With Me Now

by Heather Hambel Curley

  “I’d want someone to do it for me, if I was in his shoes.”

  “I’m game if you are, Liam.”

  “You’re fucking her, Mikey. I think that precludes you from having a choice.”

  “Fair point, I’ll give you that.” Mike shrugged. “But, after all this, I’m interested to see what will happen. It can’t hurt. Worst case scenario, we sit in the dark for a while and go home. My only requirement is that we wait until we’re cleared to go back into the site. Somehow…somehow I feel like that will slightly diminish the possibility we’ll get arrested.”

  Madison smiled. “I owe you one.”

  “Yes, you do, and I already know how you can make it up to me.”

  “Seriously, guys, I’m going to require lunch if you’re going to talk like this for the rest of the afternoon. I can’t suffer through this on an empty stomach.” Liam clapped his hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Look, the Turnpike Restaurant is right there, right by Cemetery Hill. I’d eat a hamburger.”

  “Look how full the parking lot is!”

  “It seats a lot of people and I’m sure everyone drove separately.” Liam nudged Madison. “You want the Turnpike. Trust me. Best late night eatery around.”

  “Liam, it’s 11:45 in the morning.”

  “Just trust me.”

  Mike groaned, but slowed at the intersection at Cemetery Hill. “I’m not paying for your food, Liam.”

  “You say that now.”

  Madison giggled. Her smile quickly faded as something demanded her attention from the hill. Something she couldn’t pinpoint or see, but something that tugged on her soul.

  Time is running out.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The park service reopened the Spangler Farm the following Monday morning, with strict instructions the test pits near the woods remain roped off and untouched. No decision had been made on what to do with the remains, but Jan William’s report was official and in print: the remains were a five foot, three inch tall woman, whose cause of death was a bullet wound to her thoracic spine. The report deferred from an opinion of whether or not she was a soldier, but as far as Madison was concerned, it seemed more unlikely that she wasn’t.

  By Monday afternoon, journalists were gathered outside the farm entrance, now barred and guarded by Law Enforcement Rangers. Madison’s cell phone was ringing off the hook from a reporter from Archeology magazine. When she didn’t answer, he left her a voicemail. Three times.

  “How did he get your phone number in the first place?” Mike moved a full bucket of dirt to Madison’s side. “I mean, other than possibly the internet.”

  She dumped some dirt onto the sifter tray. “No, he had it already. It’s the reporter who interviewed me about the Pittsburgh Fire. His name’s Jack Kornick. He’s a prick.”

  “Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I think things soured between he and I when, following the interview, he asked me out for a cup of coffee and then a romp in bed. I declined. He told me I didn’t have the proper motivation to further my career.”

  “You attract a really bizarre type of people.”

  “I’m actually more worried he’s calling for an interview and not a date.”

  “Interviews are a good thing, right?” Mike stepped back down into the test pit and began shoveling. “Miss paper archeologist?”

  “You’re pretty mouthy over there. Interviews are usually a good thing, but this feels more like a freak show. Just wait until they start labeling me as a drunk who got thrown off an international dig.” She plucked a rock from the tray and tossed it aside.

  “We won’t let that happen.”

  “Or they start a smear campaign against you because we’re together.”

  Mike rotated his shoulders and craned his neck from side to side. “Eh, so then all the men of the world hate me for my sexual prowess and my dreamy good looks. There are worse things in life.”

  Her phone started ringing again.

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” She jammed her finger across the face of the cell phone, leaving a trail of dirt behind. “Hello.”

  “Madison.”

  She wanted to shove the sifter over. “Yes, this is Madison.”

  “Hey, it’s Jack. Uh, Jack Kornick? I don’t know if you remember me…”

  “Yes, actually I do remember you.” Try to be nice. Try to be nice. “I see you called a few times.”

  “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. One of our reporters was at the press conference last week and, let me tell you, your discovery is…well, it’s beyond words.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No, really, you’re nowhere near the girl I met last year.”

