With Me Now

by Heather Hambel Curley

  “We still have time to make some other kind of fantastic, once in a lifetime discovery, right?” Madison spoke rapidly, as if focusing on something else would keep the inevitable flow of tears from preemptively starting. “If it can happen once, surely it can happen twice.”

  His lips twitched into a smile. “What exactly are you planning on finding this time?”

  “Let’s aim high. An entire, intact artillery piece.”

  “I’d definitely quantify that as aiming high.”

  She handed her water bottle to him. “You never know. Who’d have thought we’d find human remains?”

  “Who’d have thought I’d be lucky enough to find you?” He took a quick drink and then set the water bottle down. “Come here.” He touched his finger to the underside of her chin and tilted it up, gently pressing his lips to hers. “Stop worrying.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  “I’ll help get your mind off it later.” He kissed her again, deeper this time. “You’re wearing those jeans again. You know they drive me nuts, the way they hug you in just the right places.”

  “I should wear them more often.”

  “You should. I’d like to take them off you more often.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Over his shoulder, she saw Brad hustling over from the parking lot. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she was fairly sure he’d been watching them the entire time. “Here comes Mr. Personality.”

  “Terrific.” He let her go and again picked up his shovel. “I liked him more when he was fucking Cianna and too busy to show his face here.”

  “Hey, team!” Brad called down to them. “Wait until you see what I have.”

  Liam strolled over from the summer kitchen. He leaned over Madison’s shoulder. “It’s probably syphilis.”

  She snickered.

  Brad held a manila envelope in the air. “Your friend Jack was up by the road. He said he called you several times.”

  “Aw, colossal let down.” She rolled her eyes. “My phone is the Jeep charging.”

  “He wanted me to give this to you. It’s an advance copy of Archeology with your cover story.” Brad handed her the envelope. “Open it up.”

  Madison groaned and brushed her hands off on her jeans. She opened the flap of the envelope and pulled out the magazine, immediately dismayed to see her figure on the front cover. After a second, more critical evaluation, she decided it wasn’t a half bad picture. It was one of the first the photographer had taken. She was looking over her shoulder at the bank barn, one hand on her hip and the other tucking her hair behind her ear. Magnificent Madison: How two women changed the rules at Gettysburg.

  She half groaned, half gasped.

  “I think they airbrushed a tan on you.” Liam peered over her shoulder. “You don’t look nearly as pasty as you normally do.”

  “It’s porcelain, thank you.” She flipped to the article. “I totally rock porcelain.”

  The article was accompanied by a smaller inset picture of her, a close up of her face and upper body as she leaned against the fence. “Awesome, it looks like my senior picture. Though, in my senior picture I was holding a lacrosse stick.”

  “You played lacrosse?” Liam snorted. “I can’t imagine that went well.”

  “I’m surprisingly swift. Getting walloped with a lacrosse stick hurts, so the faster you can run to the other side of the field and score, the less bruises and battle scars you end up sustaining.” She scanned the beginning of the article.

  She hasn’t yet earned her undergraduate degree, yet twenty-one year old Madison Monroe has made one of the most important discoveries in the history of Gettysburg National Military Park. She’s found the remains of what may be the first documented female soldier of the American Civil War, a woman who stood a few inches shorter than Madison stands; a name that’s long lost to history. The student turned archeologist breaks the mold of the stuffy, vanilla diggers. She’s beautiful, vivacious, and sports an unconfirmed number of tattoos that would scandalize some of history’s most notable authorities in the field.

  “Yeah, I’m done with this.” Madison handed the magazine to Mike. “This reads more like the introduction of a beauty pageant contestant. Vivacious? Really?”

  “Look, Liam, he mentioned us here.” Mike cleared his throat. “She’s flanked by two of the other diggers on her crew: sullen Army veteran Lieutenant Michael C. Caldwell—a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart—and Columbia University graduate Liam Stanish.”

