Page 24 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
“But she still doesn’t want to agree?”
Katharine shrugged. “I’m not sure anyone has been able to even get her to talk. She came to the exploratory meeting, and she received the general offer but turned down all one-on-one meetings.”
“Who’s assigned to this?”
Katharine shook her head. “No one right now. We did our initial pass and engagement on the southern. end and the main team is working on the northern end right now. This is on the ‘come back to’ list. There’s quite a few of them.” She gestured to the map, pointing out five more red points on the same block. “Honestly, getting hyper local buy-in is proving difficult even though we’ve been officially able to get the city on board. With both ends of the rail line in agreement on the government level, there’ll be a lot more pressure on the businesses to get on board or face pressure from the city government to comply.”
Collin winced. “That’s not a great way to build goodwill on the ground though.”
Katharine shook her head. “Which is why Eliza has us reviewing this now.”
“Eliza,” Collin called out.
Their team lead pulled off her headphones. “Yes?”
“Do you mind if I try to take point with this group here in Indianapolis?”
Eliza peered at the map. “Sure. Don’t make any promises you haven’t passed by me or Mr. Reevesworth.”
“No, I just want to see if I can figure out what their issue is.”
“I don’t think another round of email will help.” Katharine tapped her nails against the edge of the map.
Collin shook his head. “I used to work in a bar. I’m not going to email them. I’m going to visit.”
“Oh! Road trip.” Veronica clapped her hands together.
At three o’clock, Collin’s phone pinged to remind him he had an hour to get to his new therapist’s office six blocks away. He packed up, checked in with his master, gave Damian a fist bump since the man was in an intense phone conversation about a court case, and collected his security detail. In the elevator, he texted Ash to let the tech mage know he was out for the day.
He had to check his email to remember his new therapist’s name, but his security already knew where they were going: Broderic O’Brian.
The reception area of the practice was small, quiet, and absolutely stuffed with art and textiles. There were three seats, a door with a rustic restroom sign that would have suited a ren faire, and two office doors situated with nameplates. The one to the far left read O’Brian.
Collin glanced at his security guy. Holden was with him today. The big guy glanced at the two seats and back at the door. Neither looked like they were suitable for getting out of quickly. Holden shrugged and leaned against the wall.
“Sorry.” Collin grimaced.
Holden chuckled. “Don’t be. Waiting in a cute office beats standing outside in the pouring rain for two days waiting for someone who may or may not come.”
Collin pulled a face. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t ask.”
Holden’s eyes crinkled up with laughter. “Afghanistan.”
Collin gave him a long look. “You’re lying.”
Holden raised both eyebrows. “Can’t prove it.”
Collin chuckled. “I don’t have to. Keep your secrets.”
“I’m told you have secrets too.”
Collin’s shoulders tightened. “Yeah, I do.”
“Anything you want to tell me about?”
Collin bit the inside of his cheek. “If you ever see a sunflower with two drooping leaves on either side of the stalk drawn on anything, it doesn’t have anything to do with Mr. Reevesworth, but…” Collin shrugged. “Yeah, I’m probably fucked.”
“It was on the items you put in the safety-deposit box.”
