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self-destruct didn’t work, to use this.”
    He tore it open to find a package of dynamite and a single match. “Crazy old man.”
    “That just might be a better option than the tinker’s plans.” Beatrice shook her head in amusement as she worked on Emma’s wounds. “It can’t control the army if it’s blown to the high heavens.”
    “We’ll need to do this fast. That crazy old man is in prison because of me and I’d like to save him.” The Madame nodded at the dynamite. “Let’s go for the quick explosion.”
    Tripp took off his fancy dress coat and ripped out the lining. Inside were the plans he’d been carrying since the farmer’s wife had offered to sew them in place. He took a glance at them before letting them fall to the floor. “According to these, the main compartment is located right here.” Using his gun to bust a hole in the control panel, he smiled as the sparks flew. “Get ready to run.” Tripp pushed the dynamite in and lit the fuse.

Chapter Ten
    Sirens blared. The military facility was up in smoke as balls of fire jumped from one building to another. The clockwork soldiers lay on the ground where they had fallen as the Kingstown citizens crawled over them, desperate to get through the city gates.
    The three traitors raced through the chaos to the jail. Beatrice lifted her skirt and took her communicator off her garter belt. “Madame, should I contact Captain Grace? She can lower a bucket.”
    “Tell her to set it down right in the middle of the square. We’ll never make it through the mass of people flooding the gates.”
    Tripp and Emma left her outside and went into the old jailhouse. There was no one inside except for the professor. “I have too many questions for you, old man.”
    Greggor only sighed. “Just wanted one last adventure before going home.”
    Emma rattled the bars. “These have been welded shut.”
    “Ah, yes. When the sirens went off, the Sargent came in and welded it closed. He decided if I wasn’t getting my head cut off, then I could burn to death instead.”
    “We’re going to get you out of here.” Emma looked angry and determined as the room filled with smoke. “You freed me from the paddy wagon and took the blame for my escape. It’s the least I can do.”
    Tripp searched the jailer’s desk for anything useful.
    “Such a promising photographer,” the professor nodded toward Tripp, “bring me the two cameras from my backpack. It’s in the corner.”
    “What?” Frustration was laced in Emma’s voice. “There’s no time.”
    Tripp gave him a questioning look. “How are they going to help?”
    The old man winked at the couple. “Watch and see.” Tripp found a digital and an old-fashioned Brownie. Taking it over to the cell, the professor took the high-tech cameras and posed. “Cheese.”
    “This is ridiculous.” Emma stalked toward the door. “I’m going to have Grace send down a small explosive.”
    “Remember how you got here?” The professor held up the digital in the same way Tripp had held the Brownie in the convention center. “It’s one world crossing into another. Take my picture.”
    The flash of his box camera lit just as the building rocked from a nearby explosion. Tripp watched the professor fall back…then disappear.
    * * *
    Emma fluffed out the ruffles of her white dress and tried to steady her shaking hands. They were still wrapped in Bea’s homemade bandages but she didn’t care. They had escaped Kingstown and destroyed her father’s clockwork army. The professor had gone home and Tripp had decided to stay. There was nothing that was going to stand in the way of the ceremony waiting for her downstairs.
    Her young assistant, Kit, came into the room. “Oh. You looked lovely, Madame.”
    Emma blew the girl a kiss of thanks. “Are they ready for me?”
    Kit giggled. “Your fella is shaking in his boots, but he’s staring at the top of the stairs as if nothing else matters.”
    “Well, I hope so.” She took one