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TWENTY

The heaviness of the past few days’ discoveries and the challenges ahead bore down on Merritt like the oppressive, cloudy, Alaskan sky as she stepped into the family home back in Barrow.

The familiar scent of her father’s favorite coffee blend mingled with the overpowering scent of Joni’s perfume, giving her an instant headache.

As she made her way through the living room, her gaze fell on the family photos that lined the side table, snapshots of a time when things were not necessarily happy, but were simpler, when her father’s presence filled her life and held things together.

She could imagine him there, in that ridiculously big house he’d built on the edge of the earth, his voice and influence booming to the walls and rafters. He was never just in a space. He consumed it. Without him, the rooms felt cold and empty.

“Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.” Joni’s sharp voice cut through the silence, jolting Merritt from her thoughts.

She turned to see her stepmother standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and her lips pursed in a thin line of disapproval.

“Joni, I don’t have time for this.” Merritt pushed past Joni to the hallway. “I have a lot of work to do.”

Joni scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “Really? Because while I’ve been here in this godforsaken sinkhole of a town your father forced me to, slaving away to save the image of the business I helped your father built, you’ve been what? Taking in a ‘guided’ tour of Alaskan scenes with that Podunk pilot who’s been panting for a bit of attention?”

Merritt bristled at the accusation, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

She wanted to lash out, to tell Joni exactly what she thought of her constant criticism and belittling remarks. But she knew that engaging would only make things worse, that it would give Joni the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten under her skin.

“Wow, Jo. Your Cruella meter needs to be turned down a few notches there.”

Merritt held her finger and thumb up and pretended to adjust a knob before dropping her hand to her side. “Not that I need to fill you in, but I was meeting with people to help us with the environmental problem. I’m trying to save this company.”

Joni let out a harsh laugh, the sound grating against Merritt’s nerves. “You’re trying? That’s rich, coming from you. You don’t have a clue what you’re doing, Merritt. You’re in over your head, and everyone knows it.”

Merritt felt the sting of Joni’s words like a physical blow. She knew that she was out of her depth, that she was struggling to navigate the complex web of politics and power plays that surrounded the mine. But she also knew that she couldn’t give up.

Without another word, Merritt turned and walked away, leaving Joni to stew in her own bitterness and resentment.

She made her way to her office, the one place in the house where she could stand being, surrounded by her father’s journals, the maps, and reports that held the key to unlocking the truth about her father’s death and the mine’s future.

As she settled into her chair, a knock rapped on the doorframe. Nolan stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“Joni’s in fine form this morning,” Nolan said, his tone light and teasing as he stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. “I see she’s rolled out the welcome wagon for you.”

Merritt groaned, rubbing her forehead as the headache turned into a migraine behind her eyes.

“She’s always been a delight, hasn’t she?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “I don’t know how Dad put up with her for so long.”

Nolan chuckled, settling into the chair across from Merritt’s desk. “Your father had a talent for dealing with difficult people. It’s what made him such a successful businessman.”

Merritt sighed, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes for a moment.

She knew that Nolan was right, that her father had been a master at navigating the treacherous waters of corporate politics and family drama. But she also knew that she was not her father, that she had neither his experience nor his ruthless streak.

“So, who did you meet with in Fairbanks?” Nolan asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “Anyone who can help us with the mine?”

Merritt sat up straighter, her eyes snapping open. She studied Nolan for a moment, weighing her options. She knew that she needed allies, that she didn’t have enough knowledge in mining to confront the problem on her own. But her dad’s warning blared in her head.

She swallowed and chose to trust. “I met with Dr. Erikson, the geologist Dad hired to investigate the mine’s safety. He had evidence that the mine’s plans for mitigating AMD are inadequate, that the risks are far greater than what’s been publicly disclosed.”

“What kind of evidence?” Nolan leaned forward, his voice sharp.

Merritt took a deep breath, her heart racing as she pulled out the folder containing Dr. Erikson’s findings. She slid it across the desk to Nolan, watching as he flipped through the pages, his expression growing more and more grave with each passing second.

“This is serious, Merritt,” he said, looking up at her with worry. “If this information gets out, it could destroy the company.”

Merritt nodded, her stomach twisting. “I know.” She let out a sigh in a whoosh. “But we can’t ignore it, Nolan. We have to do something.”

Nolan sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he considered her words. “What did you have in mind?”

