In Limbo

Chapter 8

Lee Stetson drove his way through the parking lot of the Chicago Tribune building that Monday afternoon, and finally finding a spot down near the end of the area, pulled in and parked.

Getting out with his papers and keys, he locked his car up, and walking towards the entrance, almost bumped into a petite blonde woman who was heading in the same direction, and said quickly, "Oh! Excuse me, Miss...Can you tell me where a Pete Simpson is? I'm supposed to-"

The woman groaned, and stated gruffly, "That's what I'm wondering!"

Lee was confused, and shook his head asking, "Well, this is The Chicago Tribune, right?"

The woman stared at him replying with a gesture, "Do you have eyes? The sign is clearly on the building!"

Lee sighed commenting, "Okay! But it's my first day here, and-"

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a man behind some shrubbery signaling Lee to come over to him!

The woman, noticing Lee's distraction answered perturbedly, "Hey! What is your problem?!"

Lee quickly focusing on the woman again, responded, "I-I'm sorry...What were you saying?"

The woman groaned, and with disgust, handed Lee an envelope, commenting angrily, "Tell Pete "Fly By Night" Simpson, if you see him, that he can call my lawyer, because he and I are done! He needs to sign these, and get them back to me so we can get this divorce rolling!"

As she stomped away in a huff, Lee yelled out to her, "What's your name, so I can tell him?!"

The woman stopped, and turning back towards Lee, answered calmly then with a sigh, "Barbara Hanson Simpson...But not for long...Thank you..."

As she turned to walk away towards the parking lot, Lee shook his head in frustration, replying, "I don't believe this day I'm having already!"

After Barbara had sped off in her car, Lee turned towards the shrubbery, stating, "Okay, Pete Simpson, you can come out now..."

As the man came out from behind the shrubbery, he asked Lee, "How did you know-"

Lee groaned responding, "I've been in that same position many a time, My Friend...So, let's get to why I'm here...My name is Charles Castle, and I'm here to interview with you about the Sports Columnist job apparently...Unless your head isn't focused on your main job right now. If it isn't, I apologize, and we'll just reschedule-"

But then, another man, tall and burly, coming out of the building, yelled over, "Simpson! My office! Right now!"

Pete Simpson nodded, sighed, and remarked to Lee, " Yeah, well...You better just come back tomorrow-"

But the man by the entrance shook his head and stated firmly, "No, he won't!"

Looking at Lee, the man said, " I'm Mark Jenkins, Editor and Chief of this paper...You wait in the conference room for me, while I straighten out this yahoo! While you're waiting, write out a short piece of your work, so I know you're not wasting my time pretending to know what you're doing!"

Lee nodded, answering, "Yes, Sir," as he followed the men inside the building.

Lee shook his head thinking with a groan, Just how bad is this going to get for me, I wonder...

TBC