by James Hunt
The A/C was on full blast, and after Terry clicked on his seat belt, the mystery man slid behind the wheel and drove them out onto the highway.
With his escort silent, Terry used the drive to review his presentation. It wasn’t much, but going over the slides helped calm his stress.
This was a big contract, and it was one that Terry desperately needed to land. Between the hospital bills, the damage caused by the wreck, Amy’s therapy sessions, and her numerous medications, their savings were gone. And with all the time needed to take care of Amy and the girls, Terry had sacrificed time at work, which had cost him projects.
When the Earth Core building came into view, painted the same desert sand as the surrounding landscape, Terry packed up his computer.
The driver pulled right up front and was out of the driver’s seat and had Terry’s door open before Terry could even unbuckle his seatbelt.
“Check in with the receptionist,” he said. “I’ll be waiting for you right here when you’re done.”
Terry nodded, adjusted the briefcase in his hand, and walked through the sliding glass doors and into the lobby where he was greeted by a receptionist, who told him that someone would be down in just a minute.
The chairs in the waiting area were neatly organized in an L-shape pattern around a coffee table with a few offerings of snacks and magazines. Terry grabbed a banana to help stave off skipping breakfast when his phone buzzed.
He figured it was either Amy or the girls, but when he saw the number, he frowned.
It’s me. We need to talk.
Terry deleted the text. The woman hadn’t left him alone. It had been a mistake. And he didn’t need any more trouble at the moment.
“Terry!” Douglas Mulaney sported a smile that was all teeth as Terry quickly pocketed his phone. “Glad you could make the trip!” He shook Terry’s hand, his grip as overbearing as his smile.
“I appreciate the opportunity,” Terry said.
“Come on back, my project team is ready for you.”
Terry followed Mulaney toward a conference room on the first floor on the backside of the building, the inside just as ordinarily plain as the outside.
“Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Juice? Maybe a little hair of the dog?” Mulaney added an overexaggerated wink as he opened the conference room door.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Terry’s stomach continued to twist up from his nerves, and when he stepped into the conference, he forced himself steady as he went around the room and shook hands. He plugged in his laptop to the projector and flicked off the lights as Mr. Mulaney took his seat.
“I’ve checked the numbers, and what this company is attempting to do is nothing short of miraculous.” Terry clicked the next slide, which had a model of the drilling levels that Earth Core planned to dig. “From the math I’ve seen involved with this new drilling technique, you will be able to remove minerals faster and more efficiently than methods done by hand. But because of this new technique, I’ve discovered a litany of regulations and obstacles that you’re going to have to overcome in order to get the EPA’s final approval.”
Despite Terry’s lack of sleep and his frayed nerves from the long drive, he was able to escape the presentation unscathed. But the nerves didn’t come from the crowd of analytic eyes before him. He’d been in boardrooms like this all across the country. However, he’d never had his back against the wall like he had currently. There was more riding on this deal than just the future of his career.
Terry laid out his plan to meet the EPA regulations and suggestions for curbing any problems that they might run into during the drilling process. He was all about preventative maintenance. The best way to fix a problem was to prevent an environment that breeds one.
Terry cleared his throat and then tapped the pen in his left hand against his right thumb. “But based off of the numbers you sent me, there is a bigger obstacle.” He clicked to the next slide, and his audience leaned forward. “The bulk of the gold deposits are deeper than originally anticipated.” Terry walked to the projection of the image, which was a graph with several dark patches near the bottom of the screen. “In order to extract those deeper deposits, it will require a new well inside the mine, which will bring you dangerously close to the underwater reservoir for the surrounding communities.”
Mulaney crossed his arms, frowning. “How close?”
Terry tapped the screen. “The sonar equipment has a margin of error of fifty feet, and right now you’re forty feet from missing the regulatory requirement to drill.”
The project group turned toward Mulaney, who leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “But there are workarounds for that, correct? We’re able to put down a lining to prevent any contaminants from seeping into the water supply.”
Terry nodded. “We can do that, but it’s a costly procedure, and if we end up taking that route, you’ll have to follow the water testing protocol set forth by the EPA for as long as the mine is operational, which will subtract from your bottom line.”
“And you’re confident that these precautions will give us the EPA’s final approval?” Mulaney squinted his eyes skeptically, and the rest of his team leaned forward. Terry wasn’t the only one that had a horse in this race. The work the team had put in probably represented at least a year of effort, maybe more.
But Terry wasn’t going to try and placate fears when he knew that the truth was a far better option. “Mr. Mulaney, what you and your team are trying to do here has never been done before. It’s uncharted territory.” He glanced at his presentation, and then back to the boss. “You hired me to give you the best opportunity to get the EPA’s permission. But I can’t promise you that this will work until I have a chance to physically check the mine.”
Slowly, every head turned back to Mulaney, all of them wondering why in the hell this guy was trying to take everyone down with the ship. And while Terry waited for Mulaney’s reaction, he prayed to God that he had made the right move.
