Vintage Rob

Chapter 29 - Peace Talks at a Mom & Pop

After buying a sandwich at a mom and pop grocery store down the street, Rob returned to a patch of light on the low stonewall in front of Mark's building. He unwrapped the white butcher paper and thrust one end of the sandwich into his mouth. While chewing on roast beef, mustard, and bread, he scanned the deserted street. He had to check his impulse to goad Mark. For Lynn's sake.

He shoved the last of the sandwich into his mouth, crumbled the white butcher paper into a ball, and balanced it on the wall. Afterwards, Mark, in his trademark green cowboy boots and black jeans, strutted around the same corner the stranger had used.

"Afternoon," Rob said when Mark drew near.

"Pictures."

Rob smiled dutifully, located the photographs, and handed over the phone. Mark stood with one foot on the wall and stared at them. "You should have stopped him." He pointed the phone at him.

Rob took it back. "You know him?"

"Don't you?"

"Should I?"

"I thought you might."

"Wh-" Ah, his delusions maybe... Mark kept his foot on the wall and tucked his black jeans into his boots. He specialized in crotch displays. Rob shifted to a new spot on the wall. "Is he the one recruiting you?"

Mark nodded.

Was he kidding, and the two men were really lovers or something? "Well, I wish you the best," Rob said. "I came by to let you know I'm leaving. Moving on." He stood and held out his hand.

After the handshake, Mark put his hands on his hips. His eyes flickered around, like he was checking out Rob's package. "Where you headed?"

"Los Angeles," Rob said.

"You mean after Japan, after the Gears tour?"

That information was on the internet. "Yes." Rob picked up the ball of butcher paper. "No hard feelings, I hope. See you again in Hell."

Mark's arm swung forward and back as if he was about to touch Rob but thought better of it. "I've got coffee. You mentioned coffee."

Rob looked at the windows, pretending to consider it. He made a show of looking at the sun's height from the horizon. "There's a mom and pop around the corner. The coffee smelled good."

"You won't come inside? You're homophobic?"

Rob raised his eyebrows and kept them up for an unnaturally long time. "Admitting to that now?"

"Trying it out."

"May as well."

"You be honest too," Mark said. "You didn't come here to say goodbye. Why are you really here?"

"To say goodbye. What else is there?" Rob took a few steps away from Mark's building. A tree had raised and split part of the sidewalk as it grew. He watched his step and looked back. "How about that coffee?"

Mark had his arms crossed. He cocked his head. "You really don't know that guy who came to my apartment?"

"Cross my heart. I don't." Maybe the stranger was FBI or CIA. Maybe they really were recruiting Mark or investigating him. The guy may have paid Mark to nab Gears stuff to fuel his fantasies. It didn't matter, because Makiko's stepfather, Mr. Lombardi, had emailed, and Makiko had agreed to meet for dinner if the rest of the family could join them. Rob just wanted to get to Tokyo. Forget Mark.

As they walked, Mark's boots clicked on the cobblestones. "Okay, no hard feelings."

Something about the way he spoke was suspicious. "You hiding something?" Rob said.

"You looking for something?"

"No." They may as well have been talking about the weather, but it seemed like Mark wanted to tangle over the stolen goods. "Your break-in today is nothing. I've had two since I saw you last," Rob said.

"Is that a fact?"

"Yeah."

The mom and pop's oval sign loomed ahead. The little store occupied the first floor of a house. Inside, they bought two coffees at a small deli counter in back. Without speaking, the heavy older woman behind the counter handed Rob his change and lingered a moment with a smile. Outside, they stood on the narrow sidewalk near a bench. It suddenly felt like they were on a date. Rob took a big gulp of coffee.

"What's missing?" Mark said. "After your robbery?"

"Nothing I can't live without." He realized too late that that probably went too far. He did not want to give Mark a new reason to break in.

"I could find your stuff for you."

Rob laughed. "Could you?"

"For a fee."

Rob stared at the plastic top on his coffee cup and smiled.

"You think I have your stuff, don't you? That's why you're here."

"Um."

"Take a look inside my apartment, see for yourself."

Rob's small paper cup was already empty. He threw it into a steel mesh trashcan by the bench. "No, I trust you. I came to wish you luck. That's my policy, no loose ends. Besides, why would you take my stuff?"

"Why would anyone?"

"To sell to Gears fans. That's my theory."

"I could find it. I could even make sure it doesn't happen again."

Rob shook his head. Retrieve the property he stole. What an offer. "I'll consider it, but you're almost an MBA, buddy. That's no way to make your living." At least Mark had a sense of humor. Rob could not wait to tell Gene. Maybe he would even tell Makiko and her family. "I gotta go. Lots to do before I fly." Rob crossed the street and waved.

Mark was smiling. Waving back, he stood on his tiptoes. Ludicrous. Funny. Slightly insane. They were parting on a good note. Perfect.

But not good enough. To be on the safe side, Rob would ask Sylvester to hire Lynn at the restaurant, if she was willing. Sylvester's ex-wife's third husband stopped hitting her after one visit from certain Sylvester associates. Sylvester believed in chivalry and loyalty. If another break-in occurred and Lynn worked for him, he would protect her like he would anyone else in his circle.

Thanks for reading LOUD!