Fate (Wilton's Gold #3) by Craig W. Turner Read Free Book Online Page A

know who he could trust. Even Dexter, who had tried to play “good cop” with him at dinner. He may have been genuine in wanting to understand Jeff’s situation and his intentions, but while there had been ample opportunity for Jeff to tell him what he’d really found in 1849, he’d decided to keep it quiet. For now, at least.
    He had a suspicion that Dexter knew more than he was letting on anyway. His line of questioning, his body language… What Jeff had told him at dinner – about Russia, about a woman who had lived 30 years twice because of time travel, about multiple versions of people in one place – was mind-blowing stuff. But nothing had seemed to surprise him. Jeff had deduced, or rather, accepted, during dinner that the Jeff that started the Time Program with Dexter was a different version of himself, following the path of a different reality than his own, although some of the history could have been the same. Though, there was no way of knowing what they might’ve had in common. In fact, it was possible that the other version of himself had never time traveled, and simply had experienced just one reality until the day he decided to run, for some reason. The fact that he had run, though, made Jeff think that he probably knew more than he allowed Dexter and the other USTP folks to believe. Dexter not being blown away by Jeff’s incredible story also made him apprehensive.
    Finally, he gave in to his exhaustion, unbuckling the top button on his pants to allow room for the enormous burger he’d just eaten, and laying back onto the soft pillow. As his head sunk in, he felt the influential pull of serenity taking over. Knowing it would be only moments before sleep set in, he turned his thoughts to the present.
    First and foremost, his top priority was to learn as much as he could about what had happened in the past three years – the creation of the USTP, the mysterious “other” Jeff that had put him in this predicament, and the revised history that made Agent Fisher and him complete strangers. He needed to understand the USTP, the government’s philosophy and plans for it, and its proximity to real danger. The USTP needed him for something, so as long as he played ball he’d have the opportunity to engage, learn and analyze. In the morning, he hoped he’d have the opportunity to meet some of the USTP reps – and he’d use his influence in the program and his knowledge of the science of time travel to get as much information from them as he could. In the end, getting back to his own present time took precedence over anything.
    Jeff fell asleep resolved that he would do whatever it took to make that happen.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    “It’s a paradox,” the gray-haired military man at one end of the table said, pounding his fist on the portfolio in front of him to accentuate his point. The medals hanging from his chest clashed together from the momentum of his fervor.
    Jeff smiled. “Paradox” was the first place people who hadn’t experienced time travel went when talking about time travel. Walking into the room, he’d known that he’d have to allow the bureaucratic fog to die down before he – as the only expert in the room – would have his chance to talk.
    “Explain what you mean, General,” said Dr. Andrew Bremner, chairman of the U.S. Time Program, who Jeff had met on the way into the room. Bremner, as Dexter had explained to him, had a unique and charismatic combination of scientific knowledge and political savvy. He’d described him as a good fit for the top of the organization, and Jeff had been immediately impressed – while his alleged criminal background would have warranted any manner of salutation, Bremner had shaken his hand firmly, welcomed him aboard with a smile, and promised to sit down with him for a drink sometime to talk about his travels. Apparently, Jeff’s story had already made the rounds of the higher echelon of the USTP.
    “Benjamin Kane went back in time and