Page 52 of Rough
I cleared my throat, interrupting Garret’s sentence before he could get the rest out and sabotage himself even further. If I had to dig him out of this hole, then so be it.
Garret turned around and saw me standing there. He looked beside himself with anger, and a little stunned to see me too.
“Felix?” he asked, temporarily going into a daze and forgetting about the health inspector.
“Hi Garret, let me help you—”
Garret abruptly twisted around again and pointed an accusatory finger at the health inspector. “You can’t tell me that you weren’t paid off to come here tonight when the club is in full operation, with patrons and members in attendance and just happened to find things wrong in the kitchen?” He used air quotes to explain how asinine the circumstances were.
“It’s my responsibility to inspect all buildings in the area and make sure they are up to code when there are food and drink involved,” the health inspector countered, visibly swallowing hard. She was faltering but kept herself composed.
“Oh, give me a fucking break,” Garret exclaimed. “You know damn well you never work past nine to five any other time.
“Sir, I’m sorry but as I explained earlier—”
Garret held up his hand to cut her off mid-sentence. “Save the explanation for someone who cares.”
“Well, if you want your club to be opened back up in a timely manner, I advise you to hear my explanation,” the woman enforced.
Garret glared at her. If looks could kill, the woman would have surely already dropped dead.
“It’s late at night,” he began again, listing reasons on his fingers for why she shouldn’t be on the premises. “You are finding things wrong that don’t really exist.”
The woman squared her shoulders. She appeared fully equipped to launch herself into argument mode. I knew it was going to be my responsibility to make sure the gloves didn’t come off on either side.
“The grease in the vats need to be changed every so often—”
“And I can assure you that happens,” Garret said in a strict tone.
The health inspector looked outraged that Garret had the audacity to call her out on the trivial things that were wrong.
“You are just making things up because someone gave you a fat wad of cash to do so, to come here and cause problems,” Garret declared.
The woman’s eyes flickered with hostility, but I saw a trace of guilt etched into her features. Garret was close to backing her into a corner that she wouldn’t be able to squirm out of, and it was clear as day that she knew it, too.
I stepped closer. I needed to be the mediator in this squabble.
I lightly placed my hand on Garret’s back. “Garret, why don’t you go and help make sure Bubba is getting everyone out of the club safely?”
I held my breath and prayed that he would be willing to comply with my suggestion. I sensed he needed to clear his head and break away from the argument before it escalated any further.
Garret planted his hands on his hips, continuing to leer at the health inspector but much to my relief, he nodded.
“All right. I can do that.” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the woman. “Just keep an eye on her for me.”
“Of course.” I gave him the most empathetic smile I could.
I watched him exit the kitchen.
I looked at the health inspector apologetically. If it was true that you could catch more flies with honey, I was soon to find out.
“He just needs a minute to collect himself,” I said and pointed my thumb over my shoulder.
The health inspector shot me a curious glance as if she didn’t really want to trust me and fall into a trap.
Unbeknownst to her, I was planning something else. I wanted to charm her as much as I could, really butter her up so she would work with me here and not be placed immediately on the defensive by Garret’s sharp tongue.
Now that he was out of the picture, diverted to another task, I had my opportunity to swoop in and undo the damage here, or at least try my best.