  “Okay, thanks, but look I’m kind of in the middle of the dig here.” She brushed loose strands of hair out of her face, no doubt leaving streaks of dirt across her forehead. “We’re behind as it is.”

  “I know. There’s a bunch of us here by the road. The damn rangers won’t let us up to the farm.”

  “Wow, creepy, Jack.” She jammed her fist against her forehead. “Can I help you with something or are you just calling for some kind of weird, verbal status update?”

  Mike snickered.

  “Yes. Yes, I’m calling to see if we can get together.”

  “I’m seeing someone now, Jack. But thanks.”

  “That’s good to know, but I meant in a professional setting.” He spoke rapidly, as if he was being sincere. He wasn’t. “I wanted to interview you for Archeology. Not just interview, we want a cover story.”

  Her stomach lurched; no, this wasn’t even remotely appealing. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re so busy up here trying to catch up—”

  “I know, and that’s totally fine. I thought maybe after you were done for the day. Maybe dinner?”

  “That’s sweet, really, but like I said I’m dating someone right now. She took a deep breath. “Besides that, I wasn’t the only one who excavated the remains. We’re a team.”

  “But you’re the one who found them.”

  “I’m really busy, Jack.”

  “Wait, wait, okay, so bring your crew with you. We’ll do dinner, drinks.” He paused. “My buddy Ed is here with me. He’s with National Geographic and he wants an interview too.”

  “Really.”

  “Yes, really. Madison, do you realize how huge you are? You’re trending on Twitter.”

  She didn’t know what to say. That was a little on the impressive side.

  He continued to talk, as if he hadn’t expected her to respond. “You’re the biggest name in archeology right now and, honestly, I want the first interview. Ed can have sloppy seconds.”

  “Uh, okay?” She wasn’t going to impress anyone with self-confidence. Hopefully he wasn’t taking notes. “When and where? I have to get back to work.”

  “Tonight at six o’clock. We already made reservations at Toliver House.”

  She vaguely remember Toliver House, a huge mansion turned restaurant perched on the edge of the battlefield. Liam had remarked that despite the reviews, he wasn’t about to pay forty-five dollars for a steak. “That’s a bit out of my price range, Jack. I’m living on a stipend here, not an inheritance.”

  “National Geographic is paying.”

  “I’m bringing two other diggers with me. This was a team effort.”

  “Fine, fine. Be there at six.”

  “Six o’clock.” She hung up the phone without giving him the opportunity to respond. “Great.”

  “When you say you’re bringing two other diggers,” — Liam fluttered his eyelashes — “you wouldn’t happen to be talking about us, per chance?”

  “Why, yes, yes I am.” She shoved her phone in her pocket and turned back to the sifter. “I hope you don’t have plans, because you two are going on a date with me, National Geographic, and Archeology Magazine.”

  “A threesome.” Liam clicked his tongue. “Hot.”

  “I’m sure Jack would love that. But, no, it’s far worse. He wants dinner at Toliv
er House and not one, but two interviews. One with Archeology and one with National Geographic.” Madison felt like she was reading off her own sentence of execution. She didn’t want the spotlight on her. She wanted the spotlight on the field and on the importance of their discovery. They found a person—someone who once lived and breathed and loved—not the ruins of some long decrepit building. Christ, why didn’t anyone get that?

  Liam glanced at Mike. “Yeah, that sounds horrible.”

  “They’re going to pay for our dinners.”

  “Oh.” Liam blinked. “In that case, are we getting ready at your place or mine? I wonder if I have anything with an elastic waistband. I want to get my eating on tonight.”

  “This is good for you, Maddy.” Mike stepped out of the test pit and set another bucket of dirt beside Madison. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her cheek. “Really, whether you like it or not, this is going to make your career.”

  “I’d rather make my career the old fashioned way, through hard work and diligence.”

