Fate (Wilton's Gold #3)

by Craig W. Turner

  “Bremner?”

  “Yes. And don’t look like you’re trying to see something, but he’s about a hundred yards behind us.”

  “What’s he doing?”

  Fisher sighed deeply. “This is the location I was telling you about. I’ve tracked him here a few times now. He legitimately checks out one of the devices, supposedly for analysis, and then brings it here. He uses the device, disappears, and then reappears in about a minute and leaves. He’s been doing this for some time.”

  “And you’ve been following him?”

  “This is the third time I’ve followed him. Outside of the 15 or 16 trips they’ve sold, and the one where you ran away, the only times the devices have been removed from security were when Bremner took them.”

  Jeff peeked over his shoulder. Sure enough, Dr. Bremner was inching along the side of the monument. He appeared to be out of sight of anyone but them, so Jeff quickly turned back around. “You said you see the records of the missions?”

  “Yes. I do monthly checks on the devices and can get the coordinates history.”

  “You do this in the room where they’re held?”

  “Yes.”

  “He doesn’t seem to be very worried about getting caught. Am I missing something?”

  Fisher shook his head. “No, he doesn’t. Which tells me one of two things: One, he thinks he’s infallible; or two, he’s got all the authorization he needs to do what he’s doing.”

  “But wait,” Jeff said. “Didn’t Dexter say that after I left they changed the system to require simultaneous security checks for access to the devices?”

  “Yep.”

  “So Bremner has an accomplice?”

  “He does.”

  Jeff looked at him in the dark for a moment. “It’s not you, is it? I’m sorry, that came out wrong. They don’t have you get Bremner into the room, do they? That’s what I meant to say.”

  “No, Dr. Jacobs, it’s not me,” Fisher said with a tone telling Jeff he wasn’t pleased with the insinuation. You’re going to have to get used to the fact that the military is now in charge of your technology.”

  It dawned on him. “It’s that general from the meeting yesterday morning, isn’t it?” He tried to trace back to some of the conversation, but his thoughts were dominated by the supercomputer in the basement of the USTP analyzing “threats.” Any lingering doubts he might’ve had about what he was doing had officially vanished.

  “General Carr, yes.” He saw Fisher turn and look behind them. “Yep, Bremner’s gone now. He’ll be back shortly. Let’s talk while we wait. What did you need from me?”

  Jeff paused for a moment to focus his thoughts. He didn’t want to get so deep in conversation that they missed Bremner’s return. “I’m starting to buy into your theories,” he said. “I learned some stuff today about the computer system they’re using and, frankly, it’s frightening. They have the ability to eliminate any threat to the program, to the country, or to themselves personally, as they see fit – past or present. With what you’re showing me here, it appears that could be what Bremner is doing.”

  Fisher was nodding along with him. “Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Man, I’d have to be on their short list, wouldn’t you think?” he asked. “I’ve run. I know more about time travel than anyone else because I’ve lived it. And because I didn’t know I was supposed to do so, I’ve given them no indication that I’m loyal to the program. Other than the fact that I invented it. Which could be interpreted either way.”

  “How’d your tests go today?”

  There was an ear-splitting crack behind them and they both jumped, turning without being able to stop themselves. There was Bremner, standing right where he’d been moments before. They composed themselves quickly and turned back to the water.

  “Wow,” Jeff said. “That sure brings back a memory.”

  “Yeah?”

  He looked at Fisher. “I’ve only been on this side of a time travel once before – every other time I was the traveler. The Russian woman stole my device and traveled right into what was about to be a very dangerous situation – she’d come from the future, this time now, actually – and when she arrived, I heard that noise. Never forget it.” Despite their burgeoning relationship, Jeff didn’t feel comfortable telling Fisher that Ekaterina’s arrival in Belochkin’s backyard had actually been the second time he’d heard the sound. He’d heard it in the forest when Erica Danforth had arrived down the road from them in 1849.

  “Well, it’s not very subtle.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  They looked again and Bremner was gone, so Fisher put his hand on Jeff’s shoulder and led him to their waiting cars. “How were the tests?”

  “I don’t have the results back from the computer analysis yet,” he said. They walked slowly, knowing this was their opportunity to talk. “The psych exam was interesting. It turned more into a lovers' quarrel of sorts. Did you know that the other me was dating Dr. Graham?”

  “I’ve told you. I didn’t know the other you.”

  “Ah, that’s right. Well, it’s like a soap opera over there at USTP,” he said, drawing a laugh. “I’m doing the physical tomorrow, and they’re supposed to show me the results of the analysis, too.”

  “That’ll be interesting. Always is.” They were walking underneath a tuft of trees. Jeff looked around. Bremner was nowhere in sight. “Don’t worry,” Fisher said. “He’s gone already. He drives a black Infiniti, which is usually parked right over there. It doesn’t behoove him to stick around.”

  “Though, if they’re trailing me...”

