CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
-:- CORK -:-
Training with Meat is no walk in the park, I can tell you he is a hard taskmaster.
By the time he called it a day, I was exhausted, and not just physically.
He had stuff hidden all over his yard and the surrounding compound.
He would call out a direction, but no distance, and I would have to scan the area and decide if it was safe, or if there was a threat and what that threat was.
I didn’t see a couple of his test subjects until he pointed them out.
He had a painted broom handle that he used to simulate a rifle barrel, that was sticking out the side of a woodpile at the bottom of his garden.
The other was a mannequin head wearing a camo balaclava in some long grass.
When he pointed them out, they were so obvious I could’ve kicked myself.
He explained that the eye sees what it expects to see, and it takes training to see past that.
The combat training was brutal, and even though I knew he was holding back, when he landed a strike, I felt every one of them.
I am going to be so sore and bruised over the next few days, I just know it.
While we were having a break, Meat talked about the ranch raid, as he called it.
He blamed himself for the guy who appeared behind him.
He was uncharacteristically lax in his observations when he left the ‘still’ barn, and was thankful that I spotted the threat before he got hurt or worse.
When I told him how I felt about not taking the shot himself, Meat repeated what Dallas had said almost word for word.
Alerting Target had been better than trying to snap a shot off myself.
In time, I would be capable of it, but Target was definitely the man for that shot at that distance in the dark.
I’m sure Meat spoke more words in that break time than he had in all the years I’ve known him.
After we got home, Dallas and I had a conversation that cleared the air as to why she wasn’t sleeping.
She was worried about me, and I never told her what was niggling at me.
Thinking about it, she never told me that was why she wasn’t sleeping, and I just assumed.
I’ll have to have that conversation again, preferably when her hands are not holding a coffee mug.
I thought for a moment she was going to throw it at me.
I’m slowly getting back into a work routine, and there are now Angelo’s hours to cover, too, until we find a replacement. I was going to dump that onto Ava’s shoulders, but that’s not fair. I’m back, and that should be my responsibility, but she can sit in on any interviews and get some experience.
It's been surprisingly busy this morning, and I notice that the majority of our customers have been female. Talking to Penelope, I ask how long this trend has been going on. I don’t recall so many women coming in and out before.
“Well, it’s probably my fault, Cork. Around the time of the attempted robbery, I was helping out my sister with her kids.
Her husband got a promotion that meant he was traveling, and she suddenly didn’t have his support with the family so she asked if I could help.
I was ecstatic to spend more time with her and the kids, so I jumped in with both feet.
” I don’t know why she should say it’s her fault when it’s a good thing to have more customers, whether male or female.
“I would go over in the morning and make breakfast while she got the kids ready for school. We’d have breakfast, and I would take the two oldest to school while she looked after the baby.
While I was outside the school, I got to catch up with some of the women who went to the same high school as me.
We swapped numbers, and they added me to a chat group they all used.
As we were all swapping what we do day-to-day, I told them I worked in this swanky new wine shop, and made it sound like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I didn’t know they held regular weekend parties, and some of them got together for lunch.
I don’t think there’s a lot of food at some of these lunches, either, if you get my drift. ”
“I think it’s great that you generated more business for the shop.
You should see if there are any other groups out there that might be interested in us.
Maybe there’s a cheese and wine circle we can join or something like that.
You’d be a natural with your good looks and sunny personality.
I might even see about slipping a few bucks into your salary as a bonus if we saw another boost in sales.
How about that as an incentive?” I think Penelope would be an asset in this type of marketing, but before I get to say more a voice butts in.
“I hope you’re not trying to mess up my future by stealing my woman, Bossman?” Emmett states in a loud and clear voice.
Before I can say a word, Penelope beats me to it. “My woman, eh? I like the sound of them words, my man,” she coos at him. I almost laugh as I see the effect this has on him, and he becomes putty in her hands.
“I’m going to check the shop for any stock issues while you two look all gooey-eyed at each other.” I smile at them and leave them to their moment.
Checking the shelves doesn’t reveal any empty spaces or low stock levels.
We have a great team, and they keep the shop clean and well stocked.
When I get to the Barons Bordeaux section, I notice that there is only one of each flavor on the shelf, and each of these has a large white label stating, ‘For Display Purposes Only’.
“Penelope,” I call, and when I turn it is Emmett walking my way.
