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As a scientist he was used to working as a team to get answers to mysteries. He picked up his cell and stared at the screen. Letting out a breath he pushed the button for his contacts and searched for the number of the one man he trusted not only to know him and Sadie well enough for honesty, but to keep things confidential. The phone rang three times before the familiar deep voice answered.
“Hey, Marc. It’s been a while. How are you?”
“Gary, I have some things I’d like to run by you if you have the time.”
“Well sure, Marc, but I’m not at work. Can you swing by the house or do you need me to come there?”
Marc’s body felt cold at the idea of anyone at the lab possibly overhearing his personal problems. Talking to Gary at his house made Marc feel more at ease. He didn’t want his office staff to interrupt or somehow hear what was going on in his private life.
“I’d rather come to you. I can leave in five and be there in twenty if that’s okay with you. Is Sarah home too?”
“No. She took the kids to the park. You do know it’s a holiday. The kids are out of school.” His voice was warm with amusement.
“I didn’t pay attention. Sadie and I don’t have kids so it’s never an issue.”
The silence on the other end was telling. Gary wasn’t sure how to respond to that statement. Most people didn’t.
“I’ll be there soon, Gary. Thanks.”
Marc stopped on the way and grabbed a six-pack of beer as he headed to Gary’s house. Gary was one of the most down-to-earth men Marc had ever met. No one could put a problem in perspective like he could. He’d also known Sadie and even though men didn’t usually talk about problems, especially the personal kind like Marc was suffering from, he wanted someone who knew him and his wife to get his viewpoint.
Once he pulled into the driveway, Marc grabbed the bag containing the beer and headed to the door. The big redhead answered a few seconds after he’d knocked. He wore faded jeans and a comfortable t-shirt that had a heavy metal band logo on the front. Marc grinned at the shirt. They had gone to that concert before he’d even met Sadie. They both got so drunk they ended up staying at the local hotel.
“Nice shirt.” Gary chuckled as he backed up and let Marc into the house.
“Good time too.” Marc laughed at Gary’s comment. Sarah would kill them both if she found out about that night.
They walked through the house and sat in the kitchen staring out at Gary’s back yard. Neither said a word as they sipped on the cold beer. Gary finally set down the bottle and leaned back in his chair. The sun hit Gary’s orange-red hair, making it seem like sparks of light were bouncing off the wavy mass.
“Did you just want to come by to drink beer? What’s going on, Marc?” Gary looked concerned as Marc traced the condensation on the outside of the dark brown bottle with his index finger.
“Gary, I can’t really get into specifics about things or what has gone on at work but something happened. Something big. That incident has changed things somehow but I can’t explain what it’s changed. It’s hard for me to say this. I need help to figure this out. I trust you.” He glanced up from the table to gauge Gary’s reaction. He knew he’d just created more confusion by his vague statements.
“I know that you work for the government in that project for the Exchange Houses, but I need to get in touch with someone in one of the facilities.” At Gary’s deep inhale Marc continued. “I’d get clearance from Vargas but trust me, Gary, something personal happened and I don’t want the government involved unless there’s no other way. I just need to ask questions.”
Gary stood up and paced the kitchen.
“Gary, it’s affected my marriage. Something has happened. It’s like memories of things that never took place. I need to get some answers.” Marc stood and walked to the window staring at the verdant green yard. “I know this involves a problem with the time continuum and the facilities have protections against being affected. This could be a big thing or it could be nothing. I just have to talk to them. Like I said it’s personal so I don’t want the government to know if I can avoid it.”
Gary blew out a breath and nodded. “Come with me to the home office for a minute. I have some contact information locked in the safe. I’ll let you talk to someone on the cell phone we’ve been issued. It’s a secure line but also its the only way to contact anyone at the facility directly.”
As they walked down the hallway Marc looked at the pictures Gary and Sarah had put on display. Gary with his red hair and ruddy complexion, Sarah with her pretty blonde hair and brown eyes. The baby pictures of their two boys. A twinge of pain hit Marc looking at those round, squinty faces. He’d never be able to hold his own child in his arms. But he had Sadie, and he’d make the same choice a thousand times over.
He stopped when he saw the wedding picture. He’d been out of the country with Sadie when Gary and Sarah got married. He hated missing the wedding, but his father had leads on medical research in China, and he took Sadie so he could propose. He looked at their smiling faces, Sarah in her sleek white gown with the tight-fitting skirt that flared just below the knees. Gary wit
h his smart black tuxedo and the entire bridal party. He turned to follow Gary when the face of the best man caught his eye.
Tall, dark hair and blue eyes. Marc shook his head. No fucking way. He moved closer to the picture to study the man. He felt a buzzing along his skin. “Marc, I have the information you need.” Gary’s voice seemed to be coming from far away. He felt Gary moving back into the hallway to stand beside him.
“Man, that day seemed so long ago. It really changed my life. I wish you and Sadie could’ve been there.”
“Me too,” he answered distractedly but pointed to the man in the photo. “Gary, who is that guy? Do you have any closer pictures of him?”
“Sure, come in the office. That’s Dave. We grew up together. Hell, he was like the brother I never had. We lived next door to each other and when his stepfather would get drunk and abusive, he’d run to our house. It happened way too many times. We gave him the nickname the Asshole. Now that I’m a dad, I get pissed thinking someone doing that much damage to an innocent child. I’ve seen him with busted lips and black eyes. I’ve seen worse on him too.”
Marc had followed Gary into the neat home office. Gary reached behind him and pulled out a photo of Meghan, Gary and the blue-eyed man and handed it to Marc. He was sure this was the same man from his dream. The eyes were the giveaway. In the dream his eyes were intense and full of desire, while in the picture they were crinkled in a smile. The buzzing along his skin returned.
“You said his name was Dave. Dave what? What does he do?”
