Chapter Nineteen
Noel started off his new job showing deference to the younger man who’d been introduced as his boss. Though he’d taken an instant disliking to the fellow’s condescending attitude, he kept his mouth shut and followed orders.
Bald, bearded and bulky, the slobbish loudmouth barked his orders with no finesse and expected instant obedience.
The plant, filled with rows of boxes of various sizes, a wall of doors to loading platforms, rolled conveyor belts and the constant beeping of loaders, was a new environment for Noel.
He had to fake his way through most of the jobs he’d been given, thanking the Gods that they were more laboring chores than anything that took necessary skills.
Another man, soft-spoken and friendly, eased his way up next to him and gave some advice. “Just ignore Bart’s attitude; the man’s got the personality of a mistreated Pitbull. Keep your head down, nose out of places it doesn’t belong and stay busy. You’ll do just fine. By the way, my name is Dale.”
“I’m Noel.” He shook hands with the friendly giant. “You got it. Can you tell me the places you mean so I don’t accidently stumble off limits? I need this job, and I’m willing to work hard, just don’t want to get into trouble.”
“I understand. I’d just started when everything went south and am one of the few they’ve kept on. So many others were let go after the bankruptcy. These guys are sketchy, man, but I keep my nose out of where it doesn’t belong and do my job.”
“Great, just tell me what to watch out for, and I’ll do the same.”
“Okay. You see that set of offices upstairs over my left shoulder as far as you’re concerned it’s a den of snipers and you don’t go there.
And… there’s a dude who often shows up like he owns the joint, though I know he doesn’t actually work here.
His name is Duggan Jones, and he’s dangerous.
You don’t want to mess with him or his brother, Ralph.
They creep me out, but they have pull… so you take their orders. ”
Instantly worried he’d be recognized, Noel asked, “What kind of orders?”
“If they say you load certain parcels that aren’t showing on the invoices, just do it.”
Bart sidled up and his rough voice made them jump. “Hey, you two blabbermouths, get back to work.”
For the rest of the day, Noel kept his eyes open and his mouth shut, following orders and working like a dog. By the time he’d lifted and carried hundreds of parcels, loading them onto belts and into containers, his back screamed for mercy and his hands were sore.
He had a much healthier respect for the working man and became a clock-watcher as daylight eased into dusk.
Knowing he’d hit the jackpot for his cousin, the fact that the Jones’s were involved in the plant and even had a certain amount of power over the operations, his mind ran rampant with speculation.
Could they be using his father’s business as a way to transport drugs across the country? It wouldn’t be the first time the mob had infiltrated a legitimate small company and used it for nefarious gains.
It was one thing to conjecture, but he needed evidence. He had to get into that office and download files from their computers. And then he had to pass on that information to his cousin so if they stopped one of the trucks loaded with contraband, they’d have enough proof to make an arrest.
Suddenly, he worried about being recognized by the Jones boys. They’d surely remember him as the reason Ralph spent a night in jail. First thing he needed to do was get a pair of non-prescription eyeglasses, shave his head and grow his beard.