Jeff decided to go back to the Oak Ridge site during lunch, “to take another look with a different set of eyes,” as he explained it to Clare and Bobby.

On the way, he called his cousin, Ben.

“Hey, remember when I said we should have coffee next week?” He didn't wait for an answer. “How about this afternoon instead?”

Ben teased him. “You really miss me, don't you?”

“You know I do. And maybe I can ask you some questions.”

“About the company?”

“Kind of. But not really. I'll explain it when I see you. Does three thirty work for you?”

“How about four? I've got office hours until three forty-five.”

“See you at Starbucks. The one by the A&W restaurant off the highway.”

By the time he hung up, he was pulling up to the new Oak Ridge shopping center. I love how close everything is up here, he thought.

Because construction crews start working earlier than most people, they eat lunch earlier, too. Though it was just past noon, everyone was back on the job, so Jeff went to the trailer to see who was there. Nancy Morris was sitting at the makeshift desk in the corner of the sparse trailer, rifling through papers.

“Excuse me,” Jeff interrupted her.

Nancy looked up, but didn't say anything.

“Hi, I'm Jeff.”

She responded as though he were a cement vendor. “Yeah, I know. We met once at the office. Come on in.” She motioned to a folding chair on the other side of her desk, but couldn't seem to break a smile. “I guess I should congratulate you on your promotion.”

“Well, I wish it would have been under different circumstances, but thank you.”

“How can I help you?” Nancy asked without emotion.

“Well, I was just wondering if you're a jackass.”

Jeff didn't actually say that, but that's what he was thinking. Instead, he decided to take a more subtle approach. “How are things going around here?”

Nancy continued looking through her papers while she answered. “Well, it depends on what you mean.”

Jeff was a little surprised by her abruptness and a little intimidated in a way he hadn't experienced in high tech.

Nancy was attractive, about Jeff's age, and almost a foot shorter than him. Still, Jeff decided she could probably take him in a wrestling match. It wasn't her size or apparent strength, but rather her demeanor—a mix of toughness and self-confidence.

Jeff knew this was no time to be weak. “Well, for starters, how confident are you that we're going to make the new deadline?”

“My part of it looks good, but you'll have to ask Craig. He's the other project manager doing the hardscaping and civic stuff.”

“So you don't know how he's doing?”

She shook her head. “Not really. Haven't seen him much lately.”

Jeff didn't want to have this conversation, but couldn't let it go. “Nancy, it seems to me that you ought to know about the entire project. If we miss another deadline, it's not going to matter which part is late.”

Nancy looked up and took a breath. “Listen, Craig doesn't even invite me to his meetings anymore. So I just keep my head down, work my tail off, and leave it at that. I really do want to get this project done on time, but it's been pretty awful, and I'll be glad when it's over. I'm sorry if that sounds bad, but it's my reality right now.”

Part of Jeff appreciated her honesty, but a bigger part thought she was just abrasive.

“Do you know where I can find Craig?”

She shook her head. “No. But if I had to guess, I'd say he's over by the main entrance to the parking lot. I saw him there about an hour ago.”

Jeff left, knowing he'd have to address Nancy's issues at some point. He wasn't looking forward to that day.