Disengaged (Terms of Engagement Book 3)

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “Is that what’s different about you? You’re a Christian?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  Amber glanced away.

  “So am I. If you can believe it,” she said ruefully.

  Now she regretted letting him think Caleb was hers. But what else was she supposed to do?

  Duh! She could’ve told the truth, and said she was babysitting. Why didn’t it occur to her to do that, until now?

  “I believe you,” he replied, his eyes filled with compassion. Amber shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and glared at him a little.

  “Stop looking at me that way.”

  “What way?” Erik frowned slightly.

  “Like you’re disappointed in me,” she said, but he shook his head.

  “No… you’re reading me wrong. That isn’t what I’m thinking. But there’s someone whose neck I’d like to wring, if you’ll be so kind as to hand over a name and address.”

  A smile flashed across her face, and she glanced at him sideways.

  “Any old name and address?”

  Erik laughed shortly, then smiled.

  “I already know where Rob lives,” he replied, and she laughed too.

  ROB went back inside model home F, closed both doors, and went up the stairs. He could detect no scent of gas, so he closed the window.

  It was a good thing he didn’t leave and go back to Ocotillo, after all. It was too late now, and even if he could, he wouldn’t. Not after what he discovered.

  He remembered Erik’s many attempts to reach him, and took out his phone. His brother needed to know about this.

  ERIK glanced at his phone’s screen, and the air crackled with sudden tension.

  “It’s Rob,” he told Amber, as he answered. “How are things?”

  “Erik, we’ve got a problem,” his older brother said abruptly. “Someone rigged F. The gas was turned on. The water heater’s pilot was lit. The interior garage door was propped open. The burners on the gas stove were on, but unlit.”

  “No way,” Erik said in alarm.

  Amber was close enough to hear Rob’s side of the conversation, sparing her the alarm she would’ve felt if all she had was Erik’s.

  “The water mains to all of the houses are also on. I’ve got water running to keep them from freezing.”

  “What about model A?” Erik wondered.

  “It has both gas, and water, like it’s supposed to.”

  “Have you been inside?”

  “Yes. It was staged today, remember? I’m guessing these guys figured it was better not to mess with it, and risk discovery. There were several cars parked in front.”

  “Okay… Rob, Samantha didn’t make it out. She’s still there, probably in A.”

  Rob suddenly remembered. If he wasn’t busy trying to prevent model F from lighting up like a torch, he’d wonder how he ever forgot.

  “Yes. She’s in A.”

  Erik glanced at Amber. She frowned a little, but it was in confusion rather than disapproval.

  “Okay… so you’ve seen her. Is she alright?”

  “I guess. She was when I left. I locked the gas valves, now I’ve got to get busy and drain the water pipes in B, C, D, E, and F. It’ll take several hours.”

  “Is there enough antifreeze, you think?”

  “I’ll make it stretch,” Rob replied. “If you can get up here tomorrow, check out the cabins and the lodge. Otherwise, I’ll hike down and do it myself when there’s a lull in the storm.”

  “Is it letting up at all?” Erik wondered.

  “No. It’s worse. The snow’s drifting too much to be sure of depth, but I haven’t hit any patches that are less than two feet. It’s still dumping out of the sky like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “The good news is, until this lets up, you won’t have any more unwelcome visitors dropping by. At least there’s that.”

  “We need to hire security to patrol the lodge, cabins, and models,” Rob decided.

  “I’m on it. Or—will be, when business hours commence. I’d like to know who’s responsible for all of this, too. I’ve got a few ideas. I’ll see what I can turn up.”

  “Be careful,” his older brother warned.

  “You too,” Erik replied. “And—make sure Samantha’s okay, and—don’t get into it with her, alright? Just—don’t.”

  “Fine. I’ve got to go, or these pipes are going to freeze before I can get them all done.”

  “Alright. Keep me apprised,” Erik said, and Rob ended their call.

  He returned his phone to his pocket, and Amber set hers back on the table.

