The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin (free ereaders txt) 📗

sprayed on every road, park, school, empty lot, and culvert in the entire county. It might kill the noxious weeds, but it would also poison the wild clover, dandelions, asters, and sunflowers. The runoff would then drain from the ditches into the creeks and the rivers until it had contaminated the entire watershed of the Columbia River Gorge.

People began to trickle into the room for the meeting.

Alice’s phone buzzed. Stan had texted back: “Lynchpin! Filing joint lawsuit with PDX Riverkeeper. Keep you posted. Thanks!”

That was something. The tightness in her chest eased, and she felt a sliver of hope open up.

Bill lumbered into the room, hitching up his slacks and tugging on his polo shirt before lowering himself into a chair. Nancy slipped in and sat near the front. Bill cleared his throat.

“Thanks, everyone, for making room in your schedules today. This won’t take long. Just one or two pieces of business for the quarter.”

He put on his reading glasses.

“The first is just a reminder that the new employee wellness plan goes into effect as of June first, so expect to see that in your email soon. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it includes add-ons like smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, and cardiac health tips.”

Bill rattled off a customer service email address and phone number in case anyone had questions about the wellness program. Then he pushed the paper away and leaned back. His chair squeaked, and he chuckled as he peered out from under his thick eyebrows.

“This second announcement won’t surprise many of you,” he said. “As you know, I’ve been with the county for almost thirty-five years now. I’ve watched it grow, and I’ve taken a great amount of pride in leading my team in shaping Hood River’s future. We’ve grown from a little orchard town nobody heard of to a destination for international tourism and tech business! I’m proud of that. I’m proud of you people.”

He gestured out at the room with his plump hands and then curled them into fists on the tabletop. There was scattered applause.

“Thank you,” he said. “But it really was all your hard work. I just steered the ship.” He paused. “However, all good things must end.”

Alice’s heart raced. Was this it? She couldn’t believe it was finally happening. Why hadn’t he given her any warning? Had she missed an email?

“The wife has been after me to retire, and the time has come. I’ll be officially leaving the county at the end of this month, at the end of our fiscal year.”

Alice sat up straight, and now everyone was clapping.

“Thank you! Thanks, everyone,” Bill said. “Really. You are too kind. Now, any transition takes some time. And I want you to know that I’ll be leaving you in good hands.”

He glanced toward Alice and then away.

Her face flushed. Her breathing accelerated. It had been a long time coming, that was certain. She’d had years to think about how she would manage the department once she was in charge. For now, she would just keep it simple. Be gracious and say thank you.

“. . . Leadership in place that is going to carry you into the years ahead and keep Hood River County pointed in the right direction,” Bill was saying.

Debi Jeffreys nudged her, and others began to murmur.

“I’ll be working hard to help prepare her to step in. But I know she’ll have no trouble filling my shoes. It is with great pleasure that I introduce your new interim director—Nancy Gates!”

Bill banged his big hands together and beamed at Nancy. There was a pause, and then other people joined in, looking at Alice and then at Nancy. Nancy giggled and gave a little wave. Alice struggled to catch her breath. Her ears rang.

“Unbelievable,” Debi muttered. “Alice, I’m so sorry.”

Bill was wrapping things up.

“. . . Want you to know I will be here to answer any questions during this month of transition. My door is always open!”

He pushed himself away from the table and stood. There was more clapping. Alice saw Nancy, in her mind’s eye, coming out of Bill’s office. She also saw what she had refused to acknowledge: Bill’s hand on Nancy’s ass. The day of the SupraGro meeting when the two of them had disappeared hadn’t been the first time Alice had been unable to find both of them.

Alice waited for everyone to leave. Jim Murphy shrugged and shook his head at her as he passed. Others looked at her like they wanted to say something but didn’t. When the room was empty, she rose and went back to her desk. Nancy was sitting with her shoulders back and her eyes on her monitor.

“Mr. Carlson would like to see you in his office, Alice,” she said, not looking up.

Alice ignored her and knocked on Bill’s door.

“Mr. Chenowith went to early lunch,” Nancy said, her mouth in a prim line. “You can leave a message with me if you want.”

Alice faced her, and Nancy’s bravado melted under her gaze. What was most surprising was not Nancy’s betrayal, Alice realized, but her own failure to see it coming. Nancy had copied off her Spanish tests in high school. She had let Alice shoulder the workload as Bill did less and less. She came in late, left early, and spent hours circulating the office with a cup of coffee, her tinkling laugh in all corners, gathering gossip. She had something on everyone. Nancy had collected dirt like treasure and tucked it away for later. Alice shook her head, all the pieces falling into place.

“You’re a perfect fit, Nance,” she said.

Nancy’s face quivered, and she gave a weak smile. “Thanks, Alice. I mean, I’m sure you’re disappointed—”

“No, you’re perfect. You’re a suck-up and a do-nothing,” she said.

She grabbed her bag and headed for the front door. As she passed the reception desk, Debi gave her a warning look and said, “Carlson’s looking for you.”

Alice kept walking toward the exit. Like hell she was going to talk to Rich Carlson right then.

As if summoned, he leaned out