Free Timewatch by Linda Grant Page A

shivered slightly as he remembered the way Papa had looked, his eyes fiercely alive and his mouth twisting. “The window of opportunity to destabilize this timeline will be open for one day only, June 21. You must kill the Morgans before they have time to access this window and ruin my plans for the future!”
    Carlo’s gut rumbled. The tension was getting to him.
    It wouldn’t be so easy now to eliminate the Morgans; they would be on their guard. But it had to be done—and he would have to do it himself. There was no time to make other arrangements.
    Only two days. That was all the time left. He would never get another chance. Papa had been very clear on that point.
    But he would succeed. Afterward, Papa would look at him, not praise him—that was not Papa’s way—but give him that certain look of respect, which would be enough.
    Carlo smiled. When this was all over, how he planned to celebrate! It would be exciting to see the changes occurring because of the death of the Morgans. For a brief moment he regretted the necessity of killing them—after all, he was a civilized man. He would carry out his obligation. Soon. Carlo went to the safe and took out the case. Opening it, he began assembling his gun.

CHAPTER 10
Geraldine Morgan
Caleb’s mansion, Friday, June 19, 1992
----
    Standing in front of the door to Marjory’s bedroom, Geraldine looked fondly at her aunt. “After I visit my author tomorrow morning, I’m going to meet Dan for lunch. Would you like to join us?”
    â€œNo, thank you. Don’t worry about me, dear. I plan to take in some of the sights around town. Now off you go and get a good night’s sleep.”
    Her aunt still treated her sometimes like the five-year-old child she had been when her mother, a widow, had married Marjory’s brother. Over the years, a close bond had developed between her and Marjory, who had treated her as though she were of her own blood and not her brother’s stepchild. She could always talk to Marjory about things that she was reluctant to talk about even with her own mother, such as sometimes dreaming about events that later happened.
    â€œDo you have any idea what is really going on, Aunt Marjory?”
    Her aunt pursed her mouth, a sure sign that she was seriously considering her niece’s question. “No, but I have a feeling that we are about to find out. Soon. And don’t worry; we’ll be fine.”
    How could her aunt be so optimistic when they had become involved in an adventure that was catapulting them into something that went way beyond anything they had ever experienced? However, she didn’t want to burden her aunt with her fears so she smiled at her and said lightly, “‘To sleep, perchance to dream’?”
    â€œPerhaps. Geraldine, if you would like to talk about Charles …”
    â€œNot yet, Aunt Marjory.”
    Her aunt looked at her and nodded.
    â€œI’ll be okay. I just need some time to adjust. Thank you again for asking me to come with you. I’ve already told Caleb how much I appreciate his inviting me to stay here in his home with the other Morgans.”
    â€œEverything is working out very well. Good night, dear.”
    Geraldine’s throat closed up with emotion. Without speaking, she turned and walked down the lushly carpeted hallway and into her bedroom, where she sat down in a dark green velvet wing chair. She felt so exhausted: her broken engagement, escaping death by a hairbreadth, and now the revelations from Caleb.
    Geraldine moved restlessly in the chair. She was very glad now that she had come on this trip. She wanted to put as much space as possible between her and Charles.
    After dinner, when Caleb had started reading Jeremy’s memoir, the mention of his sister, Susanna, had made the hair on her arms stand up—a kind of sign telling her to pay attention. What was that all about? More mysteries.
    After putting on her