Chapter 20

Jason felt the start of a bad feeling. The chill in his spine was creeping higher. He could see Ruby and the others all watching. He considered the situation. Even with the plate as evidence, it would be hard to prove anything. Even the DA would probably say it was circumstantial and nonconclusive.

A look at the staff and he decided to see just how far this would go. Maybe there was another way to get at them. “I should feel insulted that you make it seem my life is worth so little.”

The new man seemed to get slightly irritated but held his temper. “Everyone has a price. What is yours?”

Jason started to wonder what the connection here was. Still, there could be some good that came of this. He walked the final steps and sat at the table, shifting the plate a little. “Fine. I’ll take everything you have said and extend it to all the waitresses. The raise is no less than five percent of a full day’s pay. This must be done annually or split every six months indefinitely. Any new staff needs to increase by at least half that. The first raise will start effective in the next pay period.”

He nodded at the three.

“They need to pay something. They are to never work in any food industry. Fifty thousand hours of community service, no less than twenty hours per week, unless they can prove without a doubt that they are doing something better. They need to do it for a church. There’s one about a mile from here that has several branches and can use the added volunteers. They will do the work willingly and perfectly and be on the best behavior, or everything will be off. Any monkey business on their part or yours, directly or indirectly, and the deal is off. It all needs to be in simple everyday writing and signed by the jackasses in blue ink and should be notarized. And a copy of the legal ID to match the names also notarized.”

“That all?” the big man growled.

Jason smiled. Nothing he had mentioned wasn’t undoable, over the top, yes, but not undoable. Now for the real test. “Now that you mention it a 150 thousand, wired transferred, will suffice.” He pulled out his pad of paper and pen. He folded the page and held it up. “I’ll know about the transfer, but I think a receipt will be called just to be sure. You can leave that out of the agreement if you like. Since you are in such a hurry to get it taken care of, I’m sure you can have it all ready in a short time. Say thirty minutes. I failed to do what I asked, and the terms were doubled. Fifteen minutes after that, or play games again, it is back to the police, and you can negotiate with them.”

“Thirty minutes, I can get it done in twenty” the one behind said stepping up and snatching the paper.

“Fine, twenty. I can wait. Seems I am still waiting on my food anyway.”

The big man pushed the manager toward the kitchen. “Make sure he gets the food and the food he ordered this time.”

“Minus the additives, please,” Jason simply stated.

The manager pushed at the three again and ushered them away. The big man, however, looked as if he wanted to tear Jason in two, but instead, he puffed up and said, “You got some balls on you.”

“Just trying to ensure my life expectancy continues to a ripe old age.” Jason took a sip from the tiny cup before him. “And get some decent coffee cups, will you? This is barely a sip and an insult.”

The big man grumbled and walked away. He stopped at the kitchen and was talking to Ruby before leaving. She looked pale even from where he was sitting.

The other man had followed but went straight out the door, pushing the three in front of him out the door. Jason watched close, hoping that the other didn’t do anything. He was too far away to do anything to prevent it. To his relief, he didn’t do anything but talk and Ruby didn’t look as scared and was nodding.

He didn’t relax until Ruby went into the kitchen, and the big man turned and glared a moment before leaving. He waited a few minutes before he took his eyes off the door. Even as he collected what he wanted from the plate, he kept looking up at the door. He took numerous pictures and even a video of the entire plate at various angles and focal lengths. It was not the best way to collect evidence, but it was better than being caught off guard. He glanced up again and wondered if he shouldn’t just go where there were fewer people or none. Less chance of trouble that way.

He was setting the last vial in his case when he got a text. It was Selena with her reminder about class and asking if he had time to go over a couple of things with her beforehand. She was worried the teacher would give a quiz or call on her for answers. There never was a quiz, and the teacher only called the ones in the front or goofing off on phones. Even that simple text got him thinking of the times they were spending together, and everything else for the moment vanished. He only glanced up at the sound of a chair being moved.

“Less than twenty,” the man said, tossing a packet of papers to the table.

Jason just looked at the packet and then up again. “Apparently, they didn’t teach you the definition of simple or every day in whatever school you went to. And there is no notice of the transfer yet. So now you got fifteen minutes to fix it and edit the details since it’s all doubled.” This time, Jason made a point of starting the timer on his phone. “Times ticking.” He shook his head when he reached for the packet again. “Leave it. I’m sure you don’t need it,” Jason said as he looked past the man and waved.

The man growled but it turned to a hard gulp when he saw who it was Jason was waving at.

“I guess I won’t have to wait long for the cops if you don’t get moving.”

The man stormed off, avoiding the officers as they approached.

“You have been dealing with Fred Drix?” one asked when they were in earshot.

“Not sure who that is,” Jason sighed. “If you are referring to the gentleman that just left, he’s representing the restaurant. I had a slight issue with a few of their staff and came to an agreement that compensates for it. He’s just a little thick-headed and thought he could pull a fast one on the details.” Jason picked up the packet and waved it before stuffing it into his kit. “As I was told as a kid, standing isn’t going to make you taller,” he pointed to the chairs in front of him.

Officer Kent was the first to sit, as he commented. “Well, I would have to think twice about associations with you if you had any other dealings with him. He’s a well-known lawyer. He tends to work for extremely nasty criminals, gangsters, and even mobsters, not restaurants. I’d watch what you’re doing around him.”

