much? The tension in his body was palpable.
    “It’s getting late,” he said. Everything about his demeanor had changed. All the emotions he’d let seep out were tucked neatly away. Even his voice was different. Crisp and business-like. “We should find a place to stay the