Storm Shades (8 page)

Call me when you can. Have a few questions on those samples x

Sofie takes another look down the microscope at the unremarkable stones that Ashton had given her. “What game are you playing?” she asks out loud, wondering why he would go to such lengths to stop them from drilling.
What is it that he is trying to hide?
she thinks.

Sofie spends the remainder of the afternoon obsessively checking her cell, waiting for a reply from Jennie; but, by the time night has fallen, she still hasn’t heard from her. Her internal danger light now glows a pale yellow, still a ways off from serious life or death red, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up.

“There’s no point in getting paranoid. It’s so Y2K.” Finn sounds bored, as he types in sequence after sequence of code on his laptop, doing what he does best.

“But it’s weird. You don’t know Jennie; she’s super reliable. This isn’t like her.” Sofie lies on Finn’s bed trying to figure out why she can’t make that nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach go away.

“Maybe she’s sick, maybe she’s busy, or maybe getting back to you isn’t top of her list of priorities.” Finn keeps his eyes glued to the screen, his fingers typing at a rate of knots.

Absently Sofie takes a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the shirt that Ashton loaned her. “Did you just sniff that shirt?” Finn looks at her in disgust.

Sofie looks more than embarrassed. “Maybe.” She cringes at herself, knowing how pathetic she must look, a world away from the confident young woman that she had always portrayed.

“That’s it. We’re going out.” Finn closes the laptop hard.

“Huh? But you haven’t finished!” Sofie sits bolt upright. “Besides, we have work tomorrow. There’s too much to do, and my head is in a million different places right now. I can’t go out.”

“Which is precisely why you need to. You’re lying here, coming up with conspiracy theories, sniffing a shirt that some guy you barely know gave you and looking like a lovesick cat. You need to go out.” Finn looks at her seriously, like he’s diagnosing her with a terminal illness. “Besides, it’s Friday. It’s the rules.”

“I think the expression is lovesick
puppy
.” Sofie latches onto the one part of Finn’s diagnosis that wasn’t correct.

“Cat, puppy, whatever. You need to let off some steam, and I sure as hell need a drink. I’ll get Darwin, he could do with having some fun now that he’s sad and single.” Finn barely pauses for breath.

“He’s not single; he’s getting a divorce. His marriage has broken down.” Sofie explains the difference to Finn, fully aware that the subtleties of human relationships are of very little importance to him.

“Sounds like as good a reason as any to get drunk. I’m getting the boss. You go and change.” Finn looks pointedly at the shirt that she’s been hugging to herself. She doesn’t bother to argue—when Finn’s on a roll there’s no stopping him.

“Meet you in the lobby in 15.” Sofie throws over her shoulder before heading back to her room. Maybe Finn was right, maybe a night out would be just what she needs. The three of them haven’t had any downtime in almost a month, and they’re probably all a little too tightly wound. By the time she’s changed and made her way to the motel entrance, she’s talked herself into having a good time.

“Nice Sofe, very nice! I see you went for the Lara Croft look, it works for you.” Finn nods approvingly, looking like a proud dad.

Sofie looks down at her shorts, white tank top, and desert boots, wondering if that was really the look she was going for. “Well I didn’t really bring anything party-appropriate,” she says acidly to Finn, who just grins at her.

“I think you look very nice, Sofie.” Darwin smiles at her kindly and runs his fingers through his thinning hair, clearly with something on his mind.

“Thanks boss.” Sofie lays a comforting hand on the old man’s shoulder.

Finn clears his throat for dramatic effect. “Isn’t anyone going to say how good I look?”

Finn is in his standard uniform of skinny jeans, ironic t-shirt, and hipster glasses. “You look good too, buddy. You fit right in.” Sofie rolls her eyes at him, as he strikes a pose.

“The idea is to blend in, Finn. Not to provide the entertainment for the evening,” says Darwin in his best school teacher voice. It has the desired effect; Finn looks like he’s just been given detention.

“I’ll be good.” The computer genius pouts like a little kid.

“Great, now let’s get a drink.” Sofie encourages both men towards the only bar they’ve seen nearby.