  “I thought of that,” Fisher said. “But no one knows the significance of this place. If you’re being followed, they’ll report back tomorrow that you came out here to meet me. It’ll look like some clandestine meeting that we’ll have to explain. But Bremner will put himself in harm’s way if he says anything about his presence here. What it could do is put us both a little higher on his list of ‘people to do something about.’ Me more than you. Though I suspect I’ve already made my way onto their list. But they still need you.”

  “Why do they need me?” Jeff had a momentary inclination to also ask Fisher why he thought he was a target, but didn’t.

  “My understanding is that the program is stuck. This is from scuttlebutt that I’ve heard, but the science hasn’t moved forward an inch since you left. From Bremner’s perspective, any covert ops on his agenda can only be sustained by legitimate scientific work. Without it, the USTP will start to become very political very fast.”

  “That’s really great insight.”

  “Just my theory,” he said, “but that’s the best I can do right now.”

  Jeff stopped at the edge of the tree line. “I’m nervous,” he said. “Let’s stop here for a minute. I need some things from you. If I’m going to take a run at fixing this.”

  “I thought you might. I have them in the car.”

  “What do you have?”

  “Your computer tablet and your old time device. I think your wallet’s in there too. Maybe your cell phone. But I need your absolute assurance that you’re going to do the right thing if I give them to you. And... I need your absolute assurance that saving my life is part of your plans.”

  There was little light in the shadows, but Jeff looked him in the eye as best he could. He gambled that he could trust him. “You have both.”

  “I was thinking about it,” Fisher said, “and realized that the only way this could be fixed is you going back in time and changing something. I haven’t come up with what yet, but I figure that’s your job. You know the science of it. Maybe you make yourself not leave, or maybe you do something to get in Bremner’s way. I don’t know. But please, please promise me that your plan is not just to go back to your present time and reenter your life, leaving everything else normal. I know that’s what you want to do – I’d want to do the same. But you invented this. The way I see it, you have a responsibility to protect u
s all from it.”

  “Believe me, I feel that responsibility very strongly.”

  “Good.”

  “I still need access to the devices, though,” he said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Power. My device is out of battery. I used the last charge to escape.”

  Fisher sighed, looking past him to the Memorial. “Alright, let me think about how to make that happen.”

  “One other thing,” Jeff said. “Can I get a phone number for you so I don’t have to put on a show to get your attention?”

  He laughed. “Sure,” he said, then listed off the number.

  Jeff took a pen from his pocket and wrote the number on his hand like a teenager. “Would you believe they haven’t given me a cell phone yet?”

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t have either. That was pretty clever, calling Russia from your hotel phone.”

  “Oh, I can’t take credit for that. That was Dexter’s idea for how to get your attention.”

  They walked the rest of the way to the cars in silence. When they reached Fisher’s car, he turned to Jeff and said, “I can’t give you the stuff right here. Don’t look at it, but I’m guessing that suburban over there is your tail. What I want you to do is go out for a while – deliberately have them follow you. I’m going to go to your hotel and have these things put in your room while no one’s keeping an eye on it. Give me drive time plus an hour.”

  Jeff nodded. “Thanks for your help with this.”

  “No, thank you,” Fisher said. “Now give me a big bro-hug like this was all a social visit.”

  “Really?” He laughed.

  “Yes. Your story is that since they in effect took your life away from you, you have very few people who you count as friends right now. Tell them you and I had built a friendship before you left.”

  “But you said-”

  “They don’t know that. Nobody knows anything about your reality.”

  Jeff nodded and smiled. “Good point.” He reached out and they gave a big manly hug – old pals who hadn’t seen each other in years. Then Jeff drove to the National Mall, parked his car, and walked to see the Memorial of his favorite president, Lincoln.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  December 14, 2018

  Jeff pulled his rental car into the same parking spot he’d had the day before, reasonably close to the main doors of the USTP. He imagined that, when he was somebody important at the program, he’d had an assigned spot. That would have been the least they could give him in return for inventing time travel and turning it over to them. Still, this was starting to become a job to him, a feeling he’d tried to avoid since he’d gotten out of college and begun his research. Punching a clock was not something that a scientist with a $40 million grant did, and while there was always some comfort to be found in establishing a routine, showing up at this office wasn’t doing it for him. Even after just two days.

  As he got out of the car and pulled out the Starbucks he’d grabbed on the way in, he tried to put himself in his other self’s shoes. While they may have had a lot of differences, he was pretty sure they’d be in lockstep on not wanting to be controlled by the government. They’d been similarly forced to report to the USTP, but the other Jeff had been coerced into integrating all of his individual work into their program. That must have been heartbreaking for him, having come so far and knowing the problems inherent with losing control of the technology. He himself was only reacting, making up his strategy as he went along. So it wasn’t the same dynamic. For the first time, he felt for the other version of himself.

  He closed the car door with his backside and began the trek across the parking lot to the front doors. There was a spark in his step today that he hadn’t had, and he knew why – the package left for him by Agent Fisher at his hotel the night before. As promised, when Jeff had returned to his room, there’d been a fully-wrapped present sitting on the business desk. Fisher had collected the items in a box and then covered it in colorful wrapping paper, completing the ensemble with balloons and ribbon, and a fancy card that said, “Welcome home!” To top it off, it was a musical card – when he opened it, it started playing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” Classic.

