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“Well, I’m sure you’re anxious to get up to the site and check things out,” Tom Black ended the meeting. “Logan, let’s have a look at those contracts you brought and allow these ladies to be on their way.”
“Of course, of course,” Thorne said. “Ms. DeVine, Dr. Thunders, always a pleasure. Callista, a true delight. I hope your time here will be very profitable for all involved.”
I gave him a nod, and his hazel eyes fixed and held mine for a pointed five seconds. Long enough to silently let me know that he wished to speak to me in private.
“Let’s get to it then,” Maggie said, breaking the odd connection.
As the men said their goodbyes and walked away, Maggie studied my khaki shirt, Bermuda shorts and long, braided hair with a grunt.
“Hope you’re not planning on wearing that yuppy safari outfit, Miss McEwan. You’re not going to be petting koalas and kangas down under here, mate,” she added with a mock Australian accent. “This is bear and cougar country. Things can get pretty rough and messy up in our mountains.”
“That’s okay,” I answered with a toothy smile. “This worked well for me when I tramped around the Amazon jungles, and the African savanna, and the Gobi Desert. Plus, I carry coveralls in my pack for the grittier sites, so I’m well equipped for this little job. And please call me Calista or Callie, whatever you prefer.”
Her grunt gave me a hint as to what name she’d prefer to call me.
Back at ya, sister.
“Fine, Callista,” she said. “Grab your gear and meet me at my Jeep in the parking lot. Hilly, are you coming?”
Hilarity shook her head. “Naw. Thought I’d let you two go solo this time and get acquainted. Three’s a crowd and all that.”
“What?” I shot back.
“Didn’t I tell you, Cal? Sorry, that major donor I told you about yesterday? I promised to meet him for lunch today to go over some new exhibits I want to put in. Don’t worry, I’ll be back here at five to pick you up.”
I narrowed my eyes at Hilarity, hearing this breaking news for the very first time. She smiled innocently at me, but I wasn’t fooled. She had purposely ambushed me into going alone to the cave site with this Indian harpy from hell.
Before I could give her what-for, Hilly made tracks faster than the time she woke up in some guy’s dorm room when his girlfriend walked in, the little traitor.
When Maggie Thunders and I reached the parking lot, my gear was piled by the front door and Hilly’s VW Beetle was long gone. Picking it all up, I mentally listed all the tortures I planned to painfully inflict upon my slippery friend later, then followed Maggie to her Jeep and stowed my stuff in the back.
“Callista, do you mind if I have a word with you?”
It was Logan Thorne walking up to us.
“This won’t take long, I promise,” he assured me, wincing slightly. “Please.”
No, I hadn’t been mistaken then with his previously questioning look. Apparently Mr. Thorne did want to speak with me alone.
My gut told me to make excuses and flee while I had the chance, but the man and his company were funding this project. Besides, what harm could one quick conversation do?
Maggie arched a brow at me, then shook her head and opened her driver’s door with the grumbled order not to be long.
I followed the man around the corner of the building, until he stopped to face me with drawn brows.
“What can I do for you?” I asked at his long pause.
He stared at me a long moment before guiltily looking down and away. Odd.
“Apologies. I wanted to the chance to speak with you before you flew out here for this project,” Logan said. “I meant to.”
He looked back up to me and fixed a long stare with mine.
“What’s on your mind, Mr. Thorne?” I prodded, annoyed at my delay.
“Logan, please. Well, to be perfectly honest, I don’t know how much you’ve been informed about this project. There have been some issues. And injuries. Protests and acts of intimidation from troublesome groups.”
Ah.
