He’s perfect, she thought. Not just in a physical or sexual sense, although he was that. For her and Charlie’s plans to work, they needed someone like him. He was smart enough, articulate, and most of all—and this was the most important—he was ambitious. Blind ambition, Anna knew, led to reliance upon others. She hadn’t sprung the plan on him yet, but she knew he’d go for it.
Looking at him again, she decided to let him in on her and Charlie’s plan.
David Asher woke two hours later. Anna’s slender leg was wrapped around his waist, but he carefully extricated himself. It was symbolic in a way—her leg wrapped around him like that. Some nights when she called or texted him he wanted to ignore her. It was getting harder and harder to pull away from her. She was becoming more and more needy.
Not that he didn’t have feelings for her. He just wasn’t the type to get involved past, well, where he was now. No doubt Anna was beautiful. He hadn’t met her match in the few months he’d been in Blue Creek. She was missing something, though. Something he couldn’t identify or explain. She seemed to have it all going for her. Looks, brains, and passion. He’d dated less attractive women who were much more complete—much more confident in who they were.
David dressed in the dark. He was careful to not let his belt buckle rattle or to drop one of his shoes on the hardwood floor. He didn’t want to wake her and break away from her again. He pulled on his shirt, found his keys and wallet, and quietly exited the bedroom.
The night was warm. A cool breeze brushed across his face. The neighbor’s sprinklers were running, he could hear. David did a full body stretch and he stifled a yawn. He felt relaxed, and not just because he’d just engaged in that most relaxing activity. No, he felt at home in this place, as strange as that seemed to him. He’d dreaded coming to this part of the country, with all the conservatives and Mormons and all their traditional ways of living. He found that many of his fellow citizens were much like him. After all, the town was a small version of the country.
David’s reverie was broken as he approached his car. A slip of paper was lodged under his wiper blade. None of the other cars were similarly decorated so it couldn’t have been some small business person soliciting. He approached the car warily and pulled the paper free. It was a small note, folded in half. The handwriting was messy but legible. It read:
Text me at 435-725-3387. I have something important to tell you.
David looked around him. No one else was awake at this hour, at least as far as he could tell. He opened his car door and scanned the area again. Maybe the person who’d left the note was watching to make sure he got it and read it.
The cryptic note made it difficult for him to sleep. David woke at his usual 8 AM and removed the note from his wallet. He dialed the number and entered the message.
Who are you and what do you want?
David waited for a response, but there was nothing right away. A half hour passed and he didn’t hear the notifying chime. He busied himself to pass the time. He cooked and ate breakfast, showered, got dressed, and tidied up his bedroom. Finally, nearly two hours after sending the original message, he got a response.
I’ll tell you in person. Meet me at Micah’s Sports Bar at noon.
I may not meet in person if you don’t tell me who you are and what you want.
Suit yourself.
David sent the message and waited for a response. Ten minutes passed and nothing. He finally relented.
Okay, I’ll meet you at noon. How will I know it’s you?
Don’t worry, I know what you look like. Sit in a booth and I’ll find you.
The scenario was starting to resemble a bad spy movie. Still, David drove to the spot, making sure to get there early. He watched traffic but couldn’t see anyone watching him in his car. He went inside and picked a booth.
The place was nice and dark. A few TVs were on, playing different sports channels. A trio of attractive waitresses milled around, taking orders and bringing food. David ordered a Heineken and waited. It was ten minutes past noon. At a quarter past noon, a tall, athletic looking man slid onto the bench opposite him. He had long hair and looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. The newcomer settled in. The two eyed each other warily. The server returned with another Heineken for David. Travis Snedley ordered one for himself. She left and they continued to look at one another uneasily.
“Okay, so I’m here,” David said, waiting for his counterpart to tell him why he was summoned.
“You know Anna.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes, how do you know that and who the hell are you?”
“Travis, but that’s not important. Some things are happening and you’re about to get involved. I just thought you might want to know before it’s sprung on you.”
David stared at him, trying not to betray the nerves he was feeling. He looked away, chugging the rest of his beer. He waited for Travis to continue but he didn’t. He just sat there silently.
“Why would I get involved with something?”
“Because you’re involved with Anna Radinski and she’s involved.”
David nodded, but was still confused.
“What so important then? Does she want me to sell Kirby vacuums with her or something?”
Travis chuckled and fiddled with the label on his beer bottle. He inhaled deeply and let the air out slowly, almost casually.
“She’s involved with this guy named Charlie Henry. The two of them have started this committee that wants to start a government here in your little town.”
“My little town? Seems to me that it’s your town too.”
Travis shook his head, still playing with the label.
“Technically, I shouldn’t even be here. I was brought here to make this whole thing happen.” He looked at David to gauge his response. “Charlie brought me here to… make things happen. You know, make people want a government. Make them feel unsafe.”
The ramifications of that statement slowly fell upon David Asher’s understanding. He sat back, seemingly pushed back by the weight of what he’d just been told. The fire on the 4th of July. The beatings, the robberies, the murder of the family. David looked wide-eyed at Travis.
“I guess it all makes sense now,” David said dumbly.
Travis just nodded.
“So what do they want with me?” David asked, trying to regain his confidence after the startling news.
Travis leaned in closer, his elbows resting on the table. David subconsciously did the same.
“They want you to be their puppet. They’ll put you up as the leader, but they’ll be making all the decisions behind the scenes. Anna has been telling Charlie all about you. You’re handsome, you’re articulate, you’re charming. She says you’re perfect to be—”
“—their puppet,” David finished. He nodded and sat back, trying to process this new information.
“I just wanted you to know,” Travis said with a mirthless smile. “Charlie plays for keeps. If they told you everything and you didn’t go along, I’m not sure what he would do. It’s all a big secret right now. If it were to get out… who knows what would happen. Anyway, Charlie’s not willing to take that chance.”
The implication was clear. If David was let in on the secret and he didn’t go along, he and Travis might be meeting again, under very different circumstances.
“So why tell me?”
“Because Charlie is insane. He’s going too far and there’s no talking him out of his ideas. Let’s just say that I’m contractually obligated to do what he says. If he wants me to shut someone up, well, I have to do it.”