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Near the end of the day, Becky blew back into the store, her usually perfect hair drooping from the heat. She grabbed a hold of Will’s arm, yanking him off the register.

“Five minutes,” Becky said, the comment aimed at Adrián who’d been tending the register while she ran some errands. Adrián had been here all day, in fact, as if he were guarding them.

“Becky, what—?” Will said as she dragged him through the store and then out back.

“Just a sec,” she said, closing the door behind them.

“What’s going on?” He asked in bewilderment.

“They’re bringing new machines in four days,” Becky said. She sounded breathless, like she’d been running. “The Carters just made a deal and sold their field. The construction is going to continue farther down Mercale Street, away from the water.”

Will blinked at her. “What? How’d you–how’d you know that?”

“My friend Hannah has a brother, Todd, who’s married to Annie, whose cousin works at the police station. Says they are hell bent on finishing this project, no matter what.”

Will tried to wrap his mind around what she was telling him. After everything, they were still continuing? With newly purchased land.

Fuck.

“We’ve got to do something,” Becky said, grabbing his hand beseechingly. “My uncle’s field is just past that. I saw what happened to Raymond’s field. I can’t–he’s going to lose everything.”

Will stared at her. “Becky, I–there’s cops everywhere. How’re we supposed to do something? Gary suspects me, I know he does. If they catch me anywhere near Mercale…”

“Fuck Gary,” she hissed. “He doesn’t have shit on you other than an old grudge. I’ll handle him if it comes down to it. But there has to be something more we can do? You’ve seen the site. Just–just tell me. I’ll help,” she pleaded.

Will looked at her. At her shell necklace and pink eyeshadow. At the way she was holding his hand like he didn’t disgust her.

He owed her, at least something. “Okay. I’ll… think about it,” he said, even though he had no idea what else they could do.

That had been the right answer though, because he then had an armful of Becky. She squeezed him into a tight hug. Will couldn’t remember the last time he’d been hugged.

Slowly, carefully, Will wrapped his own arms around Becky’s slighter frame and hugged her back.

“I’ll go out tonight,” Will promised, whispering the words in her ear. “Look around, see what’s going on.”

“I can come with you,” Becky said, pulling back to look at him.

But there was more than one Itori-shaped reason why she shouldn’t. Two people just weren’t as discreet as one.

“No, I–I should go alone. I know the way. It’ll be quieter. But you could cover for me? If anyone asks where I am later.”

“Are you sure?” Becky pressed.

“Yeah. I’ll look around, get back to you.”

“Okay,” she said reluctantly. “So you were with me tonight. We watched, uh, have you seen Clueless?”

“No.”

Becky blew out a breath, giving him an affectionate eyeroll. “Okay well, schedule a viewing for your future alibi, alright?”

“Will do,” Will said with a laugh.

She gave his shoulder another squeeze, and then they headed back inside.

###

At two in the morning, Will left his shoes in his trailer and snuck out for the orange grove. He took a longer route than the last time to avoid the security guards near the grocery.