California Fire And Life

98

Billy comes back out and says, "They're going to pay tomorrow morning, with me or without me."

"So which is it?" Jack asks.

"Gotta think about that," Billy says.

"That's fair."

"How 'bout you?"

"I'm gone."

"Jack." Billy says, "you're not going to find another claims job anywhere in the industry."

"I don't want one."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Jack says. "Maybe remodeling."

Billy frowns. Fights the wind to light another cig and says, "Sleep on this, goddamn it. Take some sick days."

"Fuck it, Billy. These days, they're all sick days."

And walks out.

Muy disgusted.

In the lobby the receptionist juts her chin at the waiting bench and says, "Olivia Hathaway for you."

"Not now."

"She's here, Jack."

"I don't work here anymore," Jack says. "She's somebody else's headache now."

"Jack?"

She's standing right behind him now.

"Mrs. Hathaway."

"A moment of your time?"

"Not now, Mrs. Hathaway."

"Just one moment," she says.

She's holding a plate of cookies.

"I really don't have the time right now, Mrs. Hathaway."

Two minutes later Jack's sitting across a table from her in Room