The Invisible Hand - A crime novel

Chapter 82

        

"Well done," Les says from the other side of the fire.

We're back at the Man Camp now.

Les sneezes. Wonder if he's getting a cold. Certainly spends enough time outside. Always wearing that thin, blue "Navy Vet" cap. No hair underneath it, either.

"Well done?" Sam says.

We're in fresh clothes now. Our skin still smells like the RV fire. Like a mix between rotting barbecue and burning plastic. 

"Seriously. Well done," Les says. Laughs. "That's how I hear you cooked the RV."

That word. Seriously. Are people really saying it that much? Or am I just hearing them say it?

Les sneezes again. Someone passes him a bottle.

I retell what happened. Just in case Les didn't hear the first time. About how I put two workers down for attacking Sam. Then torched the evidence in front of witnesses.

No sense in hiding the truth. Not that Les would necessarily give a shit. Or maybe he would. Hard to tell.

"No need to repeat yourself," Les says. "You came back with more money than you went with. That means it was a good day. And burning Lou's RV was a nice bonus. He ended up dead in the end anyway. Couldn't handle the cane."

He pulls from the bottle. Passes it to Sam. She downs most of it.

"Easy now," Les says. Motions for it back.

Sam ignores the request. Polishes the liquor off anyway. The hot stress radiating from her face could melt coal. She tosses the bottle into the night outside the fire.

"Hmmm," Les says. Stares at Sam. Extends his hand into the darkness. It's immediately filled with a fresh bottle.

"What do we do now?" I say.

"You're going back to the rig. Do your worm work like nothing happened. Move that dope," Les says.

"You're not worried they're going to report us?" I say.

"Not in the least. Workers are just meat for the grinder. The company will send replacements. There's no way that rig is going to stop," Les says.

I crack my neck with a quick jerk. Can't tell if Les is setting us up. Take the fall if the police show up.

I look at Sam. How she's so vacant. Can't imagine her going back.

"We've done our due there. Everything's set up to sell. How about sending someone else like you said you would?" I say to Les. "We can take care of business for you in the Man Camp or something."

Les looks at Sam but talks to me.

"I changed my mind. I like your style too much. I need someone out there willing to get their hands dirty," Les says. Shifts to talking to Sam. "But you, Sam, should stay behind. Let Doc check you out. Don't worry, though. You can get back to work once the stitches are in."

He says it like he's talking about a truck with a flat tire. That's when it really sinks in. We're going to die here if we don't leave. Things went from too boring to too eventful in a hurry. I wanted some action, but not like this. Prefer the way things used to be back in Betrug, shit shoveling for locals. Probably not the only one in North Dakota to feel that way after getting a taste of the boom, lured in by the chance to get a piece of the action.

Sam going to Doc would only add another bar in this jail cell of a Man Camp. She must already know this, because she's shaking her head.

"I can get better in our RV," Sam says. "Need some rest."

"Just let Doc check you out quick. Make sure everything is OK," Les says.

"No, thanks," Sam says.

Les sits upright in his wheelchair.

"Go there in the morning. Or tonight even," he says.

Sam stays silent. Stares at the fire.

"What do you have against doctors?" Les says. "You worried about him poking places he shouldn't? He's very good. A decent guy."

"I just want some sleep," Sam says.

Les pokes at the dirt with his cane. Draws an X. Thinks. Or wants to look like he's thinking.

"Fine. But you're not going anywhere tomorrow, Sam. Stay in your RV and rest," Les says. Points his cane at me. "I'll send some guys to make sure no one bothers her. If you don't go out to that rig alone tomorrow, I'll castrate you myself. You hear me?"

I nod. He's making it harder and harder to leave.

"I get it," I say.

"Then get this," Les says. Tosses a brown paper bag to me.

I catch it. Look inside. More dope. A lot more dope.

"Congratulations, you're officially a partner. Not something I let a lot of people in on. You're running the business on that rig. Keep the rig's energy up. The oil companies will look the other way so long as things keep humming along. They like hard workers," Les says. Looks at Sam. "So do I."

We have got to get the hell out of here.

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This story will only be posted on Wattpad for a limited time. If you'd like the full version, head to your favorite online e-book/book retailer and pick up your own digital/print copy. Search for "Invisible Hand Sobieck." Or leave a review of the book on Amazon once you're finished reading on Wattpad. Thank you. ~Ben