“Yeah, it was awesome,” Lauren said.
“Loved every minute of it,” Jessica agreed.
“In fact,” Lauren continued, “We should do this every weekend.”
*
An hour later, they were driving back home along the scenic route and discussing everything that transpired from the great Italian desserts to the basement full of marijuana plants and large quantities of cocaine.
“I’ve never seen bricks of blow like that before in my life,” Jessica said.
“Me neither,” Lauren nodded.
“So how are you gonna make your money back?” Jessica asked Shawn.
“Well,” he thought for a moment. “I paid $30,000 for two kilos. The plan is for me to make back double.”
“How so?” Lauren asked.
“If Dr. Daniels knows what she’s talking about then our potential clients will pay twice as much. You heard Poppa Giordano. $130 per gram is the normal cost. Back in Ashmore, I’ll charge $260 per gram. If our clients are doctors, lawyers, and judges, they can afford it without thinking twice. So basically I’ll just overcharge them.”
Lauren and Jessica complimented Shawn over and over. They said he was genius, brilliant, unmatched. He devoured their every word.
With an hour left on their way back to Ashmore, they were still discussing their antics when Lauren asked about the gift Carlucci had given them.
“Can we smoke those joints that Italian guy gave us?” Lauren asked.
“You don’t want to save them for later?” Shawn asked.
“No, I want one now.”
“Yeah, me too,” Jessica agreed.
Shawn was about to pull the tin case out of his breast pocket when the tire on the driver’s rear side suddenly blew out.
“What’s that?” Lauren asked.
“I think the car is dying!” Jessica shrieked.
“No, I’m sure it’s just one of the tires,” Shawn assured them.
He pulled the car over to the side of the road and stepped out. He looked around and was able to confirm the back tire on the driver’s side faced a blowout. It was entirely flat so he opened the trunk and pulled out a spare along with a car-jack.
“No need to worry, girls. Just a flat tire.”
He looked closer and noticed a large nail was sticking out of the flat tire.
“Why’d the tire go flat?” Jessica asked.
“Maybe someone intentionally did it,” Lauren panicked.
“No, no one intentionally blew out our tire,” Shawn told them. “We just rode over a rusty nail. All I’ve got to do is change it. You two stay in the car while I do this.”
Shawn placed the car-jack under the car and started to crank it when suddenly a police car drove up behind them. An officer of the law stepped out of his patrol car as the sun continued to lower. Shawn stayed cool as always.
“Good evening. Can I assist you in any way?” the officer asked.
“Just fixing a flat,” Shawn told him.
“Oh, I can see that. I can help with that if you’d like.”
“No, it’s alright,” Shawn said, “I’ve got it just fine.”
“So, what brings you out here in these backwoods this evening?” the officer questioned him.
“Just on my way to another city with a few acquaintances. We decided to take the scenic route. Quite nice, isn’t it?”
“What city you headed to?” the officer continued to question him.
“Ah, Columbia,” Shawn lied.
The passenger car door opened and Lauren walked over to Shawn. She had a worried look on her face as Shawn attempted to mask a disgruntled attitude.
“What’s going on?” Lauren asked. The backpack containing cocaine was positioned over her shoulder.
“I told you,” Shawn said as coolly as possible, “I’m just fixing a flat.”
The officer looked at Lauren and his interest peaked. Jessica then jumped out of the backseat. Their revealing outfits caught the officer’s attention.
“How do you all know each other?” the officer asked.
“Lauren and I live together,” Jessica lied. “And Dr. Stevens is our neighbor. He’s just giving us a ride.”
“A doctor…,” the officer said, “I guess that explains the nice automobile.”
The two girls fully gained the officer’s attention when Jessica began pouting her lips. Lauren followed suit by batting her eyes.
“Please, let me assist you with that flat,” the officer spoke as if they were the ones changing the tire. He then turned to Shawn, “I insist.”
Shawn brushed his hands together as the officer used the car-jack to mount the vehicle. He bent over and rushed to remove the old tire and replace it with the spare. He did it in what Shawn thought was a record pace.
“Well, there you are, Doctor,” he said before turning to the girls. “I hope I was helpful, ladies.”
“Oh, you were terrific,” Jessica smiled in a manner that commanded his attention.
Minutes later, they were in their vehicle and back on the road after the officer waved and drove off.
“You two were great!” Shawn said as they continued their long drive.
“Who doesn’t love a pair of pretty young girls?” Jessica asked figuratively.
“A cop is no match for us!” said Lauren
“Now I know who I should always travel with,” Shawn laughed.
“So… Can we get smoke those joints now?” Lauren asked.
Shawn wasn’t sure he wanted them to be under the influence of any drugs after their last close call but he agreed when they continued to beg him. So half an hour later he decided to pop open the small tin cans.
After stopping at a convenience store to use the restroom and purchase an assortment of food, snacks, and candy, they got back into the car and each of them lit a marijuana joint of their own. Together, the three of them smoked, devoured snacks, and laughed all the way back to Ashmore.
