When Richard goes to see his daughter to celebrate turning eightieth, she answers the door sobbingly and waves him off. Richard looks through her front windows and sees that he is right to suspect problems.
As he drove, Richard nervously drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. Ever since his wife’s funeral four years ago, Deidre has not driven down for Thanksgiving. There were only calls once a week now.
Deidre appeared in the doorway, and Richard opened his arms wide. He exclaimed, “Surprise!”
Daddy? Why are you in this place?” With tears streaming down her cheeks, she enquired.
“I came to celebrate my birthday with you… it’s the big eight-o!” Richard replied, but the joy in his voice trailed off quickly. “What’s wrong, honey? Why are you crying?”
“It’s nothing; everything’s fine,” Deidre quickly wiped her tears and smiled a little. “I just…I wasn’t expecting you, and this isn’t really a good time. Sorry, Dad, but I, uh, need to focus. On my work, Look, I’ll call you. We’ll have dinner later, okay? Sorry.”
Richard was left bewildered and heartbroken when Deidre closed the door. There was a serious problem. Did Deidre have a problem?
Richard moved away from the front entrance, but he stayed inside. He skirted the low blooming shrubs bordering the walkway and crept up to take a quick look through the windows.
Deidre was in the sitting room with two burly males.
“Who was that?” In an abrupt tone, one of them inquired.
“Nobody,” Deidre said, trembling. “Just a neighbor’s kid… pulling a doorbell prank and running away.”
“Back to business then,” the second man said. “You’re now six months behind on your loan repayments, Deidre. Mr. Marco’s getting impatient.”
“I just need more time. Business is sure to pick up again in the winter,” she pleaded.
The man said, “Time is one thing you haven’t got, sweetie,” and drew his gun. “People who owe Mr. Marco money don’t have a great life expectancy and end up feeding the fishes in the lake…” He was aiming the weapon at her.
Fear immobilized Richard. However, the man quickly turned aside, hiding the gun in the waistline of his pants, and walked back with a disgusted expression.
“Look around this dump and see if there’s anything valuable we can take to Mr. Marco, Danny,” he said. “She’s a businesswoman, so there must be a computer or some kind of equipment around here.”
She exclaimed, “But I need those things!” “I can’t make money without my equipment!”
The man gave his rifle a pat on the butt. “Boo-Hoo.” You know, I may yet change my mind. Now stop being unappreciative.
Deidre was left sobbing on the floor as the men stormed away after ransacking her house.
Richard couldn’t understand anything because Deidre’s business was booming. That’s what she had told him, at any rate. However, Richard now sensed that something was wrong. Deidre was in need of him.
From Deidre’s house, the men placed a number of appliances in their car.
At last, they took off, and Richard went with them.
The men came to a stop at what appeared to be a pub, a two-story brick building downtown. The door was unlocked even though it was closed. Richard entered the facility unhindered by any staff members.
The men had moved to a big table with a number of other burly men seated around it. One of them got up and strode in his direction.
“The club’s closed,” he growled. “Come back later.”
Richard said, “I’m here to discuss Deidre’s debt.”
“Oh?” The man at the head of the table stood up and gave Richard a long look. With the exception of a large scar above his left eye, he appeared to be a gentleman. Mr. Marco, Richard surmised.
