Trouble And Money #25

Clifton Go West Logistics - A Trucking Company - Danvers, Massachusetts

Popping in at my employer early was nothing new for me.

One of the Drill Instructors I had way back at Parris Island taught us, "If you're not early, you're late." 

That credo has always served me well. I sat in the driver's waiting room two hours early to keep one eye on my phone and the other on the action behind the assignment counter.

Claire Mizzario is the Queen Bee behind the counter. The five feet on both sides of the glass cage and the five feet behind her are hers.

I observed and listened as she interacted with each driver as they checked in to pick up their assignments and rigs. It's clear to me now what kind of Bee she is, as she confronted the drivers and pointed out that doing things "her way" was the only way.

There was something else.

Claire's demeanor worsens after a guy from the unseen back of the house enters the cage and gives Claire papers.

In the two hours I sat in the waiting room, I saw him step into the battle hive at least seven times. 

Let's make some detective assumptions here. I would say he is Claire's boss based on Claire's displeasure, the man's bossy nature, and his polyester suit from the 1974 Sears catalog.  

Isn't it amazing that one can accumulate supercomputer brainpower from years of being a Marine, a Cop, and now a Private Investigator?

Using my phone, I went to the website of Clifton Go West, and sure enough, the man who kept popping into the dispatch area is Ralph T. Clifton, the company founder.

The website photo of Ralphie Boy has to be twenty years old and yes, Ralph is wearing the same mix and match beauty that would now be called vintage vinyl.

At the counter, I asked Claire, "Why was my assignment changed? I'm going to miss Jeopardy." 

She looked at me with one hand on her hip and said, "Seriously?."

She continued. "I only do what I am told, and it's 2025. You can stream tonight's episode of Jeopardy when you get home."

"You know when you are sipping your juice box and eating a cookie."  

Then she added, "What is Get on the road, Mister?"

"So Ralph is a jackass and you're a comedienne," I said as I took my paperwork and headed for tonight's assignment.

I am sure that tonight is the night. I touched my Glock.

Trouble And Money is published Monday through Friday. It is a free serial fiction detective story with characters you will love. Read the adventures of Conrad Grange as he solves cases and contends with a harsh world.