“Fair enough.” Terry smiled and then pounded his fist on the table. “I appreciate you not bullshitting me.” He stood and flicked on the lights. “In fact, you’re the first structural engineer that hasn’t.” He stopped in front of Terry, still sporting a grin, then extended his hand. “Welcome aboard, Terry.”
Terry smiled and shook Mulaney’s hand. “Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.”
Mulaney turned back to the team. “I’ll have my guys send you the rest of the figures, and I want you to finish your assessment at the mine tomorrow. Think you can handle that?”
“Yes, sir. Absolutely.”
Mulaney smiled. “Fantastic. I’ll walk you out.”
The room cleared out before Terry had finished packing up his laptop, leaving him alone with Mulaney.
Mulaney kept close to Terry’s left, hands in his pockets, and slowed his pace to a leisurely stroll on their walk toward the front of the building.
“You know, I heard about your wife’s accident,” Mulaney said. “I hope she’s doing better.”
Terry fidgeted uncomfortably, having never told Mulaney about his family’s predicament. He cleared his throat, his eyes on the floor. “She’s doing better. She and the kids actually came with me on the trip. And if I’m being honest, it’s nice to be out of the house.”
Mulaney stopped Terry at the door, blocking the exit. “What your family went through was difficult, and it can put a strain on even the strongest relationships.”
“Thank you, sir,” Terry said.
Mulaney lowered his voice. “I like you, Terry. And I tend to stick with the people I like. If this goes well, if you can help me deliver, then this could be the start of a very good relationship. So, let’s keep our eye on the prize, okay?”
“Absolutely,” Terry said.
Mulaney clapped Terry on the shoulder and headed back toward his office.
Outside, the driver was waiting for him just like he promised, and Terry climbed into the backseat of the
car and breathed a sigh of relief, thankful it had gone well. But it wasn’t a done deal yet.
Terry’s phone buzzed, and again found another message from the woman.
I need to see you. Now.
Again, Terry deleted the message. He didn’t understand why she just couldn’t take the hint. His phone buzzed again from an incoming call. It was the resort. “Hello?”
“Mr. Holloway? This is Ted Milford at the Ghost Town Hotel.”
Terry’s stomach twisted. “Yes?”
“You told me that you’d like our staff to keep an eye on your family while you were gone, and to report anything… strange.”
“What happened?” Terry asked.
Ted hesitated and then, “We had report of an incident.”
31
Liz had begged her father to stay home. It wasn’t like she couldn’t take care of herself. She had done it a thousand times before. She even volunteered to babysit Maisie, but her father wouldn’t budge.
So, she was forced to spend the last week of her summer vacation in the middle of a desert, stuck in some shitty tourist trap with her mother and sister while her dad worked. Great.
Liz scratched her left arm, the skin still pale even though she spent the past three days trying to even out her tan. She’d gotten the cast taken off last week, which she had worn all summer long. She flexed her fingers, wiggling them as if they were still trapped in that god-awful concrete block that had limited her summer days and nights. She couldn’t go swimming at the lake. She couldn’t participate in summer squad practice. Nothing. She might as well have been a paraplegic.
The only bright spot about school starting was finally getting a reprieve from her family. She had never spent so much time at home in her entire life, and she never thought she’d be excited about going back to school. But after nearly three months of house arrest, she’d take whatever out was available.
Liz ran her finger along the scar where they’d set the bone, the flesh pink and raised among the freckles that kissed her skin. She circled the point where the bone had come through, moving her finger in a rhythmic motion. She remembered how white the bone was, pearl white. So pristine. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so painful.
And the single line of blood that flowed from the open wound was so vibrant and striking against her flesh. It wasn’t like anything like she’d seen in the movies. There was hardly any gore. It was surprisingly clean.
Liz lifted her eyes and thought of her mother. She never thought that she could hate someone so much. And she couldn’t understand how her father had forgiven her.
Deep down, she didn’t think he really did. He said he did, but he didn’t act like it. The only one that hadn’t changed was Maisie, but that was just because she couldn’t remember.
Liz figured her sister had suppressed the memory to protect herself. She had read something about that one time. It was a way for a person to guard themselves against the dangers of painful memories.
Liz wished she could forget what happened, but she couldn’t. She’d never forget it. And because of that, she couldn’t forgive. Scars healed, and they faded, but they never really disappeared.
Liz lowered her phone and stared out the window of the room, bored with scouring through the million pictures of Instagram, liking, loving, commenting on all of her friend’s posts who were at the lake, traveling through Europe, or on cruises in the Bahamas and seeing all that she had missed out on.
She had tried to call Chase, but he didn’t pick up. They hadn’t talked since school, at least not verbally. And the longer they went without seeing each other, the more Liz realized that they were not really together.
The door opened, and Maisie and their mother stepped inside, Maisie clasping a large chunk of cotton candy in her hands.
“Hi, Lizzy!” Maisie shouted.
“Hey, brat,” Liz said, reaching for her phone.
Amy walked over to the bed and planted her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you come with us outside?”
“It’s hot outside,” Liz said.
“It’s not that bad,” Amy replied.
“I’m tired from the trip.”
“You’ve been here all day and you’ve done nothing but sit in this room and stare at that phone.”
