Luck of the Draw

Chapter 30 - Frying Pans and Fires

Teddy screeched into Sally's driveway and came to another shuddering halt. Shreds of posters flew about the inside of the car like confetti and some followed him out of the car, blowing and snagging on the immaculately trimmed shrubs and hedges.

The large knocker crashed against the door, and after several assaults with nobody answering, he turned and screamed at the sky then darted back to his car.

!!!!!!

Barclay signed the lease for the truck and drove it to a public lot, parking it until dusk when they would load the dying trees and get rid of them. He walked briskly down the street back to where he left his car, his mind an explosion of horrible scenarios.

The honk didn't register at first, but when it came again, louder, he stopped and looked at the huge Lexus gliding to the curb beside him. The window slid down, and he walked over and leaned on the door, the edges of his collar flapping against his cheeks.

"Hop in before you freeze, Barclay, I'll drive you to where you're going."

"You!" A hoarse cry. He began to tremble, and his fingers clutched at the sill to maintain his support.

"Yep, your Florence Nightingale from the other night. Hop in."

His head began to shake no, but he couldn't straighten up and Sally hopped out instead, came around, opened the door, and pushed him inside.

She climbed back in and put the car in gear. "Fasten that belt, Barclay. Safety first." Wooden fingers fumbled with the buckle as he stared blindly through the windshield.

"So what's with the big truck?"

"I need to move something." He blurted, frantically trying to come up with a solid reason, but his mind kept flashing to their first meeting and his eyes were pulled to the snug jeans wrapping her long legs.

"I saw you with Teddy Playford at the tree lot this morning when I was driving past."

"Uhhmmm... we work at the same place, I just happened to see him—"

"Please, Barclay, don't treat me like an idiot. You obviously have forgotten that you told me your entire life's story on our night together. I know all about why you are down here and why you are talking to Teddy."

"Nnngmm," He groaned, as they passed his rental car without a pause. What had he done?

"What are you two planning?"

"Where are we going?" He began to panic.

"I have some business to take care of. We can grab some lunch and finish our chat there if you don't want to tell me now."

The inference was that Barclay would tell—eventually.

Sally took a few turns and pulled into the large parking lot of the Oasis Bar. She stepped out of the car and spoke with the valet then opened the door for Barclay.

"C'mon."

He did, dutifully.

Inside, Sally went straight to the manager's office, leaving Barclay at the bar with a large drink to calm his nerves.

"Harry, I'm here to pick up the papers you signed at Sebastian's. He told me you brought them back with you."

"I wanted to talk about—"

"Not now, I'm too busy. Papers please." She stood in front of his desk with authority and Harry meekly handed her the envelope. She slipped them out and glanced through them and then put them away. "Right. Since I now own sixty percent of this place, this will be my office, so you can take your personal stuff and move out. I'll contact you later about where you can set up office."

"The hell you say! I own this place and I run it from here." He pounded the desk.

Sally waved the envelope and gave him a wide-eyed look. "Ten minutes, Harry, or I'll have Dwarf come down and help you out."

"Dwarf!"

"He's going to be the club security."

"Club?"

"I'm making a few changes. Now let's get moving, I've got things to take care of." She turned on her booted heels and strutted from the office.

Barclay was dragged from the bar to a dark corner in the rear of the restaurant and shoved into the booth with his drink. Sally gave a wave and then sank in beside him.

"Okay, Barclay, talk."

He swallowed hard and waited while the waiter placed a large Martini in front of Sally and a big bowl of nibbles for the table.

"You know about the trees...?"

"That they're crap and don't work?"

"Aaah... yeah. Well, they're not working already." He looked at her and saw her face close. "I rented the truck so we could get rid of them before people began taking any kind of action like calling the company... or hanging us." Her face stayed still. "I also had Teddy collect all the posters he put up around town. I figured when it got dark we'd load up the truck and dump the trees somewhere out of town and then just fold our tent and make tracks." He grabbed his drink and swallowed a large mouthful.

Sally drank as well and selected something from the bowl. "That was good thinking, Barclay. You moved quickly and decisively. What about my money?"

"I have no idea... well I mean, I have about seven hundred dollars left after the truck, but that's it. I'm afraid since it was Teddy's name on everything, you can't very well file a claim with the company..." He became nervous again.

"Well I have ways of collecting." She said matter-of-factly. "Where is Teddy now?"

"I don't know. Still gathering posters I suppose, or back at his motel." Ways of collecting?

"Okay, here's the plan. You will check out of the hotel immediately and go to this address and wait until I come or call. If you see Teddy, tell him that after the trees are dumped he is to disappear. He's the only one directly connected to us and the company."

"Disappear? I have to help him, I rented the truck."

"Help him then return the truck. Tell him to go to ground somewhere and when he's settled, to call me and I will wire him some funds... sufficient to compensate for his agreeing to do this."

"Why am I going to this address?"

"Because I can use a man like you in my new business, Barclay. Your job at NaturGro is gone and you know it. I don't think your little woman will be at the door with open arms either. Once the public gets wind of what's happened, the shareholders will riot and heads will fall."

"Your new business?"

"I'll tell you all about it later. There are some surprises in store for you."

She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled. Finish your drink and then do as I said."