We finished the job. No tip, naturally.
After showers at the motel, we took a cab to Hickory’s and ordered two “Feasts.” That’s when I told them about the gravestones. They all laughed their asses off. Even Eduardo.
Just as we were leaving, Consuelo came in with her husband and three kids. Eduardo had told her the gringo driver would buy her family dinner. Eduardo knew I would, of course. I shook hands with Mr. Consuelo, nodded at the children, and left my credit card number with the hostess. I don’t know any Spanish, but when I was walking out the door to the taxi, a little bit buzzed on six or nine Modelos, I saw Consuelo cross herself several times in front of Eduardo. On the way home Eduardo told us Consuelo had quit. She told him she knew there was something wrong with the house, and the occupants, but hadn’t figured it out until Eduardo told her about the murder.
Chapter 10
BABY GRAND
“Finn, I’ve got a good one. Wanna to hear it?” It was Pete Ruggles on the phone. Pete runs long-haul operations for Joyce Van Lines and is an industry lifer. In a weird irony, he also went to Colby College, and graduated, so we have that old college bond. We call each other from time to time just to chat or pass on a crazy moving story.
The afternoon of this call I was peeling off Ben Franklins into the eager palms of Carlos and Julio, having just delivered another rocket scientist to Colorado.
“Sure, Pete. I always want to hear strange moving stories. What happened this time?”
“My old pal Nick from Bingo Movers in New Jersey just called me. Seems their driver was supposed to deliver six thousand pounds plus a baby grand to residence this morning. I don’t know what happened, but the driver unloaded the stuff onto the shipper’s driveway and took off. The piano’s still sitting there on its side in the sunshine with the rest of the shipment.”
“Jeez, Pete. Must have been a really bad shipper. What’d he do? Ask the driver for his green card? Rap sheet? Tell him this is America so speak English? Maybe he looked on the sex offender website and saw his driver’s picture?”
“Dunno. All I know is the whole load is still in the shipper’s driveway.”
“Sounds bad. Good thing it’s not your problem. Not mine either. We’re going to lunch at Miner’s Tavern. It’s Philly cheesesteak day.”
“Well, Nick asked me if I could help him out. He’s an old buddy, so I’m going to try. When something this bad happens, it’s appropriate to circle the wagons and show some solidarity.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Pete. You’re a good guy that way.”
“Yeah. I’m going to have to send a crew to clean it up. You’ll never guess where this guy’s driveway is.”
“Oh no, Pete! Fuhgeddaboudit. I thought this was a social call. Stupid me. Not nobody, not nohow.”
“Afraid so, Mr. Wizard. It’s fifty-five miles from where you’re standing. Evergreen, Colorado. Looks like it’s going to rain too.”
“I’m going to make you say it, Pete. What is it you want?”
“I want you and your crew to go up to Evergreen and take care of it.”
“When?”
“Now. Actually, sooner than now. Nick said money’s no object.”
“You want me to take my trailer out to Evergreen with my boys, finish the unload, including a baby grand, calm down this crazy shipper, make everybody happy, and money’s no object?”
“Yup.”
“When a mover’s in trouble, charge them double. I’ll do it for two.”
“Two what?”
“Thousand.”
“That’s robbery, Finn. Nick won’t go for it.”
“No problem, Pete. Tell Nick to work his Rolodex while I eat my cheesesteak. You’re right, it is going to rain. Something to do with the cumulonimbus formations. I’m not really up on the science, but it rains in the mountains every afternoon about one forty-five in the summer. I hope the shipper signed off at sixty cents a pound. If he bought replacement coverage, Nick’s in for an Olympic-size claim. Those baby grands don’t like to take baths. Screws up the soundboard for openers, and those little felt thingies inside are like sponges; they just soak up the water. Plus, I hear the metal strings rust up real quick—”
“Stop already. The shipper’s got full replacement value at seventy-five thousand. Ralph’s deductible is twenty thousand.”
“Oh well. Too bad for Ralphie. Two grand sounds like a steal. In fact, it’s too cheap.”
“Enough! What’s the cut for Joyce out of your two grand?”
“How about zeeerrrooo, Pete. Nick is your buddy, and this is off the books. I’ll bet Willie doesn’t even know you’re calling me.”
“What are you going to pay your guys out of that?”
“I think this conversation is getting off track. I’m enjoying it, though. I never, ever, get to dictate terms, so I’m really going to milk this. Am I going for a cheesesteak or going to Evergreen?”
“Have the shipper sign a paper that says Joyce has no responsibility on this. Do that before you touch anything.”
“Sounds like we’re doing the deal.”
“We’re doing the deal. Go fix it.”
“I’ll do my best, Pete.”