Page 6 of Hidden Chance

Robby adjusted himself in the seat after giving up on sleeping. The roar of the plane’s engines usually sent him right off. He could typically sleep anywhere, especially on long-haul flights between countries.

Green was snoring across the aisle. Evans, who got by on a few hours’ sleep a night, was reading next to him. It was a benefit to a job like this, but Robby had missed out on that gift. He was exhausted and could use a solid few hours to get him home, but when he closed his eyes, the dead kid met him there—or was it his brother? It wasn’t a pleasant experience, and no matter how much he tried, the image wouldn’t go.

He leaned his head back on the seat and let out a long, slow breath before pulling the folded sheet from his pocket.

He read it again, hoping that maybe his exhausted fog would somehow uncover a truth he hadn’t spotted before.

His finger traced down the itemized list of supplies, including computers and books, supposedly for the school they’d come from.

Before they’d left the bunker, he’d done a quick scan of the crates and found that some of the numbers matched. A less experienced man might call it coincidence, but in his line of work, very little could be pushed aside as a fluke.

That wasn’t the only question mark regarding the list. The school itself had no electricity supply to anywhere but the bunker.

The question he needed to answer was whether or not TreadCraft Dynamics knew their funds were being misused. His gut told him it was impossible they wouldn’t know. A company that size would have checks and balances. Even though the connection was untenable, he was already convinced that, if it wasn’t thecompany that was responsible, then it was an inside job. Robby would find those responsible and make sure whoever was involved paid for their crimes.

He went through the list again until the numbers scrambled in front of his eyes. He blinked, and each time he closed his eyes, he found it harder to open them until he fell into a restless sleep with pale faces haunting his dreams.

Chapter 3

“And that, ladies and gentlemen,”Hannah pressed her fingers into the tabletop to stress her final point, “is why TreadCraft Dynamics would benefit from increasing not just donations but also on-the-ground support. We must never underestimate our donors’ influence and that, without them, this company would not be what it is today. With TreadCraft leading the way in philanthropy, as they do in the rubber industry, we will set an example for other companies to follow, and, further, communities around them will flourish.”

She straightened, then held her breath, resisting the frown that tugged at her lips. It wasn’t that she had expected applause, but a smile or two would have been nice. Her gaze drifted around the table and settled on Pike for a moment. His face wore a supportive wince. He knew the audience better than she did, but she couldn’t give in to fear. It was up to God from here on out. She’d done her part, and now it was time for Him to do His.

“Thank you for your presentation,” said a woman sitting near the far end of the table. “The committee will certainly take your data under advisement.”

“Thank you, Marty, and I thank everyone here for their time.”

Marty Beechwood was a serious woman, but Hannah had always gotten along with her and found that she would always take a few moments out of her busy schedule to talk.

The older gentleman sitting at the head of the table was a different story. Henry Burns was the CEO of TreadCraft. She hadn’t expected him at the meeting and hoped it had been a good sign.

He cleared his throat. “I’d like to add, Miss Reynolds,” he said, shifting in his chair, “that you are ranging far outside your purview. As I understand it, you are a research manager, are you not?”

“I am, sir. However, part of my job description is to recognize new avenues of possibility for this company.”

“You certainly took that to heart. I very much doubt that was the intentional meaning when it was written.”

“Perhaps, but when I joined TreadCraft Dynamics, it was not simply because of the incredible products you were creating or the groundbreaking research. It was because I believed in the good you are doing already, and I felt I had a great deal to offer not just in my current role but beyond that.”

She often daydreamed about working exclusively in the area of the charitable contributions the company made. It was a crazy idea, and she knew it, but she stillliked to dream, and she knew that God could do anything.

“It is my understanding,” she continued, “that this company was founded on principles of philanthropy?—”

“Be that as it may, we’re going to need you to stick to your lane from now on.”

“Does that mean?—”

“You’ve had your turn. We have many important things to discuss, and after the time you must have taken from your usual duties to put together this presentation, I’m sure you’re behind on your work. Feel free to return to it. There’s no need for you to remain for the duration.”

Hannah opened her mouth to defend herself but quickly closed it again. She wanted to explain that she’d prepared everything outside of work, but looking around the table, she knew it would be a waste of time. Henry had come into this meeting for the sole purpose of putting her in her place. All her presentation had done was set her back.

Pike smiled apologetically when she caught his eye on her way out.

She focused on the floor as she left the conference room and hurried past the cubicles to her office. When she shut the door, she was out of breath, and the tears that had been pushing for release finally ran down her cheeks. She wanted to slide to the floor and weep. She’d bared her heart and soul, expecting her enthusiasm to rub off on a few of them, but instead, she’d been humiliated.

“God, I was so sure we had this. I felt certain youwere with me on this.” She tried to encourage herself that she couldn’t know where things would go from here. The influence of her message may have sunk in for someone who would push for the same things she believed in. But all it felt like she was doing was clutching at straws.

“Surely I didn’t hear you wrong, God. Surely you had some purpose in all of this. Or did I have some chaff that needed burning off? ’Cause I definitely feel burned. Is that all that was?”

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