Very productive day today. Made a 37.5% dent in an assignment (I definitely did not make a checklist of what needed to be done for the assignment purely so that I could calculate my progress in percentages, I don't know what you're talking about) and celebrated by writing this chapter.
Chapter 50
"Thanks for meeting with me," I said as the small crowd of men surrounded the table I'd reserved in the private function room at Pino's. I'd chosen Pino's over Shorty's because it ran less of a risk of Tank, Bobby or Lester walking in and discovering out meeting, and the function room because even with the lower risk that Pino's offered, there was still a slim chance that they could wonder in. Out of direct sight was my objective in choosing a location. "Why don't we all take a seat," I suggested.
Cal glanced at the rest of the group with a slight nod before moving to take the chair directly opposite the one I'd staked out in the middle of the table to ensure I wasn't put in the position of being at the head of the table.. Hal, Hector, Hank, Vince and Zero all followed suit, fanning out around the table. None of them said a word.
There were a number of factors that I could think of that were probably influencing their current behaviour:
First, there was the fact that while I had interacted with each of these men in some capacity in the past, we had never made a point to hang out in a social setting like this. Especially without the likes of Ranger, Tank, Lester or Bobby present. These were unchartered waters and I had a feeling none of us had thought to bring a compass.
The fact that they didn't have the familiarity of their usual preferred pizza joint to fall back on would also be working against them in terms of comfort level. I, at least, had grown up in this establishment and could relax into the environment with ease. While the men had a knack for assimilating with those around them, it was an artificial comfort synthesised from years of training and necessity, not from experience and association.
And then, of course, there were the orders handed down from Ranger to all Rangeman employees that no one was to assist me on the company dime, which, as far as I was aware, had not been retracted or amended in any way, shape, or form since it was installed several months ago. Even though none of them were on duty and they'd all changed out of their Rangeman blacks before coming over, they were probably all on edge that they'd somehow be reprimanded for even meeting with me socially.
I knew I needed to say something to put their minds at ease, but at that moment in time, with all their eyes focused squarely on me, my brain wasn't quite as engaged as I would have liked. It was as if in the face of their professionally blank faces, it had retreated to hide in a corner, leaving only a few stations functional to hold down the fort while it breathed into a paper bag. That was the only explanation I could come up with for the words that blurted from my mouth. "I need your help," I announced, and to my credit, I managed to do it confidently, but it didn't change the fact that words were wrong.
Cal shook his head, leaning his elbows on the table as he met my gaze with an empathetic expression. "Look, Bomber, we know you didn't do anything to deserve this, but we can't go against company policy," he explained patiently. "We don't have the kind of immunity that Tank, Bobby and Lester have with the boss. If we're found in violation the consequences would be severe."
"We had no choice but to sign the contract," Hal added, looking like he was wringing his hands under the table. "It was that or our jobs."
"I have a wife and three kids at home," Hank implored, providing me with information I had not previously been privy to. "I can't afford to lose my job."
Hector decided he, too, needed to weigh in on the subject, but since he was speaking in his customary Spanish, I had no idea what he was bringing to the table. All I knew was that I needed to address the points they'd brought up so far before we could move on to the true subject of the meeting. "Okay," I said, holding up my hands to halt the arguments spilling from their generally tacit lips. "I get where you're coming from. I completely understand your need to protect yourselves and your interests first and foremost. I don't blame you for submitting to the ultimatum you were presented with, but just because the company has cut ties with me doesn't mean that you have to cut personal ties as well."
"Bomber, I'm sorry, we- " Vince tried to apologise, but I waved my hand, effectively cutting him off.
"You don't need to apologise," I said firmly. "We weren't close, and in the uncertain climate you were faced with, it was easier to turn away completely than risk accidentally breaking the rules that had been put in place. I can't say I would make the same decisions if the situation was reversed, but we all know that I have a history of recklessness, so I won't take it personally." I let that sink in for a few seconds before restating my original request, being sure to add the specific context surrounding it this time. Now that we'd broken the ice – shattered it, really – my brain was back at the helm and ready command my mouth through a proper conversation.
"I need your assistance," I reiterated slowly, glancing around the table to be sure they were all aware that I wasn't finished with my statement. "But not for myself."
One of Cal's eyebrows rose, distorting the expression on his flaming skull tattoo. "Who, then?"
I had their attention now, and hopefully a bit more willingness for cooperation. It was time to make my case. "Tank, Bobby and Lester," I stated simply. These guys preferred their information in small, easy to digest pieces if it was at all possible, the less superfluous language they had to wade through, the quicker they could formulate a plan and jump into action. So that's what I was attempting to do. "They're under a lot of pressure and it's taking a toll. I think they need to have some quality time off where they don't need to even think about work so that they don't snap."
