Marilyn Kaye - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

"Bull," Amanda-Sarah muttered. Clare heard her.

"What are you saying, Sarah?"

"He can't just snap his fingers and turn into Superman."

"Amanda!" Tracey hissed. "I mean, Sarah!"

But as usual, Amanda was too caught up in her own announcement to catch the warning.

"He's acting like he can just turn it on and off. He has to be teased first until he's ready to cry, and then he gets the power."

"Interesting," Clare said. "All right, I think it's about time to get started."

"We're going to rob a bank now?" Tracey asked in dismay.

"No, not right this minute," Clare said. "We're going to have a little rehearsal first. I assume that in the past you've all used your gifts independently, to serve your own purposes. But to my knowledge, you have never worked together as a team, combining your gifts to achieve one common goal."

"How do you know that?" Tracey asked in bewilderment. "We've never seen you before-not until we were brought here."

Clare looked at her coolly. "But we've known about you for some time now, Tracey. And we know what you've all been up to."

Emily felt sick. This could only mean one thing- there was a spy among them, in their class. Charles? That could explain why he hadn't been brought here. Maybe he was already a member of this criminal team.

Then another candidate came to mind, one that made her feel even sicker. Madame … She knew them better than anyone. The students confided in her. She knew their strengths and weaknesses. She'd always claimed to be on their side. Was it possible they'd all been fooled? Had Madame betrayed them to these people?

She had no opportunity to envision Madame's future.

"Let's begin our rehearsal," Clare said. "Howard!"

The chubby guy hurried into the room. He was rubbing his hands together in delight. "Are we going to practice now? Can I play the bank manager?"

"Yes, all right," Clare said, but Emily didn't miss the look of scorn that flashed across her face. Clearly Clare didn't have much respect for Howard. So why was he on her team?

Clare indicated the sofa. "This will serve as the bank counter. The bookcase is the bank entrance. Tracey, Martin, Sarah, go and wait in front of the bookcase. Emily, where will the security guard be standing?"

Emily just glared at her. Clare sighed.

"Sarah, make Emily tell us where the guard will be standing."

By this time, Amanda might very well be able to do that, Emily thought. And who knows what else.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you. He's next to the door."

Clare eyed her keenly. "You could be lying, I suppose. Well, it doesn't matter-the guard will be in uniform. Sarah, you shouldn't have any problem identifying him. George, stand over there and be the guard. Now, Tracey, Martin, and Sarah will enter together, but Tracey will be invisible. Tracey, disappear."

"Now?" Tracey asked.

"We only have time for one rehearsal," Clare said. "We need to cover everything. Disappear."

Tracey folded her arms across her chest. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll order Sarah to make you disappear."

"What if Sarah refuses?" Tracey asked.

If Clare had seemed cold before, this was nothing compared to the way she looked at Tracey right that minute. It was as if icicles were shooting out of her eyes.

"Haven't you wondered where Emily is going to be while all this is going on? She'll be waiting in the car with me. And I will be armed. Do you see where this is going?"

Emily's stomach turned over. So she'd been right. This was what her mind had refused to show her. They'd hold her hostage to ensure that the others would do what they were supposed to do.

Clearly Tracey got the message, too. She faded away. Clare spoke to the empty space where Tracey had been. "And don't even think about trying to do something now either. Your friends will suffer for it."

She turned to Martin. "Martin, go to the bank counter. If there's a line, take your place in it. Don't go to the front. You mustn't draw attention to yourself. Sarah, stand behind Martin. From there, you can see the guard and the tellers at the counter."

"Why do I have to be able to see the tellers?" Amanda-Sarah asked. "I thought I only had to stop the guard from reacting."

"The tellers have alarm buttons under their side of the counter," Clare told her. "They can't be given any time to press the button and alert the police. You'll need to stop them as well as stop the guard. You can do that, can't you?"

"I … I don't know. I've never tried doing two things at once."

"Well, that's why we're having a rehearsal-to make sure you can," Clare said. She went over to the sofa and dragged one of the small end tables behind it. "We'll call this the door to the vault. Tracey, go behind the counter and stand by it so you can follow the first person who goes through."

Even though she couldn't see her, Emily assumed that Tracey was doing as she was told. She was too good a friend to risk Emily's life.

"Now we're all in place. The first thing that has to happen is that someone goes into the vault. It could be one of the tellers or the bank manager. Howard, you do it."

Howard took some keys from his pocket, jingled them in his hand, and spoke to an imaginary companion.

"Yes, of course, Mrs. Montague, we can get your diamond necklace out of your safe-deposit box. Come with me, please." He walked slowly toward the sofa and continued talking to his pretend client. "And may I ask where you will be wearing that lovely necklace? Ah, the opera! How very nice."

Clare looked at him with undisguised contempt. "Howard, we don't have much time."

Howard quickened his pace. Behind the sofa, he twisted the key as if he was putting it into a lock.

"Get right beside him, Tracey," Clare said. "Stay with him as he goes inside."

Howard acted as if he was opening a door. He made a big show of standing aside to allow the invisible Mrs. Montague to precede him, and presumably the invisible Tracey went through, too. He walked a few more steps and then made the movements of turning a combination dial.

"Watch this carefully, Tracey," Clare said. "You have to be able to remember the numbers. Now, Howard, leave the vault. Tracey, stay where you are."

Howard obeyed, once again pretending to open the door for the lady and locking it behind her. Clare's eyes remained on the position behind the sofa.

"Tracey, show yourself," she demanded sharply.

Emily held her breath. What if Tracey had run off in search of a weapon to combat the crooks? But she'd been right to assume that Tracey wouldn't risk being disobedient. Tracey reappeared, right where she was supposed to be.

"Very good," Clare said. "Now, Martin, this is your big moment. You're at the front of the line, facing the teller. I'll play the teller." They took their positions, and Clare continued.

"We want the teller to make you angry, so you'll be strong enough to break down the locked door leading to the vault. You'll have to create the right atmosphere so she'll upset you. Do you understand me?"

It was obvious Martin didn't have a clue. "Huh?"

Clare frowned. George approached her. "Actually, considering what we just saw, it might not be a good idea to practice teasing. You don't want him breaking any doors down in here."

Clare considered this. "But he needs to see what he has to do."

"I'll play his part," George offered, and Clare agreed. They held a brief, whispered conversation, and then Clare turned back to Martin.

"Martin, you have to watch very carefully and remember what George says. All right, George, you're Martin. What is the first thing you say to me, the teller?"

"I'd like some money, please," George said.

"Do you have a check you want to cash?" Clare asked.