The Crawford Chronicles - Book 1

by Clayton Conrad

  Tag was back with their drinks and waited for Henry to make up his mind. “I’ll have the… no don’t want that. I’ll take the… now that doesn’t sound good either. How about some… uh-uh. Hey wait a minute, wait, wait I got it…nah. Tell me, Tag, what sounds good to you?”

  Clayton just sat there shaking his head with that smile of his, somewhere between a grand and a shy half smile. He believed he was getting better at it.

  “It’s after three in the afternoon, Henry, little late for lunch. How about a nice fresh garden salad,” she said, while tapping her pencil on her order pad.

  “A salad. A salad?!What do I look like, a rabbit or something? No way, just bring me a double cheeseburger and fries tag, and I’ll be happy.”

  Tag looked over at Clayton. “After all that he orders a cheeseburger and fries. Go figure.”

  “He certainly has a way about him, hasn’t he? But I’ll take you up on that salad. Make it a full cup salad with French dressing.”

  Chapter 9

  Just about then Mama came out of her office in the back, locking the door behind her. She was a tiny woman justify feet tall and maybe 100 pounds. Clayton guessed her age to be around 60, but it was hard to tell, because of the way she was made up and the way she moved, with the spring in her step, and a useful countenance. Her hair was cut short in a pageboy style. Her eyes a soft brown and an oval shaped face that wasn’t hard to look at. She would have been a knockout in her prime. She stopped to talk to a party of four who were getting ready to leave. Someone told her a joke and everyone laughed. Not until the people passed Clayton’s table did she noticed Henry sitting with the man she had never seen before, but recognized him anyway.

  “Henry you rascal,” she said, “Where have you been keeping yourself all this time? You get mad at me for some reason? Why don’t you come around anymore?”

  “I’ve been busy, Mama, honest. Out-of-town once or twice, too. But here, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Clayton Crawford. Clayton I would also like to introduce Evelyn Rhodes, the owner of the Golden Griddle, which, by all standards, is the best five-star, top drawer, blue ribbon, deluxe eatery in the entire city. I kid you not. Now what you think of that?”

  “Well,” she said, “I guess that was enough to get you off the hook and out of the doghouse, Henry. And I believe you said that all in one breath. What do you think of all this, Mister Crawford? Please, just call me Mama, everyone else does.”

  “I think he’s one-of-a-kind Mama,” then cocking his head to one side, he asked, “You know who I am, then?”

  “Oh yes, the minute I saw you I recognized you from the newspapers and you were on TV as well.”

  Henry took a closer look, with renewed interest. “Oh, you’re that guy from the newspapers and TV. I can see it now. Of course all that happened several weeks ago, three or four anyway.”

  Thad took a good look at Clayton. “If you’re that guy, and why do you need to be driven around in a taxicab? Don’t you have a fleet of cars that you can draw from, even a helicopter?”

  Clayton smiled, “Well, I’m in a strange city and I don’t have a clue where things are. I just figured it would be a lot easier to hire cab driver who knew the city. And I could rely on him to get me where I needed to go. I guess I just lucked out when I hired Henry here, because he’s doing a real bang up job. I certainly hope that now that you know who I am, it doesn’t change the way you look at me, because what you see is what you get. Just like everyone else, some of it good and some of it bad.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Tag said, “just as long as you’re a good tipper!”

  “Wouldn’t you just know it,” Mama said in a disgusted tone “just when things are going nicely, they have to show up again.”

  Clayton turned to look at his two men and very expensive suits came through the front door.

  “Who are they?” Clayton asked. “They look like paying customers to me.”

  “They are just a couple of sleazy lawyers that won’t leave me alone.” Mama sighed. “There’s a big development company wants to buy me out. The only thing is that I’m not selling. The Golden griddle is not for sale. And they won’t take no for an answer.”

  When the two lawyers saw Mama they headed straight for their table with briefcases in hand.

  “Hi again, Mama Rhodes. May we have a word with you, it won’t take but a minute or two and it could be very profitable for you,” the taller of the two said. He was a skinny fellow with a heavy British accent and a face pocked with acne scars from his childhood. “Perhaps it would be best if we could step into your office where we could talk in private?”

  “There’s no need,” Mama answered with a sharp voice. “I told you before and I will tell you again, and I hope for the last time… this place is not for sale. Now if you don’t mind, you interrupted a private conversation.”

  “We have a new offer for you, much better than the last one. What can it hurt just to hear us out?”

  “What would I do if I sold out and retired?” She asked.

  “Why, you could do anything you wanted to, whatever you pleased. You could be richer than you ever dreamed of and the world would be at your feet. Only the sky would be your limit.”

  “There’s just one problem with all that,” she said. “I’m not interested in any of those things you just mentioned. All I want is my restaurant and don’t you ever call me Mama again. Only my friends can call me that. To you I’m Mrs. Rhodes, Evelyn Rhodes. And now if you don’t mind, you can leave my establishment, and I mean right now.”

