Chapter Two
A licia Halverson stepped onto the elevator ahead of Mandie, and when she turned, she gave the other woman a look that spoke volumes. Thankfully, Mandie could understand looks where words weren’t spoken, and she edged behind a tall African American man to position herself closer to Alicia.
“What have you got?” she whispered on the third floor, when half the people in the elevator exited. “Lish, don’t hold out on me. I’m here an hour early to go over files I have memorized.”
“Please.” Alicia half-scoffed and half-laughed. “You’re here early so you can pace in the bathroom and pitch yourself to your reflection.”
Mandie’s shoulder shivered back and forth, her way of conceding to Alicia without words. Alicia laughed, because she knew Mandie so well. She reminded her of her younger sister, and a powerful wave of missing rolled through Alicia completely unbidden.
“My thumbs are aching from how much I texted last night,” Alicia said as the elevator struggled to get moving again.
“It better have been with Michael.” Mandie sighed, and Alicia felt her frustration. She hadn’t been assigned a field trip in months either, and once Mandie had texted last night, Alicia had taken it upon herself to figure out how to get the two of them assigned to whatever went up on the board today at PastForward.
“Michael, I wish.” Alicia rolled her neck, and the day hadn’t even started yet.
“He’s going to ask you out. You just need to keep stopping by for those chocolate croissants.”
“Yeah, and then I have to run fifty miles on the treadmill.” Alicia shook her head now, the ends of her long, dark hair brushing against her elbows. She’d braided into pigtails today in an attempt to make herself look younger. Candace seemed to discriminate on any grounds she could, and only she knew what those were.
Alicia and Mandie had brainstormed that they changed all the time too, and it could be because Alicia left her food in the microwave too long or that she’d just turned thirty-five. No one really knew, and she wished there was a system for how people got selected for field assignments.
“Rory says there’s no way Suzie will get picked,” Alicia said once they’d passed the seventh floor. “She’s still finishing up with the New Hampshire mansion.”
“So we’ll need another bulldozer,” Mandie said, her eyes glued to the numbers above the doors. They were nearing ten now, and had five more to go. “Who?”
“Rory says the two of us would make a killer research and checklist team, with Flint behind the camera.”
Mandie only hummed, but that said so much. Alicia knew she wanted this field assignment more than anything, and she’d known before Mandie had texted last night. She knew, because Alicia needed this assignment like she needed oxygen.
“You love Flint.”
“Flint’s the best,” Mandie agreed. “So John as the third?”
“Could be.” Alicia nodded as the elevator made another stop and then continued up. “Maybe Chevy. He hasn’t been out since that Baltimore fiasco.”
She and Mandie got off on the fifteenth floor and went past the ritzy real estate firm to their private historical restoration and reconstruction firm.
They both worked in the Preservation and Conservation Department, but they both also handled local clients who needed help getting natural disasters cleaned up when they weren’t working on historical cases.
“I’m so bored,” Alicia whispered as she opened the glass door and held it for Mandie.
“I might scream if I don’t get assigned today,” she whispered back. “Just right out loud, in the middle of the meeting.”
Alicia laughed lightly. “I doubt it. Assignments always come at the end of the meeting.”
Mandie scoffed and veered off into her desk area while Alicia continued down another two rows to hers. She quickly put her purse in her bottom desk drawer, grabbed her files, and went back to Mandie’s desk.
“Top three. We have to be in perfect alignment.”
Mandie already had her folders out too. She loved sticky notes and color-coding, which was why she’d be perfect for any field crew. The woman literally never missed a detail, and she had three folders, one each labeled with a green note, a yellow one, and a pink one.
“Is pink above green or below?”
“Pink is the prize, my friend.” Mandie smiled as she slipped the marked folder to the top.
Please let it be the Hampton House , Alicia prayed as Mandie seemed to fall into slow motion. Alicia really couldn’t leave her children for an off-site field assignment, and she wondered if Candace had somehow found out about her recent divorce.
