Grumpy Best Friend

Lady Fluke looked surprised, but Jude’s eyes burned with passion and determination. I’d seen that look before, a long time ago, when we used to talk about escaping Levittown together. She’d talk about starting her own family, about having her own children and treating them so much better than she was ever treated, and that look would come over her, steely and incredible. I admired her so much then, even if I didn’t quite understand.

“I believe you,” Lady Fluke said softly. “But I need you both to be careful.” She looked at me then, her gaze flat and suddenly hard. All reminiscing was gone from those eyes. “I don’t know what the years have done to Zeke, but if he’s coming for my company like this, he could be desperate.”

“He didn’t look desperate,” I said. “Well dressed and well groomed.”

“Don’t let that deceive you. He’s very charming and very clever, and he knows how his image can be altered for effect. You must remain vigilant.” She stopped beside a tree and turned toward the water, her back on the road and the path. Jude stood alongside her, and I stood next to Jude, and the three of us watched a pair of boats slowly float down the Schuylkill, rowed by a crew of six apiece, the young men and women pulling their oars in smooth slicing motions, the water shining as it dripped through the light-filled air, and for a moment I wondered if any of this was worth it—if we should stop and walk away, and save our losses.

But then I looked at Jude, and I knew that wouldn’t happen. I could pull my money in a futile attempt at protecting her, but she’d simply go forward and find new investors. Her eyes were sharpened and fierce, and I knew she wouldn’t let this go, no matter what I tried to do to convince her. Lady Fluke seemed as determined, and I wondered if I’d found the two most insane people in the world.

And yet I wasn’t going to back down either. If Jude stayed, I’d stay, and make sure she got through this in one piece.

“We should walk back,” I said. “Lady Fluke, send us everything you have about Zeke if you can. I think we’re going to need it all.”

“Of course,” she said, and began toward the city, retracing our steps.

Jude gave me one last look then followed the Lady. I stared at them, and I knew this was a massive mistake, that if even Lady Fluke said this man was dangerous then we should back off and find some other venture. I knew I was an idiot for wanting to be close to Jude again even if she had made it deadly clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me, but I hurried to catch up with them anyway.

8

Jude

The office space was still empty except for one large conference table placed in the very center of the main room. It seemed comically small, since the area was designed to fit multiple cubicles, but it worked well enough for my purposes.

Bret lingered near the windows, staring out at the parking lot. I watched him, not sure what to make of his silence. I knew he didn’t approve of this meeting, but Lady Fluke said it was a good idea to at least speak with Zeke, and so I called him and set everything up. He said he’d come and we’d have a chat about his claims, and some part of me, maybe some naive part, thought maybe we could clear this all up right here and now.

I walked to the table and nervously made sure the water pitcher was full, which of course it was, since I filled and refilled it twice already. There were notepads and pens, in case someone wanted to take notes—although I couldn’t imagine why anyone would, since we were meeting with a gangster, and not with lawyers. I just wanted this to seem as professional as possible, even if it felt otherwise thrown together.

At least we had the offices. Bret finalized the contracts on them and signed the lease, and now it was official, we were pressing forward with the factory. Nicky said he’d get a team in there starting in a few days, and I felt a strange prickle down my spine whenever I thought of that old Nabisco plant back up and running again, baking new cookies in a venture that I had helped put together.

It was surreal and more than a little terrifying.

“This won’t work, you know,” Bret said without turning to me.

“I know you think that,” I said, crossing my arms. “Why are you even here then? I told you I’d handle it myself.”

He shook his head. “That’s why I need to be here. You’re reckless.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I get that he’s a gangster, but what he’s going to do? Murder me right here in the middle of this office? That’s a good way to guarantee he’d never see any profit, considering people know I’m meeting with him today.”