CHAPTER1
Cody
Drivinginto Fallwell Cove was hard enough, but to walk through the campus of Havenwood University was torture.
I swallow back my emotions. I have a job to do. The faster I can get it done, the faster I can leave this privileged hellhole and all the memories I should have had here.
“You must be from Reed Hawthorne Security.”
I turn to see what appears to be a real-life Ken doll. The man has slicked-back blond hair, blue eyes, and is wearing a fitted suit.
“Yes, Cody Anthony.” I offer my hand, and he shakes it. “Joseph Taylor?”
“Yes, my boss told me to wait for you. We’re running a couple of minutes late, so we need to get going.” The man straightens his tie as he walks toward the exit.
I follow. “Yeah, sorry about that. The guard at the gate didn’t want to let me in.”
Mr. Taylor laughs. “The guards do take their jobs very seriously. They can’t just let anyone park in a visitor space. I’ll make sure you get a pass card, so you don’t have to deal with them again.”
His sarcastic tone has me liking him already.
As we walk out of the building, the sun nearly blinds us. Regardless, it’s a welcome sight in the Pacific Northwest in mid-October. We continue through the main part of campus; I’m struck by all the fall colors and the way they frame the walkway.
Mr. Taylor must notice where I’m staring, because he says, “Cherry trees. They really brighten the campus in the spring when they blossom and, in the fall, when the leaves change color. They’re a bitch in the summer, though.”
I turn to see him staring at the trees too. “Why’s that?”
“Birds. They eat the cherries and leave bird shit all over the walkway and lawn. Fortunately, we don’t have too many students here that time of year.”
We continue our trek through campus, passing several students. Many of the female students smile and wave, and the man leading me waves back.
All I know about why I’m here is what my boss, Hawthorne, told me over the phone. Joseph Taylor, an administrator at Havenwood University, received a threatening letter. And it’s my job to protect him. I was chosen for this assignment because I was already in the area working on an assignment that just finished.
This assignment should be a cinch compared to what I’ve been through; after ten years in the Navy, most of those as a SEAL, I’ve had my share of adventures. Now I’m thankful to be a part of Reed Hawthorne Security and I’ll be honest, the timing of this job couldn’t be better.
Havenwood University sits in the middle of Fallwell Cove, the town where I went to high school and was supposed to go to college. But the real issue is the next town over, Pine Valley. It’s my hometown that I left when I was eighteen. I haven’t been back since.
Today, I was going to go back and surprise my mom. But then I got this call from Hawthorne, which provides me a valid excuse to further postpone my visit home.
There’s a good reason I haven’t been back to Pine Valley in all these years, and her name is Lucy.
“Where are we headed?” I ask.
“The new science building ribbon cutting ceremony. I’m supposed to say a few words.”
That sounds like it’s out in the open. I better assess the situation fast.
“I understand you received a threatening letter, Mr. Taylor. Do you know who sent it?” I ask as we hurry through the campus.
“Joseph please.” He shoots me a smile. “No, I don’t. I came into work two days ago and found the letter on my desk.”
“How did it threaten you?”
We descend a flight of stairs and round a large fountain. Ahead, a small crowd is gathered. There is a man in a dark gray suit standing at a podium situated next to a large red ribbon that is fastened across the entrance to what appears to be a new building.
Joseph stops and turns to me, his brow creased. “First, I should tell you I made a rather unpopular decision that caused the hockey team to lose some funding. A week later, I got the letter telling me to watch my back.” As he says the last part, his right eyebrow twitches slightly.
Most people would miss it, but not me; I’m trained to look for ticks or any signs that someone is lying. And right now, my gut says this man is lying.