She commuted from Queens, from the tiny two-bedroom house where her son slept in the second bedroom while her daughter shared her room with her. She and her ex had been living there for a few years now, so that hadn’t changed. It would simply be difficult to be on-site for any amount of time, and she’d chosen the Hampton House as her top pick simply in the hopes that it would be chosen, and she could get the field assignment.
She earned more when on assignment, as they received a per diem for food for every day worked out at the site. Plus, the house held a magic to it that leapt off the printed page and permeated the air.
“I knew you’d like the Hampton place too.” Alicia grinned widely when she saw the pillared mansion on the front page inside the pink-sticky-note-marked folder.
“It’s the best property,” Mandie said. “Though I did like that one in the Appalachians.”
“The Mountain Mansion?” Alicia fake-swooned. “Isn’t it amazing? Even full of someone else’s stuff and those ghastly all-terrain vehicles. I can’t even imagine the views.” Alicia could admit she was somewhat of a romantic, but the images of her eight-year-old’s and her five-year-old’s faces grounded her. Brought her back to reality, and that meant she couldn’t run off to Virginia even for an amazing mountain mansion.
“I didn’t put it in my top three,” Mandie said. “I don’t really want to travel for the field assignment.” She tucked her honey-blonde hair behind her ear as she bent over the Hampton House. “I’m worried that if it comes up a lot, Candace will choose it even if it doesn’t have the most votes.”
“She is so unpredictable,” Alicia complained. “That’s what I dislike the most. If I knew how things could go, if I could predict it, I wouldn’t be so nervous.” She flapped her hands a couple of times, then told herself to stop it.
She got to her feet. “Look, you’re the natural choice for the researcher. I’m the perfect fit for the financial advisor. All we need is a bulldozer and a film crew, and this is going to be the best summer and fall of our lives.”
Mandie clapped her hands together. “Yes! This is the kind of pep talk we need.”
No one else had come into the office this early, and Alicia had psyched herself up appropriately. “Okay,” she said, pacing to get out some of her extra energy. “We are going to pitch ourselves today. I want this assignment.”
“I need it,” Mandie said. “I’m tired of assisting on research and then staying here while the team goes out.”
“This is ours.”
“What’s yours?” someone asked, and Alicia’s gaze flew past Mandie to another blonde, this one with plenty of strawberry in her hair and so not someone she wanted to talk to this early in the morning. Or ever, really.
“Hey, Suzie,” she chirped in a falsely bright voice. “You’re here early.”
“I’ve got to get this last form filed for the West Hills Monster.”
Mandie got to her feet, her irritation like a scent on the air. Suzie barely looked at her, as if Mandie didn’t hold any importance at all. Alicia reached out and grabbed onto her forearm, and that stopped Mandie. Thankfully.
“Leave it,” she hissed as Suzie went by them. “We’ll play our cards in the meeting.”
Several seconds passed while they both waited for the blonde bulldozer to get out of earshot, and then both she and Mandie sat down in Mandie’s desk area. “She thinks she’s going to get another assignment,” Mandie said. “Unbelievable.”
“She’s not going to get it,” Alicia said. “There are so many deserving people—like us.”
“Like us,” Mandie agreed with a nod. “Okay, more people are starting to come in. We can’t be seen conspiring, or Candace will for-sure give the assignment to someone else.”
“Right.” Alicia squeezed her friend’s hands, then stood, and made her way over to her desk. The office started to fill, and before she knew it, Candace had stepped out of the conference room, the silver bell in her hand.
“Let’s go, people,” she called as she started to ding the bell over and over and over. Ding! Ding! Ding!
Everyone got to their feet like dogs, like the bell had triggered something Pavlovian inside them. Alicia joined them, her three folders and her notebook in her hands. She deliberately didn’t allow herself to migrate to Mandie’s side. Candace didn’t like it when friends tried to get on the same teams, and Alicia panicked that her friendship with Mandie—which was well-known around PastForward—would suddenly hinder her.
Fourteen people crowded into the room, and Candace indicated the three trays in the middle of the oblong table. “First, second, third,” she said, indicating a tray with each one. “Folders in.”