Jason shrugged. “That my friend is advisable no matter who it is you are dealing with.” Jason looked around and smiled as Ruby came over. She had a tray with coffee cups, real coffee cups.

“I didn’t ask for more coffee,” Jason laughed.

“I know, but I have yet to meet an officer that didn’t drink coffee. And even if they don’t, I’m sure you would finish any cup left untouched.” She smiled but set the tray down and then the cups. She was looking a bit happier as she handed each of the officers a menu. “Since you have guests, I had them hold off on your food for a few, so at least it comes out a little closer. I’ll be back.”

Officer Stephs waved off the menu. “I already know what I want, Miss...”

“Ruby,” she said softly and grinned. “And what would you like?”

He ordered an open-faced turkey sandwich with a large order of fries and Officer Kent opted for breakfast getting an omelet and sausage and double bacon on the side.

“The wife’s got me on a diet. She hasn’t let me have any bacon in weeks. Can’t even mention sausage. She thinks I’m going to die more of a heart attack than anything work-related,” he explained as Ruby tsked and shook her head. Jason asked her to bring him a small bag of crushed ice, and she went off to put in the order.

They started almost immediately on the news about the men arrested for the ranch massacre. They left so many alive that saw them massacre the others. Even the weapons they were found with had fingerprints on half of them. They were looking to try to make a deal to avoid the death penalty. The Attorney General was listening, but as of the last they had heard, they had not provided anything that warranted a deal of any kind.

Drix either had good timing or good luck. He was walking slowly over when the timer went off. The new packet was much smaller, and the top page contained only the receipt for the transfer.

“This wasn’t the agreed amount,” Jason pointed out.

Dix nervously swallowed. “My employer instructed me to increase it for the inconvenience. And hopes that you will honor the agreement.” Jason tried not to laugh as Drix tried to find words to say what he wanted without saying it outright. His nerves were showing and it made Jason think more. For someone that dealt with criminals as much as the officers said, Drix was more nervous than a demo team using nitro.

Jason flipped through the pages. The agreement was barely a page long. The wording could have been better, but it worked. The page was signed by the three and two witnesses plus the notary. He figured it was someone in whatever office he used nearby. He probably should have specified that it should have been done elsewhere, but it was better that it was done and over with. The seal looked real enough.

“Well, at least you got it all plain and clear. And smart, not trying to add any clauses to back out of anything. As far as I’m concerned, the matter is closed as long as you all honor your end.”

Drix flinched and shook his head. His arm started to rise but dropped down. “I don’t foresee any issues. They wish the matter closed and no troubles.”

“Then we shouldn’t have any reason to endure your or their company again.”

The officers were watching the interaction, but Jason caught the next flinch and the slight cock of his head. He had suspicions, but that wasn’t a big deal at the time.

“Yes, well then, good day to you.” Drix spun and headed out, taking the time to avoid going near Ruby as she was walking over with the food.

Kent stared after him and chuckled. “Well, that was an interesting display. I’ve never seen him in court, but I’ve heard he was brutal. He looked barely able to keep bladder control.”

“Well, who knows why? Perhaps it was too much pressure for him. Doesn’t matter. Food is here.”

Jason looked at Ruby as she settled the tray on the nearest table. “You could have made more than one trip or asked one of the others to help. I doubt these officers have delivered a baby, and this isn’t the best place for a birth.”

“I am fine,” she blew a raspberry. “I would have brought yours sooner, but the cooks insisted on making it fresh and made me watch. They even scrubbed the grill down.”

That made the officers perk up some, but they didn’t ask anything.

“Well, fresh is best. Pass along the thanks for the added effort. And if you would bring me a bag for this trash,” he picked up the contaminated food plate and set it on the table behind as she served the officers. “Preferably a medium one that can be tied shut.” He would take it and make sure it was properly disposed of.

Ruby nodded as she finished and slowly made her way back to the kitchen. Throughout the rest of the meal, Jason started writing on a legal pad. He could see the officers both wanted to know what happened.

Ruby returned three times to ask if they wanted anything more. The last time she brought the bag.

“I was told that it’s on the house,” she said as she handed over the bag. “Including the officers since they are your guests.” That only got more looks.

“Thank you, Ruby,” he took the bag and dumped the food plate and all in the bag. Ruby was waiting and a little antsy herself. “I will deal with this properly. We don’t need any issues with it.”

She frowned but nodded. “I was thinking of your offer. It’s not an offer a girl gets often. If it’s still something you are offering, we’d be happy to take you up on it.”

Now, the officers were grinning.

“Clean your minds out with soap, you two,” Jason laughed. “I found a place to live, and I still have some time paid for on the room tab here. I’ve offered it to Ruby and her husband since she insists on working in her condition. I thought it would be better for her. She and her husband will be able to use it as a staycation of sorts. Since the majority of my stay here was paid for by others, I’m just paying it forward to someone else.”

Stephs nodded. “Generous and not a bad idea. Guessing, but you must be very close to term. If so, you should be home, not working. Being close by, at least, it will be better.”

“Would if I could but this little one is not going to be cheap to bring up. I need all the time I can get. Since there are no benefits here. My husband’s will barely cover the cost of the birth.” She stepped back. “Got to do what you got to do right?” she faked a laugh and walked away.

Stephs was grinning as Jason looked him over. “What? Think all cops are just cops? Some of us multitask. More than a few of us have gone out for medic training. And on that note. Thanks for the lunch. I think I will talk with her about a few possibilities to help her out.”