Chapter 6 Lincoln
LINCOLN
NO FUCKING CHANCE
Iwander the streets of Mount Gaines, a small town with a touristy feel during the busy season, located in the asshole of Utah, with desert ranges on one side and mountains on the other.
Main Street is where most business takes place, while amongst the trees and valleys and foothills, residential homes nestle in what they consider far enough from the neighbors that no one bothers anyone else, but close enough to town that if you need company, it’s easy to come by.
This is where Terrance and Jennifer Nichols raised a family and hid away from the world. And it’s where three of four Nicholses are already in the ground.
I have no clue what karma god they pissed off to end up on Richard Aster’s radar, but here we are, and though my gut rolls with dread each time I consider the sweet, pretty, tearful Nova Nichols all alone in the world, I have a job to do and a different woman to keep safe.
And really, the fact I’m here—instead of Tank—is a blessing she has no clue she received.
Slipping car keys into my pocket and my hands right after, I stand on the sidewalk of the town I studied into the late hours of last night, while my home, the one Aster secured for me, creaked and groaned as day turned to night.
I now know where Dukes is, as well as the grocery store.
The library, bookstores, cafés, and thrift shops, too.
I know where Nova buys her food, and on which day of the week she does it. I know where she parks her truck.
Or, well… used to park her truck.
For now, she’s stuck with a rental until she finds something else.
I know where she works, and that the park is just a few blocks away. She likes to go there on her lunch break five days a week, to settle in and eat a sandwich, while tossing a little extra to the squirrels who drop by.
Nova Nichols is a loner by nature. Not unapproachable, but certainly happy in her own company.
I turn on the sidewalk and spy the bank across the street, the dark-brown brick and massive square building that anchors the entire main street.
To my left, and towering over the town, are tall mountains.
And on my right, millions of trees stretch into forever and create the perfect backdrop to what, no doubt, made it onto the town postcard.
I’m on the clock, brutally aware that day one was a bust and day two is upon us. She didn’t want coffee yesterday. But maybe today will go better.
If it doesn’t, we’re both fucked.
Stepping off the sidewalk, I move into the street and continue across. Easily done, considering the traffic is all but nonexistent, and the cars that potter nearby do so at a snail’s pace. A luxury that small-town folks enjoy enough to forgo fast food and big box stores.
Stepping up on the other side, I make a beeline for the bank’s front doors, and pulling them open, I step into the air-conditioned cool and take a moment to catalog the layout.
I’ve already seen the city plans. I’ve studied the blueprints.
But being inside is a wholly different experience.
I scan the teller desks directly ahead and the lounge chairs scattered throughout with coffee tables nearby, so business can be conducted in comfort.
I peer to my left and spot the single, older, overweight security guard perched upon a stool with a cup of coffee balancing on his knee.
Finally, I look right and find the offices.
Nova will be in one of those.
I count the security cameras mounted on the ceiling—one in each corner of the square room—and the lack of glass between the tellers and their customers.
I suppose they’ve yet to experience a robbery or been given reason to be fearful.
Moving before the security guard considers me interesting, I start toward the tellers while slyly glancing toward the offices in hopes of seeing that mousy blonde hair.
I have a target. But she’s not any of the three tellers beaming up at me as I decide which desk I’ll approach.
“Hi there, sir.” The one in the middle is more outspoken than her colleagues, with a bright smile and wide eyes.
I follow her lead and cut down the middle, noting the way her lips spread wider and her happiness is… well, it’s fucking palpable.
The drawback of small-town living is that this, a new customer, is the highlight of her day.
“Hello. My name is Genevieve, and I’m so happy to help you today. Do you require a withdrawal, or will you be making a deposit?”
“Uh… both, actually. Kind of.” I show her a stammering, nervous, easy-to-please customer and reach back for my wallet. “I was hoping to meet with your loan officer.”
“Oh, of course!” She bounds around her desk and gestures toward the offices, chattering until her hair bounces. “I’d hate to assume, sir, but I don’t recognize your face. Are you an existing customer?”
“Not yet. I’m new to town, so I require accounts to be set up, and then a loan application to be filled out. I have a substantial deposit and excellent credit, so I’m sure everything will run smoothly.”
“Sounds perfect.” She leads me toward two side-by-side offices. One is Nova’s, and the other belongs to Alicia, the woman I saw yesterday at the funeral.
