by A. L Long
Walking towards the front door, I noticed a guy sitting at the end of the bar drinking a beer. As I got closer to him, I noticed that he was missing a leg. I was pretty sure that he must have lost it in the war or something based on the tattered army jacket he was wearing. I really could relate to him only because my dad was in the same boat. Walking up to the older man, I placed my index finger on his shoulder and asked, “Did you serve in the military?”
When he looked up at me, he had a very pleasant smile on his face. “Yes, ma’am. Vietnam, to be exact.”
I don’t know what came over me, but I wrapped my arms around his shoulder and gave him a hug without saying a word. He reminded me of my dad, and I couldn’t help but shed a tear as I left the bar to start Nick’s car. All I could think about was how horrible it must have been for him to serve and then come back with a limb missing.
~****~
Staying with my brother until I could find a place of my own was the best plan ever. Not only did I have a room of my own with my own bathroom, the bed was out of this world. It was like lying on a soft fluffy cloud. I knew that my brother had done well for himself as one of the top landscapers in Manhattan, but this place of his was ridiculous. It made me wonder how much he had to pay for it. The best thing about it was that it was far enough away from the city that I wouldn’t have to deal with the hustle and bustle that big cities had.
Wiggling my feet from under the covers, I hopped out of bed and walked over to my fancy bathroom. Even though it only had a shower, it was big enough for two or three people. Stripping off my t-shirt and panties, I stood in front of the mirror to take a look at myself. Already after only being here for two days, I could see a difference in the way I looked. There was no longer a look of depression on my face; instead it was replaced with happiness. I knew that choosing to accept Nick’s offer was the best move I had ever made.
Today, Nick was going to show me where his office was, and the ins and outs of bookkeeping. Even though I didn’t know a thing about the process, he was pretty confident that I would be a pro in a couple of days. I wasn’t so sure about that, especially since I really sucked at math. Even though it was a landscaping company, I wanted to look my best. Of all the things I learned from my mom, the one that really stuck was that she always said look your best, no matter what. Her philosophy was that a person never knew who would be watching them. It was kind of creepy the way she said it. Personally, I think she was full of shit. It never mattered to her how she looked.
Finishing the final touches to my face, I headed downstairs to check on Nick. I knew that he was already up based on the amazing smell of coffee seeping through the vents. With my sandals in hand, I traipsed down the steps. Just as I thought, Nick was already in the kitchen dressed in blue jeans and a faded t-shirt. Walking behind him, I leaned to the side and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. “Good morning, bro.”
His eyes focused on me as he replied, “Morning, sis. You’re in a good mood.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Today is going to be the best day ever,” I enthused as I searched for a coffee cup in the cupboard above the coffee maker.
Finding the one I wanted that had the Statue of Liberty embossed on the front, I poured myself a healthy cup full, and headed to the kitchen table to grab myself a toasted bagel that Nick had waiting for me. Spreading a hefty amount of cream cheese over the top, I took a big bite and enjoyed the flavor as it danced on my taste buds. Looking over to Nick, I gave him a thumb up letting him know that I approved. I guess he must have thought a good breakfast was needed for what he had in store for me.
When we left the house, I didn’t realize how happy I actually was until I noticed that I forgot to grab my phone. Knowing that I would probably need it, I placed my hand on Nick’s arm and said, “We need to go back. I forgot to grab my phone.”
With a roll of his eyes, he turned around and headed back to the house, “You know, you should carry a purse or something so you don’t forget it.”
He was probably right, but there was never a need for one before. I always put everything I had in my backpack.
After finding my cell, which was sitting on the kitchen counter, we once again headed into the city. Driving down the dirt road leading from Nick’s house, I looked at my phone to see if there were any calls from my dad. Feeling saddened that it showed no calls, I held the phone in my hand like I was waiting for him to call.
When we reached Nick’s office, or rather an empty lot with a small trailer house on it, Nick turned the engine off to his car and sang, “Welcome to Winter Landscaping,” as he looked over to the trailer with a sign in black and white saying just that.
“So, this is where you work?” I asked with a hint of surprise.
“This is it, sis. Next week they are going to break ground to build a big warehouse, over there,” he said as he pointed across the way. “It will be big enough for several offices and store some of the landscaping equipment.”
I knew he was serious about wanting to expand his business by the enthusiasm he showed. I guess that was how the big companies got their start as well. I knew that it wouldn’t take him long to get there. It already looked like he was on his way, as I noticed that the area where he wanted this warehouse to be was already roped off for him. It would be great to see it actually being built. Just think: I would be here to witness his dream come true.
As we got out the car and headed towards the trailer, I still wasn’t sure what it was that I would be doing for him. I tried to get a glimpse inside before he fully opened the door. I was always the impatient one in our family, after all. Finally able to see inside the small trailer, I looked around to find that it really wasn’t that small. There were four desks lined up against one wall, with a counter running along the other with several printers and office supplies. On each of the desks there was a flat screen computer. I could only guess that I wasn’t the only employee he had. Taking his cue, I followed him to the back of the trailer to find a small kitchen and a bathroom before approaching another office. As he opened the double glass doors, I knew that this must have been his office.
