The story takes place in a future where time travel has been invented and used for various purposes, including crime prevention. The protagonist is a detective who specializes in solving crimes that involve time travel. A wealthy man hires the detective to investigate a murder that occurred in the past, but was only recently discovered through a time machine. The detective must navigate the complexities of time travel to uncover the truth behind the murder and bring the perpetrator to justice. As the investigation unfolds, the detective encounters various obstacles and challenges, including paradoxes and changes to the timeline. He must use his knowledge of history and his understanding of how time travel works to piece together the events surrounding the murder and prevent further disruptions to the timeline. The story explores themes of causality, free will, and the consequences of altering the past. It also raises questions about the nature of reality and the impact of human actions on the course of history.
By H. Beam Piper · First published 1955 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Crime · 2 chapters