Identity - Rewritten

Chapter Eleven

April 2014

The whole building smells like burnt hair and oil.

Asha couldn't care less if she tried, rather used to unpleasant smells after once "working" in a morgue, and Robert Salisbury looks like he wouldn't notice if he was thrown in a dumpster, but the stocky man in front of her has his nose in a perpetual wrinkle. He's gesturing to the shop floor below them as the four of them, Giselle being the final member of the party, walk along a raised concrete balcony. Asha gets the distinct impression that he's trying to act like he comes down here a lot when he is, in fact, very unused to the place. Even the hard hat on his head looks wrong, like it belongs to someone else. He reminds Asha of a businessman in some eco-friendly architecture commercial, but without the trademark smile.

"...whole place has been in operation since the late nineteen fifties. Of course, we have routine safety and cleanliness checks..," the man's voice drones in and out. Asha acts like she's interested and jots down a few of the things he says, but really her attention is on Robert. Just like usual, he's physically around, but not present. He's scarcely in the condition to make business deals, but Asha senses that Salisbury Holdings and Finances, Co., is trying to show the world they're still a global competitor. She's not sure it's working.

Finally to procession comes to a stop at the end of the walkway, where they can easily look over the blue metal railings to the front and side to see the end section of the shop floor. The man, Charles Hendricks, looks over to Robert and gives him a wide smile.

"So, what do you say, Rob? I think this partnership could do us both a deal of good. I know we have to draft up a contract and whatnot," the man waves around a hand of fat fingers, "but this could be the start of something great!"

Great for you, Asha can't help but think. She figured out within five minutes of meeting this man that he has no intentions of a healthy partnership. He understands what kind of a state Robert is in and intends to suck his company dry without remorse. The business deal is just his way of stealing from Robert within the bounds of legality. Asha might say something, if it not for the fact that a reporter would only observe and record, and that Robert would ask one too many questions. She hopes he's smart enough to figure it out for himself.

The man in question takes a long time to answer, still staring off to the shop floor. Charles runs a hand through his greasy black hair uncomfortably as he waits, and Asha begins to wonder if Robert even heard the question.

Eventually, he turns to Charles with a blank face. "Yes, of course. Wonderful," he says; Asha has never heard anyone care less about anything before in her life.

Charles nods eagerly, with a small grin twisting his lips. "Good, good. I'll have my assistants and legal team draw up a rough copy."

Robert doesn't respond. Asha almost feels like kicking him– he's signing away his livelihood. Although she has many reasons not to do so, the main one that stops her is how much she can feel his resentment towards this all. He already said that his work kept him from being close with Pheobe, so now that she's gone he wants nothing to do with it.

Asha can almost visualize what a changed man he'll be if he ever gets her back.

That thought alone puts a heavy weight on her mind. Asha needs to get these kids home safe and whoever the hell did this behind bars.

She stays quiet, following Robert and Charles back down the walkway. Giselle has appeared at her right, and flashes Asha a small smile– they'd exchanged numbers earlier is the day under the pretense of a way to contact each other if anything came up with Robert or Asha's schedule, but Asha knew the pretense wouldn't be in place for long.