“Thanks.”
Ben removed his welding mitts before heading toward the front of the office building. The other construction workers eyed him as he passed, but he kept his gaze set straight ahead, giving the impression he was oblivious to their curiosity. He stepped through the front and paused on the sidewalk, leaning his frame against a column. The air chilled his skin, and he welcomed thecoolness of the day. The remodeling work generated a hot, musty environment inside, so the winter weather was a nice reprieve.
He hadn’t worked a construction job in a while, but his skills came back to him quickly enough to reassure the foreman that he was qualified to do the job. After spending the last several years managing a successful business, the physical labor felt right, like slipping into a lover’s embrace. Though he had the foreman on his side, he had to earn the respect of the other workers, but he was sure that would come. The job itself was theinhe needed. Now he just had to figure out his next move.
Mr. Hartcourt helped him out by assigning him to electrician Mark Hanson. From what little Ben had seen, Hanson seemed quiet, his grumpy attitude ensuring that people left him alone. He had zero interest in making friends and only a little interest in his work, which meant he ran behind schedule often.
Ben hadn’t been hired to the construction crew as an electrician, but he was more than qualified for the job. From what rumblings Ben heard among the crew, Mr. Hartcourt had another high-paying remodeling job lined up after this one. That meant the foreman was anxious to keep his crew on task and ahead of schedule when possible, so he needed someone to help speed Hanson along. Ben welcomed the opportunity to find out more about the man who was the target of his investigation.
Ben’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see an incoming text from Luke.
Call me.
Despite being curious, Ben didn’t feel the need to call his brother right away. They weren’t allowed to take calls on the job unless they were emergencies, and Luke wouldn’t want him torisk his cover by breaking the rules. He would wait until he was back at the motel before he checked in to see what Luke had discovered.
With his computer know-how, Luke often managed tech support and research for the Legends when they worked a case. Though Ben was boots on the ground looking into the case, Luke was doing what he could online to help out.
Ben pocketed his phone and turned on his heel to discover he was face-to-face with Mark Hanson.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Ben wasn’t worried by his target’s question or the heat behind the words. From what he observed in a short time, Ben knew Hanson copped an attitude with everything, even with Hartcourt to an extent. The man knew just how far to push with their boss before he stepped over the line toward unemployment.
Ben scowled at the man and straightened to his full six feet and two inches. To Hanson’s credit, he didn’t back down even though Ben topped him by several inches.
“Hey, man. Did you need something?” Ben kept his tone light, though his face was stoic, revealing nothing of what he was thinking.
“Just because you have your nose up Hartcourt’s ass doesn’t mean you can show me up and get me fired. Step back. Got it, newbie?”
Ben crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s no reason for you to feel threatened. You’re the electrician, not me.”
“You think the rest of us don’t see what you’re doing? You’re showing us up to get on the boss’ good side. Better watch your back, kiss-ass. We don’t put up with that shit.”
Ben shrugged, playing like he couldn’t care less about Hanson’s opinion when he really wanted to punch the man square in the jaw. “I don’t want your job or anybody else’s. I have my own. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to do what the boss asks of me. If it bothers you so much, maybe you should give it a try. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about losing your job to a newbie.”
Hanson flexed his hands, and Ben wondered if he was about to be punched. But then Hanson whipped around and retreated inside. Ben rubbed the back of his neck, thinking he just blew his chance to get closer to his target.
Working beside Hanson would give Ben an opportunity to talk to him. He didn’t expect to be buddies with the man, but he thought he could steer the conversation to Hanson’s son. In his experience, men who loved their children had no problem talking about them if given an opening, even if those men were pricks to everyone else. If Hanson viewed him as a threat, he would shut Ben out no matter what.
Thinking Hanson had enough time to cool off, Ben went back inside and set to work without comment. Hanson glared at him, then ignored him. It didn’t stop Ben from assisting. And Ben made sure he did just that — assist. He didn’t try to take over but instead followed Hanson’s lead.
The shift was nearing an end, and Ben was no closer to getting in Hanson’s good graces than when he started.
“Hey, man.” Ben positioned himself in Hanson’s line of sight, getting another glare for his effort. “I meant it when I said I’m not after your job. You’re good, so I think I could learn from you if you can handle me working at your side some more.”
“Save it. I’m not here to make friends.”
Ben forced a laugh, hoping it didn’t sound as fake as it was. “I didn’t ask you out for a beer, man. Just work. No big deal.”
Hanson narrowed his eyes. “Stay out of my business. You’re not fooling anybody.”
Though it was several minutes shy of quitting time, Hanson started cleaning up his work area. Ben stared at him curiously, but Hanson offered no explanation. Without a word to anyone, Hanson nodded in Hartcourt’s direction and walked off the site. Not long after, Ben heard a vehicle start, the sound drifting away as the vehicle drove off.
“He has to pick up his kid.”
Ben turned to see Hartcourt standing there, following Ben’s stare where he fixed it on Hanson’s retreating figure and kept it there long after the man was out of sight.
“What?” Ben acted like he had no idea Hanson was a father. He hadn’t been on the work site or labored beside Hanson long enough to know that information, so he had to play dumb to protect his cover.
