"Testing, testing, one two three." said Rachel.

"We hear you loud and clear." said Frohike's voice, through the receiver in her ear, "Hold up the newspaper so we can adjust the focus on the camera."

Rachel wore a pinhole camera, concealed in a brooch, on her lapel.

"Read something out loud." she suggested.

"Deputy Mayor Farren Phelps was sworn in today as acting Mayor of Bay City."

Rachel was impressed: "That's such small print."

"The camera has a built-in zoom." Frohike explained.

"Right, so you'll be able to see and hear everything I do while I'm inside Lumina."

The Lone Gunmen, and Matthew, who had insisted on coming along, were inside their van, parked across from the Lumina Building.

"Too bad you couldn't wear the headset with the computer linkup." said Langley.

"Too conspicuous." said Rachel, "What am I supposed to tell Stark - that it's a CD player?"

****

Meanwhile, at BCUH:

"Hello Nick." said Sofia, "I was afraid you wouldn't come back."

"I wanted to tell you - I just found out that - uh -"

"What?"

"Matt Cory got married - to Lila Roberts."

"Good." said Sofia, "I hope they'll be happy."

"I doubt it." said Nick, "I think Lila will make his life miserable. I also think that's exactly what he deserves. I expected you to be upset about it, though."

"No." said Sofia, "It's what I told Matt to do."

Nick nodded and turned away.

"Don't go!" said Sofia."I love you!"

"You loved me before - until you decided you loved Matt." said Nick, "Then you loved him - until you decided it's me you love after all. I don't think you know what love is, or what you want."

"Yes I do - I want you!"

"I can't trust you not to change your mind tomorrow." said Nick, "I'd be a fool if I did."

"Nick, I'm so sorry that I hurt you!"

"So am I." said Nick, "But we can't just press 'Rewind' and start over."

"Why not?"

"Because that's not the way it works!" said Nick, and exited.

"I'll find a way." Sofia murmured, "I'll get you back, no matter how long it takes!"

****

"Rachel, I'm so pleased that you decided to come back!" said Stark.

"I'm interested in learning more about Lumina." said Rachel, ''Tell me about yourself; how did you get started in your line of work?"

"It's not so much 'work' as a vocation." said Stark, 'This was my inspiration."

He handed Rachel an ancient, leather-bound book.

"Beyond Imagination by Jordan Stark." she read, "London, 1798. Was he an ancestor?"

"He was a great man." said Stark, "His theories about the nature of time are far in advance of modern physics."

" I don't really have time to read his whole book." said Rachel, "And I probably wouldn't understand it if I did. Can you give me a quick summary?"

"Jordan Stark believed that time is fluid - that in certain places, and under certain conditions, it is possible to make a tear in the fabric of time. That's why I brought the Lumina Foundation here : Bay City is what Stark called a Node - a place where several of the earth's magnet lines of force cross."

"So Bay City is one of those 'certain places' you mentioned?" said Rachel, "And what are the 'certain conditions'?"

"There has to be what he calls a Nexus - an overwhelmingly powerful tie between two people, something that can transcend time - transcend Death itself!"

"Boy, is he full of it!" Frohike muttered in Rachel's ear; she coughed, to cover a giggle, and said, "Even death?"

"Love never dies, Rachel. The original Jordan Stark spent years trying to reach his dead wife, Amalie - and he finally succeeded."

"Do you mean he conjured up his wife's ghost at some sort of seance?" said Rachel.

"Not a ghost - the living woman!" said Stark, "He not only saw and spoke to Amalie, he could embrace her, kiss her - "

"If only that were possible." said Rachel, "But I don't believe in seances."

"Seances are superstitious nonsense!" said Stark, "This is scientific fact. My attempts to recreate his experiments have always failed, because I didn't have a strong enough Nexus, but with your help, Rachel, this time I shall succeed!"

"My help?"

"Has there ever been a love like that between Carl and yourself? You were like the twin halves of a single soul."

"Yes." said Rachel, "Losing Carl was like losing part of myself."

"But he may not be lost to you forever." said Stark, "Let me try the experiment! What have you got to lose?"

****

"Congratulations, Mrs Cory!" said Zack, "Jordan promised to help you, and he did."

"You mean - he got Matt to marry me?" said Lila.

"That's right. Now you owe him a favour."

"Whut favuh?"

Just then Claudia entered the room. "Cass Winthrop is here, Mrs Cory." she said.

"Show him in."

"I'll talk to you later." said Zack, almost bumping into Cass in his haste to leave.

"How are you, Lila?" said Cass.

"Very happy!" said Lila, defiantly.

"Keep saying that, and maybe you'll convince yourself that it's true." said Cass, "But I didn't come here to discuss your so-called marriage."

"Why did you come?"

"Cindy Harrison wants my help in getting Grant's will probated." said Cass, "At least, it's supposed to be his will. It's dated two days before his death, and it leaves the bulk of his estate to Cindy."

He paused; Lila said nothing, merely giving him a look of wide-eyed innocence.

"You didn't have anything to do with it, did you?" he asked.

"Whut could Ah poss'bly have to do with Grant Harrison's will?"

"You didn't by any chance do Cindy a favour and use your talent for forgery to provide it with a signature?" he said, looking intently at her.

"Why would Ah do a thang laik that?" said Lila, and provided her own answer, mentally ("A million dollars in a numbered account in a Cayman Islands bank.")

"I'm sworn to uphold the law, Lila." said Cass, "If you helped Cindy forge that will, tell me now! I'll tear it up, and no harm will have been done."

He paused; Lila said nothing.

"You can bet Vicky will contest the will, on Kirkland's behalf." he said at last, "That signature will be scrutinized by the best handwriting experts money can buy. You could wind up in a lot of trouble - maybe even in prison!"

"If that's whut you thank of me, you'd better jist leave!" said Lila.

****

"Are you sure this is safe?" said Rachel, as Stark adjusted the equipment in the Lumina Lab.

"Trust me!" he said.

"I do." said Rachel.

"As far as you can throw him!" muttered Frohike.

"Just sit back and relax." said Stark, and turned everything on. The electronic whine rose until it was almost painful.

"Call to him!" said Stark. "Bid the one you love to come to you!"

"Carl." Rachel said, "Carl Hutchins! Speak to me!"

"Thy eternal summer shall not fade." came the reply.

"CARL!"

Abruptly, Stark turned the machines off.

"Why did you stop? Why?" said Rachel, "That was Carl's voice!"

"The equipment can't sustain that level of power for more than a minute." said Stark.

"Then - get better equipment!"

"It's expensive."

"I'll pay!" said Rachel, "I'd give everything I possess to hold my husband in my arms, just one more time!"

To be continued.