David and Harv were not back more than five minutes and were in the change room getting out of their western getups when Gale came knocking on the door. She opened it after David gave her permission to enter. She didn’t appear to have a cheery look on her face when she addressed the two men.
“Ricky just got back from Dad’s place,” She informed them, “He’s got more assignments for you guys to take care of.”
“Seriously?” David said, “We just got back!”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Gale said, holding her hands up.
“Don’t fret, Gale.” Harv said, sounding rather calm. “The last twenty-four hours of our last jump was very quiet. We managed to get some rest so we’re good to go back out there if we must.”
“Alright, smart man.” She said before closing the door.
“She’s right,” David said, “Taking turns to nap was a good idea. You just had a feeling we’d be put right back to work, didn’t you?”
“My gut was telling me we’ll be doing this all week,” Harv said, with a tone that was already showing his annoyance. “Let’s get this over with.”
Ricky was in the den, having a drink while waiting for the guys to return. David strolled into the den with attitude as he poured himself a drink and crashed his ass into one of the chairs in front of the desk.
“Help yourself,” Ricky stated with a drop of sarcasm.
“For the record,” David said, “Whiskey in old west Arizona is watered down crap! It’s nice to have a bit of the good stuff for a change.”
“Fair enough,” Ricky said, “I take it you managed to fix your paradox?”
“We fixed it enough,” Harv growled as he walked in. “Wyatt is alive, Virgil is short an arm, and the legend carries on.”
“Good to hear,” Ricky said, sighing deeply. “Dad gave me two more that need your immediate attention.”
“Two more?” David repeated.
“This shouldn’t be a problem,” Harv replied, “David is doing well, so he can handle one of them on his own. I’ll take the other.”
Harv took the two notes from Ricky and read them both, and then he passed one of the notes over to David.
“You’re the cop,” Harv reminded him, “So that one would appeal more to your strengths than this one would.”
“Makes sense,” David said, looking at it. “A jewel heist? How cliché…”
“Dad said don’t take it lightly,” Ricky informed him, “Even the smallest incidents can have serious consequences on the timeline. That heist wasn’t supposed to happen, and what happens afterwards is devastating. It can’t happen.”
“Fair enough,” David said, folding up the note and putting it into his pocket. “I’ll make sure it never happens and the people responsible for it are busted.”
“Get there at least two days before the robbery,” Harv recommended, “Scope the place out and see who else is doing recon. From there you can track them and end the heist before it even begins.”
“That’s actually what I was thinking,” David said, smiling back at his gramps.
“Have I ever told you you’re my favorite?” Harv asked him.
“Seriously?” Ricky called out, a little hurt by it.
“Chill out,” David snapped back, “We all know you’re Dad’s favorite, so it all works out.”
“Fair enough,” Ricky conceded, “I need you to work on these as soon as possible, cause these time travelers are causing more problems faster than we can handle them. Gale will be here keeping track while we’re all out there taking care of our respective paradoxes. Good luck.”
“I make my own luck,” David replied.
“Exactly,” Harv concurred, “Luck is for suckers.”
“Then be careful!” Ricky called back in frustration, “Try not to create your own paradoxes too!”
David removed himself from the room and walked right back into the change room and fitted himself with decent clothing that would fit the period that he’d be visiting. He also managed to find clothing he found comfortable and wouldn’t’ roast him in the heat of the area. Once back in the cave David took Ricky’s advice and used the portal to transport himself to three days before the heist. Once he was in the lavish city, he was able to walk about and enjoy himself as he looked like any other tourist that would be visiting that time of year. For a time traveler David blended right in even though he had gone back several decades to be there. David spent most of the day looking around the city and taking in the culture and the friendly locals, he even did a little shopping as walking around with bags also made him hard to spot from all the other tourists that were buying tons of crap form the local shops. After doing his sightseeing, David made sure to visit the museum where this heist that caused the paradox was going to take place. After spending an hour at the museum, David left to get something to eat and then got himself a hotel room. He spent a few extra bucks to stay at an expensive hotel that was located very close to the museum, so he had an excuse to be seen wandering around the area to avoid suspicion. After getting some rest and a good breakfast, David was determined to keep an eye on the museum and spend an hour checking it out throughout the day and into the next day. He paid off the hotel and was determined to scope out the museum for more than a few days, even if he had to come back a few times via the Portal.
