Read Induction Day: Book Two in the Butterman Travel Series for Free Online Page B

face. “That’s not the worst part. If the DOT’s charging us port taxes now on non-commercial time travel, you better believe they’ll be reviewing origin and destination.”
    “So?” Tristan asks.
    “The 100 year maximum,” I say. “They won’t approve time travel if it’s past the 100 year limit to past or future.”
    “But it’s not commercial travel,” he says.
    “Like that’ll stop them from interfering.”
    “It will if they want their port taxes.” Tristan half shrugs. “Think about it. That’s a good chunk of change they’d be passing up.”
    “He has a point,” Dad says. “Worth checking into when the timing is right. Once this rigmarole with the media is over.” He takes my chin in his hand. “You’ll get your Induction Day eventually, Bee. I promise.”
    I get a little choked up whenever my dad looks me in the face that seriously. “Thanks, Dad.”
    “Ah … about that rigmarole.” Tristan rubs the back of his neck. “Did Val tell you what to expect after your press release?”
    Dad gives him a once over. “That we could get back to a bit of normalcy, and that once in front of the camera would be enough.”
    Tristan groans under his breath.
    “It will be enough, won’t it?” Dad asks him, honing in like he can taste Tristan’s fear.
    I’ve never seen Dad so unbridled before. He’s usually so mellow, focused.
    Mom moves in, takes Dad by the arm. “Gavin, why don’t we give them some time to freshen up after their shuttle ride? We can discuss this later.”
    “Freshen up?” Dad mutters. “It was less than an hour flight.”
    The surveillance monitor bleeps in the far corner, above the fridge to signal there’s a visitor out front of the office. Mom gestures at it, expanding the screen to see who’s there. Three hooded persons fill the screen, only their noses and mouths visible.
    “Reporters,” I say.
    “How do you know?” Mom asks.
    “Call it a hunch.”
    “Enough is enough, I’m telling them to leave the premises and watch the press release online tomorrow like everybody else.” Dad bolts for the front office.
    Mom follows. “Gavin, don’t be rude, it won’t look good.”
    I glance at Tristan. “Why do I feel like my life just turned into a lost cause?”
    The monitor blips again, but this time with a phone call. It’s coming in on the Agency line from an anonymous caller.
    Quickly, I shift gears into my professional-self and gesture the answer button for voice only. “Thank you for calling Butterman Travel, Incorporated, how can I assist you?”
    “Bianca, nice to talk to you again. May we continue via visuals?”
    That voice. I’d recognize it anywhere. It still makes my hair stand on end. DOT special agent Lola Garth.
    I move in closer to the device cam and expand visuals, revealing myself to her at the same time her pale narrow face pops on-screen.
    “That’s better.” She smiles, and for once it looks pretty genuine. “I hear we’ve got some complications up there.”
    We ? Since when does she lump herself into a collective with Butterman Travel?
    “No, Agent Garth,” I say. “Everything’s fine.”
    “Really? Some concerns have arisen here at headquarters.” She’s got her professional tone of voice all tweaked just as I do. “I wanted to call first, as a courtesy. I’ve been assigned to your … situation, so I’ll be seeing you in a few hours.”
    “You’re coming here ?”
    “As we speak. My shuttle should get in approximately 1800hours. Are your parents available for a quick word?”
    “You’re coming here for a quick word?”
    She shakes her head, not a strand of platinum hair out of place, slicked back in a tight bun. “No, Bianca. I’d like to speak to them now, let them know I’ll be visiting tomorrow morning for a consultation.”
    Tomorrow ? The press release is tomorrow night. If Garth is here for that, she could screw us up even more. Not like she won’t know about it once it goes live anyway, but holy hell. I