  “Please Mrs. Rhodes, if you would just listen to reason and hear me out,” sputtered the unwelcome man.

  Clayton looked over at Mama Rhodes with an eyebrow raised in the questioning expression on his face and said, “May I, Mama?”

  Mama nodded yes and Clayton stood from his chair and faced the taller of the two lawyers, the one that was doing all the talking. Looking the man square in the eyes he said, “Sir, you look like an intelligent enough man, and I would guess that you are educated in the most prodigious school there is. So, I would like to know just what part of ‘no’ you don’t understand?”

  “Don’t mess with me son, I’m way out of your league. So do yourself a favor and sit back down. You don’t know who you’re up against,” the man said, in a quiet voice.

  “So you want to get into a kissing match do you?” Clayton said with the broad smile.

  “This is no friendly game we’re playing here, the stakes are too high. This is major-league stuff and you are away over your head. You’re playing with the big dogs now son.”

  “You know, lawyer man, I didn’t notice until just now, but you have a very red to sit on your nose.” Clayton’s lips withdrew to a slight smile.

  The lawyers face flushed red for only a second. “I can make one phone call to the Board of Health and have this place shuts down tomorrow,” he said with his temper starting to show.

  “And I couldn’t help but notice that your face is well marked with acne scars you suffered as a child. I bet all the little girls laughed and made fun of you, is that why you’ve grown up to be such a prick?” Clayton said bluntly.

  “I can… No, I will have this place condemned if I have to. You haven’t seen half the ship I can bring down on this business. And who the hell are you anyway?” The lawyer’s voice raised a notch.

  “No, the question is who are you to think you can come in here and try to intimidate and threatened us defenseless woman? And any more of your nonsense and we go straight to the newspapers, we’ll just see what the big dogs think about that. In fact we might just do that anyway. I have plenty of witnesses to what was said here. And another thing, don’t ever call me son again.”

  Completely frustrated now, the lawyer made for the door, a grim determined look on his face, the second one trailing at his heels.

  “Goodbye Mister Chips,” Clayton said softly to himself. Then, turning to the others who were all staring at him with open mouths, he add
ed, “I guess that signals the bell for the end of the match.”

  “What do I do now,” Mama asked. “Do you think they will come back, or are they done with all it all?”

  “It’s hard to say that I wish I knew who they were working for. Who wants this place that enough to come in here and make those kinds of threats?” Clayton mused.

  “I still have his business card, the tall one, the one who is doing all the talking. He gave it to me on his first visit.” Mama said, with a thoughtful look on her face. “It would be in my office somewhere. Now if I can only find it, that’s the big question.”

  “That’s fine Mama Rhodes, but, well,” Clayton hesitated.

  “What is it?” Mama asked, with concern written across her face.

  “The thing is, not knowing just who we are dealing with, it wouldn’t hurt to take a few simple precautions,” Clayton said.

  “Precautions?! Like what? What kind of a precautions do you mean?” Mama asked, her concern growing.

  “Well, they first offered you money. When you turned them down they upped the ante with more money. I don’t know how many meetings he’s had with them, but I assume the offer got bigger with each one. When that didn’t work they resorted to open threat, as we all witnessed here today. They did this to scare you a little so you would be more receptive to their next offer. Well it seems that didn’t work so now, I’m not saying they will, but they might nudge you a little harder.”

  “What do you mean, nudge me a little harder?” Mama Rhodes asked, deadly serious now.

  “For instance, there could be a little fire in a storeroom, or a break-in, maybe a little vandalism. They may do this to see how well you stand up to pressure, to see if you okay then. If whoever it is really wants this restaurant bad enough, that is a likely next step.”

  “What can I do about it? I haven’t the money to hire guards to protect the place 24-7.” Mama fretted.

  “What kind of security do you have to cover the possibility?” Clayton asked. “Do you have any alarms installed?”

  “No,” Tag entered the conversation. “Up to now there hasn’t been any need for one. This is a very nice neighborhood. Never had any trouble around here, like you described.”

  “We have an alarm on the back door, but that’s it,” Mama added.

  “Well, you’re going to need a lot more than that is what I think is going to happen, happens, and I really hope it doesn’t.”

  “Where do I start and what do I need?”

  “I’ll make out a list for you and then call a local alarm company and have them install it for you. Just make sure the company you choose is licensed and bonded. But first I’m so hungry aikido course, so let’s eat now before I think dead away. Tag, how about that Cobb salad I mentioned earlier?”

  “Yeah, and don’t forget that double burger and fries,” Henry put in, as he finished his coffee. “And another cup-a-joe while you’re at it.”

  As they waited for their order, Clayton took a pen from Henry shirt pocket and started a list of security items on a napkin. Things that Mama Rhodes would need to update the security of her restaurant. Meanwhile Mama Rhodes went to look for the lawyer’s business card.”