The rain has finally let up, and the air has that pleasant smell of freshness found only out of the city. It’s a short walk to ‘Shots’ on the outskirts of town, near the woods where Sofie got lost. Before they’ve even walked into the bar, it’s clear that Friday night in Beaumont is in full swing.

“Here we go, stick together, gang.” Finn takes a deep breath, as if they were all heading into certain danger.

“It’s a bar, not a war zone.” Sofie laughs, opening the door and encouraging the men inside.

The place is packed, and there are what look like young college students making a whole heap of noise, clearly already well into their tab. Sofie heads to the bar while the men trail after her. She recognizes the petite woman serving drinks from the furniture store. She was the one that was watching her like a hawk, and her gaze hasn’t got any friendlier.

“Hi!” Sofie says brightly, flashing a smile.

“What can I get you?” The woman barely bats an eyelid.

Sofie orders the drinks, and then Finn and Darwin take their beers. Sofie signals they should grab a table and she’ll settle up the bill. “Don’t be long, these small towners give me the creeps. You never know if they’re going to go all ‘Wicker Man’ on you.” Finn doesn’t lower his voice enough for the bartender not to hear him, and she raises an eyebrow.

“Finn just go sit down and try not to say anything stupid, or anything at all,” Sofie suggests through gritted teeth, looking apologetically at the bartender. “Sorry, my friend has a strange sense of humor.”

“I saw you today…at Ash’s place.” The way the woman says his name suggests that there’s a history between them, and Sofie wonders why the idea of that makes her heart feel like it’s being squeezed in her chest.

“That’s right. I’m Sofie.” She holds her hand out for the other woman to shake.

“Lindsey,” the other women replies, shaking hands briskly without taking her eyes off of her. “So what are you city folk doing all the way out here?” she asks, as if she were making small talk while she pours drinks at lightning speed.

“From the way you ask that question, it sounds like you already know the answer.” Sofie chooses her words carefully, but she pulls herself up to her full height. She refuses to be intimidated.

Lindsey smiles like she’s been caught. “Ash was right. You are smart.”

There it is again, the way she says Ashton’s name. “So, I’m guessing he told you what the guys and I are doing here—in the canyon.” She looks around to make sure that no one is close enough to overhear them.

Lindsey nods wordlessly, looking like she’s about as happy with them working for Shale as Ashton was when he found out.

Sofie takes a deep breath. “I’m not the enemy, but if no one tells me what the deal is with the wolves, then there isn’t much I can do.” She takes a sip of the vodka tonic that Lindsey has just placed in front of her, needing some Dutch courage.

Lindsey looks at Sofie like she’s seeing her for the first time. Her expression changes from one of suspicion to one of interest. But before she can say anything, the raised voices from the college students’ table get even louder and more menacing. Two of the jocks start squaring up to each other. One shoves the other backwards and, all of a sudden, a full-blown fight is in play. The girls at the table squeal, but it’s clear that they’re a little excited by the display.

Tables are overturned as the fight gets more intense, locals scurrying out of the way of the fray as fast as they can. Sofie looks at Lindsey in alarm, wondering if she’s just going to let these kids destroy her place, but Lindsey looks almost bored as she watches the two men grappling at each other.

Out of nowhere, Ashton and Gus appear between the two men. One second they were nowhere to be seen, and the next they were pushing the men back, diffusing the situation. Both Ashton and Gus are broader and more powerful looking than the two boys. The jocks look like kids in comparison. Ashton speaks to one of the boys and then the other. It’s impossible to hear what he’s saying; but, whatever it is, it has the desired effect. The men shake hands—while still looking at Ashton—seemingly for approval. When he nods in satisfaction, the jocks rush over to where Sofie and Lindsey have been watching the carnage. They open their wallets with desperate looks on their faces.

“We’re so sorry, really. We didn’t mean any disrespect, ma’am.” The skinnier one looks pleadingly at Lindsey.

“Yeah, it was just a stupid fight. We’ll pay for any damage, and we’ll help clean up, whatever you need. We promise it won’t happen again. We really are sorry.” The kid that looks like the star quarterback is talking so quickly his words are falling over each other. However, they don’t just look embarrassed and a little beat up, they also look scared.