CHAPTER 7
The day following their trip, Stevens kept the backpack of narcotics in a safe place in his home. He decided to lounge on his last day before returning to work. Lauren was with him enjoying cocktails, one after the other when Shawn informed her that Jessica would be returning. He told Lauren that he wanted to learn how well she would get along with Jessica. That was the purpose of allowing Jessica to go along with them on their trip to Giordano’s.
Lauren questioned Shawn further when he broke the news that Jessica would be moving in with them.
“What!?” Lauren said in a shocked tone.
“She’s on her way with her bags now,” Shawn told her.
“Are you joking?” she asked.
“But you two got along really well.”
“I thought we were special,” Lauren wailed.
“We are. But you should also understand that there are others who appreciate me as well.”
Lauren grunted angrily. She got along with Jessica but didn’t want to share Shawn with her. He told her that Jessica had gotten kicked out of her old apartment and he wanted to help Jessica just as he had helped her. Lauren had no choice but to consent to welcoming their newest roommate who arrived an hour later. Jessica went on to unpack her things in one of the three empty bedrooms in the house while Lauren forced herself to smile. It would take some time, but they eventually learned to get along.
***
Shawn returned to work the following Monday and was merrily greeted everywhere he went on-campus. In every classroom, office, and hallway he entered there were students and other faculty members there to shake the hand of Dr. Stevens. These were the moments he loved.
After his ten o’clock class concluded, Shawn took a few minutes to speak with several different students concerning an upcoming test and topics for their final exam papers. A few students were asking him what topics would be most appropriate for the end of term essay so he took the time to discuss it with them.
Shawn was mandated to require that his students write at least one pape
r. He had no interest in regularly grading 150 papers so he told his class that the only required essay was due at the end of the semester in place of their final exam. They could choose any topic they liked as long as it coincided with political science or any area of social sciences.
After a dozen or so students were finished speaking with him and done shaking his hands, he packed his briefcase, looked up, and noticed Lauren waiting for him several rows away.
“Hello Lauren,” he smiled modestly. “I hope you’re not angry.”
“No, I’m alright. I was kinda mad at first but everything’s cool.”
“Great,” he told her. “I’ve got to speak with Dr. Daniels but I’ll see you later today.”
“Okay,” she waved while walking away. “I’m going to hang out with a few friends, bye!”
After seeing Lauren out, Shawn left the classroom and headed to the building that housed the offices. He arrived minutes later and greeted the secretary of the Political Science Department.
“Hello, Dr. Stevens. Dr. Daniels has been expecting you this afternoon,” the secretary smiled.
“Terrific. That’s precisely why I’m here.”
“Come on in, Dr. Stevens,” yelled a voice from another room.
Shawn adjusted his tie and walked into the large butterfly-filled office that belonged to Dr. Daniels. She asked him to close the door behind him and he did so. He was expecting Dr. Daniels to be in a good mood but was taken aback by the stern expression upon her face. After asking him to close the door, she told him to sit and he obliged. He wanted to ask her what was wrong but she managed to speak first.
“Dr. Stevens, where are you at on your research?”
“Ummm…” he stammered, “Well, ugh…”
“Remember, you’re an assistant professor seeking eventual tenure. In order to accomplish this, you must have well prepared research.”
“Oh, I’m on it,” Shawn swiftly lied.
“Great. It’s March and the Social Science Conference Call is in early May, right before the semester ends. So you have from now until then to gather your research for scholarly publication.”
“Great, is that all?” he asked awkwardly.
“Oh yeah,” she remembered, “You got the coke stash?”
“Now that’s the Dr. Daniels I like,” he smiled.
She laughed as Shawn confirmed that he was in possession of the narcotics she was asking about.
“Terrific,” she said while looking around the closed office. “I want you to meet me Friday afternoon at the Wilmot Country Club. We’ll stay until evening, building up our clientele by making contacts. Then there’s the monthly meet and greet this Friday evening at the club so it works out well.”
“Great,” he told her, “I haven’t played a good game of golf in some time. Consider me excited.”
“Alight, Shawn. I’ll see you there. Remember, I get a 10% cut.”
“Absolutely.”
“And you know what to bring?”
“A set of golf clubs and my college ring,” he joked.
“Presentation is key, but when I asked what you should bring, I was referring to the blow.”
“Why, Laura… It’s goes without saying.”
“Alright then. I just haven’t done anything on this scale before. But I’m confident. How much exactly do you have, price wise?”
“I paid roughly $30,000 for two kilos of pure coke that would otherwise cost $45,000. I’m acquainted with the best so I get the best deals.”
“And then we jack the price up for those rich Wilmot Country Club schmos?” she asked.
“That’s the plan.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you on Friday.”
They shook hands and parted company.
Shawn was excited about his new illicit yet enticing business venture with Dr. Daniels. He, however, was not excited about the research work that was required of him. Lounging around and teaching only a few hours each week was the greatest perk of being a college professor, but the downside was the great deal of research required of assistant professors on track for tenure.
