After making a show of checking out a closet in the room and then introducing myself to all the suits, or meeting attendees, as Joseph’s security, I leave. I plan to use this time to see if I can learn more about Vince and his food bank.
An online search of the food bank doesn’t provide much information. I’m not surprised. Honestly, I have no concrete reason to suspect anything is wrong with it; I’m only going on a hunch. But generally, my hunches are never wrong. So, I decide to scope out the place.
On the way to the food bank, I detour by Vince’s house. He’s still living in the same place he was when I was in high school. The house has been repainted and the bushes in front are all larger. The white car in the driveway matches one that has been at the food bank each night. It must be Vince’s.
I park down the block and wait. Twenty minutes later, he comes out the door, staring at his phone. Once he hits the road, I follow at a distance.
Vince stops at an apartment building and goes inside. I stay in the car, frustrated that I have no idea what he’s doing. He could be collecting rent or collecting payments from bets.
He’s out within ten minutes, and we’re on the road again. Next stop, the food bank. I pull up to the curb nearby.
Vince smiles at a man in dark jeans and a black sweatshirt who was waiting for him in front of the door. The man crosses his arms and says something. Vince shakes his head and points inside. The man throws his hands in the air and then both go inside.
I’ve seen nothing that should cause suspicion, but I can’t let it go. The argument I just witnessed could have been about anything. However, until I have more time to go inside, I’m not going to learn anything.
Might as well let it lie for now. I check the clock and see I can at least grab a late lunch before I have to endure another afternoon with Joseph.
* * *
As I approachJoseph’s office, I hear yelling.
“No! I said no. I don’t have the money. You have to give me more time!”
I race down the hall and stop outside the door where I can’t be seen. I arrive in time to hear a man reply to Joseph’s plea.
“I already gave you more time. Nearly a week. But there’s one more thing I can do before I tell my boss.”
I know that voice…
“Yes, anything. Please,” Joseph begs.
“I’ll give you today to ask Lucy for the money.”
“Lucy?” Joseph repeats. “The woman loathes me. She would never give me money! Besides, she doesn’t have any.”
“Her father does. And she would help you if she thought you were in danger.”
“And how am I going to convince her I’m in danger?”
A sudden, sharpcrackis followed by Joseph crying out, “What the fuck?”
I lean in to see what the hell is going on. Vince is standing over Joseph, his hand still balled in a fist. Joseph is on the ground rubbing his left temple.
I knew it! Vince is his bookie. Why the hell does he want to drag Lucy into this?
“One more,” Vince says.
Joseph holds up his arm. “No!” But he’s too late and Vince’s fist connects with his nose,
I know I should go in there and stop Vince from pummeling Joseph, but I want to see how Joseph responds to this Lucy plan of Vince’s.
“There, that will convince her. You’d better find a way, Joseph. No more extensions.”
Footsteps approach the door, and I jump into the next office over and hide behind the door.
Vince must have left the food bank shortly after I did. Now I’m kicking myself for that late lunch. What if he met with his boss before coming here, and I missed it?
Once Vince is gone, I re-approach Joseph’s office.