Sofie feels her mouth drop open and, although she knows it makes her look like a goldfish, she can’t believe what it is that she’s seeing. Lindsey lays a look on them that suggests this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.

“Thanks, boys. That’s real helpful.” Lindsey leans over the bar and peers into their wallets, taking a couple of twenties from each of them and then waves them off back to their seats, dismissing them like a queen would her subjects.

Sofie steals a look over at Finn and Darwin, and the two men are mirroring her own expression of shock. They both take a long drink of their beers before resuming whatever conversation the fight had interrupted.

“What the hell just happened?” Sofie turns back to Lindsey, who is tucking the cash she took from the boys into the pocket of her hot pants.

“Just two kids realizing the error of their ways and wanting to do the right thing—I guess.” Lindsey smiles at Sofie, and there’s wicked glint in her eye. It’s infectious, and Sofie finds herself smiling back.

“Right, because they both look like such upstanding citizens.” Sofie rolls her eyes and both women laugh. The iciness that Lindsey had shown has all but disappeared and her expression has softened, like she’s seeing Sofie in a different light.

“Hey, Linds.” The deep voice comes from behind Sofie and makes every muscle in her body tense in anticipation.

“Hey, Ash. The usual?” Lindsey throws a knowing look between Sofie and Ashton before she heads over to the other side of the bar to retrieve his drink.

Sofie narrows her eyes at the man that is standing so close to her that she has to stop from leaning in towards him.
There’s that magnetism again,
she thinks.

“Sofie Braun.” He nods her head towards her, like a cowboy tipping his hat at a passing lady.

“Ashton last name unknown.” Sofie nods her head back. “Thanks for the samples.” She gives Ashton a pointed look, watching as he holds his hands up.

“Just being neighborly.” Ashton smiles at her, clearly enjoying getting under her skin.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice, or did you just want to waste my time?” Sofie asks acidly, taking another sip of her drink and realizing that, alarmingly, she’s finished it already.

“Well, I guess you’d be a pretty poor geologist if you didn’t notice. Can I get you another?” He gestures towards her empty glass and—without waiting for an answer—signals to Lindsey.

“I can get my own, thanks. I’m not in the habit of accepting drinks from people who are trying to screw me over.” Sofie manages to hold Ashton’s gaze without backing down and without taking a step back.
If he wants to be a pain-in-the-ass, then two can play that game
, she thinks.

“Is that what you think I’m trying to do?” Ashton asks, his voice low and sexy. It seems to send vibrations through Sofie that make her whole body tingle. He nods to Lindsey, as she places their drinks in front of them and then lopes off to give them some privacy,

“Besides, I’m sure Lindsey would rather you weren’t buying strange women drinks in her bar.” Sofie looks down at her drink, hoping that her own emotions aren’t so easy to read.

“What does Linds have to do with it?” Ashton seems genuinely confused until the penny drops. “You think she and I are...” He doesn’t finish the sentence because he’s too busy laughing. He throws his head back and laughs like it’s the funniest thing he’s heard in a good long while.

“Glad to be of amusement.” Sofie salutes him with her drink and wishes that the ground would swallow her up.

Ashton manages to collect himself. “Sorry, it’s just that Lindsey and I have known each other so long the idea of us getting together is so bizarre it’s funny.” Ashton shakes his head, like he can’t imagine it. “We grew up together. She’s like my little sister. We look out for each other.”

Sofie tries to contain her relief at the news, keeping her face as blank as she can. “Is that what you were doing with those college kids? Looking out for Lindsey and her bar?” Sofie locks eyes with Ashton, wondering how it’s possible for anyone’s eyes to be quite so blue.

“They’d just had a little too much to drink, and they needed to cool off.” Ashton doesn’t offer any further explanation but looks down at her with interest. “So what are you doing here, running girl? I thought you guys were here on business.” The light of amusement dances in his eyes, and Sofie asks herself if she’s imagining it or if he really is flirting with her.