 Why do Reston-Farrell and Brett-James bring Joe to the future?
A gun is an interesting weapon; it can be hired, of course, and naturally doesn't care who hires it. The evening was dark, it was unlikely that the other even saw the circle of steel that was the mouth of the shotgun barrel, now resting on the car's window ledge. And at that moment, the universe caved inward upon Joseph Marie Prantera. A door slid open in the wall in a way that Joe had never seen a door operate before. Joe had been born in Naples and his mother had died in childbirth. Lawrence Reston-Farrell said, "You are not being constrained. It opened on his approach, the door sliding back into the wall in much the same manner as the room's door had opened for Reston-Farrell. Reston-Farrell said, "I am afraid, Mr. Salviati-Prantera, that these are the only garments available. Reston-Farrell said compassionately, "Try this, it's excellent cognac." Joe Prantera stared at him, said finally, flatly, "What's it all about?" Reston-Farrell had approached the door by which he had entered and it reopened for him. Reston-Farrell, the one Joe had already met, was tall and drawn of face and with a chainsmoker's nervousness. Brett-James nodded to him, friendly, so far as Joe could see. The maternal linage was almost universally ignored." Reston-Farrell said, "Of course," and then something else Joe didn't get. Whatever the something else was, a slot opened in the middle of the table and a glass, so clear of texture as to be all but invisible, was elevated. "To Nuevo Los Angeles and to the year—" Brett-James looked at his companion. "What is the date, Old Calendar?" "2133," Reston-Farrell said. Warren Brett-James said softly, "Mr. Prantera, you are no longer in the year 1960, you are now in the year 2133." Reston-Farrell said, "I am afraid we are confusing you. Briefly, we have transported you, I suppose one might say, from your own era to ours." Reston-Farrell said, "Suffice to say, you are now one hundred and seventy-three years after the last memory you have." Joe Prantera's mind suddenly reverted to those last memories and his eyes narrowed dangerously. Reston-Farrell said, "Mr. Prantera, we have brought you from your era to perform a task for us."
 Joe is a hitman. They want him to kill someone.
 Joe was going to kill Al Rossi. Reston-Farrell and Brett James need Rossi alive.  Joe is a caregiver. They want him to take care of someone.  Joe is a hitman. They want him to kill someone.  Joe is a variant. They removed him from 1960 to correct the timeline.