Weaving the Strands by Barbara Hinske

Author:Barbara Hinske [Hinske, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-04-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Frank Haynes frowned when Loretta announced that Chuck Delgado was on the line. Delgado had made good on his promise regarding the Fairview Terraces matter. As far as Haynes was concerned, there wasn’t anything else they needed to discuss. He had gotten his fill of Delgado at the town council meetings.

“Chuck. How goes it?” Haynes said with forced cheerfulness.

“Other than losing money on a legit investment to help out a friend it’s goin’ great,” Delgado rasped.

Haynes remained silent.

“I’m talkin’ about you, Frankie boy. And those old geezer friends of yours at Fairview.”

“What do you mean?” Haynes spat.

“I heard they was gonna pay you back the money you advanced to the landlord for them. Except you didn’t advance no money to us, now did you, Frankie?”

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Haynes sighed. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Look here, Frankie. We been talkin’ about this. We took a hit to help you out.”

“It helped all of us out. You know that. None of us needs Scanlon and company poking around.”

“Yeah, but we never thought you’d be pocketing money on the deal. That ain’t right, Frankie.”

Delgado paused to make sure he had Haynes’ undivided attention. “This here’s a courtesy call, on account of our long association and all. My guys expect you to turn over any money you pocket from this Fairview thing. You got it, Frankie? No funny business. You don’t want to mess with these guys; they ain’t nice, like me.”

Haynes wiped a line of sweat from his upper lip. “I’m not going to pocket any money on this deal, Chuck. Never intended to. How could I know that those old fools at Fairview Terraces would get a zoning variance and make money from the place? A bunch of senior citizens in a retirement village? That never happens.”

“Will wonders never cease? It’s happened, Frankie, and we expect to see that money.”

“I haven’t gotten any checks yet, Chuck. You’ve got to understand, I may never get any money. I don’t expect that I will.”

“I believe you, Frankie, I really do. Since we’re such good friends and all. I’m out on a limb for you with my boys. Just remember that, Frankie. You owe me one.” Delgado disconnected.

Haynes slammed down the receiver. The mob suspected him of cheating them, and now, on top of that, Haynes was in Chuck Delgado’s debt. Could this day get any worse?

***

Loretta stamped her feet and hugged herself while searching the patch of road visible through the trees for any sign of the familiar Mercedes sedan. Frank Haynes was late. He was always at the office when she arrived at eight and never left before she did at five. It was now almost nine o’clock; she had gone from feeling annoyed by him to being concerned about him. She’d saved his cell phone number in her contact list; it was time to give him a call. She was fishing in her purse for her phone when he finally pulled into his reserved parking spot.

“Sorry I’m late,” he called, hurrying to unlock the door to Haynes Enterprises.

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