Someone swore, and Jackson—another accountant with a degree in construction management—jumped to his feet. “I forgot my folders.”
“Door’s closing in ten seconds,” Candace called after him, and though he was one of Alicia’s main competitors for this field assignment, she hated seeing him humiliated. Candace had locked people out of meetings before, so her ten-second rule was not an empty threat.
Ten seconds later, Jackson sprinted into the room just as Candace said, “Doors, please.”
He practically threw his folders into the trays. Candace glared at him as she pulled the first tray toward her. “Paula, please tally.”
Another woman scrambled to her feet, and Alicia wondered why they all kept showing up here, day after day, to be ordered around and treated subserviently. Paula uncapped a blue white board marker, and Candace flipped open the first folder.
“Hamptons,” she said, and Alicia shot a look over to Mandie. She sat very still, her gaze trained on Candace. “Cape Cod.” Another folder. “Hamptons.” She continued on until all the folders in the first pile had been read, and it was obvious that the majority of people in the office wanted to work on the Hampton House next.
Candace turned and looked at the tally marks. “Nine, wow.” She smiled as she turned back and picked up the second stack of folders. She read through those, and the Cape Cod Complex came in second.
Their boss didn’t even turn to get the remaining pile of folders. She steepled her fingers and considered the board. “I’m a bit surprised more of you didn’t pick the Appalachian Jewel.” She simply let the words hang there, and Alicia had learned not to justify anything.
If Candace asked her a direct question, she’d answer. Otherwise, she wouldn’t. If she didn’t get an assignment today, Alicia wasn’t sure what she’d do. Screaming, like Mandie had suggested, sounded about right.
She looked down the table to her friend again, and this time, Mandie’s eyes darted to hers too. Then Candace spun, and Alicia jerked her attention back to her. The tension in the conference room pressed against the ceiling, against all the walls and windows, straining to get out. Alicia could barely get a decent breath, and she wondered if anyone else felt that.
“We might as well go over what’s third.” Candace started reading through those, and Paula dutifully tallied them all up. Candace, in all her bleach-blonde-bunned glory, turned to face the board again.
She never went out in the field, except to check-in once, maybe twice, during a project. She demanded detailed reports which she religiously read, and she’d email questions or call private meetings with teams. Alicia had never seen her wear anything but skirts that fell precisely to her knees, heels, and fluttery blouses.
Today’s was pale blue, with a navy skirt and navy heels, and perfectly matching robin’s egg blue earrings in the shape of dragonflies.
“Ah, there’s my Appalachian Jewel.” She grinned at the board, then swiveled back to the group at-large. “Thank you, Paula. Please take your seat.”
Paula did just that, and Alicia looked down at her notebook, almost afraid to make eye contact with Candace. She forced herself to look up, because she couldn’t show her boss any weakness.
“We have enough funding for two teams to get started,” she said. “I’m going to send some of you to Virginia and this mountain mansion. I think it’s the best in the bunch, and I’m honestly surprised it’s not number one.”
No one said anything, because it sounded like Candace had just started a lecture. Alicia gazed at her, and Candace looked her way.
“Let’s start down there.” Candace looked down at some notes in front of her. “Jackson.” Alicia’s heart started to pound through her whole body. If Jackson got the Jewel, she’d be the most logical choice for the Hampton House. “You’ll manage the finances.”
“Yes,” he said, his smile spreading across his whole face. It only made Alicia want to squirm.
“Vanessa, I need you on point,” Candace said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Vanessa said.
“Chevy.” Candace glanced over to him, and he was a bulldozer like Suzie.
“You got it, Candy,” he said, and he was the only one who’d ever called Candace such a thing. A thread of horror moved through Alicia, but Candace only laughed.
“And on film…” She paused and sighed. “I’m going to pause on that for a minute. I want you guys to clear your afternoon on Monday. We’ll meet to go over everything then.”
Murmurs of assent moved through the group, and the tension in the room skyrocketed. Alicia shifted in her seat, and Candace looked at her. Her eyebrows went up, and Alicia’s did too. That was about as big of a challenge as she could lay down, and she hoped the message had gotten across.
