Chapter 15
I was ordering a coffee to kill some time before my flight home when I met her again. Carlie was sitting at a table, her hands cupped around a tea cup that had gone cold. It took her a moment to notice my presence, and when she did she attempted a gaunt smile. Grief puffed her eyelids, her eyes were almost expressionless.
When I motioned towards her she didn’t give any sign of accepting or refusing my presence, and asked if I could have a seat at her table Carlie stared at me blankly for a while. Then she nodded yes.
We sat in front of each other without speaking and the arms of the clock spun in silent circles in the buzz of the crowd, until Carlie spoke in a hollow voice.
“You said I could have the money and the thrill, but you never told me about what else would be in the bundle. Steven died, you know?”, she said
I nodded yes
“It’s my fault”, she continued
I sat motionless
“I told Steven about my deal with Rob Neilson, and that’s why he died. I want to die too now”
I shook my head no. Not again, not another one.
“It’s not only your fault, Carlie”, I said
“Whose fault is it then, tell me”, Carlie retorted, anger refueling her strength
“Rob Neilson’s and Rick Hansen’s”, I reply, my voice calm
As my statement plunges in, thoughts dart through Carlie’s mind. I sense their darkness.
“Yes, Rick Hanson. Steven tried to convince him to drop the production of the bloody product, but he wouldn’t listen. All Rick Hansen cares about is money, and sure enough now that I’ve sold his trade secret his business is dead”, Carlie says, her tone gaining assurance
I nod, hoping she’ll stop here but knowing she won’t.
“I hate Rob Neilson”, she says, and I cannot help but gasp
“What is it, are you worried for him?”, she laughs
For an instant I am. Then I step out of the scene, recomposing myself.
“Why don’t you tell me what you have in mind?”, I smile
Carlie looks at me strangely.
“I will make sure that Rick Hansen knows what I’ve done. I have nothing to lose at this point, but Rick Hanson does. Unless Rob Neilson goes out of business Rick Hanson won’t be safe, and he will hate to be unsafe”, Carlie says, the words marked by the slowness in her voice
“What do you expect Rick Hanson to do?”, I ask
“Why don’t you tell me, lady. You’re the storyteller”, Carlie replies with a smirk