“Little late for that. It’s scorched earth out there.”
The man chuckles. “That’s fine. We did need to shut down Rockton in its current incarnation. As it stood, Rockton had become a relic. From a time when people were less reliant on technology and didn’t struggle surrendering it. A relic of a time, too, when a town like Rockton could comfortably remain hidden. That same technology your residents crave is also a ticking bomb threatening to destroy their sanctuary at any moment.”
“Uh-huh.”
“We envision a new form of Rockton. Not a town but a place. You know where your residents ended up, yes? A wilderness resort, ripe for renovation and reuse.”
“Uh-huh.”
“That will be the new Rockton. River Valley Resort.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Right now, it’s in need of repairs. All that will be done. We have quite a budget coming from a new investor.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I wouldn’t say the end result will be up to luxury-resort standards, but it’d rate a solid four stars. There’s a single building that can house nearly a hundred residents, with the essential employees being given brand-new private homes, a step up from the chalets. They’ll have running hot and cold water, full electrical services, and unfettered access to the outside world.” He chuckles again. “Well, unfettered for staff. Residents will, of course, be provided with very restricted access. Entertainment, yes. Communication, no.”
He doesn’t even wait for a response before continuing. “The beauty of this new concept, Eric, is that it doesn’t need to be hidden. It will operate as a private lodge. Guests will pay for their stay and register under false names. We will cover their tracks and give them sanctuary. True sanctuary.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”
“We do, and as you may have guessed, we’d like you to be sheriff. We are offering you a full-time position with pay. We’ll also offer the same to Casey. While River Valley shouldn’t need a detective, I know she’s your romantic partner, and you will require a security team. As for Phil, we’ll be making him a separate offer, equally generous. Now, what we’re—”
“No deal.”
There’s a pause. Then the man sighs. “I know you haven’t been pleased with a few recent situations in Rockton, Eric, but we hope you’ll see beyond our disagreements.”
“I am. And I’m still not interested.”
Another pause. The man’s voice shifts, just a little, some of that bonhomie sliding away. “I might suggest you take time to think about this, Eric. Let me give you all the details—including salary—and then you can discuss it with Casey.”
“I don’t need to. It’s a no. Hell, no. Fuck, no. Absolutely, no. I’m done with this sanctuary bullshit, and I’m done with you.”
“So what’s next, Eric? Live off your girlfriend’s money? Is that the plan?”
“Nope, the plan is to start a new life down south.”
“How? You have no ID except the fakes we made for you. You’re a thirty-two-year-old man with no education and no work experience that you can put on a résumé. Do you even know what a résumé is?”
“I’ll find out.”
“You don’t exist, Eric. Casey? Phil? Have you explained this to him?”
“I have,” I say. “I’ve explained that there are people who lack a paper trail for various reasons. Either their parents chose not to register their birth or they grew up someplace like this. émilie has given us Eric’s parents’ real names. DNA could prove his identity if needed, but really, it’s just a matter of filing the paperwork. As for his education, he can get his high-school equivalency easily enough and then figure out what he wants to do. As you’ve pointed out, I have the money for him to take his time doing that.”
“What about you, Detective Butler? Or Detective Duncan, I should say. Perhaps you shouldn’t be in such a rush to come back here, given your past.”
“You mean because Diana’s ex tried to convince me that Leo Saratori thought I’d murdered his son? Yeah, that’s not going to fly.”
“You murdered—”
“No, I thought I was being framed for murder. I fled because Leo Saratori isn’t the kind of guy who’d let a court decide my guilt or innocence. Now maybe you’re threatening to tell the Saratoris that I killed Blaine, but I’ve decided I can take my chances with that. I’m innocent, and I’ll find a way to prove it.”
“All right.” The man sounds as if he’s gritting the words through his teeth. “Phil, perhaps you can talk sense into your colleagues. There is room for negotiation here, and you have always been an excellent negotiator. Casey and Eric should go and take some time to think about this, and we will discuss your package, Phil. We are delighted with what you did in Rockton and we think—”
“No deal.”
“Eric, we’ve heard enough from you.”
“That was me,” Phil says. “Refusing your offer, whatever it may be. I quit. Effective immediately.”
Silence. Then, “Do I need to remind you of the position you are in?”
“I’m going to guess that means I don’t get my bonus? Or my references?”
“You have spent your adult life working for a company that doesn’t exist, Phil. You have no references. You will be lucky to find an entry-level position. A job barely paying minimum wage. I’m offering you a six-figure salary plus bonuses, with room and board included.”
“No, sir. You are offering me an extension on my term of indentured servitude.”
“Indentured—? Did I imagine all those very nice paychecks we wrote you, Phil?”
“Yes, they were very nice, and each one locked me in tighter. Eric and Casey are refusing your offer because they’ve realized they cannot live with an ax over their necks, and neither will I. You have my resignation. You also have my silence, presuming you deposit my bonus in my account, as promised.”
“Wh-what?” the man sputters.
“You heard me, sir. I am walking away. I will do so in silence if you pay me what I am owed. I would also propose you pay a bonus to every Rockton essential worker. I can draw up a list of suggested amounts, if you’d like.”
The radio clicks off.
“Sir?” Phil says.
The lights on the receiver go dark.
Phil turns to us. “That went well. Don’t you agree?”
“I agree it’s a good thing we’ll be done dismantling today,” I say. “And that we can get the hell out by tonight. Might want to call émilie and have her send those planes early.”
“I will.”
He walks to the receiver. Dalton and I slip out. We make it just past the tent before I turn to Dalton.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
He smiles over at me. “Like a free man.”
I put my arms around his neck and he lifts me up and twirls me around as Storm barks in alarm. I give him a fierce hug, and then we’re off to tell the others it’s time to go.