Carl responded slowly and it did not come in the form of an answer.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Pay attention!!” The man demanded. “You ask too many questions…. Can I count on you!?”

“Yes!” Runemaker’s answered smartly and immediately.

“Do you have the check?”

“No!”

“Good!” the stranger continued, softening his tone. “You work hard, Carl. The partners like you, and I know how much you want to be a player. So I’m giving you a chance to help get this cleaned up…. Now, this is our problem. The check is still out there, so unless we can make sure it’s buried, the project could be delayed…. You understand how bad that is for us, right?”

“Right,” Runemaker answered. “but what am I suppose to do about that?”

“Finally, Carl, an appropriate question…. I’m certain now that Capistrant, nor any one in his office has it. That only leaves the lawyer, and I’ve got an idea…. Now, he’s got a daughter, right?”

Carl’s response came in a noticeably non-committal manner. He felt the stranger getting far too close to him.

“He does,” Runemaker answered,

“Pretty little thing, too, isn’t she? I imagine Mr. Nesbaum might submit to anything if he thought she was in danger.”

“So, we’re talking about a kidnapping?”

“Now you’re with the program, Carl.”

“I wouldn’t have considered that,” Runemaker offered, too quickly

“You and I both know that’s not true, Carl,” the voice beyond the stall said, pausing for drama. “I bet you think about that a lot. You just lack the courage and the creativity. That’s where I come in.”

When the dark truth is struck by the stark light of day, there is always a deafening explosion of silence. It rang just then in that small room, making words impossible until the echoes subsided.

“Now, when I leave” The stranger said. “You wait five minutes, then go home. There’ll be a letter under your door. Follow the instructions exactly as I’ve written, and Carl,… don’t screw this up.”

____________________________________

Allred left the restroom, walked across the bar, and into the daylight. He then perched on the stairs out of sight from the street. When he heard the bus stop in front of the well and saw the passengers getting on and off, he joined the crowd.

A few minutes later Carl appeared on the sidewalk and found his associate standing across the street. The man spread his arms wide and wagged his head, no. He’d neither seen Henry come, nor go.