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“ Yeah. Couldn’ t spend what I hadn’ t earned,” Rodney admitted, as Frank directed him to a six-story office building. At three in the morning the place looked deserted. The door buzzed as they approached. They stepped into the elevator and Frank pressed six. Mia greeted them as the doors parted. She hugged Frank and said,“ A big friend. He may need two,” she laughed, and escorted them through a pair of unmarked mahogany doors.
The lobby looked to be that of a prosperous doctor. The beautiful paintings on the walls were punctuated by official looking framed documents“ Physical Therapist” being predominant.“ Have a seat. Would either of you care for something to drink?” Mia offered.“ Scotch on the rocks,” Frank said.“ I’ m okay,” Rodney passed and Mia disappeared to the inner reaches of the offices.“ What is this place?” Rodney whispered.“ Whatever you want it to be. Just ask.” Frank smiled and added.“ Be prepared to be treated like a king.” Two exotic women took Rodney by the arms and helped him become more relaxed for the next three hours. Frank was sitting in the lobby sipping a bottle of water when Rodney appeared.“ Would it be rude of me to ask how much this doctor visit cost?” Rodney laughed.“ Incredibly rude. Not to worry. I call it an investment. Someone is about to be fired. Would you happen to be looking for a position in management? I have a problem property. It’ s not in the best neighborhood. All I can offer is an apartment, a small salary and a fifty percent profit bonus.”
The next stop put them in front of Frank’ s offices, with Frank taking a nap in the spotless, trunk of Rodney’ s Cadillac. Sitting on the hood of Dave’ s car, Rodney set off the alarm and waited. Dave arrived a moment later apologizing profusely, explaining a phone company error and asking how Rodney found him.“ You hired a professional. It’ s my job to know all parties involved,” Rodney said and explained he had had a similar problem with the phone company. Dave asked a bunch of questions, which Rodney was able to answer with enough bullshit to satisfy Dave’ s morbid curiosity. The money could be picked up here tomorrow morning, he assured.“ No! That’ s not going to fucking work. We are going to get it now.” Knowing he couldn’ t out run‘ Rocket Rodney’ Davey admitted on Frank’ s IPhone his involvement. They went back to Rodney’ s place and waited for the cops. The door exploded inward as the police rushed in and threw Rodney to the floor. Frank was in the kitchen making a sandwich as guns were drawn on the guy holding a dangerous looking butter knife.“ Let me guess? You gentlemen are here to arrest the guy on the bathroom floor, the one in handcuffs, for conspiracy to commit murder.”
“ One of the mistakes made by Dave Waters was when he hired Rodney, a guy who I knew from college, to kill me. My attorney told me I did not have enough evidence to put him away and not have to look over my shoulder forever. Now I think I do,” Frank said, pointing at the twenty grand on the table. He allowed the cops to cuff him and take the three suspects downtown. Frank’ s lawyer listened to the exchange via the phone on the counter and met them at the station. Eddie listened in disbelief.“ So what happened to Dave?” he asked.“ He was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. A Hell of a way to get fired.”“ What if he gets out?”“ He didn’ t last six months before he committed suicide. Seems prison life doesn’ t suit guys who constantly bat their eyes at fellow convicts. I imagine he was pretty popular while he lasted,” Rodney excused himself, and headed toward the WM working crew.
Their conversation lasted a few minutes. Eddie didn’ t eavesdrop, but the meeting ended with smiles and nods from the masons. The Waste Management truck rumbled across the parking lot. Rodney returned to the tailgate.“ I told them the toilets were to be cleaned daily. If that did not happen they were to let you or me know, because I was in the mood to kick some ass.”“ Not fair. I can’ t pull off that statement.”“ Go take some karate classes. You’ re in good shape. Show them they can’ t fuck with us little guys,” Rodney joked.