Florida. Obviously she didn’t feel any compulsion to offer a daughter discount.
I signed where indicated, then fumed as Margaret took her time scribbling her name and address in as a witness. Always efficient Mary Beth quickly notarized the note and wished me well at the arraignment.
Mary Beth squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sure things will work out for your friend. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for her or for you.”
Can you crochet the real killer before ten thirty? “Thanks.” Turning to Margaret, I asked for an express envelope and label.
“Sorry,” she said, though the inflection in her tone and the glint in her eyes told me she was anything but. “This isn’t firm business, so I can’t allow you to use the Dane-Lieberman account.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled, mentally giving her and the file chicks the finger as I took the loan-shark-worthy promissory note and the check and bolted from the lobby. I stopped at the drop box outside the office, got an envelope, a blank air bill, and the last laugh. I knew the Dane-Lieberman account number by heart and since the accounting department handled the monthly bill, Margaret wouldn’t ever know I’d bested her. Besides, I was content to view the twenty-something-dollar charge partial payment for my unpaid leave day.
Before I reached my car, I got my first look at the check and nearly fell to the ground. I had a dozen reasons to loathe the woman and twenty-five thousand reasons to like her, for a few seconds. I’d been hoping for ten, praying for fifteen, but never even dreamed she’d lend me this much. Or that in accordance with the terms of the note, the repayment would nearly double the amount of the loan. I’d worry about that later.
As I stopped for traffic lights on my way to the bank, I sealed the note in the envelope and filled out the air bill, sorely tempted to address it to Mommy Dearest.
Be nice, I told myself firmly. Mommy Dearest or not, she’d come through when I really needed her to. I had to give her props for that.
Though Tommasso’s wasn’t far, I wanted to stop at the bank for two reasons. First, I wanted to know if I needed to do anything with the cashier’s check before turning it over to a bail bondsman. No. And second, I knew the assistant manager well enough to ask her the favor of seeing that my express envelope went out with the first pickup.
I’d forgotten to put a thank-you note inside the envelope. That would cost me. I’d also neglected to put on a watch, stupid since I have several nice ones. Nice, but not my fantasy watch. That would be a pink-oyster-faced Rolex with a diamond bezel. Buying one retail was my first choice, but hardly realistic. I couldn’t even swing one on the aftermarket. However, being a resourceful and adept Internet auction person, I was building my own. To date, I’ve acquired three links, the face, and a screw-down crown. EBay is a beautiful place. Not only can I score slightly used clothing, but someday I’ll have everything I need to make my Rolex dreams come true.
Without a watch, I had no choice but to check the time on my cell phone display. Not only was I running ten minutes late, a small icon on the screen indicated I had a new text message. Hopefully it was Liv or Becky telling me they’d found an attorney. I drove the three-quarters of a mile back to Banyan Street, found a parking spot, and just to be safe, overfed the meter.
During my block-and-a-half walk to the deli, I pulled up the message.
Hi Fin. Last night was great.
For you maybe. The thought just popped into my head, making me feel small and mean. Which just showed how freaking unworthy I was to have such a terrific guy care about me.
Sorry, can’t make the arraignment. The later flight was canceled so I had to take the earlier one. Give Jane my best and tell her I’ve got my fingers crossed for her. I’ll call you from Arizona. Patrick.
I texted back Have a safe trip. The second I hit
I signed where indicated, then fumed as Margaret took her time scribbling her name and address in as a witness. Always efficient Mary Beth quickly notarized the note and wished me well at the arraignment.
Mary Beth squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sure things will work out for your friend. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for her or for you.”
Can you crochet the real killer before ten thirty? “Thanks.” Turning to Margaret, I asked for an express envelope and label.
“Sorry,” she said, though the inflection in her tone and the glint in her eyes told me she was anything but. “This isn’t firm business, so I can’t allow you to use the Dane-Lieberman account.”
“Whatever,” I grumbled, mentally giving her and the file chicks the finger as I took the loan-shark-worthy promissory note and the check and bolted from the lobby. I stopped at the drop box outside the office, got an envelope, a blank air bill, and the last laugh. I knew the Dane-Lieberman account number by heart and since the accounting department handled the monthly bill, Margaret wouldn’t ever know I’d bested her. Besides, I was content to view the twenty-something-dollar charge partial payment for my unpaid leave day.
Before I reached my car, I got my first look at the check and nearly fell to the ground. I had a dozen reasons to loathe the woman and twenty-five thousand reasons to like her, for a few seconds. I’d been hoping for ten, praying for fifteen, but never even dreamed she’d lend me this much. Or that in accordance with the terms of the note, the repayment would nearly double the amount of the loan. I’d worry about that later.
As I stopped for traffic lights on my way to the bank, I sealed the note in the envelope and filled out the air bill, sorely tempted to address it to Mommy Dearest.
Be nice, I told myself firmly. Mommy Dearest or not, she’d come through when I really needed her to. I had to give her props for that.
Though Tommasso’s wasn’t far, I wanted to stop at the bank for two reasons. First, I wanted to know if I needed to do anything with the cashier’s check before turning it over to a bail bondsman. No. And second, I knew the assistant manager well enough to ask her the favor of seeing that my express envelope went out with the first pickup.
I’d forgotten to put a thank-you note inside the envelope. That would cost me. I’d also neglected to put on a watch, stupid since I have several nice ones. Nice, but not my fantasy watch. That would be a pink-oyster-faced Rolex with a diamond bezel. Buying one retail was my first choice, but hardly realistic. I couldn’t even swing one on the aftermarket. However, being a resourceful and adept Internet auction person, I was building my own. To date, I’ve acquired three links, the face, and a screw-down crown. EBay is a beautiful place. Not only can I score slightly used clothing, but someday I’ll have everything I need to make my Rolex dreams come true.
Without a watch, I had no choice but to check the time on my cell phone display. Not only was I running ten minutes late, a small icon on the screen indicated I had a new text message. Hopefully it was Liv or Becky telling me they’d found an attorney. I drove the three-quarters of a mile back to Banyan Street, found a parking spot, and just to be safe, overfed the meter.
During my block-and-a-half walk to the deli, I pulled up the message.
Hi Fin. Last night was great.
For you maybe. The thought just popped into my head, making me feel small and mean. Which just showed how freaking unworthy I was to have such a terrific guy care about me.
Sorry, can’t make the arraignment. The later flight was canceled so I had to take the earlier one. Give Jane my best and tell her I’ve got my fingers crossed for her. I’ll call you from Arizona. Patrick.
I texted back Have a safe trip. The second I hit
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