From the beginning, p.4
From the Beginning, page 4
It wasn’t full-time, which was fine because it had given him the opportunity to finish grooming Margot for the Business Manager role. For the hours worked, though, the money he made was better than anything he could get elsewhere, and over two years, business had increased steadily, to the point where his dad had briefly considered creating a second Eastern Mass unit, though Eric hadn’t heard much about that since the spring.
After the waitress came and they ordered more tapas, Eric picked the conversation back up. “So, what’s going on? What have I screwed up this time?”
Margot laughed. “Nothing, for once. Actually, I need to talk with you about your dad.”
“He’s not sick, is he?”
“No, no, nothing like that. Actually, he’s great. He is working me to death, but I’m loving it. I hate being bored. He’s finally starting to let go of things, let others do stuff, probably because he’s spending so much time in your area. Which is why what happened was so strange and made me wonder what it was about. And you know me: if something’s going on, I want to know what it is.”
He smiled as he remembered Margot’s interest when Lotte showed up at the office two years ago. In others, that trait might have been considered “nosy” and annoying, but he’d always trusted her, and somehow knew her interest was grounded at some level in concern for him, in addition to her love of a juicy piece of gossip. No harm in that, given she’d never used it against him.
“So,” she continued. “September 30th, the Wednesday before last, three guys in suits came to the office. Keisha and I got them coffee and whatnot. It seemed strange to me. They weren’t clients or prospects, otherwise she or I would have known about this and prepped materials, had all our ducks in a row. So, while they were meeting, I took a little spin outside. Sure enough, in the parking lot, there’s a minivan with the EastCoast Flooring logo on it.”
EastCoast was a large industrial flooring company based in Hartford. They didn’t really compete with Schneider, usually focusing on bigger jobs and larger clients in Western New York and along the Connecticut coast down toward Stamford and White Plains.
“What the hell would they be doing in Southby?” he asked.
Margot’s tone turned serious. “Eric, I think your dad is considering selling the business.”
He ceased chewing his tuna tostada. If true, this was an interesting development. It wasn’t totally clear what his dad selling the business might mean—maybe nothing, or maybe they’d want to keep the crews and replace all the management and administrative employees. Not that there were many of these, just himself, Skip and Ernie helping his father oversee the Central Mass teams, Tony, who served as shift supervisor on the Boston crew, and, of course, Margot and Keisha.
“What do you make of it?” he asked, wanting her opinion, as she’d had more time to consider the ramifications.
She was quick to answer. “If he sells, I’m gone for sure. To EastCoast, I’d be dead wood, Keisha too. They’d centralize what we do down in Hartford. You’re probably safe. Your dad would make a stipulation for you. The teams would be fine. Not sure about Skip, Ernie, or Tony. It would depend on what EastCoast thought of their skills. I’m not sure they’d stay in supervisory positions, especially Tony, because he’s so new at it, but I don’t really know.”
A fair assessment. It’s strange to even contemplate this happening. “Do you think I should talk to him about it?”
She winced a bit as she answered. “Well, yes and no. I don’t think you should confront him about seeing EastCoast people in the office, but if there was some way you could... I don’t know... get him talking... you might get a better sense of what’s on his mind. My guess is, if he knew you eventually wanted to take over, he’d pass the business to you. I don’t get the sense he thinks that’s what you want right now, so he’s looking at options. But if it is what you want, then you should probably consider it seriously and maybe plant the seed now, before it’s too late.”
Eric consternated. This is not part of the plan. I like my role at Schneider. It gives me enough money, plenty of flexibility, and when Lotte’s done with her program two hundred years from now, I’ll know if staying is an option, or if I’ll need to follow her wherever the artifacts take her. Dad’s moving too fast. What’s his problem? He’s only, what... in his mid-50s? Is he really ready to go out to pasture so young? Why is my nice little situation getting short-circuited? Or is it? Hmmmmm....
“Yeah, I think talking with my dad is a good idea,” he finally said. “The problem is, I’m just not sure what to say to him right now. Let me think it over, and then I’ll try to set up some time with him. Thanks for letting me know, Margot. It took me by surprise, but I guess that’s the way things happen. I’m glad you have my back. Jessica, you’re a lucky girl.”
Jessica smiled. “I sure am. Now if you two are through sorting out Eric’s life, can we get more tapas? I’m still hungry.”
Chapter 3
The rest of lunch passed pleasantly.
Margot and Eric had been unable to resist a bit more work talk, but it had centered on how she was doing as Business Manager. He couldn’t help but be impressed, both with the types of work his dad was handing off to her and how Margot had risen to the challenge. The basic bookkeeping, accounts payable, and purchasing had always been part of the Business Manager’s role, but contracts and project budgets had always been the sole purview of Eric’s father.
Naturally, Eric had been exposed to those areas as Assistant Project Manager, but it really was a big change for his dad to open up those processes in the home office. Both Margot and the new receptionist Keisha Henderson had stepped up. Eric was pleased by how Margot let Keisha take on aspects of her role as she took on the new duties. There might come a time they would need another person in the office, assuming, of course, an office remained to staff.