  “You get to be sullen and have your rank listed, while I only get my name and school? Seriously?” Liam huffed. “I was the vivacious one. Let’s be completely honest here.”

  “You were the drunk one.”

  Brad started reading aloud. “She’s just the type of sass this tired field needs: energy, passion, determination. It’s people like Madison who are going to change the face of archeology. We here at Archeology Magazine look forward to watching her career develop.”

  “I think I’m going to throw up.” Madison groaned. “This is the type of thing my mother will copy and mail to my grandmother, but the kind of thing that’s going get me laughed out of school.”

  “I think it’s fantastic.” Brad handed her the magazine. “Good for you, Madison. That’s the kind of exposure we all want.”

  “The stakes and expectations just got that much higher.” She put the magazine back in the envelope and tossed it on top of her hoodie. “That nickname has to go. The first person here who calls me ‘Magnificent Madison’ is going to get punched in the face.”

  Mike chuckled. “It sounds like the slogan for the welcome center in Madison, Wisconsin.”

  “Or a stripper.” Liam twitched, as if he were holding in laughter. “Do you like Marvelous Madison better? Maybe Magical Madison?”

  “Memorable Madison?” Mike chimed in.

  She playfully shoved him. “Stop it. Now they all sound like stripper names.”

  Brad had fallen silent. He was staring up at the bank barn, his brow knitted in a deep frown. His eyes seemed distant, as if he was concentrating so intensely on one thought that he’d completely tuned out the three of them.

  Madison…

  She froze. Ben; it was almost impossible to hear him, but the tone in his voice was unmistakable. He was panicked, almost desperate.

  …don’t…don’t…Mike…

  She felt an unmistakable tugging on her elbow. The grip was firm at first, but quickly dissipated. He didn’t have the strength.

  …please…

  “Mike, I need you to do me a favor.” Brad shoved his hands in his pockets, slowly running the toe of his shoe through the dirt. “I need you to run some paperwork up to park headquarters again. I have some files and the rest of the artifacts from the barn pit that need stored up there. We might have to take the second sifter up there too. I just don’t see the point of keeping it here when we’re down to only two pits.”

  “It would fit better in the back of your truck.” Mike retrieved his shovel and pitched a few loads of dirt into the hole. “We can ride over together if you want.”

  “My truck’s in the shop. I’m using a little compact rental that makes Liam’s shoebox look like a tank.”

  “I resent the implication my car looks like a shoe.”

  “Anyway, I have to run up to Harrisburg tonight on a personal matter. I’ll be back in the morning, but these files need checked in with Frye tonight.”

  “Okay, man, whatever.” Mike tossed another shovelful of dirt into the pit. “Do you want me to take the sifter or what?”

  “Yeah, I think that’s best. We might as well shut the kitchen pit down in the morning.” Brad consulted his watch. “It’s almost five. Mike, I’ll get you everything you need to take up to headquarters. That way you can get back to the hotel early. I’m sure you and Madison have plans. Liam, you finish locking everything down here.”

  Mike handed his shovel to Liam and then cocked his head toward the Jeep. “Come on, Mad
dy, I have to give you your phone before you leave.”

  She fell into step next to him, the nagging chatter of Ben’s voice still searing through her mind. He was talking too fast to understand. “Did we have plans?”

  “I don’t know what he’s talking about.” Mike slid his hand down her back and let it rest on her hip. He pulled her to him, lowering his voice considerably. “I’m going to have Drew stop by the room. He’s done at six and, if this takes as long as it did last time, I’m not going to be done until closer to eight. I’d just feel better if he checked on you until I get back. Maybe twice.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Just a shell shocked old Lieutenant’s nerves getting the better of him.” Mike tightened his hold on her. “Make sure Liam drives you back to the room. I’ll give you Drew’s number if you need him.”

  He opened the door to the Jeep and reached in, pulling out her cell phone and handing it to her. He fumbled on the top of the dashboard and in the cup holders. “Shit, I think I left my phone down by the barn.”

