Chapter 1
Alex Stockton
~
Missoula, Montana
Waking up in Montana felt natural. That was a good thing because Alex would soon start a film project that would keep him there for a few months. It was a glorious May morning, and the view from his hotel balcony showcased a scenic mountain range in the distance. He found himself in Big Sky Country on what must've been the most peaceful, brisk morning he had ever seen. Alex lived in a coastal California city and had seen his share of beautiful days back home, but the views and the vibe were completely different there in Montana.
He couldn't help but be in good spirits.
The landscape and the weather were an added bonus to what seemed like an already amazing trip. Everything was falling into place. Alex had only been in Missoula since yesterday, but it felt right. He had the sense that things were coming together.
He knew his grandfather was going to love this city, and that was the whole point of the trip. DonaldStockton was his sole investor for the film project. He was not an easy man to impress, but this place was charming, and that would make Alex's request a lot easier.
The project was a six-episode miniseries that Alex wrote based on the true story of his own family. The whole thing had been meticulously planned, and within a year, Alex would have filmed and edited it. He had made a few short films in college, one as long as forty minutes, but this project was more substantial than anything he had done by leaps and bounds. The story had been an absolute passion for over a year of his life, and now it was almost time for him to produce it and share it with the world.
This trip was crucial part of the puzzle.
Alex would have to convince his grandfather that he needed more funding. But he figured that would be easy once Donald made it to Montana and could see how perfect everything was.
Alex would ask his grandfather if they could up the investment at breakfast tomorrow morning, and he would take it upon himself to make sure that happened under perfect conditions. That was his mission for today—tracking down the perfect breakfast. He had already done some research. His grandfather was a sucker for Eggs Benedict, and there happened to be a well-rated restaurant in the heart of Missoula called The Poached Egg.
Alex was on his way there now.
It was only five blocks from his hotel, so he walked.
He was smiling when he walked through the door of the restaurant, but it faded somewhat when he made it inside.
This was not what he expected.
It was tiny and chaotic inside, and not the type of place that would charm his grandfather. He made his way into the small, cramped dining area, toward a counter, thinking it was not an environment where he would be able to have a serious conversation.
"Hello, how are you?" said the young woman at the counter when she looked up and saw him coming her way.
"Hello," he said, answering her. There were six or eight tables in the small room, and all of them were full. He made his way through them to get to the counter. The whole place was no bigger than his bedroom. There was music and murmuring, and it was not quiet, so he waited until he got closer to the counter to say anything else to her. She was a jolly looking girl with rosy cheeks and curly dark hair that was pulled back. She gave him a big smile as she waited for him to approach. Her nametag said her name was Luna.
Alex heard the door open behind him and saw that she looked that way. He turned and glanced over his shoulder to find that another man had come in behind him. He had just walked around on the streetsof Missoula, and he had marveled at what a low-key town it was.
"You guys are busy in here," he said to the cashier in somewhat disbelief.
"Oh, yes sir, always, but Friday and Saturday are our busiest days. Excuse me for just one second. I'll be right back with you." She stooped and picked up a bag and then held it over the counter, offering it to the guy who had come in behind Alex.
"Here you go, Mr. Scott," she said to him.
"Thanks," he said to her, reaching around Alex. "Nice name tag."
"Thanks," she said with a smile.
He leaned in and spoke quietly. "Is it Josie making 'em today?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, tell her they're just as good as her sister's."
"Oh, thanks, I'll make sure to tell her."
"All right, well, I'll see you next Tuesday. Same time, same place."
