“You’re still giving instructions.”
“It’s compulsive.”
Luke stepped toward his car.
She called after him.
“Wait.”
He turned.
She approached.
Without the sunglasses, which she had finally removed, her eyes were dark hazel.
Sharp.
Intelligent.
Luke noticed how striking she was only now.
Before, she had simply been a stranded motorist.
She held out one gloved hand.
“Evelyn.”
He shook it.
“Luke.”
“I know.”
“Right.”
She looked at his ruined clothes.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Luke opened his car door.
Evelyn said, “Drive safely.”
He looked toward the highway.
“Not likely.”
She smiled.
“Luke.”
He turned again.
“Your son would be proud.”
That stopped him.
He nodded once.
Then got inside.
The clock read 4:56.
Navigation showed eighteen minutes.
Luke exhaled.
“Perfect.”
He drove.
At 5:04, Claire Morgan called again.
Luke answered hands-free.
“Mr. Bennett.”
“I’m coming.”
“The panel has another candidate at 5:30.”
“I understand.”
“The CEO stepped out unexpectedly.”
Luke barely processed it.
“Can they see me afterward?”
“I can’t promise.”
“Please tell them I’m coming.”
Claire hesitated.
“Your interview record is strong.”
Luke gripped the wheel.
“I know.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
The call ended.
Luke reached Carter Aerospace at 5:19.
The building looked exactly like the kind of place where soaked men were not expected.
Glass.
Steel.
Landscaped entry.
A huge brushed-metal logo above the doors.
Luke parked beside a row of expensive vehicles.
He looked into the rearview mirror.
Disaster.
His white shirt was wrinkled and damp.
Tie crooked.
Mud marked one sleeve.
His trousers looked nearly black below the knees.
He considered leaving.
Noah’s face appeared in his mind.
You’re going to get it.
Luke grabbed his suit jacket.
The jacket at least was dry.
He put it on.
It hid some damage.
Then ran toward the entrance.
Inside, the lobby receptionist looked at him as though he had escaped a flood.
“Can I help you?”
“Luke Bennett. Five o’clock interview.”
She checked the screen.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“One moment.”
She called someone.
Luke stood dripping lightly onto polished stone.
A security guard watched.
Luke gave him a tired smile.
“Rain.”
The guard looked toward the windows.
“I gathered.”
Claire Morgan emerged from an elevator.
Mid-forties.
Professional gray suit.