Henry turned to him, belched loudly, then ran off before Coralis could yell at him. He followed the restroom signs and jogged to the station waiting area, only to find it blocked off for maintenance. Seeing no other signs, he quickly exited the far side of the building.

The urge to pee now had his feet dancing and his legs flapping. He couldn’t hold it too much longer, but there was still no sign of a restroom. He hurried down a dimly lit sidewalk past several restaurants and shops. Finally, he spotted what he was desperately seeking. As he crashed through the door and it closed behind him, a sinister figure went to work …

Theodore Burnhardt had once had a promising career ahead of him. As the youngest-ever assistant curator at the Chicago Field Museum, he had been well on his way to fulfilling his dream of taking over the top spot. And if he could somehow get his boss to retire early, the job would be his before he turned thirty.

So he put a little something extra in the boss’s soy latte. Nothing fatal. Just a blend of rare herbs that had an adverse reaction on ligaments and joints.

Unfortunately, the boss intercepted a shipment of one of the herbs and put two and two together. Which left Theodore in financial ruin following a crippling lawsuit. He was lucky he didn’t go to jail.

Fortunately for him, there was only one source where those rare herbs could be purchased—and it was one that the Scorax kept a close eye on. Within a week, Theodore had been recruited as the organization’s newest member, willing and ambitious.

The Scorax influence spread far and wide. And through it, they were able to place people in positions that one day might become useful. Which was how Theodore, despite his sketchy résumé, was handed the job of director of the Science Center at Union Station in Kansas City. The same Union Station where Henry’s train was now parked.

Until yesterday, his life had become dull, routine, and boring. But now he had an assignment. He couldn’t imagine what was so special about the young Leach boy. Frankly, he didn’t care. This was his moment to shine.

Only last week, he had received a shipment of two dozen black squirrels from New York City. They had been fed daily by a little old lady. When she passed away, no one took over and the squirrels became very aggressive. They were trapped and scheduled to be relocated to a forest upstate when Theodore became aware of them and asked if he could have them.

He wasn’t sure exactly why he wanted them at the time—perhaps to stuff as part of an exhibit. But now they would come in handy.