Chapter 34
34
“Guys, guys! We gotta problem!” Tony suddenly blurted. Both of the others looked up, alarmed. Bruce had been sitting with Thor, trying to calm him and make him understand Luka’s attitude. He took a sip of his cooling tea, and reached for Thor, but missed as the blond god leapt to his feet.
“What is it?” Thor barked.
“You better sit back down, Loreal. Take a breath.” Stark patted his hands at Thor, but backed away a step or two. Just in case. “Your lady or brother, or whoever he/she is, just took all the money in ‘her’ account out in cash and bonds. She also traded some Asgardian gold for quite a tidy sum. I have a bad feeling she’s running.”
He cocked his head, listening. “Friday said she headed uptown from the bank. Apparently left one of those illusions in her room, but it’s vanished now. Also, all her clothes and books are gone.”
“She has fled, then?” Thor groaned. Surprising his friends, he sank back into his seat rather than dashing off to his apartment. He simply sat, head in his hands.
“Oh, no! Dammit!” Tony swore. “She, um, or he, is too smart! Left all the Stark devices on your kitchen table, big bro. We got no way to track him now. Don’t panic just yet,” he added at Thor’s lost expression. “I have Friday checking every traffic and security cam she can access. We’ll find her... or him.” He patted a massive shoulder.
“I think Loki will stay in Luka’s form,” Bruce chimed in. “At least, while she’s still in the city. She may leave, though. Said she ‘wanted someplace quiet,’ where she could sort things out. “‘Clear my mind’ and, um, ‘remove the incantations,’ or something like that.” He made that last sound like a question.
“I have followed the route of the cab Lady Luka took from your bank, Boss. She has disembarked at Penn Station and appears to be buying a ticket. Unfortunately, the security camera is blocked by her shoulder. I cannot see her destination.” Friday’s calm tones informed the group.
“Well, at least she’s staying here,” Bruce commented. At everyone’s confused looks, he explained. “Here on Earth, uh, Midgard, I mean.”
“Yes, yes! Thank the Nornir! I have a chance of finding her,” Thor glanced at Bruce, “or him, if he remains here.”
Tony headed for the sliders to the landing platform, his suit forming around him as he walked. “C’mon, Thor! If we hurry and we’re lucky, we might be able to catch her before she boards. Or at least, get her destination from the ticket seller.”
Loki used the station’s facilities for ladies, not because he needed them, but for an unobservable place to alter his appearance. Now, he became shorter, blond and more average-looking, but still female. Luka’s long gown was changed to a loose, comfortable tunic and leggings with tall, black, heeled boots. He removed some of his belongings from the dimensional pocket he’d stashed them in, grasping the extendable handle of the carry case and sauntering to the correct platform to board his train.
Settling into her overnight cabin, the mature blonde woman glanced out the window before drawing down its shade. She was startled by the small commotion she noticed back toward the street entrance. Ironman and Thor, here! How in the Nine did they find me so quickly?
She pulled the shade immediately, peeking through a crack, watching slit-eyed, as they strode to the ticket counters. Stark was moving from one to the next, cutting through lines of waiting customers, showing each attendant Luka’s picture. Lucky for her, the person she’d bought her ticket from had taken his coffee break right after concluding her purchase.
Tony was waving his arm now, conversing with a guard, pointing up. Cameras! Loki cursed, he’d forgotten how unsafe the mortals felt in each others’ company. He must remember to watch for those devices. Tony called to Thor, who’d been looking over the crowds, and they followed the guard to an interior office. No doubt to review whatever was recorded.
Loki grinned. Well, they wouldn’t find anything. His train was pulling out of the station even now. Luka, no he needed another name. Hmm, something different, perhaps. Issa sounded good and it amused him. A Nordic name, fitting for his now pale, blonde disguise. He changed his boarding pass and ID to match. Issa Engisonn, or Ice Son of No Man, was born.
Not interested in watching the urban landscape, Issa pulled out the bed as she had been shown, located the linens and readied it with a wave of her hand. Sighing tiredly, she snuggled in for a nap. Her small suitcase, she slid beneath it. Then, dinner when she woke.
It would be almost a full day, again evening, before the train reached the next really large city, Chicago. She planned to change trains there to confuse any possible pursuit, taking a different one to Ottumwa, another seven hours. Then, a bus north. It would be almost two full days before she reached the end of her journey. And she would still have to locate her, as yet, unaware hosts.