Scanning the room, I heard Nick say, “Take a seat, sis, while I find an employee packet for you to fill out.”
I had never filled out an employee packet before, so I wasn’t sure what I was in for. When I got hired at ‘Last Stop,’ the only thing they requested was a copy of my driver’s license and my Social Security card. Taking a seat in front of his desk, I waited for him to find what he needed. It was kind of strange being in his office, knowing that my brother was my new employer.
Nick reached across the desk and handed me a small stack of papers that I assumed I was required to fill out. Thumbing through the pages, it looked like the basic stuff that most employers would need. As I looked at the application, one of the requirements of the job was to have a high school diploma and one year of college. Well, that took me out of the running.
Looking over to my brother, I held up the application and said, “You know I never graduated, Nichols,” as I pointed to the section referring to educational requirements.
“That’s just a formality, sis. I already know what you’re capable of,” he reassured me.
~****~
My first day at work wasn’t what I expected. I had never seen so many numbers in my life. When seven o’clock rolled around, I was glad to see that Nick had finished what he was doing so that I could get home and hopefully use his bathroom to take a nice long hot bath.
“You worked really hard today. How about a celebration for a fantastic day?” Nick offered.
“I would really like to just go home and take a nice long bath, if that’s okay with you?” I asked hesitantly.
“Yep, on one condition. You let me take you out to celebrate and I will let you use my bathroom anytime you want.”
Nick offering me a free pass to use his bathroom anytime I wanted was enough for me. I would let him buy me two drinks for that.
When we stepped inside
the small, but classy bar, it seemed as though everyone inside knew him as they said their “Hellos.” Propping my butt on one of the barstools, I waited for the bartender to walk over and take our order. The way I was feeling, and since I was now living in New York, it seemed only right to order a Long Island Ice Tea, while Nick ordered a brew with a shot of Crown.
As I sat at the bar carelessly sipping my Long Island, I was thinking about all the wonderful things that I wanted to do this weekend. There were only a few things that needed to be done at the office tomorrow, so my day wouldn’t be too hard before I could finally have some fun and check out the city. I knew that Nick wouldn’t be around since he had a big job at some ritzy house somewhere in West Village. I offered to go with him, but he wanted to get an early start, and he felt it was necessary to have someone at the office in case something came up, especially since he would be taking a couple of the guys with him, whom I had yet to meet, since they were at some landscaping project in Upper Manhattan.
I would never be able to keep the different districts of New York City/Manhattan straight. Maybe when I ventured out on Saturday, I would be able to find out more about this metropolis. Drinking the last of my Long Island, I ordered another, along with another for Nick as well. He had been gone for some time and I was pretty sure that it shouldn’t take that long for him to ‘see a man about a horse’ as he put it. When our drinks arrived before he did, I began to worry. Thankfully the bartender knew Nick well enough to start a tab for him. Thinking that I should go look for him, I whistled at the bartender to get his attention. As soon as he was in earshot, I said, “I’m going to be right back, don’t take the drinks or let anyone take our seats.”
He nodded in acknowledgment and went back to loading the cooler with bottles of beer. Rising from my seat, I headed to the back of the bar where I saw Nick head about twenty minutes ago. Knocking lightly on the men’s bathroom door, I waited for someone to answer before I pushed it open. As I gazed inside, the room was completely empty. Crazy thoughts were running through my head. One in particular was that Nick left me to pay the bar tab, and with only a twenty in my bag, I knew I couldn’t cover it.
Pulling my phone from my bag, I dialed his number and waited for him to answer. When there was no answer, I dialed his number again. Walking at a faster pace, I pushed open the back door to find that for the entire time I was calling Nick, his phone was on the ground. Picking it up, I ended the call and began searching for him. It didn’t make sense that he would just leave his phone like that. Stuffing it in my purse, I walked a short distance down the alley. This was not a good idea and my common sense kicked in. Heading back inside the bar, I decided the best thing to do was explain what was going on to the bartender and hope that he was an understanding guy.
With my hands against the edge of the bar, I looked to my left and then to my right. I spotted the bartender kneeling as he stocked some bottles of liquor on a lower shelve. “Excuse me,” I said, waiting for his body to come to full height.
“Can I help you, Miss?” he replied.
“My brother went MIA, and he left an open tab which I have no way of paying for,” I explained.
“No worries. Nick always pays his bill sooner or later.”
Smiling at the bartender, I requested, hesitantly, “Then I’m sure he wouldn’t mind adding an additional twenty to the bill so I can catch a cab.”
My brother was so in trouble. He was going to meet the wrath of Charlotte Marie Winters when he got home.
