by Ben Farthing
At seeing Dr. Terry's sagging cheeks tighten in anger, Chris laughed harder. It felt good, after the morning he'd had.
The last time they'd seen each other, Chris had been groveling. The culmination of six years of working together, a bachelor's, a master's, and a year of assisting Dr. Terry in designing the twelve-million dollar Fredericksburg courthouse. Chris gathered photographs and sketches of the town's best known buildings. He personally sketched out ways to bring the town's history of design together into a building that also held a modern sensibility. And to top it off, he outlined ways to make those grandiose designs actually functional. In Dr. Terry's final version, he combined elements of Chris's designs, all polished up with his half-century of experience. It was undeniably Dr. Terry's design, but it also relied on Chris's work.
Chris didn't expect his name to be next to Dr. Lance Terry's in the newspapers, but he at least expected his name to be somewhere down the list on the blueprints.
Instead, Dr. Terry had taken all the credit. When most architectural students were working internships and building their portfolio, Chris was assisting his most respected professor with a job that had nationwide attention. And then he was snubbed, and sent out into the job market with a mild recommendation that said Chris was "particularly astute concerning office tasks."
All because of Chris's unorthodox thesis research. Dr. Terry got embarrassed, and in response he took a wrecking ball to Chris's career.
Chris contained himself.
Dr. Terry smoothed the lapels of his tweed blazer. "This isn't your typical contract work."
The old man honestly thought Chris would work with him. "That's a shame, because I've been starving for contract work. In the five years since I graduated, I've had a total of four freelance jobs."
Dr. Terry huffed. "Hardly impressive."
"That's my point. I graduated with no portfolio. I'm broke because you fucked me over."
Dr. Terry let out a mild gasp, but then smirked. "Aren't you proud of the four jobs you've completed? That's a portfolio."
"Redesigning stairwells to code? A beach bungalow that the firm charged ten times what they paid me? Not exactly jobs that'll move me up in the world."
"Then you'll want to hear what I have to say."
"I promise you, I don't."
Sure, Chris needed money. But trusting Dr. Terry would leave him with wasted time and an empty wallet.
Dr. Terry cleared his throat. "If you're worried I would somehow cut you out--not that I'm admitting to your version of our last interaction--it may reassure you to hear that your contract would be with my client. I would of course hold a managerial role over you, but without the ability to terminate your contract or withhold payment."
That surprised Chris. If the money was guaranteed, could he turn it down? Eddie would wake up any minute. Rent would be due in three weeks. Sherri and her regular paycheck would be back never. Unless Chris wanted to find a cheap apartment and uproot Eddie, he needed money. Hell, he didn't even have the income for a cheap apartment.
Dr. Terry took his hesitation as further resistance. "Perhaps you'd be more eager if I shared with you the job's details?"
Chris tested out cautious optimism. "Couldn't hurt."
Dr. Terry pointed to the Richmond skyline.
No, Chris realized, he was pointing to the right of it, at the new building that had sprung up overnight, a mile north of downtown.
Jealousy returned.
"That's the job," said Dr. Terry. "Our esteemed city's newest addition. I'm sure your fine eye for the obvious made you aware that eyesore wasn't there last night. My client is organizing a team to reverse engineer its construction."
Chris ignored the drab insult. "Reverse engineer?"
Dr. Terry took Chris's surprise for misunderstanding. "You and I are going to figure out how they built it."
5
It was too much for one morning. Sherri left. The skyline grew a new building. The man who hijacked Chris's career showed up.
And now that self-serving old fart wanted Chris to "reverse engineer" the impossible tower.
Chris squeezed his jaw to avoid shivering. He needed to get inside. The cold front that arrived with the new tower was too much.
Dr. Terry's forehead wrinkled with impatience. "I thought you'd be more excited. This could be a monumental moment for architecture. Maybe we should step inside?"
"No. I'll warm up in a moment. You can answer my questions out here, and then leave."
Dr. Terry tightened his lips. "The contract should answer any questions." Dr. Terry pulled a sheet of crisp, folded paper from his jacket. He handed it to Chris. "I assume compensation is your most pressing question." He gave another judgmental glance at the old rental house.
Chris wanted to laugh. Dr. Terry was judging the rental house, and with Sherri gone, Chris couldn't even afford that. He'd have to uproot Eddie again.
"Payment is big, yes. Since I can't expect any sort of recommendation from you afterwards."
"Payment is six times the standard for a junior architect with your experience. We expect the job to take three to six hours."
Chris found the dollar figure on the contract. It would cover rent for two months. Even if they still had to move afterwards, it would at least let Eddie stay where he'd been living on-and-off for the past two years, until they came to terms with Sherri's abandonment.
Tempting. If Chris could trust the contract. "I take it your client isn't the owner?"
"That's correct."
"Why doesn't your client just ask the owner how they built it?"
"We don't know who it was."
"Pull the permits."
"The only permits on file are for the demolition of the eight houses that used to stand there."
"Ask the demo contractors who paid their invoices."
"My client's legal team is quite capable. The demolition company seems to be on vacation. Bureaucratic avenues are being pursued, have no doubt. But our job is to inspect the new tower with our architectural expertise."
