CHAPTER 5
Emily found the rest of the interns crowded around a table for four that they’d augmented with a couple of borrowed chairs. Uki and the guys had started drinking back at the restaurant and their faces had the feverish glow of inebriation, Rachel was nursing her first beer of the evening, and designated driver Kimberley was having another Diet Coke. Emily set her beer on the table and took a seat.
“Sorry. I just needed to talk to that guy a second.”
Rachel and Kimberley exchanged a look.
“You know Sam Reed?” Kimberley said.
“Is that his name? He just said it was Sam. Why?”
“He’s a captain on one of the tenders. That was his dog we saw when we walked in.”
“Yeah,” Emily said. “That’s the one that knocked me down at the cannery. I thought I should let him know I was all right.”
The two of them were still staring at her.
“Did I miss something?”
“Kimberley knows him.” Rachel smirked. “She thinks he’s hot.”
The rest of the group erupted with cries of, “Ooh, Kimmie!”
Kimberley ducked her head. “Cut it out, you guys.”
Noah, who Emily suspected had designs on Kimberley himself, cast a dismissive glance at the door.
“Looked like any other tender jockey to me.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Rachel said. “Men have no idea what women find attractive.”
Emily shrugged. She had, in fact, found Sam rather good-looking, but she wasn’t going to say that—especially now. Besides, she already had a boyfriend.
“So,” Uki said. “Tell us more about aikido.”
At the restaurant, they’d all been too busy eating to pump Emily for information. Now, it looked as if the subject was unavoidable. Word of her martial arts showdown with Bear had obviously been the topic of discussion after she left the cannery.
“You guys don’t want to hear about that stuff.”
“Why not? The way you turned that dog away from the slime line was cool. I mean, he must weigh almost as much as you do.”
“Yeah,” Rachel said. “Tell us what happened.”
Emily stared at the bottle in her hand. What was there to say? What she’d done had been pure reflex—the result of hours of practice and repetition. When she thought about it now, the only clear memory she had—besides Bear—was of Sam running toward her, his sun-bleached hair flying, his strong arms reaching for her. To Emily, who was used to Carter’s lithe build and finely wrought features, it was like having Thor show up to rescue her. She felt her face redden.
“In aikido, the first principle is to use as little force as necessary to stop an attack without hurting either yourself or your opponent. Unfortunately,” she added, rolling her shoulder, “I wasn’t entirely successful.”
“Without hurting them?” Uki squeaked. “What’s the point if you can’t kick their butts?”
“Why do you have to be such a badass?” Noah said. “Try acting like a girl once in a while, will you?”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Native girls are badasses.”
“Okay, okay,” Rachel said. “Neutral corners, everyone. We haven’t got much time here. Tim wants us on the docks by six.”
A chorus of groans went up around the table, but it was far short of a mutiny. Emily figured it was still too early in the season for anyone to have developed a really bad attitude.
“Speaking of Tim,” she said. “What was that call about this afternoon? You guys said something about problems at the cannery.”
Dak nodded. “Tim hasn’t said much about it, but Noah’s brother interned there last year. He says it’s been going on for a while.”
“What’s been going on?”
“We already told you,” Noah said. “Stuff that makes the inspectors look bad.”
Emily pursed her lips. She was getting tired of Noah’s attitude.
“Okay, but what kind of stuff?”
“Reports from NOAA that have gone missing,” Dak said. “Fish Tim okayed that gets pulled by the quality testers.”
“So?” she said. “Stuff happens.”
“Yeah, but it’s been happening a lot more than it used to and always when Tim’s there.”
“You think someone’s got it in for him?”
Glances darted around the table.
Dak shrugged. “Could be. Some of us think so, but like you said, it could just be a coincidence.”
“The problem,” Uki said, “is that there are people saying it’s our fault.”
“Ours?” Emily said. “How can it be our fault?”
“We’re a distraction. Tim has to spend so much time holding our hands that he can’t do his job.” She shrugged. “At least, that’s the rumor.”
“But without internships . . . I mean, this might be the only way I can get a job in my field,” Emily said.
