Page 35 of Near Miss

“Ten grand.” Trench subscribed to the belief that it was always better to ask for more than he needed.

“Ten? What do you need ten thousand dollars for?”

“Expenses.”

“What kind of expenses?”

“Personalexpenses. Is that a problem?”

“Do you think your uncle has ten thousand in cash just lying around?”

Trench knew he did. He’d seen that much and more on other visits. “Well, maybe I should ask him.”

He walked around the man and headed toward the office door.

“Go ahead,” the Bean Counter said. “But you should know, he’s not in a good mood.”

That stopped Trench. Dealing with his uncle in the best of circumstances was nerve-racking enough, but if the man was in a bad mood, seeing him was the last thing Trench wanted to do.

“I can give you five thousand,” the Bean Counter said.

“That’s half of what I asked for.”

“Your math skills are as sharp as ever. Try this calculation out. I could give you half, or, if you keep complaining, I could give you nothing.”

Five grand was more than enough, but Trench didn’t want the son of a bitch to know that. Looking annoyed, he said, “If that’s all you can do, I guess I’ll make that work.”

“I thought you might. Give me a moment.”

The man vanished into a back hallway and returned holding a thick envelope. He handed it to Trench.

“Five thousand in fifties. I hope that works for you.”

“Yeah. Sure. It all spends the same.” Trench shoved the envelope into the inside pocket of his jacket and turned to leave.

“Trench?” the Bean Counter called.

“Yeah?”

“So that there’s no misunderstanding, we’ll be deducting that from next month’s allowance.”

Trench’s cheeks flushed. This guy was seriously pissing him off. But he knew it would be a waste of energy to argue the point. Better to talk to his mother and have her take it up with his uncle later.

“Whatever.”

He made a beeline for the exit.

Once he was back in his car, he called Bozo.

“I’ve got your money.”

“Great. Where can I meet you?”

“The gym?”

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

Chapter 21

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