Left Behind at the Crosswalk of Life novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: The Offer

Halsted Street Coffee at eight on Thursday was loud with espresso machines and people in work lanyards.

Slade had taken the table by the window.

A thick white bank envelope sat in front of him.

He stood up and opened his arms.

"Nol," he said. "Buddy."

I did not hug him.

I sat down across from him and kept my coat on.

"Good, good," he said, sitting. "Coffee? I got you a flat white. You like those now."

"I never liked those. You did."

He smiled, and pushed the envelope an inch toward me.

"Forty-eight thousand, counted twice. It's yours."

"Where's the rest?"

"There's no rest. Delaney spent a little. I covered it." He tapped the envelope. "All I need is the black phone, and I need you home on Saturday."

"I don't have the phone."

"Your baker does." His voice went soft and friendly. "Sixty thousand if she hands it over. I'll even throw in the hospital letter I've been sitting on."

I looked past his shoulder.

At the counter, the step-down nurse from my unit was ordering a latte.

The tech who had filmed the cafeteria sat at a small table by the door with her phone propped against a sugar bowl.

The unit clerk came in last, in her coat, and sat three tables behind Slade.

I had texted them at six.

I hadn't asked for much.

I had said, I need witnesses, and they had said, Where.

"Buddy," Slade said, a little more sharply. "Look at me."

I looked.

"Why did you pick me?" I asked.

He blinked.

"Ten years of friendship, Slade. You helped me find a house. You stood next to me at three funerals. Why me?"

"Is this a therapy session?"

"Answer."

He leaned back and looked at me for a moment with real curiosity.

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