Dak nodded. “This might be the only way anybody can get a job that isn’t beholden to the canneries. Without independent inspectors, they’d be the ones in charge of how much fish gets processed and what kind of quality it is. I’m not saying they don’t care, but if it hurts their bottom line . . .”
“So, what can we do about it?”
Noah laughed. “What are you talking about? We can’t do anything. The only thing we can do is keep our heads down and hope the job lasts long enough to get a good reference out of it.”
The rest of them nodded their resigned assent.
“Well, I’m not going to just sit back while the program gets canceled,” Emily said. “I’m going to do something.”
“Oh, really,” Noah said. “Like what?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something.”
* * *
The other girls had long since gone to bed as Emily sat on the open couch, mulling over the problems at the cannery. It upset her to think that someone might be deliberately trying to wreck the internship program—not because it threatened her own position, but because shutting it down would prevent other young people from gaining valuable experience they couldn’t get elsewhere. She knew the others thought she was joking when she said she’d find a solution, but she was dead serious. She’d never been one to do nothing when someone was being picked on. If she could find out who was making Tim look bad, then at least he’d have a chance to fight back.
Unfortunately, there was no way she could get close to anyone inside the cannery. Emily had seen the suspicious looks she’d gotten from the people there. Even if they knew something that would help, they’d probably figure it wasn’t worth risking their jobs to share it—especially with an intern. And what if the problem included people on the dock, as well? She didn’t know enough about how fish were caught, bought, and processed to even recognize a problem if she saw one. No, what she needed was someone who knew how the entire system worked and could recognize a discrepancy when they saw it.
What about Sam Reed?
He certainly knew how fish were bought and sold, and Emily knew that most people who worked in the fishing industry had worked in the canneries at one time or another. His dog had knocked her down that day, too, so he sort of owed her a favor, didn’t he? Even if he couldn’t help her, she thought, he might know someone else who could.
The thought of talking to Sam Reed again gave Emily a frisson, a feeling she immediately suppressed. She wasn’t looking for an excuse to flirt with the guy. She wasn’t Kimberley; she didn’t care if Sam was “hot.” She had a real problem on her hands and asking him for help was a legitimate path to a solution. Her interest in contacting him was completely professional.
Even if he did look a bit like Chris Hemsworth.
Thinking about talking to Sam Reed reminded Emily that she hadn’t spoken to her own boyfriend that day. She rummaged around in her bag and took out her phone, frowning when she saw how low the battery was. Her mother had been after her for months to buy a new one, but there hadn’t been time. She’d look for the charger, she told herself, just as soon as she’d checked her messages.
There were two from her mother and one from Tim reminding her to wear old clothes tomorrow, but nothing from Carter.
Probably too busy at the hospital, Emily told herself. She’d just send him a text.
Hope UR fine. TTYL?
In seconds, she got his reply. Emily squealed in delight as she read it.
Taking a break in the Drs lounge. Call me.
Emily felt giddy as she dialed his number. Carter picked up on the first ring.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be busy,” she said. “Glad I caught you.”
“Actually, things have been pretty slow tonight. I’ve just been hanging out in the lounge.”
“You should have called,” she said, trying not to sound critical. “I always love talking to you.”
“Yeah, I guess I could have. Sorry.”
“Well, the important thing is, we’re talking now.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
She stretched out on the couch.
“It’s been a long day. The flight took forever and then as soon as I landed, we went straight to the cannery. I didn’t even have time to change.”
“Uh-huh.”
“The place is huge—and loud! And, oh God, all the blood and fish guts. I almost threw up.”
“Hmm.”
“Then this enormous dog ran in and knocked me down. I was able to keep it from getting into the fish, but at the last minute, I lost my balance and fell. My lab coat got covered in fish slime.”
“Mmm.”
Emily frowned. Somehow, she’d expected a bit more of a reaction.
“Carter, did you hear what I said?”
“Your flight was fine, you went to work, a dog knocked you down. Did I miss anything?”
“Well . . . no.”
Emily sighed. This was a far cry from the fantasy of having Thor almost sweep her off her feet.
“I just thought you’d be more concerned,” she said.
