Page 88 of A Life Imagined
Mathias slammed him against the side of the car and shoved the muzzle of the gun hard against his throat.“Go on,” he said, leaning in.“Say it.”
A high-pitched whimper erupted from Theo’s mouth.His eyes opened so wide Mathias could see the whites all around.
“Let’s hear it, you sniveling piece of shit.What were you going to call me?”
Theo shook his head rapidly.“N-Nothing.”
“That’s what I thought.”Mathias increased the pressure so that the metal dug into the man’s skin.Theo began to splutter, spittle forming at the corners of his mouth.“If you come anywhere near her again, I will string you up by your ankles and gut you like a pig.Are we clear?”
Theo nodded.
Mathias released him and raised his gun to fire one shot through the windshield of the man’s car.Theo screamed, his arms flying up to protect his face as the window shattered, splinters of glass tinkling to the ground.
“Now, fuck off.The next shot won’t miss.”
Theo practically tripped over his own feet, trying to get back into the car.He slammed it into reverse and took off, squealing, across the parking lot toward the street.Mathias waited until the car had disappeared from view before making his way back to the warehouse.Elise stood by the staff entrance, watching him.
“Okay, first lesson,” she said when he closed the door behind them.The wobble of fear was gone from her voice, and her eyes were fixed on his, cold as steel.“Teach me how to use that.”
Mathias smirked.She was proving a fast learner.“There’s hope for you yet.”
As Mathias drove through the city toward Hôtel de Ville, it was impossible to ignore the collection of tents dotting downtown.Since the Jungle’s partial closure, small camps had begun to pop up across Calais.Through the window, his gaze was caught by a woman with a baby strapped to her chest and a child in hand.Watching her, he felt a glimmer of Rayan’s rage.
While Mathias tended to dismiss the man’s social conscience, he also admired Rayan’s refusal to simply sit back and let the situation play out.If there were a few strings Mathias could pull to nudge things along, then he was more than willing to do so.He’d been ambivalent about the opportunity to profit from Marsela’s misguided venture.A deterrent was necessary to ensure that the Albanians didn’t try anything like that again, but neither the drugs nor the money he stood to make from them held much appeal.Then, somewhere between returning Farhan to his daughters and Rayan announcing his plan to fund the remainder of the residence build on his own, Mathias had seen it all click into place—a way to help Rayan get what he wanted while allowing Mathias to get rid of his Albanian problem in the process.And if it meant that the likes of this woman and her two young children ended up with a better deal, well, what did that matter to him?
Mathias parked the car on the street and glanced at his watch.Right on time.When he’d contacted the mayor’s office to request an appointment, he’d done so as a valued member of the Calais business community.While Durand’s concern for the thousands of displaced people crowding his city was questionable, he made sure the corporate suits he hoped would bankroll his upcoming election campaign received his full attention.And as of yesterday, Mathias sat squarely in that demographic.Heylen had sent through the completed paperwork, and Mathias was now joint owner of a two-billion-euro container-shipping business headed for the Port of Calais.
Mathias walked past groups of photo-snapping tourists milling about outside the town hall.He scaled the steps to the building and strode into the lobby, where he cleared security and made his way upstairs to Durand’s office.
The mayor’s assistant greeted him with a bright smile.“Good morning, Mr.Beauvais.Go on through.He’s expecting you.”
Mathias pushed open the set of wooden doors at the end of the corridor and stepped into the office.Durand stood from behind his desk and moved to shake his hand.
“Mathias.Always happy to make time for a hardworking party supporter.”
Early on, Mathias had established himself as a generous donor to Durand’s affiliated party, Alliance Nationale.He’d found that front-loading favors worked best to engender credibility.It paid to be the person owed and not the other way around.
Mathias took a seat across from the mayor’s desk as Durand lowered himself into his plush leather chair.“What can I help you with today?”Durand asked.
“I believe the council has been approached about the construction of a migrant residential complex.”
The mayor made a face.“Don’t worry—you’re not the only concerned member of the public who’s come forward.I made sure to shut down that idea pretty quick.”
“Did you?”
“What would the rest of the country think if we were seen to roll out the welcome mat for these people?”
If the man’s worried about the city’s image, perhaps he should look outside his window.
“That’s a shame,” Mathias said.“I’m here to make you change your mind.”
Durand began to laugh, glancing at Mathias as if to see if he would do the same, but Mathias remained impassive.He took a nervous sip from his steaming mug of coffee and placed it back down on the desk.
“You can’t be serious, Mathias.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“The council vetoed the proposal.It’s a nonstarter.”
