I’d fucked up by starting something with him, then not having the balls to do the shit that was necessary despite me rocking our work boat. I let out a long breath. No, I couldn’t think like that. We were in flux right now and things were bound to be strange for a while whether he said yes or no, but not asking at all would’ve been far worse than some awkwardness. Thunder boomed so close the windows rattled, and I flashed back to the moment last night where my hands had been restrained behind my back. I had a similar feeling right now, only this was a trap of my own creation.
The clatter of rain on the roof started all at once. I went to the window and raised the blinds so I could stare outside at the downpour hammering the trees near the building. Branches bent low under the weight of the water and almost touched the ground. The sky was nearly black. This was bad, but not the end of the world. Half the time the weather was wrong. Surely this would blow over. I went back to my desk but couldn’t concentrate, and I hissed when my phone rang. I recognized the number as belonging to Sturdy Builds Enterprises, one of the construction companies that was working on a new school for the parish. Groaning, I answered.
“Does this have something to do with all the rain?” I asked, before the other person could say a word.
The unhappy chuckle that carried down the line had my gut in a knot. “You know how the new elementary school was on the edge of a floodplain, and you begged the parish to reconsider the location, but they decided it would be fine?” The voice belonged to a construction foreman named Ewell Smalls, and normally he was a cheerful ball of fire. This didn’t bode well for my day.
“Do tell.”
“We have a situation. A tributary to the river runs behind the school property, so it’s picturesque, right?”
“I’m familiar with the area,” I grumbled.
“Well, the tributary is already flirting with the banks. We gotta do something or we’re looking at a total loss of all the work that’s been completed so far. They started installing drywall yesterday. It will be damage in the millions, sir.”
I closed my eyes and couldn’t imagine how they would ever recover the time and money. Even with flood insurance it would be a nightmare. “What would you like me to do?”
“I’m already organizing sandbags and anything else I can think of on my end, but I was hoping you could get someone in here, and we could maybe dig a quick diversion ditch, give the water somewhere to go. There’s a big field nearby, but we would need to do that before the water leaves the banks and the ground is too mushy for the equipment. I don’t have anyone with a backhoe on call. I know you could probably make that happen.”
“I’m on it.” I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.
There was a loud crack of thunder on his end and seconds later it rolled over above me. “Okay, as of right now I have my guys sandbagging, but this won’t be enough.”
“Go, do it.”
I let out a long, unhappy breath as I dropped the call. I glared at my phone, and while I knew I could find the numbers and contact all the people who needed to get over to the school construction site, there was one fact that was true—Maurice would do it faster. I tapped his number and prayed he wouldn’t avoid me after last night.
“Hello? M... Wick, what’s going on? I know you don’t like the sound of thunder. Are you okay?”
I flushed and tugged my collar. “Uh, the cuffs were bothering me most during the session at Escape Adventure. Normally I’m not bad with a little storm,” I mumbled.
He chuckled. “I’m sorry I left the way I did last night. You shocked me.”
“Well, here’s another surprise.”
He groaned. “You aren’t going to ask me to drive in this, are you?”
“Well... I do need to call some people, and whether or not you want to be here is your own decision. Maybe you shouldn’t come in.” I filled him in on the situation, and as I talked, noises carried to me from his end of the line—silverware clinking into a sink, the shuffle of someone obviously getting ready to leave the house. A toilet flushing. Clothing rustling.
When I was done talking, he clucked his tongue. “I have a list of emergency contacts for each work site in the second left-hand desk drawer. It’s in the hanging files and it’s highlighted and should stand out. Call Frank Gaitlin to get the backhoe over to the school. His number is in there.”
“Okay, so you don’t need to drive to the city, do you?”
He chuckled. “If you think that’s the only work site that will be calling today, you’re crazy. I was already wondering whether or not I should’ve come in. They pay us to be there when they need something, and if we fumble for one client, everyone in the whole city will hear about it.”
I clutched the edge of the desk and nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You are a wonder. All right, I’ll find the list and start calling.”
“Bye,” he said abruptly.
I frowned and went out into his office to start looking for the file he’d mentioned. By the time I’d arranged the backhoe another twenty minutes had passed, and I wanted to call Maurice to see where he was on his trip. I was worried because the thunder was getting louder and more frequent instead of passing through. I paced Maurice’s office and had almost talked myself into going over to the elementary school work site when my phone rang again.
“Fuck, you were right, Maurice,” I grumbled, then answered. “Hello?”
“The library lost half its roof and they’re panicking. They’re not clients of yours, but they’re calling all around town begging for anyone who can help. They say they’ll pay whatever, but they’re worried about their books, and I know you folks know everyone.” Ironically, I had no idea who I was talking to.
The door that led into the hallway opened, and I’d never been so relieved in my life to see Maurice. His face was tense, as if maybe he’d prayed his way here and still wasn’t over the experience, and he gave me anI told you sowaggle of his eyebrows as I pointed from my phone to him.
“My assistant just walked in. I’ll put you on with him. He is a miracle worker and will get you in touch with the right people.”
