“It looks like it’s all here,” she says. “Thanks, Dr. Harp.”
“Please, Holly,” he says. ?
?We’ve been here for two weeks. Just call me Mark.”
“Sorry, Mark,” Holly replies. “I’m used to the formality of the capital building.
“No worries at all.” He gives her a flirtatious smile, but she is too focused on the clipboard to notice.
“Dr. Harvey is coming here? Really?”
“He is the best at what he does,” Mark says.
“I thought you had another answer for the Naughts.”
“I do, but that will only account for the ones in the valley. His work isn’t done yet.”
I narrow my eyes and lean a little closer, wondering what his words mean and not caring for the ominous feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“We don’t have the kind of equipment Dr. Harvey will need.” Holly taps the clipboard with her pen.
“He’s bringing his own. We just need to make sure we have space for it.”
“Got it.”
Holly flips a page on the clipboard, and her eyes grow wide.
“Is this for real?” She taps her pen against the paper again, staring intently at the doctor.
“Which part?” He smiles innocently, and she glares back at him.
“Don’t fuck around, Mark. I’ve got too much to do. Is this a joke or not?”
“No joke.”
“Wow.” Holly shakes her head slowly. “I can’t believe President Harrison LaGrange himself will be gracing us with his presence.”
Chapter 15
Every muscle in my body stiffens, and then my knees go weak. I lean back against the wall to keep from falling as the conversation in the nearby room continues.
“I can’t believe the president is coming all the way out here,” Holly says. “The journey from the capital takes a whole month. How long will he stay?”
“Not yet determined,” Mark replies. “I’m sure he’s not coming all the way here to take a quick look and then return home. He hasn’t left the capital in a year. We’re going to have to be prepared for a long visit.”
“Harrison LaGrange himself.” Holly lets out a long whistle.
“We need to get back up to that room on the top level and get it ready for him.”
My eyes close involuntarily as my heart stops, and my blood turns to ice water. Even as my father’s name is uttered, I can’t believe I’m hearing it right. It just isn’t possible.
Aerin grabs my elbow painfully, and when I open my eyes, she’s staring at me intently.
“Are you okay?” she whispers.
I nod quickly as I place my finger to my lips to silence her.
“I’ll send Joe up there to clean it out,” Holly says from the other room. “How many this week?”