  The box contained the items that had been taken from him when he returned from Russia – most importantly, his time travel device, which he understood was now a much older version of what the USTP was using, and the tablet he’d borrowed from Abby to take with him on his mission. His cell phone and wallet were also included as Fisher had indicated – which was good. He hadn’t been sure about getting those back. Abby’s tablet at the time he’d left contained the only version of the software that had apparently been upgraded to be significantly more user-friendly. The original device had not been ideal, requiring its user to transpose coordinates from the tablet to the device, but it had still been in the early stages of time travel, and Jeff’s skills were not in engineering – for what it was, he was proud of it. He’d done enough to make the process work. Had he been left alone to continue, those kinds of modifications would have been next on the to-do list. The USTP had taken care of it for him, though, and despite his misgivings he actually found himself looking forward to seeing what they’d done.

  He’d held the device in his hand for a long time the night before, thinking about what his next step was. As he’d told Fisher, the device was useless without a battery, and he had no way of knowing if the new batteries would fit his device. He did know that they’d reduced the power in the battery packs to two trips, rather than the four the one in his device had originally held. That wouldn’t be enough, but he knew he could improvise if necessary. Lots of “ifs” to deal with.

  Unable to sleep and still clutching the device in his hand, Jeff had spent his night, well into the early morning hours, considering his options. He needed to get his hands on one of the batteries that had been confiscated from his lab three years earlier, and thought his best bet for doing so was Fisher, now that he appeared to be an ally. Jeff felt for him, though – the comment he’d made about considering himself a target. It must have been a terrifying feeling if, indeed, he was right about what Bremner was up to. Asking him to hunt down a battery for him would be having him stick his neck out even more.

  Jeff walked through the front doors and approached security. They still hadn’t given him a badge, which he hoped to get today because it would make things easier, so he answered a series of questions and was admitted into the building. Today’s agenda was two-fold – go over the results of his analysis and then run through the physical exam and training that all participants must endure. He knew that they were speeding him through the process, but didn’t know if they would try to cram in a look at the devices today. It worked for him if they did, but the next day was good, as well.

  Not knowing where to report, he took a seat in the middle of the atrium, assuming someone would see him there waiting. He enjoyed a moment to himself, looking around what was a gorgeous taxpayer-funded facility and wondering how, with all the debt problems the government had been dealing with when he’d left, they were able to justify this project and find the cash for it. High above him was a skylight with windowed offices lining the walls on all four sides. He counted seven stories up, cognizant of at least three floors beneath him, as well. It was astonishing. Especially from the perspective that the government had only tracked him down three years ago. In three years, they’d gotten this magnificent facility not only up, but running. It was a testament to there being a will and them finding a way.

  It made him wonder, though, if U.S. leaders had any inkling that another country might be up to similar research. He likened it to the space race, where the U.S. and the Soviet Union had pumped resources into advancing the technologies that would make them the first in space, the first to the moon. Was someone else working on time travel? The thought sent a shiver down his spine. He’d already seen first-hand what such a competition would look like.

  As he continued scanning the area, he noticed
a handful of people sitting at the cafe area and decided to check out what they served. He stood and walked across the open floor to a cordoned-off section littered with bistro-style tables and chairs. There was no line, so he walked to the front and peered at the menu board behind the counter. A clerk asked if he needed anything and he shook his head. The menu was handy for stopping and grabbing something to nosh on without having to leave the campus. They served some gourmet coffees and panini sandwiches. Nothing crazy.

  “There’s a full cafeteria on the second floor,” a voice behind him said. He turned to see Dexter.

  “Probably best to keep everyone close by, right?”

  “You got it.” Jeff followed him past the sitting area. “How’d you sleep?” Dexter asked.

  He nodded. “Good. Good enough, at least.”

  “Ready for today?”

  “As ready as I-” Jeff cut himself off as he noticed the sign for the Time Travel Museum. He remembered seeing it on the first day they’d brought him here, but there had been so much going on at that moment that it had passed right by him. “That museum is on this side of the secure areas. Who gets to go in there?”

  “Just participants, mainly,” Dexter said, looking back at the museum. “And only after they’re screened. As you can imagine, it’s not the type of history we want just anyone having access to.”

  “Can I go in there?”

  Dexter took his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen, presumably for the time. “I don’t see why not.”

  “Am I on a deadline today?”

  “No, Bremner just wants me to get you through all of this quickly. He wants to get the program back up and running.”

  “Not a problem. I won’t linger.”

  Dexter led him toward the area designated as the Museum. It was simply laid out – more a walkway of about the length of a football field connecting two tunnels in the wall. Inside was dark, with blacklights offering a cool, space age feel that greeted them upon entering. A number of exhibits were lined up in a row with the intent that viewers would enjoy them in a specific order.