  “It’s okay. He’s texted me before, remember?”

  “That’s right.” Mike sighed and pulled her into his arms. “I’m freaking out over nothing. There’s just this part of me that’s fiercely overprotective to the point I’m ridiculous.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She smiled at him, but the corners of her mouth wavered. “There’s nothing to worry about and besides, you’ll just be down the road. I’ll get all dolled up for when you get back and you can, you know, help me relax.”

  “Don’t worry about putting your clothes back on if that’s your plans.” He kissed her. “I’m sorry I’m so negative all the time.”

  “You’re fine.”

  He hugged her again, cradling the back of her head in his hand. “I’ll be back as fast as I can. I’m not fucking around this time, no matter what Brad thinks needs to get done tonight.”

  She clung to him. Something just didn’t seem right, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

  Ben’s voice was in her head, a faint whisper she could barely hear. …Stay…stay…Madison…

  Bound.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to come in and hang out until Mike gets back?” Liam pursed his lips together. “Madison, be reasonable. I’m not going to try to seduce and take advance of you. I’m gay. Yes, I know. It probably comes as a surprise to you.”

  “Liam.” She giggled. “I’m going to be fine. I’m going to walk up to the room, lock the door, and wait for Mike to come back.”

  “I can keep you company.”

  “If someone is out to get me, they’ll have to break down the hotel room door and that’s a pretty noticeable thing. I won’t answer the door, even if it’s a little Girl Scout selling cookies or, more horrifying, Jack Kornick asking me out on a date.”

  “You have my cell phone number?”

  “You gave it to me three times before we even left the Spangler Farm parking lot.”

  “Call me if you need me.”

  “I’m not going to need you, but I appreciate the thought.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Mike will be back here in like, twenty minutes. I can survive twenty minutes without him, contrary to popular belief.”

  Liam didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ll text you when I get to the room so you know I’m safe.” Madison rolled her eyes. “You’re worse than my mother. You guys are freaking out over nothing.”

  “I’m afraid Mike will pummel me if something happens to you.” Liam paused. “Though there’s a certain sexiness to the thought that I can’t deny.”

  “Good night, Liam.” She crawled out of the car and waved at him. “Go home and take a cold shower.”

  “I’m going to push the car home.”

  She laughed and headed up the stairs to the room, promptly texting him as soon as she had the door closed.

  Thanks, Mom. I’m in the room, the door is locked.

  He texted back.

  Have fun playing with Mikey. Bitch.

  I always do.

  She tossed the phone onto the bed and pulled the elastic hair band out of her ponytail. The thought of a hot shower to relax her aching lumbar muscles sounded amazing…but waiting for Mike to get back and shower with her sounded better. She leaned over and unlaced her shoes.

  Her cell phone buzzed.

  She flopped back on the bed and picked it up. It was Mike.

  Hey, can u meet me back at the farm? The battery in the jeep died and I need a jump.

  She raised an eyebrow.

  That sounds like a ploy.

  I wish.

  She hesitated. He seemed unusually cold.

  Can’t Drew swing down?

  Can’t reach him.

  Weird.

  I need you, Maddy. Come on, I’ll make it up to u.

  She sighed and leaned over to retie her shoelaces. When she straightened, she fired back a text.

  I’ll be there in like ten minutes.

  Thanks, babe.

  He was acting strange, but admittedly, he’d been acting weird since Brad asked him to run the files to headquarters. She grabbed her car keys and room key off of the top of the television and headed to the door.

  Something made her stop. Incessant chatter in her head, words she couldn’t understand, hit her psychic conscious with such strength, she had to hold onto the doorframe to steady herself. Ben seemed frantic, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

  She pressed her fingertips to the face of her cell phone.

  Is everything okay? You seem strange.

  It will be once u get here. I’ll explain.

