“Hey,” I say, “I was giving Matthew a thank-you gift for helping me that night, a few weeks ago.”
Charmaine’s blue eyes flash.“And you called him here, to your house?”
Crap.“No.Um…”
Matthew strolls from the kitchen with the whiskey bottle in his hand.“No, I swung by to tell Madison about the strange things I’ve been seeing when she’s gone?—”
“So you’ve been watching her.Watching her house.”
Deeply uncomfortable, I shift from foot to foot in the entryway.They’re standing in the way of the door, so I can’t close it on them and their argument.
“I’m not watching her, Charmaine.”Matthew’s voice is lazy and only the tiniest bit apologetic.“I happened to see things over here.”
She shakes her head, her jaw hard.“You disgust me.”
“Nothing new there.”Matthew raises the whiskey bottle toward me.“Thanks for the thank-you gift, Madison.Take care.”
As he ambles off the porch and starts down my driveway, Charmaine turns to face me.Her light blue eyes are full of disdain.“Stay away from my husband, slut.”
10
SETH
Ipush back from my desk and grab my phone on the way to the large window overlooking Shaunessy Street.Erich Pointer at Point Ops is pissing me off.He’s been quietly courting Dumond and Kerrick Enterprises, Nove’s premier client, for months.And now I hear that Dumond and Kerrick are going to give Point Ops a mission?
Fuck that.
I open my contacts and find Charles Dumond, CEO of Dumond and Kerrick.I tap his name, perhaps more forcefully than necessary.
“Seth,” he says by way of greeting.“How are ya?It’s been a while.”
“I’m great, Charles.Just great.Or I was, until I found out you’re planning to send a team from Point Ops up to that job in Alaska.”
In a sheepish voice, he says, “Oh, now, Erich Pointer really thought they would be perfect for the job.”
“Of course he would say that.”I aim for a patient tone, trying not to sound as exasperated as I feel.“But you know they go in like a serial killer with a machete when a laparoscopic operation is more suited.Are you sure you want that?”
Dumond and Kerrick Enterprises specializes in environmental explorations, combining them with high-stakes technology.This often involves international politics and some elements of danger.They need a company like Nove to provide planning, intel, and protection.
“Well...”He sighs.“I already told Point Ops they could have the mission.”
It doesn’t help that Charles is indecisive and easily influenced.Damiano and I have to do regular “maintenance” meetings with him, to remind him of all that Nove can do for his company, and how we do it better, and more ethically, than our competition.It’s exhausting, but the money Charles’s company brings to Nove is substantial enough to make the constant ass-kissing worthwhile.
“Did you already sign a contract?”I ask.
“Not yet.It’s with our lawyers now.”
“Look, I’ll be straight with you, Charles.We have a team in Anchorage already.They’ve been on the ground for several weeks.They know the locals, they know the terrain.Because they’re already in place, we can undercut Point Ops’s fees by thirty percent.How does that sound?”
“It sounds like a very generous offer.”He’s now more confident, back on familiar ground—wheeling and dealing.“I’ll cancel the agreement with Point Ops.”
“You’re making the right choice.I’ll have our contract sent to you by EOD.”With any other client, I’d end the call here.But Charles Dumond needs a lighter, friendlier touch.“Now that business is out of the way, what did you think about Saturday’s game?”
“Oh, Faraday is in trouble,” he grouses.“Whatever his personal problems, he needs to get his head back in the game.I was half-tempted to switch allegiance to the Rattlesnakes.”
I want to laugh, remembering that Madisondidswitch loyalties mid-game.Charles and I talk baseball for a few minutes, until I’m interrupted by a call from Damiano.I make my excuses, promising to catch a game with Charles soon, then switch over to Damiano’s call.
“Seth, I’m glad I caught you,” he says.“How did the conversation go with Dumond?”