“The Hampton House,” Candace said, consulting her notebook again. A few seconds went by, then a few more.
“Ma’am?”
Every eye flew to Mandie. She’d half-raised her hand, and she’d gone pale, like she might throw up. Candace looked at her, blinking rapidly a few times.
“I’m in love with this house,” Mandie said. “I’d love to take point on it. I’ve already sketched out a few things to get started.”
“You have?” Candace folded her arms and considered Mandie, her gaze sharp and hooked. Alicia’s mouth had gone dry, and she had no idea how Mandie had the nerve to speak up in a meeting where people didn’t do such things.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mandie said. “And I’m completely available to meet with you and whoever else you appoint to the team anytime.”
“Anytime.” Candace nodded, though something cold definitely emanated from her. She leaned back in her chair and appraised Mandie for several long seconds. Then a couple more. Right when Alicia thought the air would snap, she said, “All right, Miss Kelton. Oops, I mean Mrs. Kelton. You can have point.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Alicia couldn’t speak up now, but she wasn’t a bulldozer, nor on film. If she didn’t get named next, she wouldn’t have an assignment. A voice started shrieking in her head, an internal monologue that left her feeling desperate, irritated, and hopeless all at the same time.
She had to get out of this room.
Now.
Get out. Get out. Get out!
She stayed right where she was, and Candace looked at her notes and then right at her. “Alicia, can you keep Mrs. Kelton within budget?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said, her voice grating like rusty nails against cement. “Absolutely, I can.”
Candace nodded and looked around. Alicia’s heartbeat now bobbed somewhere outside her body, but she still had enough wherewithal to pray, Not Suzie. Please, not Suzie.
“Brandt,” she said. “You’ll be on bulldozer, and Flint, I know you’re just barely finishing up the Maryland Mansion, but I need you in The Hamptons.”
“Sure thing,” Flint said.
“Apparently, Mrs. Kelton has some notes already for us,” Candace said dryly, and Alicia thought Mandie might blow her top. She’d turned bright red now, and since Alicia sat on the same side of the table as her, she could see her fisted hands.
“Mandie’s the best,” Flint said. “I’m sure she and Lish can get started without me and Brandt. We’re more of the on-site crew.” Flint threw Alicia a smile, and that settled some of the acid boiling in her stomach.
“I want the Hampton House team in my office first thing Monday morning.” She got to her feet. “I’ll have my own notes to go over.” She gave Mandie a pointed look. “All right. Back to work.”
She started stacking the folders, and Alicia filed out of the conference room along with everyone else...except Mandie. Alicia met her eyes and gestured for her to come on! Don’t stay in here with the Big Bad Wolf!
Mandie shook her head slightly, her jaw set and her eyes filled with pure determination. Alicia moved out of the way, wondering if she needed to stay and back-up whatever Mandie said.
But Mandie asked, “Miss Ewing? Can I speak to you privately for just five minutes?” and Alicia ducked out of the room. She’d hear all about this five-minute meeting soon enough, and she didn’t want to step on her friend’s toes.
She closed the door behind her and practically rammed into Flint.
“What’s she doing?” he murmured.
“It’s suicide,” Alicia said, turning to face the conference room. All of the blinds were open, but Mandie stood with her back to the office.
“So we’ll be going to lunch today,” Flint said easily. “If she’s still alive, we’ll hear all about it.” He nudged Alicia with his elbow. “And hey, you guys got Brandt.”
Relief filled her again and then again, and she finally felt like she could breathe properly. “Yeah,” she said. “We got Brandt.” Her gaze went back to the conference room. “And if Mandie doesn’t get fired, we pretty much have the dream team for the Hampton House.”
Then she turned and walked back to her desk, praying for her friend in a constant internal stream of words.
I am so excited about this book already! I’ve had this idea in my head for almost a year, and I can’t wait to bring an abandoned mansion — and the women who work on it — back to life in THE HAMPTON HOUSE.