He decided to use his greatest asset of persuasion when near the end of a lecture, he addressed his students .
“Attention ladies and gentlemen,” he said to his class, “I am soon embarking on a terrific research venture which will conclude with grant proposals. I would love to have a student or two assist in my studies. You will learn valuable research skills and earn a terrific addition to your portfolio. So please, Stay after class if you’re interested in more information.”
When he dismissed his class, ten students stayed behind. But ten was far too many so Shawn picked three of them that were intelligent hard workers to do his research work for him. The group consisted of two girls and one guy. They were each profoundly appreciative that Dr. Stevens chose them over any other students. He promised them acknowledgments and told them that research work with a professor would be an excellent accomplishment. They were ecstatic.
On Thursday evening, Lauren and Jessica were out with friends while Shawn was lounging in his house wearing his favorite pair of blue silk pajamas. He decided to forgo a night of partying in order to accomplish a small amount of work for his academic research. He took an interesting sociological topic that would be easy for his students to research: Drug usage among college students.
Shawn decided he would allow the students to narrow down the topic if they’d like. Then he allocated different areas of research to different students. One student was to research single-subject design as a method’s analysis, the second student was to gather an adequate literature review, and the third student was to design a system of interviews. Shawn knew interview subjects would be easy to find given the topic he chose.
So he slouched at his computer with the television playing in the background and a mug of his favorite alcoholic coffee drink in his hand. It was an espresso of almond liquor mixed with a dash of hot cream. He began to type up a speedy rough draft for his three research pupils to look over. After this was done, he could coast through the rest of the semester and give them collaboration credit for the work he would present.
Shawn finished the document in half an hour. He drank down the remainder of his espresso and was ready for a refill when his cellphone rang. In large bold letters, a name appeared on the front of his phone: MOTHER.
“Crap!” he said aloud before answering the phone.
“Hello, I want to speak to Shawn!” his mother said loudly through the phone.
“It’s me, mom. You don’t need to speak so loud, I can hear you fine. How are you?”
“Forgive me,” his mother said as calmly as she could. “I wanted to know how my boy is doing. You didn’t call me last week.”
“Oh, mom. I’m sorry. I was extremely busy with work and I just forgot.”
“Have you been eating each night, Shawn? Are you being social with people your own age?”
“Yes, I told you, mother. I met a great woman named Dr. Hines.”
“Oh yes, I think I remember you mentioning her about two weeks ago when we last spoke. That was so long ago.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But I’ve met another great friend. My boss, her name is Laura and we get along really well. In fact, we’re planning a business venture together.”
“Oh, Shawn, that’s so sweet. I’m so proud of my boy.”
“Thanks mom, I love you too.”
“You haven’t been drinking heavily or taking those terrible drugs have you?” she hastily asked.
“No, absolutely not. I’m trying to do good, ma.”
“But you haven’t visited me since you left home!”
“I’m sorry, mom. I’ve just been so busy. But I plan to visit you during our spring break here.”
“When is that?”
“The second week of April.”
“That’s too long, Shawn!”
“I know, I’d like to visit you sooner.”
“I have a better idea. I’ve missed you
so much. I’m going to drive to see you this weekend!”
“Wait… what!?”
“You can’t make me change my mind. I’ve already decided I’m coming this weekend.”
“But I have plans, mom.”
“And so do I! My plan is to visit you. You work on the weekdays so you should have time for your poor old mother this weekend.”
Shawn simply sighed. He knew there was no use arguing with his mother. She always got her way and he cared too much about her to continue to tell her no. So he quickly changed his attitude and told her she was more than welcome to spend the weekend with him.
When Lauren and Jessica returned, Shawn informed them that they would have to spend the weekend at someone else’s place. He didn’t want his mother to learn that he was living with two females that were roughly twenty years younger than him. They were disgruntled and opposed the idea but had no choice but to do as Shawn said. His discretions served to bring them together. They both felt they shouldn’t have to leave.
But Francine Stevens would not be paying her son a visit until Saturday. So when Friday arrived, it was the furthest thing from Shawn’s mind. After waking up Friday afternoon and grabbing breakfast, he dressed in khaki pants, a dark green polo shirt, and completed the look with a pair of his always present All-Star sneakers.
Shawn learned out that he would get to choose a Wilmot Country Club sports coat by presenting the silver membership card that Dr. Daniels handed him as an invite. He planned to wear the sports coat in the evening for the monthly Meet and Greet Reception and the cocktail party that followed.
He placed the address of the country club in his GPS and made his way there twenty minutes later. The country club was vast. Its golf course covered many pristine acres and the main building was a massive structure of antebellum architecture.
Shawn drove under the large arch near the main entrance and stopped in front of the valet area. One of the valets readily parked his car after Shawn flashed his exclusive silver member’s invitation card.
Shawn was escorted into the building and the lobby reminded him of a hotel. A concierge stood near the entrance wearing a dark suit and white gloves. The man smiled and spoke only one sentence.
The Hedonist Page 6