Fate (Wilton's Gold #3) Read Online Free
Author: Craig W. Turner
much to him which, as long as he got to sleep and have some time alone to decompress. It had been quite a journey.
“Just take it easy,” the driver, Agent Fisher, said. Fisher was another enigma. Jeff had actually felt that he’d begun to form a relationship with him while planning the mission in Russia. He’d taken on the mission under Fisher’s direction. Well, more his insistence. Then, an hour ago when he landed, Fisher had accosted him. He didn’t seem to remember any of their conversations. Which was confusing. And disappointing.
It’s not that Jeff was expecting a marching band awaiting him when he arrived back in the country, but he wouldn’t have minded a little gratitude. After all, he had risked his life and used his technology to successfully restore a reality in which the Soviet Union had fallen in 1991 and the United States was the preeminent world power. Of course it was possible that they had no idea any of that had happened, but on the plane he had been thinking of how that was at least worth a plaque or some commendation for his wall at home.
Then, he probably didn’t have a home where he could hang a plaque, he had to imagine. His home in North Jersey would’ve been foreclosed upon long ago when he disappeared, what would have been three years ago now. No one could have known that he’d simply show up a few years later wondering where his stuff went. Not even Dexter, who would have had the best chance of understanding the intricacies of time travel, having experienced it with him. Which would account for the cold reception and unexplained trip to God-knew-where.
Finally, Fisher pulled the truck off of the highway and down a winding road lined with tall bare trees on either side. After a few moments, they came to a manned gate where an armed soldier approached the vehicle. Fisher slipped him his paperwork and after a quick check back in the booth, the gates opened and they were on their way. Jeff noticed the guard’s eyes widen when he saw him in the back seat.
After a few more turns, the trees opened to unveil a vast property, in the middle of which sat an enormous while building with dark windows. The building was shaped almost like an igloo in its construction, though not as round, with a three-story entryway leading to a much larger facility behind it. As they pulled into the parking lot and took a spot, Jeff noticed a brass sign on a block of granite to the right of the main doors. It read “USTP” with smaller letters underneath that he couldn’t make out from his distance.
As they exited the vehicle, Jeff asked, “Can someone tell me where we are?” He thought he might be pushing it, but he did notice that despite his less-than-friendly greeting, he wasn’t in shackles. It hadn’t looked as promising an hour before.
“You honestly don’t remember?” Dexter asked.
“Dexter, I’ve never been here before in my life.” They started to walk toward the front doors, with Fisher in the lead.
“This is the United States Time Program headquarters. It’s a program that you helped to create. You have no recollection of this?”
Jeff shook his head, looking up at the enormous building.
Fisher led them up the wide walkway and through the front doors. It was above average temperature for December – in the mid-40s – so despite Jeff’s clothes being in bad need of a wash, he was warm enough. When he’d haphazardly sent himself back toward the future, he hadn’t considered he’d be arriving in winter. Only because he didn’t take a moment to think about it. He hadn’t had a moment to think about it.
They reached a security desk, where the parade stopped. As Fisher and Dexter handed over their credentials, Jeff couldn’t notice this guard staring at him, as well. “Can I help you?” he asked.
The guard stammered. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jacobs – I just didn’t expect you to walk through that door.”
“Is it wrong that I did?”
Dexter slyly shook his head at him
“Just take it easy,” the driver, Agent Fisher, said. Fisher was another enigma. Jeff had actually felt that he’d begun to form a relationship with him while planning the mission in Russia. He’d taken on the mission under Fisher’s direction. Well, more his insistence. Then, an hour ago when he landed, Fisher had accosted him. He didn’t seem to remember any of their conversations. Which was confusing. And disappointing.
It’s not that Jeff was expecting a marching band awaiting him when he arrived back in the country, but he wouldn’t have minded a little gratitude. After all, he had risked his life and used his technology to successfully restore a reality in which the Soviet Union had fallen in 1991 and the United States was the preeminent world power. Of course it was possible that they had no idea any of that had happened, but on the plane he had been thinking of how that was at least worth a plaque or some commendation for his wall at home.
Then, he probably didn’t have a home where he could hang a plaque, he had to imagine. His home in North Jersey would’ve been foreclosed upon long ago when he disappeared, what would have been three years ago now. No one could have known that he’d simply show up a few years later wondering where his stuff went. Not even Dexter, who would have had the best chance of understanding the intricacies of time travel, having experienced it with him. Which would account for the cold reception and unexplained trip to God-knew-where.
Finally, Fisher pulled the truck off of the highway and down a winding road lined with tall bare trees on either side. After a few moments, they came to a manned gate where an armed soldier approached the vehicle. Fisher slipped him his paperwork and after a quick check back in the booth, the gates opened and they were on their way. Jeff noticed the guard’s eyes widen when he saw him in the back seat.
After a few more turns, the trees opened to unveil a vast property, in the middle of which sat an enormous while building with dark windows. The building was shaped almost like an igloo in its construction, though not as round, with a three-story entryway leading to a much larger facility behind it. As they pulled into the parking lot and took a spot, Jeff noticed a brass sign on a block of granite to the right of the main doors. It read “USTP” with smaller letters underneath that he couldn’t make out from his distance.
As they exited the vehicle, Jeff asked, “Can someone tell me where we are?” He thought he might be pushing it, but he did notice that despite his less-than-friendly greeting, he wasn’t in shackles. It hadn’t looked as promising an hour before.
“You honestly don’t remember?” Dexter asked.
“Dexter, I’ve never been here before in my life.” They started to walk toward the front doors, with Fisher in the lead.
“This is the United States Time Program headquarters. It’s a program that you helped to create. You have no recollection of this?”
Jeff shook his head, looking up at the enormous building.
Fisher led them up the wide walkway and through the front doors. It was above average temperature for December – in the mid-40s – so despite Jeff’s clothes being in bad need of a wash, he was warm enough. When he’d haphazardly sent himself back toward the future, he hadn’t considered he’d be arriving in winter. Only because he didn’t take a moment to think about it. He hadn’t had a moment to think about it.
They reached a security desk, where the parade stopped. As Fisher and Dexter handed over their credentials, Jeff couldn’t notice this guard staring at him, as well. “Can I help you?” he asked.
The guard stammered. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jacobs – I just didn’t expect you to walk through that door.”
“Is it wrong that I did?”
Dexter slyly shook his head at him
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