  Mike reached into the sifter and plucked out a round object. He picked at it for a few moments and then discarded it. Another rock. “You’re a dying breed then, baby. It won’t be that bad. I mean, yeah, it probably will be, but look at the bright side. You’ll get a free dinner and so will we.”

  “When was the last time you had to suffer through this kind of nonsense?” She poked her index finger into his chest. “Huh, big shot?”

  He caught her hand in his and pulled her to him. “After the Chancellorsville dig. And the Baltimore dig. And after a dig last year in Sweden. It happens to the best of us, Maddy baby. You answer a few questions, smile for a few pictures, and then you go home. Lucky for you, you get to go home with me, so it’s completely a win-win situation.”

  “Do the interview for me and I’ll blow your mind.”

  He playfully smacked her ass. “I’ll take my chances.”

  As he let her go, she saw Brad sauntering over from the summer Kitchen. She had a feeling he’d seen the whole interaction between her and Mike and, though she cared little of his opinion, she was a little concerned of his reaction. He seemed nonchalant. “Important phone call, Madison? We usually don’t take personal calls during work hours.”

  She flushed. “No, it wasn’t a personal call. It was related to the dig, just a reporter wanting an interview.”

  “Oh?” Brad picked up a film canister and pried off the lid, easing a metal thimble out into the palm of his hand. “This is a nice find, guys, keep it up. What magazine, Madison?”

  “Archeology and National Geographic.” She sighed. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

  Brad was silent for a moment, studying the artifact in his hand. When he finally spoke, he sounded too calm. “That’s got to be a good feeling, being interviewed by two of the top leaders in the industry.”

  “I’d be happy just to go back to my room and relax.”

  “With Mike?” Brad squeezed his eyes closed and checked himself. “Sorry, that was inappropriate. Well, good luck to you, Madison. That’s a big honor.”

  “Something like that.”

  He didn’t respond, instead turning to Mike. “I’m going to need you to run some files up to park headquarters. Superintendent Frye has asked for daily reports.”

  “Me?” Mike frowned as he picked up his shovel. “You usually give him the reports.”

  “I have to run Cianna to Chambersburg to pick up her car.” Brad shrugged. “Oil change.”

  “Whatever, man.”

  Madison glanced back down at the sifter, if only to avoid having to look at Brad. Another feeble attempt at “punishing” Mike for being in a relationship with her. Did he have the authority to punish them? Was making Mike do menial tasks an actual punishment?

  “Since you have plans tonight, Madison, why don’t we go ahead and shut down early?” Brad looked at his watch. “It’s almost four o’clock, anyway. What difference will an hour make?”

  “It can make a lot of difference.” Liam picked the thimble out of Brad’s hand and reinserted it into the canister. “She’s not in that big of a hurry.”

  “Liam’s right, I don’t have to be there until six o’clock.” Madison forced a confident smile. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Please, it’s a huge deal. Mike, the files are in the summer kitchen. You head up to park headquarters. I want you to discuss the broken probe tip we found near the barn with him. Run our idea past him of a triage station in this general area.” Brad marked off a grid on a map and handed it to Mike. “It’s not a lot to go on, but he’s aware of that.”

  “Uh, okay?” Mike glanced up from the map. “Can this wait until we’re done here? I’m Madison’s ride back to the hotel. She can just come with me.”

  “Nope, you need to go now. Frye’s only there until five and he needs this today. He’s heading into Washington tomorrow to meet with a joint staff of authorities from the Smithsonian and the Department of the Interior.” Brad headed back toward the summer kitchen. “Now, Mike, not in five or ten minutes.”

  Mike waited until Brad was well out of earshot. “Bastard.”

  “I’ll drive her back to the hotel.” Liam didn’t look up from his meticulous documentation. “Get it over with so we can focus on more important things. Like, if we’ll be getting steak or elk tonight. Did you know Toliver House’s specialty is elk? Have you had elk? Shit, what wine do I pair with elk?”

  “Whisky goes with elk.” Mike leaned over and softly kissed Madison. “I’m not presenting anything to Frye. Stick with Liam. I’ll meet you back at the hotel.”

