early.
∞∞∞
Aryl left Claire nestled deep in silken, down
comforters and headed to the dock office to talk to his old
acquaintances.
He opened the door to an office labeled Lead
Foreman. Roman sat with his back to the door, talking animatedly on
the phone. Aryl cleared his throat, and Roman held up a finger.
Aryl smiled devilishly.
“Sir! I’m with the Bureau of Internal
Revenue,” he shouted with an authoritative tone. Roman jumped to
his feet, dropping the phone, his face gone white. Roman recognized
Aryl at once, and his head dropped in relief.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you scared the piss
outta me, Aryl.” He couldn’t help but laugh, though, as he wiped
beads of sweat from his forehead and hung up the phone.
“It’s been a long time, Aryl. How are you?”
he asked, reaching to shake his hand. “I heard about all the shit
that’s happened these last few weeks and especially yesterday.
Whew! What a mess. You guys get through that okay?”
“Well, not really. I wish this were a social
visit, but I need to call in a favor.” Aryl frowned.
“Nonsense. With you, it’s always a social
visit. Pull up a chair.” He walked to the door, glanced both ways
in the hall, then closed and locked the door. He returned, pulling
a bottle of rum and two small glasses from a bottom drawer. “Can’t
be too careful, you know?”
“So, lead foreman, eh?” Aryl nodded toward
the black stencil on the frosted glass of the door.
“Yeah, I guess hanging around this shithole
for so long finally paid off,” he said with a laugh. “Now, I know
you’re not here to celebrate my promotion. What is it, Aryl?”
“Well, remember a few years back when I did
some creative accounting work for you guys?”
“Hell yeah, saved our asses. Not just from
jail, but from our wives . . . not sure which would have been
worse!” he bellowed.
“Well, me and two of my friends, we need
jobs. It doesn’t matter doing what. We just need them quick.”
Roman’s face fell somber. “You guys didn’t
fare so well yesterday, did you?”
“We lost everything,” Aryl said without
emotion.
“I’m real sorry, Aryl.”
“Easy come, easy go.”
“Well, as luck would have it, I just got word
that two of my men aren’t coming back. I was going to replace them
with day workers, but I’d be happy to give those jobs to you and
your friend.”
“That’s great, Roman. I really appreciate it.
But there are three of us.”
“Right. Right,” he said, rubbing his chin.
“I’ll have to get that past the big boss. This company has taken
some blows right along with everyone else, you know, but luckily,
shipments have to continue. Just shipments of beans and rice in
place of radios and clothes, I’m predicting.” Aryl could care less
what was imported, but he tried not to show his impatience.
“Look, I’ll get it past the boss tomorrow.
Don’t you worry about that. You guys be here day after tomorrow,
and come in here to my office, don’t go where the day workers line
up.”
Aryl exhaled with relief. “Thanks,
Roman.”
“Don’t thank me just yet,” he laughed. “The
job is hard and the pay is shit.”
“Doesn’t matter, not right now, anyway.
Thanks again.” He shook Roman’s hand and quickly turned on his heel
to leave.
∞∞∞
Caleb paused at the front door of Victor’s
office, shook off thoughts of Jonathan, put on his best poker face
and walked in.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked,
without looking up. Caleb glanced at Victor’s closed office door.
No light escaped from under the door. Caleb cleared his throat.
“I’m looking for three apartments.”
She looked up at him curiously. “Three?”
“Yes, three. Myself and two friends of mine.
Do you have any available?”
She looked him up and down in confusion.
“Well.” She started thumbing through a small stack of paperwork. “I
believe we do. We just evicted a few yesterday. Would you like the
keys to go take a