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CHAPTER EIGHT
The alarm clock sounded its annoying buzzer at 6:00 AM. Eddie slapped the snooze button and went down to put on the coffee. Dribbling the last few drops into the full pot the automatic drip coffee maker, the kitchen smelled of fresh coffee. He poured a cup knowing he wasn’ t going to enjoy walking into the company where he’ d spent the last twenty years of his life and tell them he quit. Remorse had engulfed him. They certainly didn’ t seem to have a problem saying you’ re fired or laid off indefinitely.“ I have a few more vacation days left. I can put in for an emergency vacation. I earned those days,” he thought, sipping his coffee.
Tanya walked into the kitchen talking on his phone.“ We have two, Nicole and Justin … She was the first by two years,” she said, and mouthed“ Frank.”“ Here is Eddie, it was nice talking with you too,” she finished and handed Eddie the phone.“ Good morning,” Eddie said.“ Morning. Eddie, be here at one o’ clock for a meeting. Do you play poker?”“ Yes, of course.”“ Good. When you get here I want your best poker face. I don’ t want you to say a word. If I ask you a direct question I want the smallest nod you can muster. Do not react to anything I say. I want intense calmness. Do you think you can handle that?” Frank instructed.“ I don’ t think that will be a problem.”“ When you arrive, tell the receptionist your name and act like she should know you are expected because you are expected. If my requests seem odd you will understand soon enough. We good?”“ Yes, sir,” Eddie said.“ Always Frank.”“ Sure Frank,” the connection ended.
The twenty-four-minute drive to work seemed surreal. He had a ritual path from which he hadn ' t deviated since pre-Tanya years. Today, however, there was no need to rush, traffic seemed to flow, unlike previous Monday mornings. " When did they build a Gander Mountain?" He pulled into the vacant lot to check store hours, an aroma of donuts wafted through his opened window. He noticed a Mom n Pop bakery across the street. Eddie had not been late to work in the last ten years. Today, he walked in late, to those watching, looking like he owned the place. He told them he needed the next few days off and he would have to burn his last couple of sick days.“ You’ ll have to bring us a doctor’ s note or you will get a disciplinary letter,” the terminal manager hissed.“ Of course,” Eddie wore his smile on the inside, placed the dozen donuts on the snakes ' secretary ' s desk and left.
Eddie stopped for lunch near Frank’ s office. He walked through the office door three minutes before the meeting and approached the receptionist who seemed preoccupied.“ Eddie Dodge,” he stated. Finishing what sounded like a personal call, the receptionist eventually pressed a keyboard,“ A Mister Dodge,” she mono-toned. Her demeanor changed.“ Right away Mr. Melling. Sorry. I will bring him right back,” she echoed. Her eyes met Eddie’ s and he felt like she was trying to get a read. Maybe she expected a look of smug satisfaction. He offered nothing. Removing the Jabra headset, stepping quickly from behind the granite-topped, divider wall that separated them, she looked a little flustered.“ Please follow me, Mr. Dodge,” she said, leading the way and holding open the conference room door. Eddie watched Frank shoot her a look and almost expected her to curtsy and apologize. He bit his tongue to keep his intensity.
The only other person in the room Eddie recognized was Rodney. He looked very different in suit and tie, which did nothing to hide his massive frame.“ Eddie Dodge, please take a seat." Frank indicated the chair where he wanted Eddie. " I asked Mr. Dodge …" Frank paused and turned to Eddie. " May I call you Eddie?" Eddie’ s nod was almost imperceptible. Frank turned to the group of ten seated around the table. " I asked Eddie to look at one of my properties that needs serious improvement." Eddie watched a couple of people shift in their chairs but their demeanor did not change.