The Cool Room by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 52

Frank managed to calm his staff. Yet, this did nothing for him, given the choice he was being forced into. He sent them back to work, hoping the job would dispel their anxieties. They were both perfectionists regarding their work. Perhaps it was this quality that might quench the smoldering fear of what could happen next. In the meantime, Frank retreated to his office and sat behind his desk, wondering what to do. Should he open his business to a bunch of drug dealers looking for an inconspicuous place for their illicit business, or refuse them and be responsible for the outcome? Either way, the results would be catastrophic. His decision came down to one thing: how bad did he want things to get? His business would end regardless. But upon further consideration, he surmised that if he organized things the right way and did his best to hide this illegal operation from his staff, it was possible he might get away with it. He could continue running his funeral home, and no one would get hurt. It was the only way, but he would make the rules. In making this decision, Frank became so concerned with protecting his business and his staff that he never considered the possibility of failure. Should his plan collapse, the consequences would be grave, to say the least. Being hesitant to pursue this, Frank eventually accepted the reality that this is what his life was coming down to. He felt the loss of his dignity slip away as he prepared to walk down to the bar where his plummeting future sat, ready to destroy him without so much as a flicker of conscience. Having met him only a few times, Frank had already come to hate him, wishing he would absent-mindedly step out in front of a city bus. But he would likely have no such luck, and leaving his office, Frank walked out the front door and made his way to the bar. Sure enough, once he arrived, the still-unnamed man approached him and, with a pompous smile, spoke in a manner indicating he had secured victory over Frank. He also believed that he – not Frank – would take the lead in operating what could very well destroy his business. But since drug dealers seemed to lack compassion, it didn’t matter if Frank’s business failed or not, as long as he could get out if the time came. And he didn’t care if anyone else involved lived or died.