“The Barons Bordeaux was my idea, Bossman. We were talking about how many dollars we were losing, and how much time we wasted watching for thieves and chasing them out of the shop. I remembered seeing this in some of the bigger grocery stores. I bought a bottle of each, and after I’d drunk each one, we refilled it with the right colored water to match and then tried this.
It's been a tremendous success. Theft is down to virtually nothing, and with all the high-end brands behind the counter, we only tend to lose some of the cheaper stuff now.
We recognize the usual criminals as soon as they walk in, and they just grab something within arm's reach and run for it.” Emmett looks a little unsure of himself.
“That’s brilliant, Emmett. Well done. I think you’re after my job!” There’s certainly been some head-scratching going on, and some good ideas have come out of it.
“You need to be reimbursed for the cost of the bottles you bought. I don’t care that you drank the stuff, you came up with a damn good idea and have probably saved the business hundreds of dollars in the process.
” Thinking about all these simple changes raises another thought.
“Have you guys been spending your own time dreaming up these ideas?”
“I did for the Bordeaux, but then Ava introduced a monthly team meeting. We all come in one evening after hours and discuss any issues we have day-to-day, known thefts, scams, dodgy customers, all that stuff. Then we do what Ava calls brainstorming. We all throw ideas at her no matter how dumb they sound, and then we work through them until we have something that might, or what we think, may work. We thought that putting all our cheaper products near the door was a bit stupid, but then, when the thieves and addicts realized we weren’t even letting them in the shop, they took to doing a grab and run tactic.
Now they can only grab cheap stuff that doesn’t do them much good, and we don’t lose much profit.
We’re due for our next meeting soon, I think. ”
Emmett looks as pleased as punch after telling me this, and I can see why. I think it's pure genius. I’m going to speak to Pres and TwoCents about giving all these guys a raise.
Last stop on my shop tour is the window.
I can’t find fault, other than a few dead flies scattered about.
Just as I’m about to walk away, the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention.
If I were a dog, my hackles would most certainly be up.
Standing perfectly still, I scan the area outside the shop for anything unusual, and remembering Meat’s lesson, everything usual.
I don’t see anything out of place, no pedestrians, no vehicles. There are no alleys in sight, and it all looks good. Staying there for five minutes in case anyone is watching for movement by me, I still have my hackles up but can see nothing that would cause it.
Taking out my phone, I put a call through to Dallas. As soon as she picks up, I speak. “Hey, Gorgeous. Sorry to bother you, but I was missing you. How’s your day? Everything good?” Damn, that sounds so suspicious.
“I miss you too. Everything here is normal and boring. What about you? What’s happening there?”
I quickly reply, “Yeah, normal and boring. I’ve just been going over some of the changes that these guys have implemented and they’ve done some good work.”
“That doesn’t sound normal and boring. You sure everything is okay with you?” Damn, she picks up on stuff way too fast for me to get away with anything.
“Customers. Gotta go... love ya, bye.”
Ending the call, I could bang my head on the wall. ‘Love ya, bye!’ What the hell was that? My phone pings, and I know it will be a text from Dallas.
Dallas: We’ll talk when I get home. Love ya, bye!
The phone rings, and I slam it to my ear, saying, “I’m fine, Dallas, really I am.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. Thanks for sharing that little nugget from your private life, but I’m not Dallas.”
“Oh, Mia! Sorry, I thought it was Dallas.”
Mia giggles slightly, “In case you hadn’t noticed with these modern phones we all use, Cork, they have caller ID on them? You should try glancing at your phone before you answer it. I find it invaluable before I speak.”
“Sorry, Mia. I just got off the phone with Dallas and thought she was calling me back.”
“Okay, I get it. You thought it was Dallas. Are you really fine, Cork? You sure don’t sound like yourself?”
Great, now I have Mia sounding all concerned as well. “What can I do for you, Mia?”
“I was just calling to let you know that the First Ever Raging Barons MC Motor Show will be this weekend. Have you got your prizes organized?”
Motor show? “Oh, yeah. Sure thing. All sorted. No worries.” I’ll have to get online and get something ordered pretty quickly.
“I didn’t think so. Leave it with me, I know just what to get and where to get it before the weekend. I’ll get three first-place trophies and a best in show while I’m at it. The show is on Saturday, so don’t forget and screw it up. Bye, Cork.”
“Love ya, bye.” WTF! I hope she wasn’t with Pres, and didn’t have me on speakerphone!