“It’s harder than it looks.”
Exasperated, Amy reached for the phone and snatched it out of her hands.
“Mom!”
Amy pocketed the device. “Just come out with us for an hour. Look around.”
“And see what?” Liz asked, frowning. “It’s nothing but sand!” She jumped off the bed and stomped toward the window, the wooden floorboards groaning from her hasty movements. She popped open the curtains in a dramatic fashion, then gestured to the streets below. “Wow. Just look at it.” She extended her hand. “Can I have my phone back now?”
“Elizabeth,” Amy said, keeping the phone and placing her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “Come and spend some time with your sister. Please.”
Liz rolled her eyes then looked at Maisie, who shoved another cluster of cotton candy into her mouth. Liz exhaled, complete with sagging shoulders, as she tossed her head back. “Fine.”
Once they were outside, heat blasting her face, Liz regretted giving in to her mother. But when they made their way to the stables, she lightened up.
Even the terror of her teenage hormones couldn’t deny the inner childhood girl who dreamed of her own pony for three Christmases.
Liz picked out a calico-painted mare and gently petted the horse’s nose, soothing the animal with each stroke.
Amy joined her daughter by the animal, Liz unaware that she was being watched by her mother. “You know when you were nine, we got those riding lessons for you.”
Liz smirked. “I remember.”
Amy leaned against the stable as a group of vacationers trotted past on their way out for a ride. “I don’t think I’d ever seen you so happy.”
“Don’t go too far down memory lane, Mom,” Liz said, keeping her attention on the horse. “You’re bound to misremember the past.”
Amy laughed. “Oh, I’m not misremembering.” She crossed her arms. “Five minutes onto that horse and it bucked you off, sending you flying. Your father and I were convinced you broke every bone in your body, but when we ran over, you were still in shock from the fall.”
“Yeah, because I just got kicked off a horse,” Liz said.
“You cried for the rest of the day, all the way up until we tucked you into bed.” Amy placed her hand on the horse’s neck. “But when you woke up the next day, do you remember what you asked me?”
Liz sighed. “No.”
“You told me to find out if the horse got in trouble, and if it did, to make sure that the owners knew it wasn’t the horse’s fault.”
Liz lowered her hand.
“You’ve always had such a good heart,” Amy said, pressing her palm against her daughter’s face. “You get it from your dad.”
For a moment, Liz leaned into her mother’s touch. She had been so angry for so long that she hadn’t realized how exhausting it was. But the moment didn’t last.
“Yeah?” Liz pulled away. “Does that mean I get your crazy brain?”
Liz didn’t turn back to look at her mother, knowing her words had wounded, as were their intention. But unlike the hurtful quips she’d laid into her mother since the accident, this one seemed to hurt herself just as much.
A horse-pulled buggy strolled by, kicking up a dust cloud, dirtying her blouse and jeans. But she ignored the dust, instead wiping the tear from her eyes as she moved quickly along the boardwalk that lined the town’s storefronts.
Distracted by the dust, Liz collided into another walker, her phone falling to the ground. She grimaced and spun quickly, “Hey, will you watch where you’re-” She stopped, staring into a pair of hazel eyes of the boy she’d run into. “Oh, um, I’m sorry, I didn’t-” She laughed, shaking her head. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s fi
ne.” The boy picked the phone up, dusted off the screen, and then handed it back to Liz, their hands touching briefly during the exchange. “You’re lucky the screen didn’t crack.”
Liz laughed again and played with her hair. “Yeah. Lucky.” He was cute. Like, hot cute, and he was the best thing that she’d seen all summer. “Are you staying here?”
“I work here.” He gestured to the uniform in his left hand. “Getting ready to go in for my shift. I work over at the cafeteria.” He smiled again, and Liz noticed the tight fit of his shirt against his muscles. He was tan, tall, and handsome. She was surprised she hadn’t spotted him sooner. She always had a nose for that sort of thing.
“That’s so cool,” Liz said, still playing with her hair, unable to stop the motion once it was started. “So, how long do you work till?” She cocked her hip to the side and stepped closer. “Would you want to hang out later?”
The boy smiled. “Yeah. Sure. Um, my shift ends at ten when the cafeteria closes. You can meet me back behind the building. I’m Max.”
“I’m Liz.”
Max lingered and then raised his eyebrows. “Maybe we should get each other’s numbers?”
“Oh! Yeah.” Liz laughed and then entered her number in his phone. “There.”
“Cool.” Max quickly typed up a text and Liz’s phone buzzed. “Now you have mine.”
Liz stepped backward, not wanting to appear too needy, but kept her eyes on him. “I’ll see you at ten.” She spun around before he replied.
Liz smiled but didn’t turn around. She may not have had much experience in the realm of romance, but she understood the simple minds of teenage boys, and she knew exactly how to manipulate them. And while it had been a while since she flexed those muscles, she was glad to discover that she hadn’t lost her touch.
Distracted with figuring out which outfit to wear for her meeting tonight, she didn’t see her father until he gripped her by the shoulders, his eyes wide with alarm, speaking so fast that Liz couldn’t understand. “What?”
