and she sank into the grooves to think before she headed home and her mind became full of her daughter again.
CHAPTER 4
expanding horizons
Marshall Dinkins wandered his route aimlessly. The shift at the mine was a security job in name only so that the insurance stipulations were covered. It was a shitty gig and was more often as not used as a punishment by Lesnar whenever anyone got on the Troll’s bad side.
Al Draper was snoring his head off back in the break room but Marshall was restless and couldn’t sleep, even when it was his turn to do so. Hopefully, Al would sleep through until morning and stay out of his hair for the duration.
The mine was deserted at this hour with even Jim Lesnar, the big boss man, staying within the confines of his luxurious apartment on site. Marshall hated that he was stuck in a dead end job while a troll like Lesnar owned the whole damn place and everything that they dragged out of the earth. God only knew what the man was worth and yet he seemed to have no imagination as to how to spend his vast wealth. It had always seemed like a cruel joke to Marshall that such bountiful gifts were bestowed upon the undeserving. His own mind was full of mooring yachts in Monaco decked with bikini clad beauties and never-ending sunsets. He would own property and people in equal measure and he would sit upon the throne of the power and they would all crawl, begging at his feet. Marshall understood that money bought you stuff, but true wealth bought you power.
He stood by the huge cavernous wormhole and stared downwards into the very centre of the earth below. The metal fences ringed the hole with care and precision. There were staggered walkways that led downwards into the hole and a cage that was lowered electronically. The area topside was low key and relatively harmless to the natural area. Marshall knew that, despite the jobs and economy boost, there were still those more obsessed with the protection of varieties of small reptiles than of working men.
Marshall kicked a rock over the edge of the hole and listened as it bounced its way into the blackness. There were large spotlights that were permanently on to illuminate the dangerous area around the hole. Above him, on the walkways down, the shadows were long and the steps were dark as no one was supposed to be here except the occasional security walk-by.
He was pondering his crappy lot in life when a voice spoke out of the shadows above him and he almost screamed.
“It does give one pause for thought, does it not?”
Marshall spun around quickly, looking up for the man who’d spoken. The accent was some fruity European one but he couldn’t see the guy in the dark. “Who’s there?” he barked with more authority than he felt.
“I’m sorry, my boy, I do hope that I didn’t frighten you?” the man replied.
Despite the lack of light, Marshall was sure that he could hear the man smiling. He suddenly remembered that he was carrying a large flashlight. He pulled it from his belt and flicked the switch. The powerful beam blasted through the darkness and hit a man full in the face. Despite the strong light, the man didn’t shield his eyes or even blink. Marshall watched in fascination as the man’s eyes merely reflected the light and danced like a nocturnal animal illuminated in a sudden flash. He was dressed wholly inappropriately for the setting in a smart suit and tie and dapper hat. In spite of the air being full of red dust, the man’s clothes appeared pristine and untouched by the environment.
“I know you,” Marshall said, trying to remember where he’d seen the guy before, all security aspects of his job momentarily forgotten.
“It’s quite possible,” the man smiled.
“You were outside my apartment the other night, watching me,” Marshall said, feeling more curious than angry.
“I’m a careful man and I always like to research any possible new clients.”
“I’m Marshall,” he said introducing himself,
CHAPTER 4
expanding horizons
Marshall Dinkins wandered his route aimlessly. The shift at the mine was a security job in name only so that the insurance stipulations were covered. It was a shitty gig and was more often as not used as a punishment by Lesnar whenever anyone got on the Troll’s bad side.
Al Draper was snoring his head off back in the break room but Marshall was restless and couldn’t sleep, even when it was his turn to do so. Hopefully, Al would sleep through until morning and stay out of his hair for the duration.
The mine was deserted at this hour with even Jim Lesnar, the big boss man, staying within the confines of his luxurious apartment on site. Marshall hated that he was stuck in a dead end job while a troll like Lesnar owned the whole damn place and everything that they dragged out of the earth. God only knew what the man was worth and yet he seemed to have no imagination as to how to spend his vast wealth. It had always seemed like a cruel joke to Marshall that such bountiful gifts were bestowed upon the undeserving. His own mind was full of mooring yachts in Monaco decked with bikini clad beauties and never-ending sunsets. He would own property and people in equal measure and he would sit upon the throne of the power and they would all crawl, begging at his feet. Marshall understood that money bought you stuff, but true wealth bought you power.
He stood by the huge cavernous wormhole and stared downwards into the very centre of the earth below. The metal fences ringed the hole with care and precision. There were staggered walkways that led downwards into the hole and a cage that was lowered electronically. The area topside was low key and relatively harmless to the natural area. Marshall knew that, despite the jobs and economy boost, there were still those more obsessed with the protection of varieties of small reptiles than of working men.
Marshall kicked a rock over the edge of the hole and listened as it bounced its way into the blackness. There were large spotlights that were permanently on to illuminate the dangerous area around the hole. Above him, on the walkways down, the shadows were long and the steps were dark as no one was supposed to be here except the occasional security walk-by.
He was pondering his crappy lot in life when a voice spoke out of the shadows above him and he almost screamed.
“It does give one pause for thought, does it not?”
Marshall spun around quickly, looking up for the man who’d spoken. The accent was some fruity European one but he couldn’t see the guy in the dark. “Who’s there?” he barked with more authority than he felt.
“I’m sorry, my boy, I do hope that I didn’t frighten you?” the man replied.
Despite the lack of light, Marshall was sure that he could hear the man smiling. He suddenly remembered that he was carrying a large flashlight. He pulled it from his belt and flicked the switch. The powerful beam blasted through the darkness and hit a man full in the face. Despite the strong light, the man didn’t shield his eyes or even blink. Marshall watched in fascination as the man’s eyes merely reflected the light and danced like a nocturnal animal illuminated in a sudden flash. He was dressed wholly inappropriately for the setting in a smart suit and tie and dapper hat. In spite of the air being full of red dust, the man’s clothes appeared pristine and untouched by the environment.
“I know you,” Marshall said, trying to remember where he’d seen the guy before, all security aspects of his job momentarily forgotten.
“It’s quite possible,” the man smiled.
“You were outside my apartment the other night, watching me,” Marshall said, feeling more curious than angry.
“I’m a careful man and I always like to research any possible new clients.”
“I’m Marshall,” he said introducing himself,
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