Eighty-two

The room was quiet for a long time and Mike didn’t have to be told that something crucial was about to come up. The evidence was in Terry’s facial expression.

“I don’t have all the time in the world, Terry; what is the matter?”

“I need your help,” Terry started and Mike started to wave him aside while muttering words he couldn’t hear but knew where clearly dismissive, “I know! I know that you think—I’m back again and I know you think I sound like a brown record at this point, but it’s the last time, I promise.”

“You do sound like a broken record,” Mike snapped before bending over to pick up the pieces of the vase carefully. “I’m listening to you anyway, what’s it this time?”

“I need your company bus, Mike?”

“What?” Mike looked up and the pieces he’d gathered fell from his hands, making a loud noise. “What did you say?”

“Listen I—,”

“It’s not happening, Terry. I’m never involving myself or my business with your shady deals anymore, alright?”

“Hear me out for a minute will you?”

“I d