THE TIMING, JOE PARENTE [ereader ebook .txt] 📗

glass door, it was as if some one had turned on all the lights. “What is going on with me?” I said under my breath. It was as if, in fact things were as I had left them. That peaceful mural was there, the crowded lobby was a buzz and the bell man was at his corner.

“I have never experienced any thing like that before,” I said, under my breath.

The bell man walked over, “did you not get your taxi sir?”

“Uh, no, I forgot something in my room,” feeling embarrassed about what had happened.

I spun around and looked out at the bright new day.

“Are you alright sir?” asked the bell man.

Red faced, I said, “sure I’m fine, just getting my bearings.” I moved off to the elevator as I noticed from the corner of my eye the bell man following me with his eyes.

Not knowing what just happened, not sure I wanted to know, I made the only decision that was possible, a quick detour to the bar and a straight shot to calm my nerves. It was still close to nine. The appointment was not for a couple of hours, so I had just enough time to get my head straight.

The quick fix seemed to help as I walked through the crowd again.

“There you are sir, may I call you another cab?” asked the bell man.

“Yes, please, and thank you for being so patient,” I answered.

“Glad to be of assistance sir,” he said, as I handed him a buck.

A short time later, I got the high sign that my transportation had arrived. Making my way to the doors, I looked outside, this time with a little buzz from the booze, I walked onto the street.

Dark! Everything was dark! Up and down the street was night filled darkness! I was frightened! “What the hell is going on?” I said loudly “This is silly, this must be a trick. Am I asleep? Is this a nightmare?”

The outline of the cab could barely be seen from the reflection from a closed cigar shop’s neon sign. There the taxi stood, in the middle of its lane, waiting. Starting to become accustomed to the night, my sight began to improve.

Just moments ago, I was exposed to a very bright day. As I approached the vehicle and into its side window but could not see a thing. All was black. I stepped back, wanting to run, but to where? Feeling my knees weaken, I turned to look at the dimness of the hotel entrance. I felt the blood drain from my face, as I tried to make some sense of it all.

Reaching for the door handle on the taxi to steady myself, I pulled on its lever trying to gain some footing, the door opened. I fell inside, as scorching pain hit my brain with an instant sun drenched bright beacon of daylight.
I heard a voice, “where to sir?” the driver said as he looked straight ahead, “where to?”

I couldn’t answer. He turned to me, “Sir?” and looked at me, “sir, are you okay?” I couldn’t answer. “Sir, you don’t look so good. You okay?"

All I could do was to stare at the busy, brightly lit street with people rushing here and there.

He continued, “hey you, you okay? Where do you want to go?”

“Better let me out, I don’t feel well,” I muttered.

“Well get the hell out! Jesus, you fuckers think I got all day to waste my time!” He cussed, “hey buddy, what the hell is wrong with you anyway?”

I couldn’t answer but managed to open the taxi door to a black night sky. Stumbling out, I was able to make my way back to the closed looking hotel. The doors opened and I was again exposed to its daylight.

Unable to make it all the way into the lobby, the bell man rushed over to help. “Are you alright sir? You look pale sir. Please sit here.” He indicated a chair close to the entry. “May I get you some water?”

“I’m, a, a, sure,” I said.

“Yes sir I will right back. Is there someone I can call for you?” He snapped his fingers to a subordinate and made the appropriate gestures.

“Thank you, I think I’ll need to get to my room” I rose from the chair.

He laid his hand on my shoulder, “One moment sir, here is that water.”

I took in a sip, “thanks, that helped. I need to get to my room now. I must have had a heck of a time last evening, or maybe some bad ice in my drink. That’s it some bad ice.”

My knuckles were white as I relinquished my grip on the briefcase I had forgotten about.

“I’m fine, thanks,” I said. As I got up, I made my way to the elevators and managed to press the button for the tenth floor.

“I don’t know what I ate last night but I’m not well. I feel like hell,” I explained to the Rhortec operator.

“Well Brad, I mean Mr. Warner, I think you need to talk to the boss. I’ll get you to Mr. Rhoram. Are you sure that you didn’t party all night, Brad?”