  She shrugged off the feeling and opened the door, stepping out into the rapidly cooling evening air. She couldn’t abandon him, because tone of voice didn’t translate across text messages. Besides, if she didn’t leave now, it would be too dark—and there was no way she’d find her way to the Spangler Farm in the dark.

  As it was, she missed two turns and had to turn around in two residential driveways before she stumbled on the correct road. It was almost completely dark by the time she turned onto the bumpy dirt road leading to the barn. It loomed above her, like a still, silent monolith watching her every move.

  …wait…Mike…

  The parking area next to the barn was deserted.

  Her hands tightened around the steering wheel. Where else would he have parked? Was this some kind of stupid joke? If it was, it wasn’t funny.

  Her phone glowed on the seat next to her.

  Sorry, I’m down in the summer kitchen. I have the sifter wedged in the door. Can u come help me get it out? I feel like an idiot.

  Where did you park?

  She hesitated.

  Why are you acting so weird?

  I told you, I feel like an idiot over the sifter. The jeep’s up behind the barn. I moved some shit up there for Frye. Go check if you want.

  I’ll be down.

  Madison shoved her phone in her pocket and slid out of the car. The night air felt like it was tinged with ice. It was colder than it felt when she left the room. As she trudged through the grass toward the kitchen, she felt a presence beside her. Ben. He seemed stronger and was slightly, though not yet completely, easier to hear.

  Can’t….trust….can’t…Mike.

  “Can’t trust Mike?” She almost stopped walking, but forced herself to breathe deeper, to try and reach out to him. “I don’t understand that at all.”

  ...like her…too late…I can’t…save…

  She let her attention drift to listening to Ben’s crackling voice, straining her ears to try and hear as much as she could while trying to mentally fill in the breaks to figure out what he was saying.

  Madison…stop before it’s too late.

  She looked up a moment later than she should have.

  Brad stepped out from behind the summer kitchen. “Hi, Madison.”

  “Brad.” She
stopped short and took an uncertain step backwards. “I thought Mike was down here. Is…uh…is he with you?”

  “No, Madison. Mike isn’t here.” His hands were behind his back and he casually stepped closer to her. He looked calm. “I was actually waiting for you.”

  “Why?”

  “I think you know why, Madison.”

  “Humor me then.” She slid her hand to her hip, trying to dig her fingers into her pocket to hit the phone button. Where was Mike?

  “Get your hand away from your phone, Madison.”

  “I don’t understand what’s going on.” She took another step backwards. “I want to talk to Mike.”

  “You know, Jan Williams was a lot easier to shut up than you are.” He reached his left hand out. “Give me your phone.”

  “What happened to Jan?” Madison had a sinking feeling in her chest, the distinct feeling she knew what happened. She didn’t want to hear it from him.

  “Jan Williams tried to take our discovery and make it her own.” Brad walked closer to her, his hand still extended. “The field shouldn’t extoll bottom feeders like that. I handled her. I was telling you the truth when I said my truck was being worked on. The bumper of her car cracked the front grill when I ran her off the road.”

  Madison’s heart sank. “You killed her?”

  “The car accident killed her.” He shrugged casually. “I just helped her along. It’s funny, it’s so hard to distinguish injuries sustained in blunt force trauma. Was it from the accident? Was it from a tire iron? So hard to tell. Now, give me your phone like a good girl.”

  “Brad, no.”

  He moved his other arm out from behind his back and leveled a handgun at her chest. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Madison. Give me your phone.”

  She swallowed hard, shakily reaching into her pocket and pulling her cell phone out. She handed it to him.

  He put it in his pocket and motioned at her with the gun. “Walk back to the car.”

  “Please, Brad. Don’t do this.”

  “I’m going to ask you again nicely. Don’t make me hurt you preemptively.” He pushed her forward with a tap of the gun barrel. “Let’s lay down some ground rules. If you scream, I’m just going to shoot you now. I don’t want to have to do that, Madison, I really don’t. There’s a lot of houses around here and that’s a lot of innocent people we don’t need involved in a personal matter, right?”