"We're breaking in," Chris realized. A reckless plan. The so-called client was probably just Dr. Terry.
"The paycheck is worth the risk of a minor misdemeanor."
"That's a good news story, huh? 'Architecture professor breaks into mysterious building.' Everyone in the industry will know your name."
"They already do."
Chris ground his teeth. He should share a tiny portion of Dr. Terry's reputation. But right now, he could really use six times the normal rate. He swallowed his pride. It went down like a lump of cement.
Chris realized his hesitation wasn't just about pride. He still didn't trust the offer. "Who's your client?"
"They prefer to remain anonymous until you sign the contract."
It was definitely Dr. Terry. Chris was out. There was no actual opportunity for a paycheck here.
But money wasn't the only thing on Chris's mind. "What do you know about the building already? Did it really go up overnight?"
"We can't yet find any security cameras trained on it. But we're quite positive that it was not there last night, and it is there this morning."
Chris could confirm that. He'd stood on the porch last night and hadn't seen it. "What's the government think?"
"If they've noticed, they're slow to act."
"And the news?"
"Nothing on the morning news shows. But once they realize what's happened, I imagine they'll act quickly. So we need to move faster. We'll meet my client in half an hour at the Steelside Cafe."
Chris nodded. He desperately wanted to know how the building went up so fast. This was a breakthrough in construction like jumping from mud huts to steel framing. But Dr. Terry didn't have any answers for him. All that was left was to torment his old adversary a bit. "And what's your plan to reverse engineer it?"
Dr. Terry was an ivory tower academic. He knew the history of architecture, and he could design buildings that mimicked any historic style. But he wasn't a cons
truction manager. Chris would be surprised if Dr. Terry could even walk someone through the process of constructing a skyscraper, let alone reverse engineer irregular construction.
"That's part of why I've come to you. For my own part, I rub shoulders with our generation's leading architects. I know their work intimately. Our primary approach will be to review the design both inside and out. That should give me enough information to determine who has designed this building. Once I have that information, our client can go to that architect to inquire as to the construction methods."
It was so stupid it made Chris happy. "It's an office building, not an avant-guard single family. No way the design is distinct enough."
Dr. Terry tugged at his jacket. "I'm quite confident in my abilities."
"That's the truth."
Chris looked past the skyline. The new tower seemed to shrug with each tier. It was glass from corner to corner. "Any freshman student could have designed that thing." Maybe that's what it was. Had one of his classmates designed it, and Chris was recognizing their work?
No, because Dr. Terry would have noticed, and he'd be bothering someone else this morning.
But examining the design was the only approach Dr. Terry had. The old man knew nothing about actual construction. Chris didn't know a lot, but he had spent summers during undergrad doing the grunt labor for the Bank of America building downtown. And he kept in touch with a lot of friends who'd gone on to various engineering and construction management positions.
"Perhaps you have some suggestions on other approaches we could take, in finding out who built this and how."
"Sure." Now Chris was just dragging along Dr. Terry in order to avoid going inside. "If we just find the-"
He stopped. He'd thought of a solid way to get answers about the construction. Better than staring at the building and then guessing the architect. But he wasn't about to make Dr. Terry's job any easier.
"What is it?" Dr. Terry leaned closer. "You've thought of something."
"Wouldn't you know it, it just slipped my mind. I should really get back to my office tasks."
"Don't be daft. I'm offering you a handsome paycheck."
"Ha! You're offering me. There's no client."
"What?" Dr. Terry sputtered. "Of course there is. You think I'd choose to work with you again after the embarrassment you brought to your alma mater?"
"Oh fuck off. I was a nineteen-year-old kid caught up in an exciting story. You demoed my career because deep down you know you're a mediocre architect propping up his career with articles nobody reads."
"And you'd have done better without my tutelage?"
"Without your assholery, yes!"
Dr. Terry's cheeks went red, then an idea sparked in his eyes. "I see what's going on. You want to do it without me. You've somehow heard about the open contract. Who told you? One of your college chums who gave up on designing?"
Chris had no idea what he was talking about, but sensed another opportunity to jab at the old man. "Why would I admit to that?"
"No one will be collecting the open contract, because the private team will get the answer first. I should know, since I'm leading the private team!"
Chris took a moment to digest Dr. Terry's blubbering. Maybe there really was a client. And while they'd hired Dr. Terry to reverse engineer the new building, they'd also posted an open reward.
"The client must not have much faith in you."
Dr. Terry breathed deep. He sucked in mustache hairs. "I'm offering you guaranteed payment. If you go after the open contract, you'll get nothing."
"Sorry," said Chris, gleeful at how easy it was to manipulate Dr. Terry's emotions. "I'm at the point in my career where I need to take risks. And if that screws you out of this cash and prestige that you're looking for, well, I'm sure you can fall back on other accolades. Office tasks, maybe."
"You can't-"
"Of course, I'll need to verify that this open contract exists." He checked the time on his phone. "You said your client will be at the Steelside at nine-thirty, right?"