"Like Ranger did," Zero muttered, and it was only because he was sitting right beside me and I had years of experience interpreting my father's contributions to meal time conversations under his breath that I caught it at all. Zero wasn't known for being verbose, but damn could he throw some insight into a situation, and when he speaks, people tend to sit up and pay attention because of it. So when he straightened his back and took a purposeful breath, all eyes cut to him. "PTSD episodes are more likely when experiencing periods of high stress," he stated. "We all know that Tank is snowed under with paperwork in Ranger's absence. It would make sense that the other members of the core team are also under added pressure."
Nods of agreement met his statement around the table and the kind of looks that were full of military-grade silent conversation were exchanged. Finally, they all returned their gazes to me and Cal, who had apparently been nominated as their spokesperson, clasped his hands together in front of him. "What's your plan?" he asked.
At that moment we were interrupted by the door to the function room opening to admit a pair of waitresses carrying the pizzas and jugs of drink I'd ordered before they arrived. There was silence as the food was deposited on the table and the waitresses retreated. "I took the liberty of ordering a variety I thought would satisfy everyone," I explained when several more seconds of quiet ticked by after they'd gone. "But feel free to order your own if you'd prefer."
"Don't be ridiculous," Vince said, reaching for a slice of pepperoni from in front of me and taking the opportunity to lay a reassuring hand on my shoulder at the same time. "This is perfect."
"I've never turned down a free feed," Hank enthused, nabbing a slice of the meat-lovers from the closes tray.
The others were all nodding their agreement as they dug in, so I joined them, grabbing my own slice of pepperoni and taking as large a bite as I dared, having been burned more times than I could count by piping hot Pino's pizza. When my eyes popped open after I'd moaned through that fist mouthful, I was unsurprised to find the men completely absorbed in their own food. They'd eaten with me enough times that they weren't affected by my reaction to the flavours, or at the very least they'd learned how to school their features and try to ignore it. The only one not eating was Cal.
I met his gaze across the table, hoping that my question was clear in my expression.
"Why don't you tell us your plan while we all eat?" he said, lifting the slice of vegetarian he held to his mouth in what was an oddly encouraging gesture.
"Well," I said, instantly gaining the attention of every man in the room. "They need some time off. I was thinking, if it was possible, to organise a weekend when they could clock out on Friday and not think about, talk about or be called in to work until Monday morning. The goal is two days straight of rest and relaxation."
Hal was the first to voice an opinion on my plan. "I can see how that would work for Lester," he said, pouring himself a glass of beer. "But Bobby and Tank are work-a-holics. They'll be checking their phones and emails all weekend, worrying about what's happening while they're not there."
"I could confiscate their phones?" I said.
Vince shook his head. "Security risk," he pointed out around a mouthful. "What if they get in an accident and need to call for an ambulance?"
Before I had a chance to even try to think of a better solution to the problem, Hector was speaking. Rapidly. And not in English. He was clearly excited about whatever he was talking about, and it seemed to be rubbing off on Hank as well as he interjected his own comments. Also in Spanish. I really needed to take up conversational Spanish classes so I wasn't so completely lost when things like this happened.
Casting my eyes around the table, I noted that I was not the only one who was confused, but I had no doubt that I was the only one at a complete loss of what was going on. While they workshopped whatever they were discussing, I figured I may as well continue eating, so I laid a hand on Zero's bicep, using the other to point to the basket of garlic bread that was out of my reach at the end of the table. He passed it over, nabbing a chunk for himself in the process, and we both stared at the two tech wizzes as we nibbled the bread.
"Okay," Hank finally said, switching to English so I could be brought up to speed. "Hector and I have the work detox covered."
"How's that?" I asked, forever fuelled by my belligerent curiosity.
"The fifth-grade science level, if you don't mind," Vince added. "Not all of us are engineers."
Hank sent Vince a look that would have gone perfectly with an eye-roll if the Merry Men were in that habit. It was so effective that I found myself trying to memorise every detail of it so that I could go home and practice it in the mirror. "Believe me," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm acutely aware of the fact that I'm the only engineer here."
"So?" I said. "What have you got?"
He grinned, the nonchalance of his previous statements disappearing as he leaned forward to share the idea that had him so excited. "Hec and I have been working on a device to pick up when someone searches certain terms, or access certain sites online," he explained. "We think, with some tweaking, we can make it so that it blocks the terms and sites we set."
"So they'd be able to keep their phones, but wouldn't be able to access work?" Cal reasoned out.
"Exactly," Hank said.
"How long would it take?" I asked, knowing that time was of the essence. "When can we expect to have a working device so that we can send the guys on their mini vacation?"
Hank and Hector conferred for several seconds before Hank resumed his easy, superior posture, raising a single eyebrow at us all, like a challenge. "Give us three days," he said.
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed the story so far.