The Brahms Deception by Louise Marley Page B

him.
    â€œMr. Bannister,” Kristian said. “I want to transfer to the moments before your daughter arrived in 1861. That way I can assure you she reached the right time, that I’m looking in the right place.”
    From the far end of the room, Bronwyn Bannister fixed her husband with a look Kristian could have sworn was one of accusation. Bannister wasn’t looking in her direction, but the lines around his mouth deepened even more. He said, “I was assured by the Remote Research Foundation that the process had been comprehensively analyzed. That there was no risk!”
    Max said, “We have a perfect track record.”
    â€œUntil now.”
    â€œWe don’t know yet what went wrong,” Elliott put in. “The programming—”
    Bannister growled, “There had better not be any further risk to my daughter, or I’ll—”
    Kristian put up a hand. “Enough. Let me go, and then we’ll know more.”
    Bannister eyed him. “Kristian North,” he said. Something obscure flickered behind his red-rimmed eyes, making Kristian’s instincts prickle.
    â€œRight.”
    â€œYou were the runner-up.”
    Kristian drew a breath. The loser . “Right again.”
    â€œWhy did they call you for this?”
    â€œBecause I was ready to go. Vetted, mapped, tested. I’m sure you’re happy there was someone they could call on.”
    There was a long pause, Bannister and Kristian staring at each other. Bannister’s mouth twisted. He looked anything but happy. “This could be you,” Bannister said, nodding toward the still form of his daughter.
    â€œI suppose,” Kristian said. “That depends on what happened.”
    â€œYou’re willing to go?”
    â€œMore than willing. Eager.”
    Bannister searched Kristian’s face, and Kristian gazed back at him. There was something in the older man’s expression, something hidden, masked by the set of his mouth and the droop of his eyelids. It wasn’t just that he was a worried father. There was something more—shame? Guilt? Kristian couldn’t put his finger on it.
    â€œLook,” Kristian said. “Send me back for—another hour, say. Then, when we know everything is all right with Frederica’s arrival, I can go back for a longer period, try to figure out what happened, and why she doesn’t come back.”
    Elliott chewed on his lip, and Max began, “That’s a lot of transfers. I’m not sure—”
    Frederick Bannister said, in a voice that clearly was accustomed to being obeyed, “Do it, gentlemen. Do it now. With every minute that passes, the Foundation is getting closer to a very big lawsuit.”

6
    â€œOne hour, Kris,” Elliott said as he placed the cap on Kristian’s head. “No longer.” Elliott’s hands trembled slightly.
    Kristian said, “Take it easy, Elliott. Everything’s going to be fine, just like last time.”
    â€œI don’t like this rush. All it takes is for one set of coordinates to be off by a fraction—”
    â€œThey’re not,” Max said, from the other side of the cot. He taped down the electrodes to Kristian’s right wrist, and straightened. “You said it was simple. You substitute Kris’s mapping for Frederica’s, and adjust for five minutes earlier. There’s no problem.”
    â€œBut the layering—”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Kristian said. “I know the math, and I understand the physics, at least as well as a layman can. I won’t come near her.”
    â€œMost of the transfers don’t understand the process.” Max spoke to Elliott above Kristian’s head. “If we have to take a chance, Kris is the best subject we’ve had.”
    Elliott said, “You said we’re not taking a chance.”
    Max shrugged, and grinned at Kristian. “You wouldn’t cost me my job, would