Showdown at the Solicitor's Office

Miss Peeg nervously glanced at her watch, the McGee’s should be here any moment now. Kyle Corvin had made the appointment for them. Mr. Roberts had been surprised when she told him they would be coming in to discuss opening a butcher shop. She was pleased at the prospect of a butcher’s in The Glen as she never cared much for prepackaged meat. She did hope everything would go well and they wouldn’t come to blows.

Richie had about six cups of coffee and was wired. Miss Peeg had complained about him standing outside the office door smoking and so he’d taken it to the back door. He didn’t know how he was going to react when he saw McGee. It was a professional visit and he was trying to keep that in mind as acting town solicitor it was his job he had to keep his head.

Kyle and Bill had been talking all the way into The Glen but Travis hadn’t said a word, he was driving mainly to give himself something to concentrate on other than the man he was going to have to talk to. Obviously they lived in the same glen they were eventually going to meet up. His Dad told him this might be the best way over business instead of running up on one another at the Tavern.

Kyle as usual was cool, calm and collected, Bill had asked him to sit in on the meeting and Kyle understood. Travis pulled up in front of Richie’s office and stopped, glanced over at Kyle and got out of the vehicle.

“Mr. Roberts, they’re here,” Miss Peeg chimed her voice a little higher pitched than usual.

Richie stood up behind his desk shrugged his shoulders and stretched his neck a little, he was ready for whatever. He walked out to the reception room.

“Hello Mr. McGee,” he greeted Bill and nodded toward Kyle, ignored Travis.

Travis spoke to Miss Peeg and followed Richie and his Dad in the office, he turned when Kyle followed him in and met his eyes, Kyle’s look told him he wasn’t taking any shit from him so he went in and sat down.

“Here let me help you with that,” Kyle took the chair Miss Peeg was trying to trundle into the office for him to sit in.

“Well, ah what’s all this about a butcher shop?” Richie began still ignoring Travis and speaking to Bill McGee.

“You need to talk to Travis, I’m just along for the ride.”

Travis took a breath, “We think the time’s right to open a butcher shop, Dad’s done some background work and drawn up a plan. He’s had an architect draw it up.” Travis tossed the folder and drawings on Richie’s desk.

Richie flashed him a look.

“I understand the town council which technically doesn’t exist has to approve it.” Travis caught the look and stared back at him. He was trying to keep this professional.

“The Glen founders will have to look at it and approve it.”

“You’ll let us know?”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know.” Richie spat the words out.

“Is that all you need from us Mr. Roberts,” Bill asked.

“I’ll look it over Mr. McGee if I see anything I’ll contact you.”

“Well I guess we’re done then Travis,” Bill looked at his son and started to stand up.

“Yeah, we’re done,” Travis said staring at Richie daring him to say anything.

Richie lost it, “Fuckin’ right you’re done.”

Travis launched across the desk catching him on the lip, Richie had him down between the desk and his chair when Kyle hauled him off Travis and grabbed Travis’s arms. Bill had backed out of the office and was standing by Miss Peeg.

They were both bleeding.

“Get your shit together man,” Kyle said in Travis’s ear steering him out into the reception area.

“Oh you’re bleeding,” Miss Peeg was looking at Travis and then Richie came to the door of his office. “Oh, oh,” she ran back to the sink area and grabbed some towels and the first aid kit.

“I hope to hell the two of you feel a whole lot better now, “ Bill said, “You act like a couple of school boys.”

“Get him the fuck out of here,” Richie said touching his split lip.

“You go to hell Rich,” Travis spat out.

“Hey, it’s over man, it’s over Roberts.” Kyle still held Travis.

“No one is going anywhere until I see what needs stitching.” Miss Peeg drew herself up with her first aid kit.

“Kyle you shoulda let ‘em have at it, get it out of their system.”

“I don’t think so Bill, you’re all right now ain’t ya Travis?”

“Yeah,” Travis was breathing hard, adrenalin pumping.

Miss Peeg was dabbing at Richie’s lip with a towel, “Come over here and sit down Mr. Roberts.” She was angry with him. This was a place of business not a boxing ring and she intended to let him know that as soon as she got his face cleaned up.

Kyle had a towel stopping the blood flow from Travis’s brow. Bill walked over and had a look, “might need taping.”

“That’s what I thought can I see what you got in that kit Miss Peeg?”

“Of course Mr. Corvin use whatever you need. Press that towel against your lip Mr. Roberts.” She turned and went over to have a look at Travis’s brow. “Are you a medic Mr. Corvin?” she was surprised at how calm she felt.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I wonder if you’d have a look at Mr. Roberts when you’ve finished with Mr. McGee?”

“I sure will, have you got any ice?”

“I have some cool paks will that work?”

“Perfectly.”

Miss Peeg went back to the little fridge and found the cool-paks she knew they’d come in handy one day.

“Bill come and hold his on his eye, I’ve got the bleeding stopped and got him taped.”

Travis sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, he should never have set foot in this office and damned if he would ever again.

Richie was not proud of what he’d done, he knew he’d baited him, wanted McGee to strike first. He sat still while Kyle felt his jaw and looked at his lip.

“You gonna bring charges against him?” Kyle asked quietly.

Richie shook his head no.

“I’m callin’ it a draw okay and we don’t need to do this again.”

Richie looked up at Kyle, “agree.”

“Your jaw is gonna be sore for a few days, maybe some bruising. Your lip is just bleeding a little now, I don’t think you need any stitches, it’ll heal up. Keep this cool-pak on it for awhile.

“Thanks.”

“Sure thing.” Kyle walked back over and looked at Travis, “You ready to go?”

“Damn right he’s ready,” Bill answered for him.

The McGee’s left and Miss Peeg took a breath her voice high pitched and wavering, “I was so hoping for a butcher shop Mr. Roberts.”

Richie looked up at her holding the cool-pack on his lip.

“I must tell you that was the most unprofessional thing I have ever seen in a place of business. Personal matters are not to be taken with matters of business Mr. Roberts. I am very aware of the animosity between you and Mr. McGee but he came in here with a legitimate piece of business. This is not the way one treats a customer I don’t care who they are. I was ever so worried wasn’t I that this kind of thing would happen. But I did think you were a little more in control of yourself than what you have shown me today.

“I was most distressed to find out that Mrs. Roberts had left you and I really felt sorry for you Mr. Roberts.” She was on a roll and there was no stopping now, “However, I have watched you and know very well that you are a man that cannot keep his pants on in the presence of a woman. You should be ashamed of yourself and especially with that young girl who rents your flat upstairs. I find that situation most distressing. It can come to no good end and a man as intelligent as you are must know this.”

She blinked her eyes rapidly, “Now then I shall gather my things and go home for I’m sure I do not have employment here any longer.” She began digging out her large hand bag and clearing some things from her desk.

Richie was sitting in her desk chair and when she came around to pick up her tea cup he grabbed her arm and shook his head for he couldn’t speak. Miss Peeg looked at him and very gently put her hand on the back of his head and pulled him to her waist.

“There now, we’ve said it all haven’t we.” She blinked her own tears back.