Page 36 of Lion's Share
Ben’s brain went into overdrive, immediately running through all sorts of worst-case scenarios. If UC Davis sent a research team, how long would it be before they discovered the portal? And if some other federal agencies, like the USGS or the EPA, got involved….
He thought about Agent Morse and her partner, already sniffing around town. Adding more investigators to the mix seemed like a surefire recipe for disaster.
“How long do you think that would take?” he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Marjorie shrugged. She didn’t look too concerned about any of this, but then again, none of it affected her directly except in terms of the research she was conducting. “Hard to say. Could be weeks, could be months. The bureaucracy moves slowly unless there’s an immediate threat to public safety.” She glanced at her watch. “Speaking of which, I really do need to get on the road soon. But if you notice anything else — anything at all that might be connected to these electromagnetic surges — would you mind giving me a call?”
“Sure,” he said immediately, although he told himself he reserved the right to keep future developments on the down-low if he thought it might cause Marjorie to bring in any more federal agencies.
“Thanks,” she replied. “I could definitely use a local contact if this turns into something bigger.”
Ben managed a weak smile, his mind still spinning with the implications of everything she’d told him. “Sure,” he said. “I’ll keep my eyes open.”
She ducked her head in a sort of half-nod, then lifted the satchel onto her shoulder and headed out the door.
After Marjorie was gone — and he’d heard her dusty old Toyota Highlander start up outside — Ben stood for a long moment in the living room, trying to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do with this information. On the one hand, maybe having scientists study the portal phenomenon would lead to a better understanding of what was happening and how to stabilize it. On the other hand, the more people who knew about the thing’s existence, the more likely it was that someone would try to exploit it — just like Victor Maplehurst had attempted to do with the forest that surrounded the otherworldly gateway.
And then there was Sidney to consider. How would she react when she learned that her psychic episode might have been documented as part of Marjorie’s data? Could the electromagnetic surges the town was experiencing potentially draw even more outside attention to Silver Hollow?
Ben picked up his phone to text her, then put it down again. This wasn’t the kind of news you delivered via text message or even by a phone call.
No, he needed to talk to her in person.
Chapter Twelve
Sunday was always my “take care of everything I didn’t get done during the week” day, so I hadn’t made any concrete plans with Ben. This was a pattern we’d settled into after he moved to Silver Hollow, and at first, neither of us had had any problems with it.
Today, though…after having some strange, unknown part of my brain wake up the day before and after finding that smudged, cryptic note from my mother…I found myself annoyed that I was trying to force myself to concentrate on laundry and paying bills. I supposed no one would argue that clean clothes and non-delinquent bills weren’t important, but still.
So when Ben texted me a little after eleven-thirty and asked if he could come over, I practically pounced on my phone.
Sure. I’m finishing up a few things, but I have some time.
There. That sounded casual and not at all needy.
He responded to tell me he was on his way, so I hurried upstairs to the bedroom to pull my hair out of its messy ponytail and give it a good brushing, followed by a quick application of some mascara and lip stain. Maybe those preparations were silly, considering he’d seen me at my worst after a night spent sleeping out in the forest, but they still made me feel better.
Then I went back downstairs and plumped a few pillows in the living room to kill some time, and after that, he knocked on the door.
I immediately abandoned the pillows and went to answer his knock. Like me, he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but something about the lean grace of his body and the warmth of those hazel eyes as they met mine made a happy little rush go through me despite his casual clothing.
“What’s up?” I asked as I led him over to the sofa so we could sit down.
“Marjorie Tran’s on her way back to Davis,” he said, although he didn’t look too thrilled by the news he was delivering.
“But that’s a good thing, right?”
His expression remained sober. “Well, I suppose it’s good that she’s gone and we don’t have to worry about her bumping into our resident FBI agents. The bad news is that the readings she took were dramatic enough that she can’t really ignore them. She said she’s going to file a report, and it’s possible there could be some government intervention down the line.”
My stomach tightened with unease, and right then I was kind of glad I hadn’t had much for breakfast, just some fruit and yogurt. “Um…aren’t we already dealing with government intervention?”
“Yes, but it could get even worse. Like maybe the EPA worse.”
I stared at him for a moment, wondering if he was making some kind of bad joke. But since his expression hadn’t shifted even a little, I had to believe all this was real.
“Can they do that?” I asked. I had to admit I was pretty hazy on what the EPA even did. Weren’t they usually involved with investigating toxic chemical spills and that sort of stuff?
Still unsmiling, Ben replied, “If they determine there’s enough of a danger to the population here.”
