Bob
made his farewell to the man at the bar. As they
crossed the room, Josh felt the tension build between them. They took up residence in a quiet booth by the restrooms. Josh tried to prepare himself, putting all the facts in order before speaking.
“I think I’m in big trouble.”
“Why?”
“I don’t believe my accident was an accident. I think it was deliberate.”
“Bullshit, buddy. I think you came across Roger
Ebert without his Prozac.” Bob gave a limp-wristed thumbs down. “No disrespect intended, but you aren’t that special.”
“But I think I am. I did something that makes me
special.”
“I don’t think I’m going to want to hear this, so you’d better tell me before I get the hell out of here,” Bob said.
“You know that insurance policy I got you to cash in for me about eighteen months ago?”
“Yeah.”
“The money was for a payoff.”
“Payoff who?”
“Belinda Wong. She was blackmailing me.” Finally, he’d said it. It was out. He’d admitted his predicament to someone. He found relief in confession. It made the problem less foreboding, although he imagined this relief would be short-lived.
“Your secretary? Jesus Christ. What was she blackmailing you over?”
“We had an affair for a year when things weren’t too good between Kate and me. When I broke it off she said she would tell all.”
“I got you over fifty thousand. You gave it all to her?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t just for the affair. I gave her the money for what I told her during the affair. I took a kickback on a building project in Dixon after Abby was born.”
“Shit.” Bob sat back and struggled to comprehend
what Josh was telling him.
“You know Abby had complications after her birth
and I didn’t have the insurance to cover the bills. I was inspecting this construction project in Dixon and the construction company knew it wouldn’t pass because they’d cut corners. So when it came to the inspection, they offered me ten thousand to turn a blind eye. At the time it seemed like an answer to my prayers and I took it with both hands.”
“Christ, what a train wreck,” Bob said. “Where are the other bodies buried?”
“Thanks for making me feel better,” Josh said bitterly.
“Christ, Josh, I can’t believe you never told me. Jesus, I’m your best friend.”
“It’s not something you tell.”
Bob shook his head. “Did Kate ever wonder where
you got the money for Abby’s treatment?”
“No. She never knew my medical plan didn’t stretch that far. Unfortunately, the problem got worse when I moved on to the next project the company was building.
They wanted to arrange a similar set-up. I had
done it as a means to an end and not as a career enhancement.
I couldn’t squeal on them, so I got out of
the building trade and became a buyer.”
“And Bell knows all this?”
“The whole thing. My dick got the better of me. I wanted to show off.” Josh went silent for a moment, reliving the events in his head. “Later, I realized I was an idiot for cheating on Kate and I told Bell it was all over. She wanted to get even. She wanted money to keep the details from Kate and the press.”
Josh felt sick to his stomach. He’d hidden that part of his life so deep within him, he had forgotten all about his mistakes until now. Bell had brought them all back like drowned corpses rising to the surface. All his fears returned as if it had just happened. Josh emptied the remainder of the beer and brought the empty bottle down onto the table with a resounding crack.
“You bastard,” Bob said and meant it. “Why did you have to tell me? I was in a good mood when I came in here.”
“Because you’re my friend and the only person I
thought I could turn to.”
“You’re a bad advertisement for friendship.”
“You won’t tell anyone?”
“You know I won’t because I’m your friend.” Bob
said the word “friend” like it was a dirty word.
“Thanks.”
“I knew you were in the shit when you wanted that insurance policy cashed in. I thought you were overstretched or something, but this.” Bob shook his head.
“If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe.”
“So, what’s this got to do with your accident?”
“Bell called me today asking me for another five
thousand and told me if I didn’t pay, something bad would happen. I think she forced me off the bridge.”
“But you said it was a male driver.”
“It was, but maybe she paid someone.”
“No, I don’t buy that. It wouldn’t be in her interests to kill you. She’d be killing the goose that lays the golden egg and all that crap.”
“Maybe she wasn’t trying to kill me—just scare me into paying.”
“This is unreal,” Bob said. “So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve only got two choices. Pay her and refuel that gravy train or blow her off, tell Kate what you did and take your chances. What appeals to you most?”
“Neither.”
“Can you afford to pay this time around?”
“Yeah, I have some savings that aren’t in a joint account.”
“Then
buy yourself some time and pay her, but find
out what the hell she’s up to. I find it hard to believe she’s going to all this trouble for the small sums of money involved. It’s not as if she’s tapping the Rockefeller fountain. Personally, I think she’s using the accident as a lever to screw with you, and it’s working.”
“So you think the timing is coincidental?”
“Yes, I do. You’ve dug yourself in deep and you’re panicking. You need to start thinking straight.”
“Okay, I’ll pay her. How do I diffuse the situation?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to deal with that when we have more information.”
“We?”
“Yes, we. As much as I dislike what you’ve done, I’m here to help you, man. You and Kate have too much going for you.”
“Don’t tell me what I already know.”
“Well, why didn’t you know it at the time?”
Josh didn’t have an answer.