  “I texted her,” she explained. “Whenever Samantha turns her phone on, she’ll know he’s there. If she doesn’t already.”

  “Rob won’t get back there any time soon,” Erik replied. “He’s got more than enough to keep him occupied.”

  “Good, so now tell me about this crazy sabotage stuff!”

  “Well… we’ve had several orders interfered with, and not by the suppliers themselves. Either someone claiming to be with our company calls and then cancels, or, our orders are picked up by someone else.”

  “Good grief, then what happens?”

  “Our suppliers rush to replace what we didn’t receive. It’s a big inconvenience. We run the risk of running behind every time this happens, and our guys sometimes have to go home because what they were scheduled to do, they can’t, and we don’t have anything else for them. The more this happens, the more we risk losing them to other contractors. Their loyalty lies with whoever can provide the steadiest work. Today, I heard from the owner of Pine Mountain. Someone left a message, trying to discredit our contracting business. They claimed we can’t get in our orders, and that we’re behind. This afternoon I saw two guys drive away from the model home at the end of the only road up the mountain. It’s private, clearly marked, and dead-ends in front of that house. No one would be there without a purpose. Certainly not long enough for the snow to cover their tracks. Rob discovered the house was rigged to explode, and the water turned on in the houses without heat.”

  “Why would someone do all that?” Amber frowned. “Do they not want Pine Mountain to be developed?”

  “Pine Mountain is already deep in the development process. It’s too late to prevent it. I’ll look into the possibility, but that isn’t the likeliest motivation.”

  “Then what is?”

  “This project will either make, or break, me and Rob as contractors. Someone’s determined to break us.”

  “Why would someone want to?”

  “One of us either has an enemy I don’t know about, or someone expects to profit financially. I’ve got a few ideas who that might be. Tomorrow I’ll hire security to protect the work that’s been done, and do some investigating.”

  “How exciting, a real mystery!” Amber said, her blue eyes bright. “I want to help.”

  “You… want to help?” Erik asked in surprise.

  “Yes. You’re not an actor, you told me so yourself. I, however, am. And besides, it’s your company someone’s trying to destroy. If you go asking around, people will recognize you. They won’t know me, at all.”

  Erik gave Caleb a concerned look.

  “What about your son?”

  “Mom will watch him. She usually does that during the day, anyway.”

  “I’ll… think about it,” Erik said hesitantly.

  “Saying you’ll think about it is the same as saying no,” Amber frowned.

  “No, it isn’t, it’s the same as saying I’m not sure this is a good idea, and I’m not ready to commit to an answer.”

  “Same thing,” she retorted. “Why don’t you want my help?”

  “It could be dangerous,” Erik replied seriously.

  “Maybe for you, but not for me.”

  “Whoever’s responsible does not want to be found out,” he reminded her. “They have everything to lose. That makes them extremely dangerous. You have a son to take care of. You need to take care of yourself, so
you can do that.”

  Why didn’t she say she was the babysitter!

  “I’m smart enough not to get caught. I’m good at coming up with cover stories when I need one,” not that that never backfired on her! “I can help, Erik. No one will suspect I’m up to anything. I could give out my real name, and all they’d want to know is if my middle name is Waves Of Grain.”

  “I’ve got friends I can go to for help if I need it,” Erik replied.

  “I’ll bet none of them look as innocent as I do,” she argued.

  “None of them are as persistent, that’s for sure. When this little guy hits the terrible twos, he’ll have nothing on you.”

  “Persistence is a virtue.”

  “No, patience is. Are you trying to test mine?”

  “No, and make that perseverance.”

  Erik looked back at her, utterly perplexed.

  “I don’t understand you. Why are you so determined to get involved in this?”

  Amber bought time by sipping her latte, and giving Caleb a piece of her gingerbread.

  Erik was still watching her, and waiting.

  “I believe you need my help,” she answered carefully. “I believe I can help you, and that if I don’t, something bad will happen. The thought of investigating, and solving a mystery, sounds like a lot of fun. But that isn’t why I’m not backing down.”