Eric ruminated on that after they’d said their goodbyes as he ambled through the South End toward Back Bay station. It had started to rain again, but he’d brought an umbrella, and the light mist wasn’t enough to force him into an Uber. The thing that troubled him most about a potential sale was the prospect of losing Margot. She’d been right: his dad would likely secure his position, at least in the short run. In a sense, that was all he needed because of the uncertainties around Lotte’s future whereabouts. He recognized, however, that it would be hard to justify roles like Margot’s or Keisha’s.
I wonder if maybe I could somehow take over the business, assuming that’s what Dad wants. Has a sale always been part of his plan? Does Dad need that money for the retirement he envisioned? Could I actually run the business? Of course, what happens when Lotte finishes her studies and most likely gets a job outside of Boston? What then?
A lot of questions to consider, seemingly as always.
He laughed to himself. A Lotte questions.
Right on cue, the opening guitar riff to Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun came from the phone in his jacket pocket. He wasn’t much of a Soundgarden fan, but this song understandably resonated with him and made a great ring tone for when Lotte called. He wasn’t exactly sure how she’d feel about that, so he’d kept it his little secret.
He fished the phone out of his pocket, a process made more difficult by holding his umbrella. “Hey, how’d it go?”
“Hi!” She seemed a little breathless, and from the background noise appeared to be walking outside, as he was. “The talk was fine. They loved it, but... Eric, you won’t believe what happened at lunch!” She seemed super excited.
“Tell me. Sounds interesting.”
“I think I found one!”
“Found one... what?”
“A portal! I think I’ve found another portal!”
Despite the rain, he stopped dead in his tracks. “What? How? Where?” What the hell, do they serve portals on the lunch menu at UNC? I’ll have one with a side of fava beans and a nice Chianti.
“It’s just so unbelievable! There was a student sitting at my table... she’d gotten an inquiry about something in a picture she’d taken and posted on Facebook. She was passing her phone around, wondering if anyone knew what the item might be, and if it might be valuable. I wasn’t really paying attention, but the person next to me gave me her phone and... there it was! It took me a moment to see it, because it wasn’t the right way up, and it’s a little different, but I really think it’s a portal!”
“What do you mean it ‘wasn’t the right way up’?”
“Well, it’s hard to tell exactly. The whole thing is in the back of a flooded room. All I could see were what looked like pieces of wood formed into a semicircular arch that was sticking up out of the water. At the apex, there was a sort of stepped, conical shape with little curved protrusions coming out of it... kind of like a witch’s hat with tiny, upturned hooks. I know I’ve seen something like this before, but I can’t place where. In any case, it was the semicircular form that got my attention. It’s exactly like the stone slabs and the black marble board the Sadat Alnaar used to summon the Afrit.”
“Well, that could be a coincidence. I mean, there have to be things in semicircular shapes like that, other than portals. Plus, this one is upright. The slabs and the marble board go on the ground. Where’s the doorway?”
“It’s on the floor! When I saw this shape, I asked the student if there were more parts to this item, and she said yes! There are more of these interlocked pieces of wood, or whatever it is, forming a circular area on the ground in front of the arch. Apparently, it’s rather small, only about five feet in diameter, but think about it.... If that’s the doorway, whatever comes through would come from beneath, so the opening itself wouldn’t need to be as tall. It’s like the whole thing is tipped on its end.”
Geometry. Not my strong suit.
With some concentration, he began to envision what she was describing, and he couldn’t disagree. It sounded like a portal. “Holy shit. What are you gonna do?”
“Not me, silly... we! You think I’m going to see this thing without you? Not a chance!”
She’d never know it, but it was little moments like these that he lived for... to do things with her, together, as a team, and to know she wanted him by her side and that he had a place in her life. He knew it was probably stupid, but he felt overcome with joy.
“Can you get on a plane and come down tomorrow morning? The student said she could drive us to where it is when you get here. I’m actually staying with her tonight since I only booked my hotel room at the Carolina Inn for Friday. She was super nice and let me stay with her. She’s at the Hampton Inn nearby. That’s where I’m headed now.”
“Do you want me to come sooner? I could probably get down there this evening.”
“Oh, don’t bother,” she wearily replied. “I have a place for tonight. It’s not worth getting another room, and since I’m here, I’m going to attend their big dinner celebration after all. The organizers were ecstatic that I was staying on. They’ve been fawning all over me since yesterday. So tedious! I’m like their wet dream... a girl who’s into the techie part of archaeology. They want me to join... do mentoring. They’ll probably have me on the bloody board in two years. I just don’t have time for all this.”
He laughed. “Sounds like a great opportunity to me. Think of all the connections you’d make. I mean, how else will you find more portals if you don’t go to WIA luncheons?”
“Ha, ha, ha. Actually, it would be a fantastic way to meet people, and they really are lovely. It’s just... well... you know how I feel about all this. I don’t want to be seen as a woman archaeologist. I want to be seen simply as an archaeologist, and I think that’s what all women should want. I know females have these barriers and often face institutional prejudices, but that hasn’t been my experience, and I don’t expect it to be in the future, or I’ll raise holy hell about it!”
