by Eric Bernt
“You want to tell me what happened to the one hundred million dollars that were transferred out of our accounts?”
“About that . . .”
The first thing Skylar did when she arrived at her desk back at Harmony House, later that evening, was to check the account balances. Her eyes opened wide as she stared at a number in excess of one hundred million dollars. She looked at Butler, who had entered with her. “Hey, I could use a new head of security. Think I could interest you?”
He was staring at her flat screen mounted on the wall, where the president’s emergency press conference was just starting. “Possibly. Doubt you can afford me, though.”
She smiled slyly. “I’ll bet you I can.”
He picked up the remote control and turned up the volume. “Would I be able to hire my own guys?”
“Of course. What do I know about security?”
“I’ll think about it.”
On-screen, the president addressed the country with grim-faced stoicism. “My fellow Americans, I want to reassure you all tonight that the very foundation of our great democracy has withstood the most insidious attack in our nation’s history . . .”
The Embraer Phenom touched down at Potomac Airfield later that night. When the plane came to a stop, Caitlin rushed out to greet Marissa and Mikey as they scrambled out of the aircraft. “I am so glad to see you guys!” They embraced like they were never going to let go.
Marissa looked into her mother’s eyes. “Mom, I will forgive you under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I never want to go to North Dakota again.”
“Deal.” She turned to her son. “How about you? Do you forgive me?”
“I think so. As long as that’s not the last time I ever get to fly in a private plane.”
She turned to Peter as he made his way down the ladder. They hugged for quite a while. Tears streamed down her face. “I am so sorry to have put you through that.”
“You are going to tell me everything. And I mean everything.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
“Then you are going to have somebody really high up in the government inform my company board that the reason I had to leave so abruptly was a matter of national security so important that the future of the country depended on it.”
“You know, that’s actually not far from the truth.”
He smiled. “And don’t forget, you owe me a new car.”
“I was hoping you forgot about that.”
“Oh, and one more thing. I’m enrolling the kids in public school tomorrow.”
“You’re joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
CHAPTER 106
HARMONY HOUSE
WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY
June 4, 8:07 a.m.
Eddie slept soundly under his Batman sheets. It was the second consecutive morning he had slept in past eight o’clock, which was rather unusual for him. Then again, the last few days would have been atypical for anyone. There was a light knock on the door. “Skylar, I am still sleeping. Can you come back later?”
From the other side of the door, she said, “I’m sorry to wake you, but I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“Open the door and I will show you.”
Still in his pajamas and wiping the sleep from his eyes, he opened the door to find Skylar holding a cell phone. He suddenly looked wide awake. “Is that for me?”
She nodded. “It is.”
He took the phone in his hands, practically caressing it. “This is the very best surprise I have ever been given.”
“You were right. I think it is important that you have your own phone.”
“Is it okay if I make a call?”
She beamed. “It’s your phone. Go right ahead.”
He immediately dialed one of the two phone numbers he knew. He put the phone to his ear and listened.
Lolo answered the call. “Hello.”
He smiled at the sound of her voice. “Hello, Lolo, this is Eddie.”
“Hi, Eddie. This is Lolo.”
“I am calling you because I wanted you to be the first person I have ever called with my very own phone.”
“You make my heart sing, Eddie.”
“You make my heart sing, too.”
She exclaimed with disbelief, “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“You helped me understand what I did not understand before. I know this with my whole body and not just my head.”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Yes, of course you can.”
“Would you mind stepping outside your door?”
Eddie did so. Standing in the hallway, he looked in one direction, but there was no one there. He turned around and looked in the other direction, but there was no one there, either. Until somebody walked around the corner. He immediately recognized her footsteps. It was Lolo. “What are you doing here?” he asked excitedly into his phone.
She quickened her pace. “I live here now.”
“You do?” he said eagerly.
Into her phone, she said, “I’m hanging up now because I would rather talk to you in person.” She ended the call as she approached him. “I’m your new neighbor.”
Listening to her closely, he stared at the floor, looking amazed. “True.”
She pointed to the door next to his. An index card was taped to it, which read Lolo. “This is my room. It’s right next to yours.”
He turned to Skylar, who joined them in the hallway.
She nodded tearfully. “And you don’t need to ask. These are happy tears. Very happy tears.”
He smiled. “I knew that, Skylar.”
“Dr. Drummond, I would like to ask Eddie something in private. Would that be all right?”
“By all means . . .” Skylar motioned inside Eddie’s room. As Lolo walked through the doorway, she gave Skylar a knowing glance.
Eddie followed Lolo into his room. “What did you want to ask me?”
Lolo paused, as if trying to muster her courage.
Skylar jumped in, saying, “I’ll be outside if you need me.” With a smile, she pulled the door closed. A great big smile.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who read my first book, The Speed of Sound. Thank you for taking a chance on a new writer. To everyone who reached out, your comments and criticisms were invaluable. I learned a great deal from each of you. I would like to thank the community of veteran authors who have taken me under their wings. Your acceptance has meant the world. I remain blessed with the support of the incredible team at Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing, led by the irrepressible Jessica Tribble. I don’t know where I’d be without the wisdom of Paul Lucas at Janklow & Nesbit. Lastly, the following is an incomplete list of those I feel compelled to mention: Kevin Smith for his inspiring collaboration. Adam Levine and Karl Austen for always having my back. David Moore for his wisdom. My wonderful friends from Gladwyne, Pennsylvania; Madison, Wisconsin; and Northwestern University for their continuing embrace. And the good people of Agoura Hills, California, for our glorious bubble. Community is everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2017 Conner Martin
Eric Bernt was born in Marion, Ohio, and raised in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and Madison, Wisconsin. He attended Northwestern University, where he learned that journalism was not for him—but storytelling was. Upon graduation, he moved to Hollywood, where he wrote seven feature films including Virtuosity (starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe) and Surviving the Game (starring Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey, and F. Murray Abraham). He has also written for television (Z Nation) and is the author of The Speed of Sound. Eric lives in Agoura Hills, California, with his wife and three children. For more information, visit www.ericbernt.com.
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