Free Parker 05 - The Darkness by Jason Pinter Page B

the
    pike?"
    "Always something coming down," Morgan replied.
    "Just a matter of who makes me the most attractive offer."
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    "I understand that," Chester said. "Hold on a second."
    Chester stopped at a vending cart and ordered a hot
    dog. He paid, then slathered ketchup, mustard and relish
    on it. He wolfed the dog down in three bites, still standing
    at the cart, then wiped his lips with a napkin and continued walking.
    "Sorry, did you want one?"
    "S'okay," Morgan said. "I just had breakfast an hour
    ago."
    "Really," Chester said softly.
    Morgan silently cursed himself. It was nearly twelvethirty. The fact that he had a late breakfast gave away
    that Morgan had woken up late. If he'd woken up late,
    he had nothing better to do. No job, no interview.
    Morgan could feel himself falling behind, and hoped
    Chester would let it slide.
    "Your friend Ken spoke highly of you," Chester said.
    "It really is a shame. Always the young, talented ones
    who go before their time."
    "I know what you mean," Morgan said. The truth was,
    Ken was only a half-decent worker. A man with some bad
    habits and with maybe a quarter of the brainpower
    Morgan possessed. He didn't say any of this to Chester,
    of course, but if this guy spoke so highly of Ken Tsang
    he'd be simply blown away by Morgan Isaacs.
    If it took this little to impress Chester, Morgan could
    probably have his job in less than five years.
    "I know I mentioned this to you before," Chester continued, "but Kenneth did some work for our firm. He was
    a good man, a good soldier, and recommended you as
    someone who could do the same kind of work if, well, if
    you ever decided to pursue other opportunities."
    "What kind of work did Ken do for you?" Morgan
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    said. "Whatever it was, modesty aside, sir, I guarantee
    Ken didn't know the half of what I'm capable of."
    "Is that right?" Chester said, eyebrow raised.
    "Yes, sir."
    Chester nodded. He seemed pleased.
    "I don't know what kind of money you were making
    at your last job," Chester said, "but I hope you'll find that
    if you do decide to work for us, the pay will be commensurate with what you'd expect."
    Morgan was slightly surprised, considering this guy
    was bringing up salary before even discussing the job. It
    must be either crap work or a crappy salary, and Chester
    probably figured he wouldn't waste any time, that if
    Morgan didn't like the payoff, he'd walk away.
    "What kind of figures are we talking about?" Morgan said.
    "Well, we would have to start you out at the bottom of
    the ladder. I'm sure you understand. So many people
    competing for so few jobs these days. If you're not comfortable with that, I can move on. Ken did give me a few
    other names."
    Morgan felt his neck grow hot under his collar.
    "What kind of money are we talking about?"
    Chester stopped walking. He reached inside his coat,
    pulled out a ballpoint pen. Then he walked over to a garbage can on the corner, tore a page off a loose newspaper. He scribbled something on the paper, then held it out
    for Morgan to see.
    Morgan felt his stomach lurch, felt his hands go cold.
    Chester crumpled the scrap up and threw it back into the
    trash, then he kept walking. Morgan was unable to move
    for a moment, before snapping out of it and jogging to
    catch up.
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    This couldn't be right. Nobody started at the bottom
    of any company and made that much money.
    Chester was walking faster. Morgan's short legs
    couldn't keep up, so he found himself half walking, half
    jogging to keep alongside the man.
    "If you're interested," Chester said, "you'll be downstairs outside of your apartment tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
    You'll be dressed just like you are now. Let me make this
    clear. You do not have the job. Not yet. If you tell anybody
    about the offer, or if you're one second late, you'll never
    see me again."
    "I'll be there," Morgan gasped.
    "Good," Chester said. The man stopped walking. Out
    of nowhere, a black Lincoln Town Car pulled up