Wake of Evil by Loretta Jackson

Author:Loretta Jackson [Jackson, Loretta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1999-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Daily Elaine had pulled off the winding blacktop, driven past the huge sign, TODD COPPER MINE, and pulled in close to Karl's office. Today it was not the same. Lingering anxiously behind the wheel of Uncle Aaron's Cadillac, she felt like an intruder, who by herself, without Vince's taunting encouragement, was fully able to admit that the task was beyond her. Elaine's vow of yesterday, of replacing Uncle Aaron and making Todd Copper Mine bigger than ever, was beginning quickly and sadly to fade.

Through foreign eyes she scanned the weathered, metal building back against the mountain, watched the occasional appearing of a man in heavy work clothes. Amid the calls, curses, and scattered motion, she half-expected Uncle Aaron to emerge.

A night light still glowed above the door of the engineer's office. Karl, usually so dutifully on time, had not arrived. His absence, in addition to Uncle Aaron's, gave her a sense of total aloneness. Would Karl ever return, she wondered, or if he did, would he be able to handle the rigorous task that lay before them? Chilling from the cold mountain air, Elaine headed to the main office. The distant rounds of blasting and the closer roaring of ore into flatcars, plus the sight of Lon bent over his desk, oblivious to all but the papers in his hand, presented a brief reassurance.

Evidently Lon had forgotten about their eight o'clock appointment for his face registered a slight annoyance, which changed slowly to a distant but courteous attention. "Oh, Elaine." He rose and an expensive ring glittered in the light with his indication that she be seated.

Wanting to postpone what awaited them, Elaine made an attempt to break through his air of solemn formality. "I appreciated your singing at Uncle Aaron's funeral. I had no idea that you sang so well."

"My father was a musician, of sorts. When I was young, that's what I wanted to be."

Another contrast—to look so young and sound so old. "If you want to sing professionally, it's not too late. I think you would be successful."

"I can't give up..." Lon absently lifted the yellow ledger sheets. "...other matters."

"You mean security?" Elaine's tone, a little patronizing, reminded her of Vince's. She added quickly, "You have to put first what you love the most."

Lon neither agreed nor disagreed. He directed earnest concentration toward the papers that he shuffled reticently. "There's so much you need to know, Elaine. I'm afraid I don't know exactly where to begin."

"Let's begin by going over the financial reports Uncle Aaron wanted."

"That's probably not the best place to start." Lon's eyes met hers steadily. "Let's just talk a while."

"Whatever you wish." The leather chair, so straight and massive, made her waiting uncomfortable.

Lon remained silent. His eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses avoided hers, although she knew he had no intention of avoiding any issues. "I think it's only fair that you and I can...talk freely to one another."

Elaine wished he would have been today as reserved and uninvolved as she generally expected him to be.

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