Merritt leaned forward. “I took Dr. Erikson out to the mine to work with the HEAS team.” Her voice grew stronger with each word. “I want him to conduct a thorough, independent assessment of the potential for AMD and develop a plan to take care of it.”

Nolan’s eyebrows shot up, surprise flickering across his face. “That’s a bold move. Are you sure you want to take that risk? If word gets out that we’re bringing in an outside expert, it could raise a lot of questions.”

Merritt shook her head, her jaw set with determination. “I don’t care about the questions. I care about doing what’s right.”

Nolan studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face, a glimmer of pride shining in his eyes.

“You’re just like your father, you know that?” His voice, warm with affection, eased some of the worry she’d had in telling Nolan. “He would be so proud of you, Merritt.”

Merritt felt a lump form in her throat, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away, determined not to let her emotions get the best of her.

Nolan reached across the desk, his hand covering Merritt’s. “Your father made the right decision, leaving you in charge. It shocked the heck out of everyone, but maybe that’s exactly what this company needs right now.”

Merritt looked up at him, surprise etched across her features. She had always assumed that Nolan, like the rest of her family, doubted her ability to lead.

“You really think so?”

Nolan nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. “I know so.” His tone left no room for doubt. “You have a strength and an integrity that’s rare in this business, Merritt. You’re not afraid to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.”

A surge of emotion washed over her, a mix of gratitude and relief that pushed the tears right out of her eyes before she could stop them. She had been carrying the weight of her father’s legacy on her shoulders, fighting against the tide of doubt and criticism that seemed to come from every direction.

To hear Nolan, one of the few people whose opinion truly mattered to her, express his faith in her was like a balm to her battered soul.

“Thank you, Nolan.” She swallowed, her voice thick with emotion. “That means more to me than you know.”

Nolan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m just speaking the truth, pumpkin. Your dad knew what he was doing when he chose you.”

Merritt took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she knew she had to do next. “I’m heading out to the mine as soon as Tiikaan gives me the heads-up he’s ready. I need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get this fixed.”

Nolan’s expression grew serious, his brow furrowing with concern. “Merritt, I know you feel like you need to handle this on your own, but I can’t let you go out there alone. Not with everything that’s at stake.”

Merritt opened her mouth to protest, to insist that she could take care of herself, but Nolan held up a hand to stop her.

“I know you’re capable. But this isn’t just about the mine anymore. If what Dr. Erikson says is true, then there are people out there who will do anything to keep this information from getting out. People who might be willing to hurt you to protect their interests.”

A chill ran down Merritt’s spine at Nolan’s words. Should she tell him about her suspicions surrounding her dad’s death? She had been so focused on uncovering the truth about the mine, on doing what was right, that she hadn’t fully let it sink in that she might share his fate.

But as much as she wanted Nolan’s comforting presence, she needed him to keep his focus where it needed to be. With Dr. Erikson’s help, she could sort through the research.

“I appreciate your concern, but you’re needed back at headquarters. You have to keep the rest of the company running while I deal with this.”

Nolan shook his head. “I can run the company just fine from wherever I am. I have years of experience dealing with these kinds of situations. I know how to navigate the politics. If we don’t approach this the right way, instead of just setting us back, we’ll get closed down completely.”

Merritt hesitated, torn between her desire to handle things on her own and the undeniable sense of relief that came with having Nolan by her side. She knew that he was right. His knowledge and experience could be invaluable in the days ahead.

“Okay. We’ll go together.” She tapped on the desk. “But I need you to promise me something.”

Nolan leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. “Anything.”

“Promise me that we’ll see this through to the end. That we won’t stop until we’ve uncovered the truth and made things right.”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I promise, Merritt. I won’t stop until I’ve made this right.”

Gratitude and affection rushed through her for her uncle, the man who had always been there for her, even in her darkest moments. Telling Nolan was the right move. Why she ever doubted was beyond her.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Nolan’s jaw clenched, and he reached across the desk, his hand clasping hers. “You’ll never have to find out, pumpkin. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

She gathered her belongings, shoving Dr. Erikson’s reports back into her satchel. Nolan’s gaze lingered on her movements, then scanned the maps and reports scattered across her desk with a scowl.

The expression was fleeting, a momentary flicker of upset that vanished as quickly as it had appeared, but it left her feeling unsettled.

She wasn’t the only one dealing with grief along with the trouble regarding the mine. Maybe being together would help them both work through their mourning and save their family’s legacy.

It definitely wouldn’t hurt to have her uncle close.