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"Do you need me to do anything for you?" Henry asked.
"Just keep everyone away from here and keep your phone close."
Henry followed Myles’s orders. After all, Myles was their explosives expert. And he was good at it. Very good.
Henry stepped to the other side of the shipping container, phone in hand, and surveyed the area to ensure no one trampled through.
"Henry?" Myles called.
"Yeah."
"Alert everyone to an impending explosion then get me some of the rubber bolsters from the storage shed."
"Roger."
He jogged toward the construction office and flung open the door to find their construction manager at his desk. Baxter Fenshaw’s head whipped around, his eyes wide.
"Impending explosion, Baxter. Let the crew know. Behind the storage container on the west side of the site."
"Will do."
Henry ran to the construction shed and muscled three heavy rubber bolsters—large rubber blankets used to muffle the blast and contain the debris—onto one of the UTVs on site. He hurried toward Myles and the explosive device, jumping off the UTV as he neared the side of the storage container.
"Myles?"
"Yeah."
"I've got the bolsters."
"Okay. Bring them around one at a time.”
He hefted the first bolster over his shoulder and crept behind the container.
Myles stood and took the bolster from him. "Grab the next one please."
Henry took off to the UTV, his heart pumping wildly. Sweat beading on his temple as he muscled the final two bolsters back to Myles.
"Last one, Myles."
Myles turned toward him, sweat trickling down his face. The neckline of his t-shirt was darkened with moisture. "Okay, bud. Turn the UTV around and get ready to take off as soon as I jump in.”
Henry turned the UTV around, his foot poised over the gas pedal. The heat permeated his skin and clothing. How was it possible to be this hot? Myles’s footsteps pounded a steadily increasing beat as he ran toward him and he lowered his foot to rest right on the gas pedal. The instant Myles jumped into the UTV, he pushed his foot to the floor and they sped toward the construction office. Gravel shot back behind the UTV, he could hear the pinging as the stones hit the trailer. Merely four yards away from the construction trailer, the explosion filled the air, and the concussion pounded through his chest.
2
Homeland Guest House was not exactly what Everleigh was expecting when she pulled into the parking lot of what the DoD claimed was the only hotel in Glen Hollow. It looked to be an old home, well-restored, and apparently added on to. A combination bed-and-breakfast and hotel. Interesting. The parking lot was about half full, which she appreciated. She hated being the only guest in a place, but she also didn’t want to share it with the entire town. The flowers in the planters around the property were well-kept, vibrant, and gave her hope the inside would be just as nice.
Pulling her suitcase behind her, she hefted her laptop higher on her shoulder, and not for the first time today regretted wearing her business suit on the drive, but she was taught to always be prepared to present herself in the best possible light. Plus, she didn’t travel with unnecessary clothing. The end of June in Wisconsin, where her last assignment had been, was still cooler in the mornings. She should have taken that extra minute to check the weather details before leaving Wisconsin.
Stepping through the automatic glass doors, the air conditioning caused goosebumps to rise on her arms and she shivered as the cool air circled around her, settling on her dampened skin. The aroma of fresh flowers and cookies reached her, and her stomach growled. All she'd had for breakfast was a meal replacement shake. And not a good one. The wet cardboard taste still lingered in her mouth. She swallowed hoping to wash the memory away.
The young woman behind the desk smiled. "Hello. Welcome to Homeland Guest House. How can I help you?"
Everleigh returned her smile. "Thank you. Everleigh Hayes. I have a reservation.”
The young woman, Sarah according to her name tag, nodded and began typing into her computer. "Yes. I have you on the second floor. And it looks like your reservation is open-ended. No check-out date at this time."
"Yes ma'am, that's correct."