  Erik studied her. She appeared to be sincere. He didn’t know her well, or at all, actually. She was just a kid, and… he struggled to weigh her sincerity against his concerns.

  “You have a gut feeling?” he asked.

  “Yes. I don’t get them often, but when I do, I’ve learned to pay attention. Ask Mom and Dad. So have they.”

  Erik’s forehead furrowed as he considered that.

  “Then I will go back home, and pray about it. I can’t act on your gut feeling alone. Give me your number, and I’ll let you know what I decide.”

  Chapter 3

  SAMANTHA gathered her socks from the dryer, and peered through the window at the end of the hall. She could see nothing besides the snow that clung to the glass, and the swirling mass beyond it. The anxiety she felt, wondering what Rob would say when he came back, was overpowered by the fear that he wouldn’t come back at all. She was chilled by that thought, even more than she was the frigid air that seeped through the glass. She rubbed her arms, and shivered.

  She hurried from room to room, switching on lights as she went. Maybe it would make no difference, but then again, maybe he would see the light and find his way back. She followed the stairs to the first floor, and did the same in each room. The outdoor lights improved visibility very little for her, but maybe from outside it would be another matter.

  Samantha turned up the heat even more. Rob might be annoyed with her for turning the place into an oven, but she was willing to risk it. He’d be half frozen by the time he got back, if he wasn’t sheltering in one of the other houses.

  And maybe he was. She was praying, and she’d have to trust God with—all of it. There was nothing else she could do, other than put on her inadequate coat and boots, and freeze to death looking for him.

  Samantha went to the kitchen and took stock of the food supplies.

  There were plenty of sub sandwiches, in addition to potato chips, sugar cookies, and soda. She wasn’t in the mood to eat, but forced herself to do so, anyway.

  ROB continued down the line from house to house, turning off the water supply, locking the valves, draining the pipes inside each one, then adding anti-freeze. Ordinarily, it would be so much easier to turn the gas back on and let the heaters and running water do the work. But not after what he discovered in home F. Not since he intended to leave the model homes and hike down to check on the cabins and the lodge at the first break in weather.

  It was a good thing all his cold weather gear was packed in the back of his vehicle. He was going to need it.

  Rob rolled his eyes a little at the thought of how glad Erik would be that his plans were thwarted. His younger brother seemed to think he had no self-control of his own, and that annoyed him. Erik might have even less faith in him than Samantha did.

  They were both wrong. He almost snorted, remembering Erik’s remark that it wasn’t what he didn’t do, but what he did. That didn’t even make sense.

  There was a part of him that did understand, a part that fought valiantly for survival. There was another part determined to drown it out, and ultimately destroy it. Anger and pride were its weapons, and it easily suffocated the guilt and pain that were truth’s companions.

  Most of the time.

  Rob worked mechanically to finish the job at hand. His mind wandered, free of the self-righteous pride that usually accompanied it. His thoughts visited the same memories they frequently did, but this time without the distortion.

  His mother’s disdain for Samantha. The false dismay on her part, at finding Samantha was unable to attend the annual Christmas party. The party itself, seated next to an old girlfriend. Erik’s disapproval. His own arrogance. Catching up with Meredith, laughing, talking, drinking, reminiscing, forgetting. Hearing she didn’t care if he was married. The meaning of her words, the truth that he shouldn’t be there, that he walked into a trap, that Samantha was right about so many things. Abruptly saying no. Leaving. Driving, guilt hounding him, the truth forcing him to picture Samantha in his place. Jealousy, pain, and more guilt. She was right, he was wrong, and she would leave him.

  But he didn’t do anything! the other side argued. He left! The rest of it didn’t matter, he left! He wised up, he learned his lesson, and now he knew better. Samantha wasn’t there, she didn’t know, and she never would.