Genevieve almost overshoots her landing and takes me to the older woman, but I slow my steps and gesture toward Nova’s empty visitor chair, visible through the glass panels on each side of her door. “She looks available.”
“She sure is. And she’s so lovely too, Mr.…” She hesitates. “Uh?”
“Castro. Lincoln Castro.”
“Mr. Castro. Nova is excellent at her job, but she’s had a death in the family recently, so I thought I’d pass you on to our colleague to allow Nova a little peace.”
Playing my part, I lean back and thank the heavens when I find an ass already sitting in Alicia’s visitor chair. Straightening once more, I shrug and show Genevieve a friendly smile. “I’ll take this one. I promise to be gentle.”
“Of course.” Nervously, she giggles and starts toward Nova’s door. “She could probably do with a distraction, anyway.”
Gossiping about your colleagues is wildly unprofessional, Genevieve. Didn’t you know that?
Knocking, she opens Nova’s door and steps inside, gesturing me in behind her.
“Lincoln?” Nova is not nearly as dense as her coworker, so she assesses me with a stunned expression and pushes to her feet, smoothing her dress down and searching my eyes. “Uh… did you forget something yesterday?”
“Oh! You know each other?” Genevieve’s cheeks burn with humiliation. “Oh my gosh, Mr. Castro. You should have said so.”
“I didn’t know you worked here.” I mean, I did. But a lie is a lie, and committing to them is how we don’t get caught. I move toward Nova’s desk and offer my hand. “I’m sorry for interrupting your day, Ms. Nichols. I came looking for a bank, not realizing this was yours.”
“Um…” She accepts my hand, because she’s polite and at work—and in business, this is what you do. But her brows furrow, and a curious line digs between them, creating a wrinkle she’ll have permanently in fifteen more years. “You’re not here to talk to me? A-about Ryan?”
“No.” I release her and smile. “I need to open a bank account, actually, and discuss a home loan.” I settle into her visitor chair and nod as Genevieve’s heels tap-tap-tap their way out of the office.
You’re dismissed.
“I didn’t realize this is where you worked, though.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder, gesturing toward the other office. “I could talk to your coworker if that would make you more comfortable. Or if you’re busy…”
“No, it’s fine.” Sitting, she pulls her chair in and crosses her legs under her desk.
Then, settling her elbows on top, she searches my face.
She’s curious at heart. Suspicious, even, of anyone she doesn’t already know.
“I’ve been bored all morning, actually.” Finally, she allows a small smile to cross her lips.
“Today’s my first day back since the accident, and though everyone has really good intentions, their refusal to send any customers my way means my brain is rotting. ”
She exhales, powerful enough that her breath touches my fingertips as I set my hands in my lap. Then she nods, like a decision has been made.
A decision to work, I suppose.
To serve me.
“They mean well, but I’m ready for normalcy. Though I must admit, I’m confused by your need for a bank account.”
“That’s because you didn’t let me finish explaining yesterday.
” I settle back and hold her stare, the glittering green jewels as pretty as the finest treasures hidden in the most secret caves.
“I was going to say that I wasn’t traveling anywhere.
I’m renting a house out by the five-mile marker on Maple, and once you tell me what I need to do to secure a home loan, I’d like to buy the place, since the owner is selling. ”
“Y-you want to buy property? Here in Mount Gaines?”
“Mmm.” I rest my right ankle on the opposite knee.
“Ryan and I talked a million times about what we’d do once we retired.
He always sang praises about this town, so I knew when it was time, this is where I’d come.
He told me about the Fall Festival every year and the Halloween haunted houses.
The Winter Gala, and the Christmas carols at the park.
” I drop my gaze and shake my head. “Dude wouldn’t shut up about Mount Gaines, and we thought it would be pretty cool to end up in the same place again.
Well…” I allow my voice to thicken, because I’m a lying, manipulative prick.
“You know what I mean. That was a while ago.” I study her eyes and say nothing of the tears she works so hard to blink away.
“I was already heading this way when everything happened. Now he’s gone, and I just…
” I shrug. “It’s time. I already got a rental, and as soon as my accounts are ready, I’ll apply for the loan and settle in, like we’d always planned. ”
“You wanna buy the house out by Maple?” Her voice cracks. “Fred Carnagy’s house?”