Read Online Written in Time by Jerry Ahern - Free Book Online

lamely.  
    “Did you get my envelope yet?”  
    “That’s the reason I called. Yeah. We got it. And thanks for being so helpful. Listen. Do you have any way of finding any more photographs of the Naile family? And getting them copied? Within reason, I’ll pay whatever it costs. I could use a better copy of the photo you sent us, too.”  
    “Before I forget, I uncovered some more information on the Naile family, Jack. And, even though Jack Naile was a businessman, he seems to have gotten himself a reputation for being handy with a gun. It kind of reads like some kind of a western movie,” Beach added, laughing. “But, yeah, I think I can get some copies made of the photos. See any family resemblances?”  
    “Yeah—a little bit, at least.” Jack lit a cigarette, his gaze fixing on the photograph of Richard Boone, long-barreled single action drawn and pointing at him.  
    Ellen sat beside Jack at the table. Unlike some of the higher-profile writers attending the science fiction/fantasy convention, she and her husband had no scheduled mass autographing, but their readers caught them at the beginnings or endings of panel discussions or merely stopped them in the lobby.  
    Ellen saw Elizabeth signaling from the back of the room that she’d wait for them outside, and Ellen shot her a wave. David hadn’t come, having to work instead. But in a way, he was with them in spirit; they’d borrowed his Bondo-mobile Saab because the hotel’s underground garage was too low for the Suburban.  
    Jack passed a copy of their latest novel over to her. He was still talking with the reader who’d brought it. Ellen signed and dated the frontispiece under Jack’s signature. She closed the book, handed it back to Jack, and they exchanged a few more words with the man and his wife. Jack returned the book. The man and his wife smiled and walked away.  
    “You all set, Ellen?” Jack asked, starting to get up.  
    Jack pulled her chair for her. As Ellen got up, a good-looking young man in his late twenties or early thirties, a little boy of about four in tow, approached the table. An interesting thing about cons was that one got to recognize a lot of the faces of the attendees. And Ellen Naile recognized this man—yet she had no idea from where or what.  
    Somehow, the beard that the man wore didn’t look usual for him, nor did the glasses.  
    “I was wondering if you guys would mind autographing your book for my son here. I’m a big fan, and I’m sure he’ll love your stuff, too—soon as he’s old enough to read, anyway.”  
    Jack laughed. Ellen smiled as Jack accepted the book and started writing in it. Even the voice sounded familiar, somehow. Ellen signed the book as well. Jack was joking with the little boy. He was very cute, with curly red hair and an almost pugnacious smile.  
    The young man offered his hand, and he and Jack shook. He offered his hand to Ellen, and she took it. “Your little boy reminds me of our son, David, when he was that age.” And Ellen extended her hand to the little boy. Like a little man, he shook hands. Ellen laughed.  
    “Do I get a handshake, too, pal?” Jack inquired. The little boy seemed a bit reluctant, but shook hands.  
    “It was really great meeting you guys. My little boy will cherish this book and so will I. God bless.” The young man swept his son up into his arms, smiled and walked away.  
    “What was his name, Jack?”  
    “He wanted the book autographed to his son. James was the name.”  
    “Didn’t that little boy remind you of David?”  
    “His father reminded me of David. Come on, I’ll buy you and Elizabeth a drink.”  
    They linked up with Elizabeth in the corridor, Elizabeth immediately told them, “That little boy and his father? Wasn’t that little boy cute?”  
    Ellen smiled.  
    Almost ten days after Jack’s conversation with Arthur Beach, Ellen Naile found herself being reminded of the Norsemen, their belief that at the moment of