Page 42 of Spock’s Snare

I smile to myself.

Chloe doesn’t stand around barking orders. She checks in with every member of her crew, asks questions, and listens to the answers. When she reaches a group struggling to position a window frame, she sets down her tablet and grabs a tool belt hanging from a nearby sawhorse.

One of the men says something that makes her laugh. She bumps him with her shoulder before pulling out a level and climbing onto a short ladder. The men follow her directions without hesitation.

I pay attention to more than the work.

I watch their expressions when she turns her back. Listen to their tone when they call her over. Look for the tight jaws, rolling eyes, or muttered comments that come from men who resent taking orders from a woman.

I don’t see any of it. Instead, they show her respect. Good.

If someone on Chloe’s crew is behind the vandalism and attacks, hiding that resentment all day would be difficult. Not impossible, but unlikely. From everything I see, these people want the project to succeed as much as she does. Of course, a different crew is working at Riversedge. I make a note to speak with Hawk about whether or not any of the crew on that site caught his attention.

The rumble of an engine pulls my attention toward the clubhouse. Rush rides out of the parking lot, but instead of turning down the road, he crosses the highway and enters the construction site. He parks beside me and removes his helmet.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Watching.”

His gaze follows mine to Chloe, holding the window steady while one of her crew secures it. “Yeah, I figured that out.”

I ignore his smirk. “Her crew respects her.”

“You expected them not to?”

“I wanted to see it for myself. The trouble could be coming from inside her company; if it is, there’d probably be some sign of resentment.”

Rush studies the workers for a moment, then nods. “Makes sense.” He gestures toward the saddlebags on his bike. “Spark gave me the cameras for the Riversedge site. They’re small enough to hide, and they’ll feed directly into his system. You want to head over and put them up now?”

“Yeah, but I want Chloe with us. She should see what we’re doing and know where the cameras are.”

Rush glances toward the descending sun. “We’d better grab her soon.”

As if the workers heard him, the sound of power tools begins dying away. Men and women carry equipment toward the trailers, secure materials, and clean their work areas. Chloe retrieves her tablet and walks toward us.

“All finished watching me?” she asks.

“No.”

She smiles. “At least you’re honest.”

“Rush has security cameras for Riversedge. We’re going over to install them.”

Her teasing expression disappears. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Ride with me.”

She looks toward her truck, then back at my bike. “What about my truck?”

“I’ll bring you back. That way I can have you on my bike longer.”

Rush snorts. “I’ll go ahead while you two negotiate.”

Chloe laughs as he starts his motorcycle and drives away. She removes her hard hat, places it in the back of her truck, and retrieves the helmet she wore earlier.

“There’s nothing to negotiate,” she says. “I already agreed to the longer ride.”

“This one doesn’t count.”