"That's a private meeting-"
"I'll only interrupt for a second. I'll see you there. Now get out of my driveway."
Dr. Terry huffed back into his Buick and left.
His fun over, the weight of the day fell back onto Chris's shoulders.
He had no intention of chasing after any contracts.
If it had been anybody but Dr. Terry, then Chris could have trusted the contract, and set out on a breaking-and-entering adventure. But it was Dr. Terry, and whether he was the client or the manager, he'd find a way to screw Chris out of payment.
Of course, he wanted to know more about the tower. Everything there was to know. It was his, somehow.
But so was Eddie. And Eddie was far more important than professional curiosity. Today would be about lessening the blow of another parent abandoning him.
Chris turned his back on the skyline, pulled his bathrobe tight around him, and walked inside to break the news to his son.
6
Eddie watched and listened through a cracked window.
Eddie cracked the window to hear.
Chilled air seeped inside. Soapy water had dripped onto his hands, and now felt icy cold.
Outside, Chris argued with an old man. The old man dressed like someone on the British mystery shows on PBS.
Except Chris liked watching those. Eddie had never seen Chris so angry as he was at this old man.
Eddie went back to scrubbing the walls. He'd already messed up and made Sherri leave. He'd make sure he was helpful enough so Chris wouldn't leave, too.
Still, he listened.
There was a new building, and the old man wanted Chris to find something inside. It sounded like it was worth a lot of money.
That was good news. Maybe Chris wouldn't have to worry about rent money.
Chris yelled even louder, and then the old man slammed his car door and drove away.
Chris headed inside.
Eddie slid the window shut as quiet as he could.
The front door opened. Chris came through, hugging his bathrobe to his chest. He was skinnier than when Eddie had first met him, three years ago during first grade. But this morning his eyes weren't wide and worried like they usually were. There was some anger still there, in the way his teeth pushed against each other. But Eddie knew it wasn't for him.
Chris looked at the broom with the wet rag lashed on with a rubber band. "What's all this?"
"Cleaning the walls." Eddie said. "Is that man giving you a job?"
"No." Chris exhaled. "Let me get dressed, and then let's make breakfast and have a conversation."
"About Sherri leaving?"
"You saw? Yeah. About Sherri leaving."
Eddie understood leaving. But he didn't understand this job Chris had turned down. "It sounded like he was giving you a job. Wouldn't a job be helpful?"
"Sure, if it's legit."
"Looking around in a new building isn't legit?"
"Dr. Terry isn't legit." Chris sat on the couch to get to eye level with Eddie. "Why are you so concerned about this job?"
"It'd be helpful," Eddie repeated. Sometimes adults didn't realize the connection between helpfulness and how nice they were. "Plus you're always looking for more jobs."
"Not like this one. The old guy out there, he wanted me to search all over a new building, and if I found what I was looking for, he wasn't planning on sharing."
"Like a treasure hunt?"
Chris smiled. "Exactly. Never go treasure hunting with a greedy partner."
"Like in our game." Eddie pointed to the TV. They played Treasure Hunter X together, and even though it was older than the games his friends at school played, he still liked it.
"Yeah, I guess it is like Treasure Hunter X." Chris blinked slowly. He was thinking about Sherri, Eddie could tell. "Sure would be helpful to have some of that treasure, huh?"
Eddie nodded. Helpful.
"Listen, let's both get dressed, and th
en we'll make pancakes. I need to tell you a few things about Sherri." He gave him a quick hug, then went to his bedroom. Rock music drifted through the closed door.
Eddie hurried to put on his shoes and socks, and find his warmest coat.
He had a chance to be more helpful than ever.
There was treasure in the new building. Chris said it'd be helpful to have it.
If Eddie could get it for him, Chris would never leave.
While Chris got dressed to angry rock songs, Eddie left a quick note on the kitchen table, then snuck outside.
He'd find the treasure. The new building was waiting.
7
Chris lay fully dressed on his unmade bed.
Sherri's stereo systems pumped out The 1975. He didn't care for their jangly melodies, but it was the last thing Sherri had playing from the iPad.
He had to get up.
Eddie needed him.
But now he and Eddie lived in an empty house.
He didn't want to open the door and confront it.
All his determination to help Eddie feel at home was just so overwhelming. He couldn't do it alone. Not that he'd have to do it if he weren't alone.
Seven years with Sherri, down the drain.
Sherri hadn't taken much with her. Last year, she'd hauled away all her belongings that didn't "spark joy" to try out a minimalist lifestyle. Chris only joined in the minimalism inasmuch as he felt awkward spending Sherri's paycheck on personal stuff. And on the few times he earned his own paycheck, he was most excited to pay rent for a month.
Their bedroom was simple but quality Hayne's furniture. Out in the front room, the dining table had been a Facebook Marketplace find. The chapter books on the shelf had been accumulated over the past three years, since Eddie had become part of their lives. He picked them up one at a time, for fifty-cents each at the Church Hill Library book sales. Now that he thought about it, Sherri had never bought a single one.
Chris expected to feel distraught. The emptiness that came instead hit like a sucker punch.