The Hidden Truth

Chapter Five: Poker Face

When Monday morning arrives I head to work early. I still needed to look into other positions and figured I best start as soon as possible. Knowing my boss, he’ll try to keep me in my position for as long as he can and I have a feeling that the man still doesn’t trust me. As I make my morning rounds cleaning the supply room I run into the manager, Larry. He knows more about this company than anyone else.  

“Glad to see you back. I trust that little vacation of yours was well worth it?”

I nod my head. Even though I was hoping to have a lot more done, it was enough to get me started. “Not enough hours in a day unfortunately.” I respond.

He nods back. Although my answer was vague he knew what I meant. Jose is the type of business owner that only gives you as little time off as he feels necessary. Larry has two sons growing up in this cruel world without their father around much to teach them. Luckily his pregnant wife is there picking up the slack but that information doesn’t help me out.

“Hey Larry, I was wondering if you knew anything about any open positions that work less hours?”

“You’ll have to ask the other guys about that but I wouldn’t recommend doing that here.”

“Why is that?”

“Michael, have you learned anything at all about how Jose works yet?”

I allowed his question to linger for a while as I thought about it. It's true that Jose watches his workers like a hawk but I never thought for once that he listened in on the conversations people had. 

“But if I can't do it while at work how…?” Larry holds his clipboard up to my mouth stopping me from saying anything further as he goes into his explanation. “Some of the guys and I unwind after work. Usually someone hosts a poker game. If you were to host this in your home I'm sure the guys will come and you know what they say about guys and poker, right?”

I saw enough gangster movies with Justice to know exactly what Larry is trying to say. “Yea, matter of fact I do but I don’t...” again Larry stops me and points to the only other key on my chain that doesn’t belong to my car as he says. “That looks like a shiny new house key to me.”

I had completely forgotten that Kenneth gave me the key to his grandmother's old home. I haven’t even been by the place to look at it or anything. 

“Your right. How about you guys follow me home tonight after work. I’ll host your game.”

Larry takes his head into his hand as he says, “How do you think that's going to look to the man upstairs? Just write down the address and give it to me at lunch, I’ll make sure the guys get it. Discreetly of course, we wouldn’t want the parrot to catch wind of this get together.” Then he leaves the room.

I had no idea what he meant about the parrot. I was too busy wondering what kind of shape the house was in. As I finished up with my morning rounds I looked high and low for a piece of paper and a pen to copy the address for Larry. 

Once lunchtime rolled around I grabbed my tray and food while I scanned the area searching for Larry. I didn’t know where he usually sat and it worried me. I finally spot him sitting in the back of the room and walked past him, slipping the paper into his hand as I make my way to the other side of the room. As I sit there eating my food I watch to see what he is going to do.      

The entire time passes by without so much as a visitor to his table. When I finished my meal, I quietly empty my tray into the trash and walk out of the room. I then head to the supply closet to gather the products I needed for the afternoon chores. By the end of my shift I still haven’t seen anyone talking to Larry. I guess when he meant discreetly he really meant it.