David was on his last day and was checking out the museum one last time when he spotted something. There was a young lady surveying the same building where the heist was going to take place. She was very attractive young lady that was wearing a stunning blue dress that made her stand out. She was taking notes and checking out the guards too much for David’s liking, so he was thinking she had to be a member of the crew that was up to no good. His marshal instincts were telling him that she was part of the crew that he was looking for, so he kept an eye on her after she left the building but made sure to hang back far enough to make sure she didn’t know she was being followed. Unlike the attire that David picked out, her blue dress stuck out a bit more so that made it easier for David to follow her from a distance without himself being spotted. When she slipped into a local bar, David knew this was his chance to get a bit closer and see what was going on. He slowly walked up to the same establishment and walked in and casually took a table and ordered a drink.
It was a fresh sunny day, but while most people were trying to stay in the shade David didn’t mind sitting out the heat as he liked to sweat things out every now and then. Then again, compared to the scorching he took in Hiroshima a little less than a few months ago, the heat David was currently feeling was nothing compared to that scorching he took that day. He felt cool as a cucumber, although the tall drink beside him was helping with that too. David almost felt like he was on vacation, kicking it and getting away from work and the family for a while and enjoying a little alone time. He had only been looking around town for several hours but was confident he was following the right person. David was sipping his cold drink and just relaxing when the waitress strolled over with a fresh drink for him.
“I didn’t order this,” David said to the waitress in her native language, sitting up in his chair.
“I know, Sir.” The waitress replied, winking at him. “This one bought by the lady in the blue dress sitting by the bar.”
David looked over in the direction of the bar the waitress gestured towards, and sitting there was the same slender, good-looking woman in a blue dress that he had been following since the museum. Rather than take a gift horse in the mouth, David raised his own drink to salute the lady from afar and thank her without saying anything. The lady then picked up her drink and walked over to his table.
“Excuse me,” She softly asked, “Do you speak English?”
“I do,” David replied.
“Thank goodness,” the lady said, sitting down in the chair opposite of him, “I don’t mind using the local language but every now and then it’s nice to take a break. Do you know what I mean?”
“I do, actually.” David said, sipping his first drink and nursing it. “So, I take it you’re not from around here then?”
“No, I’m just here to visit.” The lady replied, offering her hand. “My name is Meredith.”
“David,” he said, reaching out and shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“So, what brings you to Cuba?” Meredith asked, somewhat curious.
“It’s a nice place,” David noted, “I find it very relaxing. Makes it easier to get away from people getting on your last nerve.”
“I hear you,” she said, agreeing with him. “There are not enough knuckles to help me to take care of the guys at work that drive me up the wall.”
“What kind of work are you in?” David asked, somewhat curious.
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“I can’t tell you,” Meredith replied, “It’s above your paygrade.”
“Are you sure about that?” David asked, as he flashed a badge that had no jurisdiction in the country they were in, but it still caught her attention.
“US Marshall?” she said, looking at the badge, “That looks very authentic.”
“That’s because it is,” David informed her. He was partially correct, but just not about the finer details. It was an authentic badge, dated to the exact time David was traveling to, which lowered suspicion. David’s boss has a collection of old Marshall badges that dated back over a hundred years. In exchange for using some of them whenever he was using the Portal, David returned the favor by collecting more badges for him whenever he was in the past. This allowed David to use a real badge whenever he went back in time, which made his claim to be an officer just a bit more authentic. He also didn’t want to flash a badge or forget one behind that was dated to his time of origin. That just didn’t seem like a very good idea.
“What is a US Marshall doing in Havana?” Meredith asked.
“I can’t divulge that,” David said, smiling back at her. “Let’s just say that it’s above your paygrade.”
“Is it now?” Meredith said, smirking at him.
“I’m afraid so,” David confirmed, “But maybe we can talk about something else.”
“Such as?” Meredith asked.
“The gun you have holstered to your inner thigh,” David proposed.
“What about it?” she asked.
“It’s a nice piece,” David noted.
“Why thank you,” Meredith replied.
“If I had to guess the model,” David continued, “I’d have to say it’s a Glock 17-L. A nice choice when trying to conceal something under your dress. If I wasn’t looking for it, chances are I would have missed it.”
“Wow, and all that from watching me walk over?” Meredith said, sounding rather impressed.
“The part that I really find fascinating,” David continued, “Is that your particular model doesn’t become available to the public until 1988, and yet here you are with one in Havana in the mid-1950s.”
“Okay, that was a neat trick you pulled off.” Meredith said, as she stood to leave.
David also jumped to his feet, grabbing Meredith’s arm. As he pulled her closer, he put the barrel of his own gun into her ribs.
“You should check out my Glock,” David whispered into her ear. “This one is a 43X, which is known as a subcompact and is much easier to hide. It also happens to have an increased magazine size compared to its earlier counterparts. This model however isn’t released until the mid-90s.”
