69 Bob Counts His Chickens
Bob had enjoyed the funeral. It was a bit bigger than he expected in that there were more people there than should have been for a young girl, but then this girl was not normal. He was pretty sure many of them were reapers. He didn't care. He found it hard to keep a smile away from his exterior. That would be too much and could tempt forces better left undisturbed. He was growing in confidence that he had won, that Meigan and Dave were right about free will for the living and tight constraints on the reapers. He had listened to their back and forth and concluded the truth was somewhere in between. Probably many of those reapers knew who he was standing discretely off to the side but there was nothing they could do about it - not then, not now, and not ever. The knowledge he had gained from this contract would be invaluable in the future. He knew, not how to beat Death - it would be disrespectful to say such, but how to walk right up to the supernatural boundary separating the living from the dead and come away unscathed.
Ms. Lass would resurrect soon as another reaper - maybe somewhere else - but she was equally constrained. People died everyday. That was just another day and there would be many more for him and the family. This whole affair had been costly in ways other than money. Meigan had left him flush with cash. He wondered if she were around just with no way, now that Dave was dead, of communicating with him. Perhaps she would find a way. It would be wise, and safe, to play straight. He would take only those funds that had been agreed. That was no problem. The family had taken horrendous losses in lost operatives, some lost family members no less, and morale had suffered. The family had two new widows and several children without fathers that he would have to see to. Which is why he had arranged a surprise for the larger family. A little something to raise morale and demonstrate to the tight community within which they moved that the family was back. A comeback to full strength would take time, but it would happen. His men were grumbling the past couple of days for having to hang out in this safe house near Seattle. They wanted to go home, to families, or move on to another job. He had called them to this meeting to help get back on the road to healing the larger morale problem. He walked into the meeting room where his surviving team members were milling about.
"Gentlemen. Take seats, or stand, as you prefer. This will be short."
Most decided to sit. Once settled he began to speak, "The good news is that we have accomplished our mission. The taint on the family's honor has been removed. However, as you know this has come at a cost. We have lost many good people, too many. We will recover, with time, but those good people cannot be replaced." He paused. "We, the living, must move forward together."
"We must also take a rest, a pause, before we pick up the work of rebuilding. I have decided there will be bonus payments for all of you, generous bonus payments, in cash of course, when we return to home base. But I have another surprise. For all of you and your families too." That got their attention. "In a few days a charter jet will be arriving from back home with our families on board. It will stop to pick us up and then we will all head to Hawaii for a two week vacation. I've arranged for accommodations there but if any of you prefer there will be a travel liaison in Hawaii available for any who prefer to go elsewhere on the islands. Two weeks all expenses paid."
There was some more grumbling. But some would complain no matter what. It did raise spirits. He let them go. There would be phone calls coming in, and going out, as their families confirmed the same news at their end.