Of Crime and Time

Conversation on gmail chat with boss regarding a current case:

Boss 1: Hey.
Me: Hello.
Boss 1: Start researching novels with time machines in them.
Me: Okay. Why?
Boss 1: We have to prove that you CAN change the past for Mr. [Client]'s case. The prosecutor says you can't.
Me: Haha!
Boss 1: This is no laughing matter.
Me: Well, [H. G.] Wells would say that simply by attempting to change the past you make it impossible to do so.
Boss 1: We need to include Wells in our appendix, of course.
Me: Naturally.