Page 38 of Nathan
Dangerous Criminal
Nathan
I stomped on the brakes of my car when I saw the outside of my sports shop.
Calvin, who ran the shop, and one of the teenage workers stood outside scrubbing down graffiti from the wall.
On the entire entrance some wanker had written.
DON’T SHOP HERE!!! OWNER IS CHILD MOLESTER!
“What happened?” I asked as I got out of my car and approached them.
Calvin turned and squinted from the sun shining in his eyes. “Bloody vandalism is what it is. It’s the second time this week.”
“Same message?” I asked and crossed my arms.
“Aye, same message.”
The graffiti was clumsy and now that I was closer I could see traces of a previous message saying BOYCOTT THIS MONSTER!!!
“Come on.” Calvin removed his yellow rubber gloves with harsh movements and nodded his head in the direction of the back entrance. “Let’s go and have a talk.”
Roxy, Calvin’s wife, stood by the coffee machine with Mindy, the bookkeeper, who was usually always so kind to me. Today Mindy turned on her heel as soon as she saw me.
“Hi, Nathan.” Roxy rose up on her toes and gave me a quick hug before pointing to Calvin’s office. “Let’s go in there.”
“Ladies first,” I said and swung my hand without a smile.
Roxy and Calvin had run this shop for the last seventeen years, long before I owned it. They were good at their jobs and made it possible for me to drop by only on occasion.
Calvin walked around his desk and plunked down on his chair, while Roxy closed the door and sat down, gesturing for me to take the seat next to her.
“I’m not a child molester,” I said and sat down.
They watched me with grim expressions.
“I know rumors are spinning out of control, but I’ve never laid my hands on a child or been violent to women either. It’s nothing but online trolls spreading lies.”
“Good to know,” Calvin said. “And thank you for comin’ down. We felt that we needed to update you on what’s been goin’ on here at the store.”
“I saw the graffiti outside.”
“There’s been a call to boycott our store on social media,” Calvin said and picked up a pen to rotate between his fingers.
I moved in my seat. “Has it affected sales?”
“So far we’re good. Some may be boycottin’ us, but they’re outweighed by the increased number of customers hopin’ to get a glimpse of ye.”
“Me?”
Roxy turned her body toward me. “Don’t sound so surprised. Yer face is everywhere online. People are curious. But honestly… what is this about ye bein’ a dangerous criminal?”
I sighed. “I’m not!”
Roxy, who was normally easygoing and cracking jokes, looked like an upset schoolteacher. “It’s impossible to open a bloody paper or news site without readin’ stories about how violent and sick ye are. Would have been nice with a warnin’ so we could have been on top of it with the staff. It’s all they talk about.”
Calvin crossed his arms and rocked back in his chair. “Several are uneasy about working for ye. Mindy says her husband asked her to quit because he’s afraid you’ll stop by and snap at any second.”