CHAPTER FIVE
Ryan
When I finally got to the hospital, I was about to lay into Josh until I saw what he looked like. I didn’t care what he did. No way in hell did he deserve the way he looked. Both eyes were practically swollen shut and he had a cast on his right arm. The closer I looked at him, it became apparent he had more going on than a broken arm and two swollen eyes. My observation was confirmed when a nurse stepped into the room, pushing some sort of monitor.
Moving away from the bed, I watched as she did her thing. As she lowered the sheet that covered him, I could clearly see the bruising along his right side and chest. Turning to face the machine, she began unwinding the cord before placing some sort of gel along his side. There was no way that this could have been good.
Feeling the need to find out what was going on, I asked with concern, “Can I ask what you’re looking for?”
“This is just a precaution. We want to make sure that he doesn’t have any internal bleeding. Based on the size of the bruising and the color, we need to take every precaution to make sure,” she said as she brought the machine to life.
I watched the screen carefully as she began swiping the transducer probe across his side where most of the bruising was. I tried to decipher what I was actually looking at, but since I was no doctor I was clueless. Scratching my head, I focused on the screen and asked, “So what is it that we are looking for?”
“Any dark masses,” she replied as she continued to move the probe. “I am surprised that there isn’t anything showing. Your friend is very lucky.”
“He is more than my friend, he’s my brother,” I responded.
“All the more reason. He is still very lucky,” Her head tilted slightly, showing empathy for what I was feeling.
~****~
Josh was resting comfortably, and the nurse assured me that the meds they had given him would keep him sedated for at least another five hours. I figured that was more than enough time to find out what really happened to him. Someone had to have brought him in. I decided the best way to find out who that might have been was to check with the ER. Leaving his room, I headed to the set of elevators that would take me to the first floor.
Once I got there, it didn’t surprise me that no one was sitting at the nurse’s station. Past experience told me that they were all busy helping take care of other patients. Leaning against the counter, I waited until someone would be available to give me any information I needed. Certainly there would be someone that remembered who brought him in.
Just when I was about to leave and hunt someone down, a nurse showed up at the nurse’s station. Waiting until she got settled. I leaned over the counter and asked, “Were you by chance here when they brought my brother in? His name is Josh Hyatt.”
“Actually, I was. How is he doing?” she asked, concerned.
“He’ll live. They have him medicated to keep him comfortable.” I started as I looked down on the friendly nurse. “Do you remember who brought him in?”
“He came in by himself. I was surprised that he even made it here with the way he looked,” she replied.
This wasn’t the news that I wanted to hear. I was going to ask her more about him, but I could clearly see that she was very busy and needed to get back to whatever she was doing. I no more knew what happened to him than I did a few seconds before, and I wasn’t about to wait five hours for Josh to wake up to tell me. I wasn’t sure if he would tell me anyway.
Heading out the ER doors, I thought it best to see what I could find out on my own, and the best place to start was to search Josh’s room back at the apartment. One thing I knew was after today, there was no way I was going to be able to trust him. He had been acting strange for a couple of months now, to say the least, and something or someone had pushed him in the wrong direction. It needed to stop now before it cost him his life.
Driving through the hospital parking lot, I could have sworn I recognized the man entering the ER. It looked as though he might have gotten himself into a bit of a mess by the way he was walking. Slowing down to a crawl, I realized why his face looked so familiar. It was Nick Winters entering the double doors. He was holding his side, which appeared to be bleeding. I wasn’t sure what his deal was, but I needed to be somewhere else at the moment and couldn’t stop to find out.
When I got to my place, the first place I went to was Josh’s room. The minute I opened the door, I couldn’t believe what I was hit with. I guess I should have kept a better eye on him. His ro
om looked like a tornado hit it ten times over. There was no way I would ever be able to find a damn thing in this shit storm. Trying to make my way through the pile of clothes that were carpeting the hardwood floor, I managed to make it to the closet. If I knew my brother as well as I thought I did, I was pretty sure he would have a shoebox in his closet just like he did when we were kids. And just like when we were kids, he always kept it on the floor underneath his gym bag. Locating his bag, I picked it off the floor and looked beneath it. Some things never change. There, as plain as day, was a shoebox.
Lifting the box from the floor, I took the lid off and looked inside. There really wasn’t a whole lot collected inside other than a couple of old baseball cards, a rabbit’s foot, and a small key that looked to belong to some kind of suitcase or maybe one of those fancy jewelry boxes. As I held up the key, there was nothing engraved on it that would give me a clue as to where it belonged. Looking around his closet, I searched for a suitcase that it might belong to. My efforts were wasted when I came up short. There wasn’t a single suitcase in his closet. There was only the well-used bag, which felt a little heavier than it should have been. Taking a closer look at it, I noticed a small lock on the zipper to keep it from opening. Taking a chance that the key belonged to the bag, I placed it in the lock and turned the key. When the lock came open, I pulled back the zipper to find the one thing I wasn’t expecting. Cash, and a lot of it too. There must have been at least two hundred thousand dollars inside, if not more.