  “First,” Clayton said, more or less to himself, “she needs alarms on every window. Then a good security camera, two or three to cover office, kitchen and dining area. If there is a window in the back, but bricked in or put heavy steel bars on it. Let’s see now, she will need motion detectors also, to cover both front and rear doors and the interior.”

  Mama returned with the lawyer’s business card just as Tag was bringing their coffee and more iced tea.

  “Sorry I took so long,” Tag said, “but I had to make a fresh pot of coffee.”

  “And I found the car I was looking for,” Mama Rhodes added and handed it to Clayton.

  Clayton read the card out loud so all could hear. “Mister Percival P. Poindexter Esquire, Attorney at Law. Poindexter!” Clayton repeated the name, “Percival P. Poindexter. If only I had known it a little while ago, I could have really had some fun with him. I wonder he was such a hard head, with a name like that; life had to be really tough on him. If he wasn’t such a Butthead, you could almost feel sorry for him.”

  Henry startled everyone at the table when he busted out in laughter. “I bet all the kids called him P.P. for short. P.P. Poindexter, what a handle to put on a poor kid!”

  Everyone had a good laugh and after a minute they settled down to a reasonable period of silence where they just smiled and chuckled to themselves.

  “I’d better attend to your food orders before we start up again,” Tag said and hurried off to the kitchen.

  Clayton turned to Mama, “since it’s almost suppertime you might as well join us for a bite to eat. Besides there’s one or two things I want to go over with you.”

  Tag brought their food order and Mama went to the kitchen to fix her own plate of meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy with the side of fresh salad and hot tea. She was a tiny woman no more than 110 pounds, but she could really put food away. Everyone seemed to enjoy their supper and each other’s company.

  “I’m going to have to go to work pretty soon, as my early birds are starting to come in already,” Mama said, as she rose from the table.

  “Hi, Stevie boy! You here alone?” She said to young man just entering the front door. “You mean that Doris let you at all by yourself?”

  Stevie boy just smiled and waved at them.

  “Okay,” Clayton said hurriedly, “first make sure all data from your security screen is monitored 24 – 7. That’s important, some alarm companies just monitor at night only. But then you’re not covered for hot holdups or fires when they start in the middle of the day. As soon as they see a hold up going down, or a fire breaking out and notify the proper authorities, saving valuable seconds. Make sure the company is reliable, check the references and look them up on the Internet. See with the Better Business Bureau thinks of them. Talk to your lawyer and have him check up on the self-important peacock Poindexter.”

  “Okay,” Mama Rhodes said, “but now I really have to run; my people will be flooding in here any minute.”

  “Right,” Clayton replied. “You go now and try not to worry too much about all this. I’ll call back in a few days to see how it’s going.”

  Chapter 10

  After finishing their meals and saying their goodbyes, Henry and Clayton headed for the cab. It was well after five by then and Clayton figured it was too late to do anything else productive so he had Henry dropped him off at the William Arms, where the penthouse was and where he left Frank sports car. After paying Henry for that day service plus a hefty tip, he instructed Henry to pick him up around 10 the following morning at the Wellington estate.

  On entering the Wilson arms he went to the cocktail lounge and ordered a tall glass of ice cold beer, and for the first time that day he was able to relax. His mind wandered to the dog and hoped it would be alright. He thought of Mama Rhodes and her restaurant and wondered who was so keen on owning it. And just why Poindexter wouldn’t reveal the name of the interested party.

  He had another beer and spent some time reminiscing with the bartender, who he remembered from three years ago. He thought of Michelle and the penthouse they owned there, or that he owned now that Michelle was no more. Three beers later and he was beginning to feel his drinks. Hell, he might just as well sack out there for the night. Relax, maybe watch a little TV, and look the place over. He hadn’t been there since he got into town, almost 3 years now.

  Keys. He didn’t have the keys to the elevator or to the penthouse. He remembered his lawyer giving them to him after the reading of the will. He put them in his pocket and went to Frank’s estate where he put them in the nightstand next to his bed and there they stayed. Oh well, he would simply go to the front desk and explain to the man on duty who he was and what he wanted. Luckily the clerk remembered him and gave him the pass key the hotel always kept on hand. The man’s only request
was that Clayton returned the keys when he was through with them.

  Using the borrowed key he took the private express elevator to the penthouse and walked in. The first thing he noticed was that the place was immaculate, spotless. The penthouse was just that, located on the roof of a 35 story building. Not the highest by any means, but the most luxurious hotel in the city, bar none. The ceilings were 10 feet high, solid core six paneled mahogany doors and 9 feet high. There was a step down living room with a huge walk-through stone fireplace. The exterior wall was all window, from floor to ceiling, looking out onto a screen then regulation swimming pool and hot tub surrounded by a marble tiled patio with a built-in grill and outdoor kitchen. The patio was complete with potted plants scattered about and a small waterfall bubbling into the pool.