Page 54 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
“The store. The electronic one down the way from the office with the big blue letters. I can’t remember the name.”
“I know it.” Collin glanced at Mr. Reevesworth. “I can be there in ten minutes.”
In the background of the call were sounds of someone speaking angrily with an accent. Ash answered them, and his voice sounded distant from the speaker. “No, it’s my card. I’m telling you my limit is ten thousand.”
The angry voice in the background spat more words back. Collin caught only phrases, but they included things like “too young”, “probably stole it”, and “miscreant”. The last one was a new one for Collin. He hadn’t heard that insult since his mom had made him watch an old-timey movie.
“Ash”—Collin watched Mr. Reevesworth’s face as he spoke—“just wait on the purchase. I’ll come down and sort it out.”
“What if the police arrive? I think they already called them.”
“Then ask them to wait until your superior arrives. Stay on the phone so I can hear what’s happening. If they do arrest you, keep your mouth shut and wait for Mr. Reevesworth’s lawyers.”
Ash moaned and growled through his teeth. “I do NOT want to be arrested again. I’m just trying to buy equipment for the office.”
“On your personal card?”
“I hadn’t asked for it yet, but I need it today. The billing guy said I had to wait until next quarter for the budget. Do you know how far away next quarter is?”
Collin pocketed his keys and picked up his hat. “Just over two months.”
“That’s forever. I’ll just buy it myself.”
“Don’t you have an expense card?”
“Last time I tried to use that, I got kicked out of the store.”
Mr. Reevesworth followed Collin to the door and helped him on with his coat. “Make it a conference call,” he said, voice low.
Collin frowned. “I don’t know how to do that.”
Mr. Reevesworth curled his fingers in a give-me gesture. He tapped a few buttons and handed back Collin’s phone as his own started to ring.
“If you need backup, I’ll send it.”
“Thank you, sir.”
There were police at the shop when Collin arrived. Ash was sitting in a chair near the register with his head in his hands.
Collin smiled as he approached. “Hello, Officers, Ash.”
Ash pushed up to his feet. The two police officers turned around. Collin recognized one of them. He grinned and held his hand out to that man first. “Small world. Fancy seeing you again.”
“Mr. Ryker.” The officer shook Collin’s hand. “You’re looking more yourself.”
“That’s what a good week of rest will do after you rattle your jar.” Collin gestured toward his head. “What’s the issue? Ash said he was just trying to buy some equipment. With as much as our boss pays him, I can’t imagine that’s a problem.”
“He works for Mr. Reevesworth?” The officer raised both eyebrows.
“Oh yeah.” Collin grinned and glanced toward the man behind the cash register. “Ash is our resident tech wiz. We don’t know half of what he does; we just throw money at him, and he keeps the bad guys out.”
The officers collectively glanced toward Ash and back to Collin.
Collin sighed and shook his head. “Look, I know he looks like a kid, and he is seventeen.” Collin checked on Ash’s outfit. He’d gone back to his eyeball-burning combinations. “And he should probably have more help in the fashion department. But his parents suck, and he’s emancipated. Believe me, he’s doing well for himself.”
“It seems that he has a record.”
“Which is sealed.” Collin grinned. “He was a minor. It really doesn’t have any bearing on whether or not his card works. Unless he was trying to steal anything?” Collin looked pointedly toward the cashier again.