  Going home, feeling better, feeling proud of himself. Going inside, Samantha crying, accusing. Denying, indignant, afraid, angry, redirecting, blaming, scorning, condemning. Samantha silent, not responding, walking away, gone…

  The pain was great, and the guilt overwhelming. Anger and pride returned, lying, pacifying, justifying.

  Rob didn’t like the turmoil that filled him. The truth, with its guilt and pain, couldn’t be completely banished this time. Anger grew, and so did his pride. It made him irritable, and he tried to think of something besides the look in her eyes when her faith in him died.

  SAMANTHA looked out the window at the raging storm, and wondered where Rob was. He’d been gone for hours, and it was getting late. She didn’t want him back in her life, but that didn’t mean she wanted him losing his own. Worry gripped her as she imagined him freezing to death in the cold.

  She turned away abruptly, and straightened the couch throw. There was nothing she could do for him that she wasn’t already. The lights were on, the house was warm, and she was praying.

  The lights flickered again, and she looked up apprehensively.

  If the electricity went out, it would take the thermostat with it. If that happened, she didn’t want to be left standing here in the dark, in the rapidly cooling house. She hurried up the stairs to the guest room.

  Thank goodness they staged that day! Sleeping on a bed was far preferable to sleeping on the floor. That brought her thoughts back to Rob, so she prayed some more as she crawled under the covers.

  She couldn’t sleep, not well anyway… she probably wouldn’t sleep well, no matter what, but she sure couldn’t if she didn’t know Caleb was safely tucked in for the night. Removing her phone from her pocket, she turned it on.

  Wind buffeted the house as if it were alive, and angry that there was no weakness to exploit. It screamed shrilly, causing Samantha to cringe, as she selected her sister’s number from her contacts list.

  “Samantha!” she heard almost immediately.

  “Yes, it’s me. How is Caleb?”

  “Great, he’s sound asleep. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. I’m about to go to bed, I just needed to hear that he’s doing well.”

  “He is. Samantha, Rob is still there. Have you seen him?”

  “What—how do you know tha
t?”

  “I ran into his brother, Erik, at the grocery store. Literally. With the shopping cart, not the car. We were talking, and he told me.”

  “Yes, Rob is here somewhere, just not in the house where I am. I didn’t want to worry you, so I let you think he wasn’t here at all.”

  “Someone tried to blow up one of the houses, and they turned on the water to all the rest, so the pipes would freeze. Maybe he’s still trying to undo all that.”

  “Amber, are you serious?” Samantha asked in alarm.

  “Yes, I’m serious. Erik said it’ll take him a long time to get done. You may not see him at all.”

  “Oh,” Samantha replied, with a sigh of relief. “I don’t want to send you into a panic attack, but I’ve been worried. He left hours ago, I was afraid he got lost trying to get back to the house.”

  “What sends me into a panic attack, is the thought that you’ll start having feelings for him again. Or feel obligated to give him another chance, or something like that.”

  “Then stop panicking. He said he’s still waiting on divorce papers. He’s glad I’m out of his life. I said I’d file if that’s what he wants.”

  Amber prepared to panic again.

  “Don’t do anything, Sam, without talking to Evan, or Drew, first. They’re not just lawyers, they specialize in family law. You’ve got to be sure Caleb can be kept completely out of it.”

  “That’s a good idea, I will,” Samantha replied. “Was Caleb at Mom and Dad’s, when you were at the store?”

  “No… Erik thought he was mine. I kind of let him keep thinking that.”

  There was silence for several long seconds.

  “You couldn’t just say you’re babysitting?” Samantha wanted to know. She didn’t sound exactly pleased. Or as if she had much respect for her sister’s intelligence, at the moment.

  “Well, I suppose I could have, if I thought of it then, instead of thirty minutes later. It was Erik’s idea. He already believed it, so I just went with it. And besides, Sam, did you know Erik and Rob are staying in Ocotillo while they work on that development you’re at? There’s a chance we’ll bump into them again,” especially if Erik took her up on her offer to help him. “So this explains Caleb better than it would if I was just babysitting. What if they see you with him?”