Page 64 of A Better World

“Want to see the pamphlet?” Linda opened her folder, passed it to Daniella.

The pamphlet Anouk had composed to attract more PVE locals to the clinic was tone deaf. It bore the same cover as the Plymouth Valley Resident Guide: a bunch of kids colored in with crayon. Inside, in all different colors and kid-like writing, it read:The best health care in the world! We’re a one-stop shop! Our staff is second to none! Come, let us help you!

“It’s not actually a one-stop shop,” Linda said. “I already had to outsource a kid last week because we don’t have an ortho. And even if my patient with the blood cancer comes back, I won’t be able to treat him. I won’t have access to the drug printers.”

“Itwillbe true,” Daniella said.

Linda made a face.

Daniella laughed. “Let Anouk have her day. It’s a lovely pamphlet and the thing to do is hand it out and get more patients so we get more funding for all the things you want. The thing to do is to say thank you. She’s massaged her father’s ego all year to keep this thing going. And let me tell you, Jack’s no dreamboat, either. If he could figure a way to embezzle it, every clinic dime would go to a pool in his backyard.”

“Jack’s that bad?” Linda asked.

“Do you get agoodvibe?” Daniella asked back.

“No. Not once have I gotten a good vibe. I still have nightmares about our pre-interview. He was so creepy. And what was that all about with the absinthe? Did he really sneak that into Rachel’s drink?”

“Not him. He’s too smart for that. I’m sure he called in a favor and put someone else up to it. Parson’s getting old. Anouk and Keith aren’t suited to lead when he’s gone. There’s a vacuum. CEO, chairman, and the rest of the board have to come from in-house. Hollow makes our town just too idiosyncratic to accept a transfer from any other settlement. Lloyd’s ready to lead. But he needs reliable people under him.

“Before me, Lloyd was on a road to nowhere. I got him where he’s at. With Lloyd moving to chairman and CEO opening up, Isuggested Rachel. She’s my candidate. Lloyd trusts me. I got his backing. Anouk’s behind me, too. But Jack also wants the CEO job. There’s a faction that supports him. They love him. What’s to love? I think it’s daddy issues. He wants to double down on Hollow, close this place like a tomb. He’s not a believer like the Parson family, who started Hollow. He just understands that it’s a good way to control people. He’s been Parson’s earworm, telling him that choosing Rachel betrays the principles of Hollow. He’s good at getting hooks into people. The absinthe—he wanted to get her publicly drunk. He plays dirty.”

“That’s cutthroat,” Linda said.

Daniella leaned forward. Lowered her voice. There was anger there. “She was dry for years until they started working together. He’s the one who got her back boozing. And it’s even dirtier than that. He was sneaking it into her smoothies. By the time she was openly drinking, it had been months. Nobody could do anything about it.”

“Jesus Christ,” Linda said. “No wonder Kai’s so worked up.”

“She’s been good all month—since Samhain. Have you noticed? We’re hoping it sticks.”

“I’m glad to hear it, but Jack should be in jail.”

“Ruining a person isn’t illegal, unfortunately.”

It’s a specific and grave sin to mess with someone’s sobriety. Tears swelled in Linda’s eyes. Daniella saw and slowly shook her head, her gaze steely.

“Right, I forgot,” Linda said, clearing her eyes. “No crying. See? I’m not crying.”

“Good.” Daniella sat back, luxuriated like a pinup girl on her fainting couch, serious conversation over. “Anyway, stop making me explain things to you. I know what I’m doing. Take the pamphlets. Let Anouk put her name on something. She’s earned it.”

“I will. You’re right,” Linda said, still in shock.

“One-stop shop is phase two,” Daniella said.

“Done,” Linda agreed, standing.

“And keep some compassion for Anouk. She’s between a king and a tyrant.”

“Okay. And thanks for everything,” Linda said. “I’m not sure I ever did thank you properly, but you’ve really saved me in this town.”

“Aw,” she said. “You’re so sweet. See you at the fun run. Bring your serious sneakers, because these people donotplay.”

That night, Linda knocked on Josie’s door.

“What?” Josie asked on the third knock.

Linda found her sitting at her desk. She had no screen lit, no earphones inserted, no books opened. She was looking at the dull wood. The obvious dawned on Linda: her daughter was depressed. It was a shock. She hadn’t imagined Josie constitutionally capable of depression.

“Plans tonight?” Linda sat on the bed Esperanza had made with tight, hotel-like efficiency. She’d pregamed this conversation, decided in her mind what she wanted to say:Lower your profile. Get away from these kids. All you have to do is survive the next two and a half more years and you’re in BW University—a free ride!

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