Chapter 16

The Turnings Of The Table

"What are you going to do about Danny Johnson?" Simon Gibson asked. "If people don't start shopping, I'm going to have to close the market. I've already had to throw away two tons of fresh meat, and produce that went bad in the coolers."

"That would serve 'em right for boycotting you," Junior said. "Let 'em drive twenty miles to the grocery store until Hell freezes over."

"Well that's not going to help my profits," Simon grumbled. "Just how in the hell am I supposed to get all that money back?"

"You've got money, Simon," Junior replied. "It's not like that supermarket is your only source of income. Cut your losses. Sell the market, and start a new business. That's all you need to do."

"So are you going to cut your losses, or are you just going to try and wait it out."

"Depends on what the old man does," Junior replied. "If he manages to take my power of attorney away, then I'll have to cut my losses."

"If daddy manages to take your power of attorney away, then you'll not have any losses to cut," Tommy Smith added. "And if you don't start paying me for all that concrete, lumber, and the building materials that went into that old mill, then I'm going to have to drag your ass into court."

"You'll get your money," Junior said. "Just give me time."

"You're running out of time," Tommy said. "My lumber company hasn't made a dime in almost a month now. The creditors are all over me, and you owe me half a million dollars. If I file bankruptcy then the auditors are going to be going through both of our books before you know it, and I don't think they're going to award us for our excellent book keeping skills."

"I'll get you your money, Tommy," Junior said. "My advice is you do the same thing I told Simon, and sell out."

"Hard to sell a business that's broke," Tommy said. "I'd like to get something out of it."

"You got insurance, don't you?" Junior asked.

*****

"I heard Simon Gibson put the market up for sale," Danny said.

"Yes," Regina said, "I saw it in the paper a few days ago. I called my friend Cindy in New York, and told her about it. She's been saying for months, that she's tired of the rat race, and wants to move back down south. I think she's going to buy it."

"That's good," Danny said. "People can't afford to drive all the way to Pickford's from now on. I'm surprised most of them have held out as long as they have."

"Well that old mill has caused a lot of pain in this town in the last hundred years. The people who opened it were greedy bastards, and the man who closed it was no better. Simon Gibson and Tommy Smith should have known better than to get involved with my brother in the first place."

"Won't they know who your friend is?" Danny asked. "If they find out you're friends, he'll not sell it to her."

"They've never heard of her," Regina assured him.

"Danny, Regina, come quick!" Mrs. Wilson shouted from her front porch. "Somebody done set the old mill afire!"

Danny and Regina leapt to their feet, and ran to the door to look outside at the flames leaping high in the night sky across town! "Oh my God!" Regina shouted. "He's torched it!"

"How do you know?" Danny asked.

"Junior's getting desperate," Regina replied. "Daddy managed to take back control of his investments, and the development company is almost broke. He'd do it for the insurance money."

"Well I hope they catch him," Mrs.Wilson said. "That man done caused a lot of pain in this town."

"No good can come of this," Danny said. "I suspect Sheriff Pendergrass will be dropping by here before morning."

"It looks like you're right," Regina said pointing at the Sheriff's car as it turned down Danny's street.