  “Okay.” She tightened her grasp around the sifter handles. Getting mad only gave Brad the reaction he was evidently looking for. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. “I’ll wait to shower until you get there.”

  “You’d better.” He hesitated for a moment and then headed toward the parking area.

  Madison looked back down at the sifter and picked out a few more rocks and decaying twigs. She wanted to throw up. First she was talked into a miserable dinner with a horn dog, and now she had to watch Mike leave without her. Brad’s apathetic punishments were more like irritants, like shards of glass embedded in the sole of a person’s foot. Annoying. Grating.

  “Seriously, guys, let’s shut it down for the day.” Brad walked back up to the test pit. “Liam, take these buckets into the summer kitchen for tomorrow. You can start with them in the morning.”

  “Um.” Liam glanced up from his notebook. “She can have them done in a few minutes. We can just finish them up now and do something else in the morning. Progress, remember, that’s what’s driving us much like it drove the pioneers as they headed West with Manifest Destiny and shit.”

  “Liam, man, really, just accept the fact I’m being nice and go with it! I won’t be this benevolent next time.” Brad chuckled as if there were something funny about it. “Take the buckets to the summer kitchen. I’ll bring the sifter over. Once we secure the pits, we’ll head out for the day.”

  Liam grunted, but did as he was told. “I’m keeping the logs in my car.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you do that.” Brad watched him lug two buckets down the hill toward the small, stone building that was the summer kitchen. As Madison started to follow, he held up his hand. “Hang on there, lady. I just wanted to make sure you had a ride back to your hotel room.”

  She stepped backward, if only to increase the distance between them. “Yeah, I’m good. Liam said he’d take me back.”

  “I’ll drive you. It’s no big deal, I’m headed that direction anyway.”

  Madison hesitated. She hadn’t heard Ben’s voice all day, but out of nowhere he filled her ears with frantic, incessant chatter. She couldn’t understand him, couldn’t interpret a word of what he was trying to say, but she could feel his desperation. Panic crept up her arms like the gentle brush of fingertips. “No, really, I’m good. Liam will take me.”

  “Yeah, but after Mike, Liam’s next in the chain o
f command and I’m going to have him secure the site. He’ll lock everything down.” Brad cocked his head toward the parking area. “Come on. He’ll probably be another ten or fifteen minutes. Cianna’s down at the administrative building and I need to go get her. I’ll drop you off on the way.”

  Ben’s chatter swelled. Madison felt fingertips tug on her elbow. “I appreciate it, Brad. Really, but I really feel like I should help Liam. I’ll just catch a ride with him.”

  “Are you sure? Because…you know, I’m leaving now. You can start getting ready for your interview.”

  “Thanks, but I’d rather get this tray finished.” She forced a smile and turned back to the sifter. “I don’t mind waiting. The longer I’m here, the longer it is until I have to suffer through an interview.”

  “If you’re sure—”

  “I am.” She broke in quickly. “You can leave if you need to, Brad. I’m okay.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him linger next to the test pit. He finally mumbled something under his breath and turned, sulking off to the parking area on his own.

  Madison exhaled slowly. Thank God. If she could only avoid one undesirable thing today, being alone with Brad was a good one.

  * * * *

  A few minutes before six o’clock, Mike pulled his Jeep into a parking place at the rear lot of Toliver House. He pulled the key out of the ignition and sat still, starting out the windshield in silence. After a moment, he ran his finger under the short hemline of Madison’s miniskirt. “I’m sure you know to expect the Spanish Inquisition.”

  “I’m anticipating being hit on and to suffer through an inappropriate barrage of sexual innuendo.” She studied him. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m just tired, that’s all.” He slid out of the Jeep, first circling to the back to let Liam out and then opening Madison’s door. “If you want to talk about us being…you know, us, I’m cool with that. And if you don’t, I’m cool with that, too. It’s up to you.”