Chapter 2 - The Eight-Million-Dollar Problem
Three days later, Ethan discovered his construction site had been vandalized.
Two excavator tires were slashed.
Fuel lines had been cut.
Someone had painted one sentence across a storage container.
GO HOME, MERCER.
Site manager Owen Price met him at the gate.
“Nothing stolen.”
“So this wasn’t robbery.”
“No.”
Ethan examined the damage.
“Cameras?”
“Disconnected at 2:13.”
“Professional?”
“Professional enough.”
A voice came from behind them.
“Or local enough to know where the breaker is.”
Hannah stood outside the fence.
Ethan looked at her.
“You following me now?”
“No.”
“Disappointing.”
She ignored him.
“Who knew those machines arrived yesterday?”
“Half the county.”
“Who knew the cameras were wired through the temporary utility box?”
Ethan stopped smiling.
“Only my crew.”
Hannah looked at Owen.
Owen bristled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re accusing my men?”
“I’m asking questions.”
Ethan opened the gate.
“Come inside.”
“No.”
“Hannah.”
“I don’t work for you.”
“I’m beginning to notice.”
She finally entered.
At the damaged excavator, Hannah crouched.
“Clean cut.”
“You know machinery?” Ethan asked.
“My father was a mechanic.”
“Was?”
Hannah stood.
“He died.”
Ethan heard the door close in her voice.
He didn’t push.
She pointed toward the access road.
“Your project crosses the old Miller parcel?”
“Yes.”
“Who sold it?”
“County auction.”
Hannah stared at him.
“What?”
“That land shouldn’t have been auctioned.”
“Why?”
“It belonged to six families.”
Ethan frowned.
“My attorneys confirmed title.”
“Then your attorneys confirmed whatever paperwork somebody gave them.”
“Who?”
Hannah’s expression hardened.
“Calvin Rusk.”
Ethan knew the name.
County Commissioner Calvin Rusk had personally welcomed Mercer Development to Maple Hollow.
“He approved my permits.”
“Of course he did.”
“You don’t like him.”
“I don’t like snakes either. Doesn’t make it personal.”
“What did Rusk do?”
Hannah turned away.
“Hannah.”
“Ask him.”
That afternoon, Ethan did.
Calvin Rusk was sixty, silver-haired, expensive watch, practiced smile.
“Hannah Cole?” he said. “You’re taking legal advice from Hannah now?”
“I’m asking about the Miller parcel.”
“County property.”
“She says six families owned it.”
Calvin laughed.
“Hannah says many things.”
“Was she wrong?”
Calvin’s smile faded slightly.
“Mr. Mercer, you came here to build a distribution facility, create jobs, and make money. Don’t let a troubled young woman drag you into old disputes.”
“Troubled?”
“She has a temper.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Her father had one too.”
Ethan went still.
“What does her father have to do with this?”
“Nothing.”
The answer came too quickly.
That evening, Ethan drove to Hannah’s house.
She opened the door and stared at him.
“How do you know where I live?”
“Small town.”
“That’s creepy.”
“Calvin Rusk mentioned your father.”
Hannah’s face changed.
“Leave.”
“That’s exactly what he wanted me to do.”
“I said leave.”
“Hannah, what happened?”
“Not your problem.”
“What if it’s connected to my project?”
“Then sell your land and go back to wherever rich men come from.”
“Chicago.”
“I wasn’t actually asking.”
She started closing the door.
Ethan caught it with his palm.
“I’m not Calvin Rusk.”
Her eyes flashed.
“Then don’t act like him.”
He released the door immediately.
Hannah stared at him.
Ethan stepped backward.
“You’re right.”
That seemed to surprise her.
“No one gets to force you to tell me anything,” he continued. “But somebody vandalized my equipment after you warned me about that land. Rusk mentioned your father before I did. And yesterday Travis Boyd was watching your house.”
Hannah froze.
“You saw Travis?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two nights ago.”
Her eyes moved toward the road.
Fear.
Not much.
But Ethan saw it.
“Hannah?”
“Go home.”
“Tell me why you’re afraid of Travis.”
“I’m not afraid of Travis.”
“Then who?”
She looked directly at him.
“The men Travis works for.”
A truck engine sounded somewhere down the road.
Hannah stepped onto the porch.
Headlights appeared around the bend.
A black pickup slowed.
Travis.
Hannah walked toward the steps.
Ethan blocked her.
“Don’t.”
“He’s on my property.”
“And he wants you angry.”
Travis stopped at the mailbox.
Rolled down his window.
“Evening, Hannah.”
“What do you want?”
“Just checking on your mama.”
Hannah moved.
Ethan caught her wrist.
“Hannah.”
Travis smiled.
“That boyfriend know what happened to your daddy?”
Ethan felt Hannah go completely still.
Travis drove away laughing.
Hannah ripped her wrist free.
“Don’t ever stop me again.”
“He wanted you to attack him.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because sometimes men like Travis only understand one language.”
Ethan looked down the empty road.
“And what language does Calvin Rusk understand?”
Hannah’s expression changed.
“Money.”
“Good.”
Ethan took out his phone.
“I speak that one.”
For the first time, Hannah actually laughed.
It lasted less than a second.
But Ethan heard it.
And somewhere beneath her anger, something had finally cracked open.
Not trust.
Not yet.
May you like
But enough.
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