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“A million two hundred thousand square feet,” replied Ross. “And we’re adding another six hundred thousand square feet. This is the future of retail, for better or worse. Malls across the country are shuttingdown and chains are going bankrupt. Consumers are going to the Internet to buy their stuff and these places are how that stuff gets delivered.”
Decker said, “I guess that’s why these facilities are so big.”
“That’s right. And it’s really a win-win for us and the vendors we serve. It lets them focus on products and services, andwehandle how the orders get filled. We do orderfulfillment for over fifteen thousand vendors and counting. These fulfillment centers are not cheap to build and run. So companies that want to sell online, but can’t afford to build a distribution site, outsource that function to companies like Maxus. We charge shelf space to the vendors down to one-twentieth of an inch and we take a cut of every sale, but it’s worth it to them for the reasonsI just cited. This is our tenth center, and there are plans for ten more to be built pretty much simultaneously in the next five years. Business is booming. We literally can’t keep up.”
“I guess that’s a good problem to have,” said Jamison.
“Yeah, but they’ll work you to death if you let them.”
As soon as Ross said this he paled and glanced at Zoe, but she didn’tappear to have heard him. She was busy looking around from her high perch in Decker’s arms. He had tried to put her down once, but she had so frantically clung to him that he had kept carrying her.
“Here we are,” said Ross.
He unlocked a door and opened it to reveal an office about a third the size of his own. It was neatly organized with a desk and chair, three metal filecabinets against one wall, and on another wall a large whiteboard covered with notations and lists.
A sleek computer rested in the center of the desk.
“Frank was very organized and efficient,” noted Ross. He looked at Zoe. “Your dad wasreallygood at his job.”
She nodded but said nothing.
Ross pointed to a cardboard box on the desk. “We collected his personalitems. They’re all in there.” He fished in his pocket. “And here are his keys. We pulled his car up near the front entrance. It’s a blue Kia four-door, but you knew that.”
“Thanks,” said Jamison, taking the keys and handing them to Decker.
Decker said, “Alex, why don’t you take Zoe and head back. I can bring the box in my car.”
“Mydad’scar,” said Zoe, her thumbout of her mouth now.
“Exactly, your dad’s car,” said Jamison quickly. “Okay, we’ll see you back home.”
She took Zoe and they walked off. Zoe looked forlornly back at Decker, before they turned a corner and were out of sight.
Decker turned to Ross. “Hey, you mind doing me a favor?”
“If I can, sure.”
“Can I see where it happened?”
Rosslooked mildly surprised. “Where Frank was…killed, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“It was an accident. A tragic and stupid one and it never should have happened, but it was still an accident.”
“I’m not saying otherwise. And I’m not here investigating. I just want to be able to tell Amber…She might have questions, is all. But she couldn’t bring herself to come today. Plus, shehas a funeral to arrange.”
“Right, I know. It’s all so awful. We’re paying for the funeral and everything,” Ross added quickly.
“That’s good of you.”
“And look, I know she’s going to sue Maxus. Hell, I would if I were her.”
“That’s a pretty remarkable statement considering you work for Maxus.”
“I’ve only worked for them since they started buildingthis place. And they hired me because I was one of the few people around that had managerial experience running a large facility, and I also advised them during the construction phase. I hope Amber gets all that’s legally coming to her.”
“What facility did you run?”
“I’m in my early sixties, so I’m old enough to have participated in the salad days of Baronville, or at leastthe tail end of it. I started out as a finish carpenter, then ran my own construction company. After that I managed the last paper mill in town. It wasn’t as big as this place, but we had about two hundred employees, materials coming in, finished product to get out, and trucks coming in and going out at all hours. So running this place was right in my wheelhouse.”
“So, Frank Mitchell?”
“Follow me.”
