Across the Creek by Jeremy Asher

work is going to get very busy for me. So I was wondering if you’d be able to look after it.”
    Jesse pulled a rag from his back pocket. “Sarah put you up to this?”
    Kevin shook his head. Jesse’s suspicious look turned to a disbelieving one and Kevin said, “I swear.”
    “What exactly would you need me to do?”
    “Take a look at the prints. See if we’ve missed anything. Keep an eye on the construction crew. You know how contractors can get. Make sure they don’t try to inflate the cost.”
    This guy was a piece of work. First he insulted him, then he offered him a job. But Jesse also had to admit that he had a point. Contractors were like everybody else, looking for ways to increase their bottom line. And this would be good for a resumé. Something he might be able to get credit for, too. Jesse put the rag back into his pocket and said, “I’ll do it. Are you sure Sarah’s okay with it?”
    “Don’t worry about Sarah. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to have you on board.”
    “So when do you want me to start?”
    “Tomorrow too soon?”
    “That’s fine.” Jesse held out his hand, they shook, and Jesse said, “Thanks for the opportunity.”
    “Thank you. You’re the one doing me the favor.”
    “You mentioned your work is getting busier. What is it that you do?”
    “I’m an attorney. I work for the District Attorney’s office.”
    Jesse let go of his hand. District Attorney’s office? Here he had him pegged as one of those finance guys, like Kate’s pompous father. This was worse. Instead, he was one of Chicago’s most powerful men. “That’s just great,” Jesse muttered.
    “What was that?”
    “Oh, nothing.”

 
Chapter 13
    Jesse
    Jesse woke early the next morning. He’d stayed up late researching greenhouses, trying to get familiar with the construction process. Kate had called a few times and then left a few less than pleasant text messages. Yet another reason why he didn’t want a girlfriend or to have anything to do with love.
    He threw on a pair of jeans and loaded up his truck with a few supplies. Then he headed out for the address that Kevin had jotted down just before leaving the pet shop.
    Life was funny sometimes. A guy wants to punch you for hanging out with his girl one day, and then he’s hiring you to spend time with her the next. But the more Jesse thought about it, the more he grew to accept it. A second chance at a friendship with Sarah and an opportunity to oversee a building project: win-win.
    When he arrived, the sun was just making its quiet ascent, painting everything in sight with hues of purple and orange. He scanned the landscape to get his bearings. The large truck’s tire tracks looked fresh along with the freshly tossed soil. He knelt down and grabbed a handful of loose soil, crumbling it to sand and watching it fall to the ground. This must be where they were going to break ground on the greenhouse. Probably used to be covered in trees and hillier than it is now. They did a good job of preparing the area.
    He stood up and looked around at the rest of the lot. Rows of plowed earth filled about three acres. Forest surrounded the entire lot, except for the long dirt drive leading into the place. A partial wooded fence had been put up, leaving about half the lot yet to do. “You picked a good place, Sarah.”
    “Thank you.”
    Startled, Jesse turned around to find Sarah standing behind him. “I didn’t know you were here.” He wiped his hands off on his jeans.
    She smiled. “I just got here.”
    Jesse saw the Taurus parked next to his truck. “Is that yours?”
    She shook her head. “It’s my father’s. But he lets me use it when I come out here. It’s a bit far for a bicycle ride.”
    “I agree.”
    She put her hands into her pockets and looked down. “There’s something that I wanted to say.” She paused and kicked a stone across the drive. “About the night of the party.”
    “Oh, you don’t have to say anything. I was completely out