After everyone finished sharing, they stood around eating and talking. Mrs. Gomez came to Jacob and said, “Come with me to Raul’s old room. He left some stuff here I want you to have.”
Jacob followed her. The posters Gomez had on the wall throughout high school were still there, but now the room had become a place for storage. Mrs. Gomez went to a box sitting on the edge of the bed. Inside was Gomez’s old laptop, some old computer games, a few other pieces of equipment, and a small frame with a penny mounted in the center. Jacob took out the frame with the penny.
“This is the only penny I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised more people didn’t keep them when the government did the buyback program. You should probably hold on to it. They are worth a lot,” he said, handing the frame to Mrs. Gomez.
“I guess you’re right,” she said. “I’ve sold all of the other ones I had.”
Jacob looked at the remaining contents of the box.
“I don’t know if you can use any of this old stuff, but it’s just gathering dust here.”
He picked up the laptop and turned it over in his hands. He opened it and closed it again. “We had a lot of fun with this machine. I’m sure I can find something to do with it. It’ll be nice to have either way.” He put the laptop back in the box.
“Good.” She sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do now that Raul is gone.”
Jacob put the box on the floor and sat down. “I know. I’m going to miss him too.”
She was quiet, running her right thumb along the length of her left index finger. “It’s not just that. I’ll miss him more than I can put into words right now, but…” She paused. “This isn’t easy to talk about, but you’re like family. It’s the money I’m not sure about.”
“The money?”
“He sent money every month to help pay for his father’s assisted care living. It was the only way we made ends meet. Now, I’m going to have to put him in public care.”
Gomez’s father had Late-Onset Chip Rejection Syndrome, a rare condition some people developed as they aged. Essentially, they developed a neuro allergy to their subdermal chip, causing a change in personality or psychosis or paralysis or any number of neurological malfunctions. Sometimes several at once. There were government-run institutions set up to house those who suffered from the syndrome, but they were poorly funded, and most people didn’t last a year in them. The private institutions offered much better care, but they also knew people would pay any amount they could afford, or not afford in many cases, to keep their loved ones alive for a few more years, regardless of their mental state.
“He’s been sending you money every month?” Jacob asked.
“Yes. It hasn’t always been enough, but when it’s more than enough, we put it aside for the lean months.”
“He never told me.”
“No, I guess he wouldn’t.”
Jacob reached down and took the laptop out of the box again. With his fingers, he traced one of the many stickers Gomez put on it. “How much do you need?”
“After our insurance, we sill owe fifty thousand a year. Neither of us ever worked for a corporation, so we don’t have their insurance. You know what it’s like for most people around here, unless you at one of the energy plants, you scrape by and hope you never get sick.”
Fifty thousand a year. Gomez’s share of the payout for the Your Better Life job would probably take care of his father for the rest of his life.
Jacob looked at her, at the concern in her eyes. “We still have the store,” he said. “And Raul did have an account. Let’s see where everything is when his will is released. I’ll make sure you get what you need.”
◆◆◆
As soon as Kat pulled into the street Jacob said, “We have to finish the job.”
“Why? What happened?” Sandy asked.
“Gomez has been sending her at least fifty thousand credits a year to help pay for his dad’s medical bills.”
“He never told you that?” Kat asked.
“No.”
“He planned on using the money from the job to help her.”
“That’s what I figured after she told me what he’s been doing. We have to come up with a new plan and do this job,” Jacob said.
“We will,” Sandy said.
“Guys, I don’t know what job you’re talking about,” Two-Step said, “but our tail is back.”
Shit. Jacob was so wrapped in his thoughts, he forgot Two-Step didn’t know about the Your Better Life job, and Gomez didn’t want him to know about it. But he was right, the black Dongfeng was behind them again.
“Should I put in manual and try to lose him?” Kat asked.
“No. I think they’re just following us. We’ll keep an eye on them, and if they start to gain on us like they’re making a move, we’ll go to manual and lose them.”
“You’re the boss,” Kat said.
Chapter 36
“So why won’t you just tell me what this job is you were talking about?” Two-Step asked. He locked the storefront gate and looked at Jacob.
Jacob sighed. “I told