“That’s very impressive,” Meredith said, looking back at David. “Where did you get that?”
“Same place you got yours,” David replied, “From the future.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Meredith said, trying to break from his grip, but she was unable to.
“I’m sure if we look in your purse, we’ll find plenty of clues to when you come from.” David said, as he took the bag away from her. He opened the handbag and looked inside. There were several things that didn’t belong in this time, much like the gun strapped to her leg. After taking a quick look inside, he closed the purse without taking anything out of it and returned it to her.
“This is pretty cool,” David said as he put his Glock away. “It’s always interesting to bump into a fellow time traveler.”
“You’re a time traveler?” Meredith said, as she couldn’t believe it.
“Fraid so,” David said, “Where are you originally from?”
“Can’t tell you,” She replied, “Spoilers.”
“Ha,” David said, rather amused. “Based on what I saw inside that purse, odds are I’ve came back from a time further into the future than yours.”
“Is that so?” Meredith said, pausing for a moment. “Ask me a question then.”
“Who’s the President of the United States?” David asked her.
“George Bush,” She answered.
“Which one?” David countered.
“What do you mean which one?” Meredith asked.
“That’s okay, you narrowed it down for me,” David said, “Your President is George Herbert Walker Bush.”
“That’s right,” Meredith confirmed.
“That also means you’re from the early 90s.” David added.
“Maybe I’m from the mid-90s,” Meredith counters.
“Fraid not, sister.” David corrected, “I’m afraid that administration doesn’t make it to the mid-90s.”
“Seriously? Just one term?” Meredith said, surprised by the statement. “So, you are from a future beyond my time?”
“I’m afraid so.” David confirmed. “But only by a few decades.”
“So, who’s your President?” Meredith asked.
David responding by laughing out loud.
“You’re not going to tell me?” she said, feeling rather frustrated.
“There’s no point,” David said, still chuckling. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I was there and I hardly believe it myself.”
“Seriously?” She said, looking rather pouty. “I can always go forward and check myself; why be so coy?”
“Alright, but don’t take advantage of this and place any bets.” David said as he released her arm. “It’s Hillary Clinton.”
“Don’t you mean Bill?” She asked.
“You see,” David said, smiling. “I said you wouldn’t believe me.”
“Wow,” Meredith said taking a step back. “How did you get here?”
“You won’t believe that either,” David answered. “How did you get here?”
“I used a machine, just like you did.” Meredith answered snidely.
“I didn’t use a machine.” David said, smiling back at her.
“That’s impossible,” Meredith said, her irritation growing. “How do you travel through time then?”
“Do you want the truth?” David asked, “Because I don’t think you can’t handle the truth.”
“Oh, that’s cute,” Meredith said, unimpressed. “Now you’re referencing movies from my time just to tease me.”
“It felt appropriate.” David said, “But I stick my previous answer, I doubt you’d believe me.”
“Try me.” Meredith insisted.
David leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Magic.”
Upon hearing that word Meredith pushed David aside and started to walk away. David couldn’t help but laugh at her response.
“You see,” he called out, “I said you wouldn’t believe me!”
“Go to hell!” Meredith said, not turning back as she stormed out.
David watched her walk away and chuckled for a second before returning to his table. He took the drink that Meredith had bought for him and poured it out into the base of a plant that was beside his table. He could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t going to let this go and decided to take precautions. David grabbed his gun, his badge, and a few other items before tossing them over the wooden fence that was beside his table. David had a feeling he wasn’t going to need them as he sat back down and continued to sip his own drink. He wasn’t there for more than five minutes when someone else approached his table and sat down without even asking. The man was broad shouldered, and a little bigger than David. Unlike Meredith, he didn’t appear to be there to share a drink.
“Who the hell are you?” the man asked, rather harshly.
“I’m David,” David replied, not looking up from what he was reading.
“Well, David.” The man replied, “I need you to come with me.”
“Is that so?” David asked.
“Yes,” the man replied, “It is.”
“I take it you’re a friend of Meredith?” David asked.
“We work together,” the man answered.
“Well, my mother told me never to go with strangers.” David informed him.
“You can call me Decker.” The man said, “Now get up and walk with me.”
David didn’t want to cause any trouble, especially since he really liked this spot. He looked at his watch for a second and did a little math in his head. After figuring out how much time he had left, David stood up to leave.
“Alright,” David said, “I’ll play along.”
“Hand over your gun,” Decker asked.
“I don’t have one.” David replied.
“You pulled on one Meredith,” Decker reminded him, “So, I know you’re lying.”