“No, really Becky,” I struggled to explain, “It was something I had eaten I’m pretty sure of it.” She knew me like a book. I’ve tried to get in her pants while I worked the ‘time clock’ at the office but so far—

“I’m connecting you now Mr. Warner,” she transferred.

“Problem Mr. Warner?” asked Willhelm Rhoram.

“Hi Will, sorry to bother you with this but I am sick.” I tried to speak honestly.

“What is the problem Brad, You know this is your first sales call on the road.” I could tell he was agitated.

“I know sir.” I quickly dropped the informal, ‘Will’ greeting. “I was just about on my way when it hit me. I was in the cab when I became, well, unable to continue, so I had to come back to the room. I have to sit today out sir.”

“What time was your appointment Brad?” he was not softening.

“Just before noon sir,” I stated.

“Did you call to cancel?” he snorted.

I acted apologetically, “not yet sir, I wanted to call you first.”

“Well hop to it man, we sell time programs here and I expect all my people to be on the second. I went through the importance of time management with you at your training. We, as a company cannot expect our clients to believe our program if our employees do not adhere to the basic principles. Be efficient; make that call to your potential as soon as we hang up. Understood?”

“Yes sir, I will.” I felt as though I had been put through the ringer.

“Good, and get better.” He hung up.

He was a tough old bird, but I had to give him credit. He started this company about ten years ago and it has been very successful. The company is now trading big on the stock market and its value has grown considerably. Although Rhorem’s bedside manner was always a bit rough, he was able to bring in some talented people. I haven’t met all of the talent, especially the latest CTA (computer time analysis) that seemed to control the main lab in the company.

In my three years prior to going on the road, things have been tight-mouthed. Any questions about details were directed to the old man. He brushed off most queries as ‘a need to know’ situation. It was best not to ask. They paid very well; why should I rock the boat?

Looking up the telephone number of the missed appointment, Baetacom Inc, I was able to re-set for tomorrow at 11:00 in the morning.
Swearing off booze, I hit the sack.

Awakened for the second time today by a shrill ringing of the telephone, I grabbed the alarm to check out the time of 1:00 PM. “Hello, this is Brad,” I was half awake.

“Hey buddy, get out of bed.”

“Who is this?” I asked, with a rusty voice.

“It’s me, Brad, get up I need to meet with you.”

“Frank, Jesus man I thought you were dead!” I was thinking I was dreaming.

“It’s me, and I’m not dead,” he was speaking urgently. “I have to meet you, I’ll see you in the bar in ten minutes,” he hung up.

Jumping up from out of bed, I started to mentally examine this day. What else could happen? First, I couldn’t score. Second, I hallucinate with the worst hangover I have ever had and third, after almost getting fired over the telephone, my job will be replaced by Frank, the missing pal. Shit!

Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, I took the elevator to the lobby bar. Just as I expected, Frank was sitting at the back booth, as I approached. “I can’t believe this Frank, is it you?"

“Hello Brad, we’ve got to talk!” speaking more urgent than ever.

“Ok, what is going on?” My eyes were twice as big as they should be.

“What happened to your appointment this morning?” he asked.

“How do you know about that?” rubbing an eye. “We thought you were dead.”

“Brad, I don’t have much time but I will answer your questions soon. Now what happened to your appointment this morning?”

I was bewildered, “I got sick and missed it, why?”
He continued, “You can not miss these appointments.”
“You are sounding like the old man. I just got reamed by him this morning.” Remembering the conversation I had this morning. “Why would you care about my appointments?”

“I can’t explain that now but I assure you that it is all tied together. If you miss the appointments the company makes for you, shit will hit the fan!” he was serious.

“Do you still work for this company? Or did you come back to take my job?” I awaited the answer.

“No,” he said, “On both questions. “What is most important, are the appointments. I missed one once without calling to change it. Did you call to change yours?”

“Yeah he insisted on it,” I said quickly.” Please tell what is going on. I’ve had a terrible day,” I said, pleading.

“I can’t tell you any more now. The time is not right. In a way, we are being watched.” saying this, he looked around. “At least I know you are being watched.”

“What? -Why, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Look, all I can tell you now, is that there is more to this