Business-focused Chapters
Me and Candy are in my temporary office at RangeMan handling business when Steph walks by.
“Hey, girl! What—”
One look at her face and whatever I want to say dies on my lips. Steph looks seconds from crying. I don’t hesitate.
“Go to the Escalade. I’ll be down in a minute.”
“I don’t want to be tracked.”
“Then you’re shit out of luck leaving this building. At least if we take the Escalade they’ll leave us alone.” Continue reading
Dinner was excellent. I’m not the biggest fan of churrascarias (overeating’s too easy) but it was great to get everyone together and have fun. Lula looked happier than I’ve seen in months and she and Steph looked excited to talk to each other. I may have to consider going back to New Jersey more often. Lula needs her ‘peeps’.
Diego and I talked about Miami and what he wants to do there. I’m impressed by him. Lots of good ideas, strong leadership skills, no nonsense. Still a little impatient but he’ll learn. We discussed possible ideas for him to try and he looked excited by a few of them.
The RMSA men aren’t quite sure what to make of him right now. Arlo likes him but Gonzo’s not sure. Diego will have to win over Gonzo in order to get the RMSA men to like him. Gonzo can be an idiot but he’s a damn good leader and Marine. They should click off that.
Mark also had good ideas for Diego. I made an effort to talk to Mark. I have to. He’s my soldier too and now that Steph has worked her magic on him, he’s calmer. Quiet. Patient. Eventually, Lula and Steph noticed and we were banned from discussing business for the rest of the night by the ladies. Continue reading
I’m looking forward to this trip and I have to admit, Mark’s a great pilot. He invited me to sit in the cockpit with him and watch him work.
I’ve learned I don’t want to know what goes on in there. Too many buttons and he’s not using all of them.
Mark arrived from Trenton this morning with Diego, ML, Connie, and Candy. Hector and Diego immediately started whispering about something (I heard Miami and Les a lot, so I guess it went OK).
“What’s Lenny doing?”
ML looks at me and smiles. “Magda’s moved in until I return.” She’s flipping through a RedBook.
“Connie?” Even at 10,000 feet, Connie can apply polish perfectly.
“Marvin can fend for himself.”
I smile. “How’s that going?”
“Slow.” She finishes her thumb and looks up. “We’re taking our time. Between my Family and his kids, there are a lot of eyes on us. Plus, he’s busy all the time at the hospital, and me being in charge of the office meant more work. We’re moving slow.”
I grin. Ryan put the numbers out this morning and Zip and Hal were thrilled. Trenton and NYC tied this month and the guys will do anything to hold onto the crown. Meanwhile, NYC is partying. They’re ready to win it outright. Continue reading
The day after Drew Stefanic died
This is the first year I’m taking Mijo trick or treating. Nikki says he’s excited. Getting to dress up, visit people and eat candy? He’s thrilled.
I know. That’s all he asks me about when we talk, whether or not I’m going to take him trick or treating. I keep telling him that I will and I’ll dress up as a ninja. So now he wants to dress up as a ninja. Nikki’s amused. She planned to dress him up as something cute, like a bum or a nerd.
Or a Pokémon.
He was excited to dress up as a Pokémon and I ask him if he still wants to be a Pokémon. Well, yes, but I’m going as a ninja so he wants to be a ninja.
He wants to be just like me.
I smile. I want him to be much better than me. I want him to never know the ugly side of life I know. So I consider this and do some research. I tell Nikki to buy him a Pokémon costume.
We’re going trick or treating as Pikachu and Ash Ketchum. Continue reading
“Steph?” I turn. Zip. “Want to try again?”
I quickly grab my things, check with Hector on 3, and join Binkie and Zip in the garage. Just like yesterday, we travel to Franklin Park and set up. It’s 0800, we have breakfast burritos from Ella and we’re feeling good, although it’s chilly. I wonder when the cold front from Boston will travel down here. I bet Mijo would love to play with some snow before he goes home.
Zip clears his throat. “Verify.”
I look. Yup, that’s the target. Drew Stefanic. He’s just climbing out of his car when I approach.
“Hi, Drew!” I’m extra loud to accommodate his hangover. Continue reading
I’m staring out of the windows, desperate for something new to do besides paperwork. Being in the building is driving me insane.
No one should be awake at 0800. It’s a crime against nature. I’ve been awake for two hours already. I think it’s time for me to do some ‘thinking’.
“Sis?” I turn. Hal. He and Ram step into my office.
“What’s up, guys?” We sit at my table and I grab a monogrammed pen. Hal rolls his eyes. “It’s not clothes.”
“I know. Anyway, I thought about what happened with the mall thing two days ago and I went looking through the SOPs and realized that the definition of ‘offline’ wasn’t clearly defined.” Continue reading
“Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.”
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I have no idea what I’m looking at.
This looks like a basic street corner in Boston, but more ‘ethnically diverse’.
Vic’s slouched in the seat next to me, staring at the crowd of people walking by. “Spotted him?”
I look at him in confusion. “No. Have you?”
“Been looking at him for five minutes,” Vic says calmly. “Can’t take him right now. He’s surrounded. Plus, no law enforcement backup.” Continue reading
Jorge and Javi are major! Homies who went through the first session of business etiquette classes said it was major. Worth it. They been using the skills and we hittin’ major numbers with the contracts. Javi said he expect us to take the crown this month. We asked what’s keeping us from takin’ it now.
Trenton. Continue reading
“Yo!”
“Yo! Are you safe?”
“I’m fine, Babe. You OK?”
“On 7, looking around. Can I make changes here?”
Silence, then, “No pink.”
I smile. “Wouldn’t have considered it, Batman.”
“Smart aleck.” Click. Continue reading
We sensed a problem when we realized Sis was reading The Art of War.
She’s already sneaky enough. If she’s really trying to hone her skills, we’d have another Les here. That’s nerve racking.
Vince pointed out the obvious. The Art of War is thin. Barely 100 pages. Certainly not novel sized. Still, it is an amazing book. Maybe she’d picked up a critical review edition, with a bunch of academics parsing every phrase. It would make sense. It’s one of Ranger’s favorites.
Sis is devoted to the book. She reads it all the time, during meetings, during dinner, during lunch. You could be in the middle of a serious discussion with her and see her eyes slide toward the book with a barely concealed eagerness.
We’re getting lots of things approved lately because she’s in a great mood. Continue reading