Of this, I have no doubt.
“I don’t know. I’m conflicted, so I’m hesitant to get too connected. In the end, I think I’m just too busy to get involved in something else, so I’m going to try to fend them off for now. We’ll see down the road. Anyway, can you come?”
“Of course, I can come. I’d come to see you even if there wasn’t a portal.”
“You sweetie. I miss you. I don’t sleep right without you anymore. It’s quite troublesome. Maybe you’ll just need to go everywhere I go.”
If I must.
“How are you, by the way? How was lunch with Margot and Jessica?”
“Great! They both say hi. I have some interesting news to tell you, but not now. I’m gonna head home and set up my flight. I’ll text you when I have the details.”
“Sounds good. I just reached the Hampton. Olive gave me her key. I’m going to rest up this afternoon. They’re doing the mentoring sessions now, trying to pair people up, and I want to be as far away from that as possible. Oh, I almost forgot... did you hear about the robbery at the Louvre? Everyone at the conference has been going crazy!”
“Yeah, Mrs. Binson told me about it this morning and I looked at some footage on my phone. Absolutely unbelievable. What do you think happened?”
“Honestly, I think it was a stunt... somebody showing off, trying to make some kind of point. I wouldn’t be surprised if the item that was taken turns up with a crazy political message attached to it, probably tied to one of the messes in the Middle East—take your pick which one... some supporter of ISIS, or ISIL, or whatever they call themselves. Or who knows, maybe it was the Paris sewer workers trying to say they hadn’t had a raise since the time of fucking Hammurabi! Good reason to hit the Mesopotamian room. All I know is that if it were a true theft, they’d have taken much more, or something far more valuable.”
Eric laughed about Lotte’s Hammurabi quip, and imagined a votive mace head found languishing in some surprised Parisian’s bidet. Otherwise, though, what she’d said made sense, and he was relieved to hear she didn’t think it was a portal-related catastrophe. “You’re probably right. They definitely got people’s attention, though, especially with the way they got out.”
“Yes, quite spectacular, but this is exactly why I think it’s just for publicity. Real thieves wouldn’t go to trouble like that. If they had the ability to get in, they must have been able to find an easier way out. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow. Can you try to arrive in the morning? I think it’s a bit of a drive to where this thing is... some kind of turtle-leech place. I can’t understand a word Olive says, she has such an accent.”
“Hey, you should talk. What, is Olive not from the States?”
“No, she’s from the States. I think she said she was born in South Carolina, but grew up mostly in Georgia. It’s this Southern accent... worse than the damned Swiss or the East Londoners. Well, maybe not that bad. Anyway, where we’re going must be like a swamp.”
He shuddered. “Yeesh, that sounds awful. Do you need some more clothes? I don’t think you brought very much for such a short trip.”
She squealed with delight. “Oh, Eric, that’s so thoughtful! I wasn’t even thinking about it. You’re so practical. I knew I kept you around for some reason. Yes, please. It’s quite warm down here, but not as hot as right before I arrived. I think that hurricane pushed up a lot of warm air, but it’s still near eighty.”
He hoped she meant Fahrenheit, otherwise the only thing that would be living down there would be the Afrit.
“Anyway, just bring me some shorts, jeans, some knit tops, and maybe a t-shirt or two... and my sneakers and some socks, if you have room.”
“Jeez, anything else?” Where am I gonna fit my clothes?
“Yes, some undies, if you don’t mind... tops and bottoms.”
“Well, okay. I like going in that drawer.”
“I’ll bet you do, you deviant!”
“Guilty as charged. Hey, with all this stuff, how long are you thinking we’re going be down there?”
“Probably just Sunday and part of Monday. I’ve already called the airline and they gave me a credit for another flight when we book. I’d like to be back by Tuesday. I have a million things to do. Thankfully, I have my laptop and I can do a little work this afternoon.”
“So, you need all this stuff for a day-and-a-half? This is why your suitcases were so overstuffed in Italy.”
“I know! I never know what I’ll need, and I never have time to plan, so I just bring everything. You’re so much more organized about stuff like this. Why can’t you just quit your job and be my valet?”
He chuckled, secretly thinking that might truly be his calling in life. “It’s an alluring offer, but I hear you can be a really tough boss. I don’t want to have to file a Lotte union grievances against you with the IBLM! Get it... a Lotte grievances?”
“Oh, I got it,” she dully replied, “and you’re going to get it when I see you! I’ll show you what a tough boss I can be. Little shit. I do love you so.”
“I love you too. I’ll text you when I have my flight details, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Great, see you then! Tschüss!”
Note to self, he thought as he put away his phone and shook off his umbrella under the awning to the Back Bay station entrance. Lotte likely to be in good mood when she finds portal. Must find many portals. I wonder if I should join the WIA so I can attend all their luncheons, a surprising but apparently lucrative portal identifying activity. It doesn’t matter that I’m a guy. I don’t need mentoring or any of their services. I’m just there for the food and to look at people’s camera rolls. I’ll pay my membership fee. That should fly. Hey, with all that experience, maybe the next time I see the Afrit, I could pass for a woman.
