Timeslingers:

The Online Time Travel Adventure Series

The communicator chirped.

“You’re behind schedule. It has to look like a mistake, or chance. We need to find holes, otherwise they’ll–” said Lee.

“Track it back to us. I understand,” said Kline. He glanced at his watch. Henry would be there any minute. “You’ll have them tonight.”

“Do you have access to the–”

“Not yet. I will. What about the Fra Mauro operation?”

“It’s on track.”

“I have to go. He’s almost here.”

“Send them as soon as possible.”

A pair of headlights breached the horizon. Kline terminated the call and watched as Henry pulled into the quiet gas station. The single light above the station attendant’s booth flickered. The soft hum of country music played on the radio amidst the attendant’s snores. Kline walked to Henry’s sedan and leaned into the car window.

Henry’s face was pallid. “I’ve got everything—everything I could find.”

“Good.”

Another pair of headlights appeared. Henry’s eyes darted up to the rearview mirror. A police car. Henry fidgeted and threw a worried glance at Kline, who frowned. The squad car rolled into the gas station and the officer stuck his head out the window.

“That you, Henry? What brings you all the way out here this time of night?”

“I, ah–”

“Me, actually,” said Kline. “Car broke down. I needed a ride and didn’t know who else to call.”

The officer eyed Henry. “You all right? You look a little–”

“Sick,” said Henry. “Just, uh…sick.”

“Riiiiight. Hey, you mind if I take a look at your vehicle?”

Kline smiled. “That’s not necessary, but thanks.”

“I’d like to take a look. Ya never know.”

The officer got out of his vehicle and moved toward Kline’s rental car. Kline pulled a memory erasing injector and fell into step behind him. In one swift motion, he shoved the needle into the officer’s neck and pulled the injector’s trigger. The officer slumped down onto the asphalt.

“You killed him?”

“He’s fine, just unconscious. He won’t remember what happened or how he got here,” said Kline. “Now, those reports.”

Henry swallowed hard and handed Kline a briefcase.

“Good work, Henry. Go home. Forget all this happened. You’ve been a huge help.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“But–” Henry started.

“Just go home, Henry.”

The engineer nodded and guided his sedan back onto the highway. Kline engaged his datapad’s communicator while shaking his head at the cataleptic police officer.

“I’ve got them.”