Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
He’s also lyin’. That’s something I can see even in the dark. “Charlie doesn’t have any concerns, not with Collin in charge. So your script needs work.”
Still, his smile does not crack. “Can I see inside, Amon? Or should I just check off the box here that says ‘refused access?’”
He holds up his clipboard and sure enough, there is a damn tick-box that says ‘refused access.’ I wave my hand at the door and bow a little. “It would be my pleasure.”
I punch in the code to open the main door of the kennel and the inspector follows me inside. Immediately the mama dogs start whining for attention, but King is in here as well, and he gives me a friendly bark.
“I thought you said there were no workers in here?” When I look at Sawyer Martin, he’s got one eyebrow raised.
Which makes me scoff, then nod at King. “This dog’s with me today. He and I have an appointment down in Fayetteville.”
Sawyer scribbles something on his clipboard. “Is that right?”
“That’s right.” I punch in the security code to open King’s kennel, then point at my left side. The dog trots over and sits at my knee. “He’s gettin’ fitted for a new vest today.”
Sawyer wants to say something here, but he’s been schooled in the art of composure, so whatever it was, he holds it back and gives me a fake salute. “Well, you and your dogs have a nice day now.”
Which is, essentially, a dismissal. And I feel my temper getting ready to rear up. But I too have been schooled in the art of composure and even though my vest-fitting appointment with King isn’t for hours, I decide to turn away and leave things here.
Outside I direct King to get in my truck, then I get in as well. But on my way out of the compound I stop at Nash’s house, tell King to stay in the truck, and go inside to find Collin. He’s sitting in Nash’s office going over some paperwork, so I stand in the doorway, waiting until they’re finished talking.
Collin turns to look at me. “Why are you loomin’ in the fuckin’ doorway, Amon?”
“He’s up to something. I can tell. It’s a mistake letting that man have free rein over our compound.”
“Dammit, Amon.” Collin is frustrated with me now. “I told you to ignore him. Just let the man do his job. If Charlie wants him to look around, I’m gonna let him look around.”
Collin is typically the suspicious one, not me. I’m the easy-going dog trainer. Happy and content is my default setting. So I’m irritated that he’s so indifferent about this whole thing. “You’re not the least bit bothered that Charlie Beaufort is sending people up here like he’s our boss? Because I am.”
“Amon, I gave up trying to fight Charlie years back now. He and his government contracts are the only way Edge gets off the ground. We talked about this and we all agreed he is a necessary evil. So even if I am unhappy about this Sawyer guy, it doesn’t do any good to complain about it. For all intents and purposes, Charlie is our boss. If he wants Sawyer up here looking around, then we should just let the man do his job and hope he really is gone in two weeks.”
I want to say a lot of things about this little speech Collin just gave. I want to call him a sell-out. I want to call him beholden. I want to accuse him of things.
But I don’t, because he’s right. We’ve hashed this out and we all agreed to work with Charlie for a couple of years until Edge could support itself. We’re a brand-new company that just hired sixty employees who aren’t actually ready to work yet. Not to mention all the dogs.
We came into this project with millions in the bank, but it literally costs us a hundred thousand dollars a week just to keep up with expenses. Without the government contracts, we can’t afford this place. And we’ve got sixty men and dozens of dogs countin’ on us to make it all happen.
So I just sigh.
“I get it, Amon,” Collin says. “It sucks. I don’t want to be under the thumb of Charlie Beaufort any longer than we have to. But right now, we have to. So whatever’s up your ass about this Sawyer guy, just… let it go.”
I look at Nash for his opinion on the matter, but he shakes his head. “It’s gotta be somebody, Amon. We’re not self-sustaining yet. So it’s either Charlie or your friend Jim Bob Baptist down there in Disciple. Both are bad, but at least one is necessary. And we already burned a bridge with Jim Bob, so…” Nash shrugs with his hands. “Get over it, dude.”