James, Elizabeth and Katherine sat on the curb outside the Five and Dime. It was busy with people coming and going, and the children heard a bell ring on cue when anyone entered the store. They waited for Patrick who was off looking for his business associate.
There he was - Edward Whirley. He looked nervous, his first negotiation.
“Got the cash?” Patrick knew it was pennies, but he wanted to sound grown up; he’d heard the term on the TV show Dragnet.
“I was thinking…,”
Patrick had a bad feeling; the kid was thinking. Good gravy. “I want a cut,” Edward continued. He must have watched Dragnet, too. So the kid was not as dumb as he acted, just lazy. He wanted a cut of the profits like a middleman. Smart, but not smart enough, Patrick thought. He pulled out the big gun.
“Well, I work for