“Of course I’m concerned, but if you’d been seriously injured you would have said so. You’re a big girl. I know you can take care of yourself.”
Carter was right, Emily thought. She didn’t need to be coddled and fussed over; she had her mother for that. Speaking of whom . . .
“I talked to my mom earlier. She told me she ran into you today.”
“Hmm? When was that?”
“At the hospital. She had to take Uncle Danny in for some tests.”
“Oh, right. That was during oncology rounds.”
Emily sat up.
“Oncology? She told me they were just routine tests.”
“Calm down, Em. I’m sure everything’s fine.”
“But oncology? Carter, that’s cancer. What was my uncle doing there?”
“You know I can’t tell you that. Patient confidentiality—”
“Carter, please,” she said. “This is my uncle we’re talking about.”
“I’m sorry, Emily, but I’ve already told you more than I should have. If you need more information about your uncle’s treatment, you’ll have to ask him.”
Emily felt tears of frustration welling. She knew confidentiality was important, but this was a family member they were talking about. Couldn’t Carter at least give her a hint? Why was he treating her like a stranger?
You’re being ridiculous, she told herself. Of course he couldn’t tell her anything. Confidentiality meant nothing if doctors could throw it out the window any time a family member asked them to. If anything, she should be admiring him for standing by his principles.
“You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry. I’ll give him a call and see what’s what.”
“Good girl.”
She winced. Being called a “good girl” always made her feel like an obedient animal.
“Listen,” he said. “It sounds like you need to get some rest. I’ll try and call you in a couple of days, okay?”
“Sure,” she said. “Talk to you then.”
Emily hung up, feeling sick at heart. The idea that her uncle Danny might be seriously ill seemed impossible. He’d always been a bigger-than-life figure. Pink-cheeked and barrel-chested, with his dark hair slicked back and a cigar always smoldering somewhere nearby, he was a man to whom no one remained a stranger for long. Only those who knew him well understood that his hail-fellow-well-met exterior covered a painful episode: the death of his brother, Emily’s father, for which he blamed himself.
She had to talk to him, find out for herself how sick he really was. Emily knew she’d never be able to sleep if she didn’t. She looked at the time and bit her lip. Was eleven too late to call? Surely, he’d understand, she told herself. If he knew how upset she was, he’d want her to call and set her mind at ease. Or at least stop herself from imagining the worst.
The call went straight to his voice mail.
“Oh. Hi, Uncle Danny. It’s me, Emily. I’m, uh, sorry to be calling so late, but—”
“Punkin’! I didn’t see it was you. How are you, darling girl?”
As her uncle’s voice boomed in her ear, Emily closed her eyes and felt a tear of relief run down her cheek. He sounded as strong and healthy as he always had. Why had she imagined there could be anything wrong? Nevertheless, she was glad she’d called.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Psh. You know I don’t sleep. But you. There’s nothing wrong, is there? You’re not in trouble?”
“No, no. I’m fine. Just wanted to call and say hi.”
“How’s Alaska?” he said. “Met any Eskimos yet?”
She rolled her eyes. Uncle Danny could be a bit un-PC.
“No, but one of my roommates is part Tlingit.”
“Oh, dear. I’d better put in my hearing aids. I thought you said she was a Klingon.”
“No, Tlingit. It’s hard to hear on the phone.”
“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.”
“That’s okay.” She paused. “Listen, the reason I called is that Mom told me you were at the hospital for some tests today. Are you all right?”
“Of course I’m all right. Fit as a fiddle.”
Emily frowned. Did his voice sound a little raspy, or was she just imagining things?
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, yes. You know how doctors are when you have good insurance. Well, not your Carter, of course, but—”
“It’s okay. I knew what you meant. So,” she said, “you’re really fine?”
“Yes.”
“And you’d tell me if you weren’t?”
“Well, I can’t promise that, but I’d tell you if the end was near, and I’m still a long way from the finish line.”
Emily took a deep breath and smiled. Carter must have been mistaken, she thought. It couldn’t be easy to remember what part of the hospital you were in when you were sleep-deprived.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re okay.”
“And I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“I love you, Uncle Danny.”
“I love you, too, dear heart. Sleep well.”