Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Outside in the hallway, I pause, unsure where the exit is. But I can hear people to my left, so I head that direction. The hallway turns, and then I see the main bar up ahead through the windows of a stainless-steel double door.
When I push through, there’s suddenly music. Like it’s on some kind of timer. And even though it’s not even ten am, there are a lot more people here now.
I shoulder through them, suddenly realizing just how strange this all is. I mean, everything about it is bizarre, especially the location. But to be this busy, this early in the morning, when maybe twenty minutes ago there was no one here?
It’s weird. And all I want to do now is get out.
I cross the room, heading for the stairs, and go up them. Then I pull the door open and leave.
Once outside, the music fades along with the stale scent of cigarettes, and reality returns in the form of a quiet autumn morning in the woods with the faint sound of the river in the gorge down below.
I walk past the coke ovens and I’m just about to start up the stairs when I hear, “Wait! Will you slow down for a minute?”
I turn and find the girl has put on a long coat and a pair of boots and is following me. “What are you doing?”
She stops when there’s about twenty feet between us and shrugs. “I don’t know. I just… didn’t even get your name.”
“Yes, you did. It was on my credit card.”
“But…” She licks her lips, like she’s nervous. “You didn’t get mine.”
“So?”
“Well… maybe we could start there?”
I shake my head and scoff, then hit the steps, taking them two at a time. It’s a long hike up, but I’m willing to put in the extra effort if it’ll put some distance between me and this girl.
She follows me, practically running to keep up. “Can you just slow down for a moment?”
“Why? So you can have time to come up with some more lies?”
“I just wanna get to know you—”
I whirl around, angry now. “Why the hell would you want to get to know me? I’m a really fucked-up dude. You had my name. If you didn’t look me up, that’s your problem, I guess. But you did, didn’t you? And that means you know exactly what I’m talking about. So please, don’t insult me. I’m not some dumb fuckin’ hick who just walked out of the woods. That place back there? There’s something wrong with it. In fact, there’s nothing right about that place. Which means there’s nothing right about you. And ya know what? You’re just not worth it.”
I turn and start climbing again.
“I’m sorry!” she yells.
Against my better judgment, I pause. But I don’t look at her. “You’re sorry about what?”
“The cameras. You’re right, they’re everywhere. It’s a sting.”
“What?” I turn around and stare at her, only to find her nervously looking over her shoulder. Like someone might be watching. “What do you mean, it’s a sting?”
She huffs. “You know. A fuckin’ honeypot.”
I knew it. “Who are you?”
She presses her lips together. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
But she shakes her head. “No. Not here. If you want to know what’s going on, then meet me somewhere.”
“Where?”
“You pick. So you don’t think I’m setting you up.”
Walk away, Shep. Just walk the fuck away.
But since when do I ever listen to my own good advice?
“The Revenant Diner. Sunday at noon. I’ll be there.”
Then I turn and continue up the stairs and this time, she doesn’t follow.
Maybe I will be there on Sunday, but then again, maybe I won’t.
Because Collin set that lie detector test up for tomorrow morning and it’s not just any old lie detector test, it’s a fMRI. They’re gonna scan my brain while they ask me questions.
And if I fail?
Well, let’s just hope I don’t.
8 - Olive
Istand at the bottom of the steps, looking up at Ean as he climbs. I stay right where I am until he disappears into the thick foliage of trees. Then I let out a breath, hug my jacket close to my body, and turn away.
Back inside, the place is busy now. There’s no music, or customers, for that matter, but there are at least two dozen employees buzzing around getting ready for the day. I know them all, in a casual way. Since Brose and I are both in charge of this operation, I was there when they were all hired. They are mostly women, since it’s kind of a strip bar, but there are some men too.
Everyone is from CORE. There are no outsiders taking part in this operation. It’s way too important. And that’s why it’s in the woods. This is federal land. Part of the parks system.
But that’s not the only reason why only CORE people work here. There is no way Brose and I would get approved to build such an elaborate operation just to snag my brother and his friends. It’s more than that. Much more than that. It’s a base of operations for what’s to come. That’s why there was a new train station built.