“Check if you don’t believe me.” David said, holding up his arms.
Decker did a quick pat down and found nothing. He was obviously confused but pushed him towards the exit.
“This way,” He ordered.
David followed Decker away from the bar, and about a block away when they were both crossing the road, another man came up behind David and put the barrel of a gun in his back.
“Keep following Decker,” the man ordered. “And we won’t harm you.”
“Alright,” David said, but he wasn’t worried.
David was a mission to find out who these people were, and the more he learned about them, the more he had the advantage. He walked calmly and without and hint of resistance as they strolled towards a building that looked like a garage but was just an empty warehouse. In the middle of this warehouse were a few beds, and a desk, which made this their base of operations. Meredith and Decker were just members of a team. Meredith was still wearing her dress as she watched David walked into the big warehouse with the Decker and his friend.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Meredith asked. “What if his team comes looking for him?”
“I don’t have a team,” David lied, but it was partly true. He was traveling alone for this trip, so there was no need to drag Ricky or Harv into it.
“What kind of idiot time travels alone?” Decker asked.
“That would be me,” David said, as he extended his hand. “I’m David.”
Decker stood there and didn’t return the gesture. “Where’s your machine?”
David looked around and then back at Decker. “Where’s yours?”
“It’s hidden,” Decker answered, “But I’m more curious about where you come from and how you got here.”
“Well, I’m from America.” David answered, “And how I got here is a secret. You’d never believe me if I told you anyway.”
“You already told Meredith,” Decker reminded him. “Said it was magic.”
“And do you believe that?” David asked.
“I do not,” Decker answered.
“See,” David said, grinning at Meredith. “I said you wouldn’t.”
“Shut the hell up!” Decker said, his patience clearly thinning. “I have to find out what this man knows or we’re pulling the plug on this whole operation.”
“You can’t mean that!” Meredith said, clearly upset by the suggestion.
“I mean it,” Decker insisted, “Another traveler here can’t be coincidence.”
“It could be,” David said, teasing him. “I just might be here to get some sun and just chill out in Havana during the good ol’ days.”
“I don’t buy it,” The other man called out.
“Neither do I,” Decker agreed.
“I don’t bump into travelers that often,” David said, which was partially true. “How many have you seen in your travels?”
“There isn’t that many,” Decker answered, “But I thought I knew everyone who had the means to travel. Are you registered?”
David paused for a moment. “Registered for what?”
The answer seemed to get a reaction out of everyone in the room. The man who David didn’t know was the loudest as he knocked a chair over.
“Are you kidding me?” he called out, “He’s a rogue traveler!”
“Interesting,” David said, processing the new data. “Is there a group or agency I’m supposed to sign up with?”
“Kind of,” Decker said, as he walked closer to him. “We need to know where your machine is and find out who you work for.”
“Can’t help you with that,” David replied, and as he said that he took a small glance at his watch. It was a gesture that wasn’t missed.
“He just looked at his watch,” the other man called out.
“I saw it too, Stuart.” Decker said, “Is your machine on a timer?”
“That’s not a bad idea,” David said, “but if that was true don’t you think I’d make a break for it, so I’m not left behind?”
“You don’t need to worry about being stranded,” Decker said, “If you have a team that can come back and pick you up.”
“That again?” David said, as he was still amused by their questions. “Asked and answered councilor; I don’t have a team.”
“Then why did you look at your watch?” Stuart asked.
“Just checking the time,” David replied.
“You have somewhere you have to be?” Decker asked.
“Not exactly,” David said, relaxing and just chilling. According to his watch, they only had a few minutes left to talk with him before his projection expired.
“He’s hiding something,” Meredith said, sounding very paranoid.
“Well, she’s right about that.” David confirmed, “But there’s no point telling you anything. I already said you couldn’t handle the truth.”
“I don’t believe in magic!” Decker informed him.
“Neither did I,” David agreed, “And then one day I became a time traveler.”
“I’m getting tired of this,” Decker said, his anger boiling over. “You’re going to tell us where your ship is, or we’ll beat it out of you.”
“Fraid not, sport.” David countered. “Your time is just about up.”
Decker looked around at the others and then back at David. “Excuse me?”
“Negative on that too.” David said, gesturing to the man. “And you guys might want to back up unless you want your ears to ring for about a week.”
Decker smiled and didn’t do as he was told. “What the hell are you…”
David never got to hear Decker finish that sentence as he felt that cool wave of air hit his face, and he knew exactly what that meant. His projection had expired, which not only returned David to his cave in the present time, but likely left Decker and his people behind with a loud, thunderous bang.