In Search Of Dreams

Episode 17

“Andersen,” Percy picks up his phone the next
morning.

“Percy. Robert.”

“Um…”

“I’m only going to say two words, all right?”

“Okay.”

“Accident reports.”

“Understood.”

Click.

Percy hangs up the phone, stares at it a
moment, and then goes back to his file cabinet.

He pulls open the drawer and withdraws another
folder, placing it in the bottom drawer with the
other.

Rob heads out of his office door in search of
lunch. As he pulls the door open, his phone
rings.

“Aw, I’m hungry…” he complains, but goes back
to answer his phone anyway.

“Robert Carter.”

“Hello, Robert?”

“Loretta,” he says, his voice brightening.

“I just have a few moments, but I did speak to
my brother this morning. He was actually happy
to have your man take a look at Daddy’s affairs.

He’d been worryin’ about it, but he didn’t know
what to do.”

“I’ll talk to Geoffrey and see what he has
available. Is there a number I can reach you at?”

“Not ’til I’m done here at school. I’ll call you
around three.”

Just then Rob sees the man in question
walking past his door. “Geoffrey!” he yells, then,
“Sorry,” to Lori, who starts giggling on the
other end of the line.

“You need me, Rob?” Geoffrey says, appearing
in the doorway.

“Yes,” he says. “Hang on one moment,” he tells
Lori. “I have an estate that needs seein’ to. Do
you have some time for a client of mine?”

“From the wrongful death case? Ah, let me
think. I have some time this afternoon, in fact.”

Geoffrey pulls a small appointment book out of
his breast pocket.

“Did you hear that?” Rob relays to Lori.

“Yes, but what time?”

“Time?”

“3:30 should work,” Geoffrey says, tapping his
book.

“That should be fine,” Lori says before Rob
can ask.

“Thanks, Geoffrey,” Rob says.

“You’re welcome,” Geoffrey nods, and exits.

“He seems… businesslike…”lori says.

“Yeah, he’s a bit stuffy, but he’s good people.”

“He’s okay with…?”

“Loretta, everyone in this office knows who
you are and what color your skin is, darlin’, so
don’t feel you have to keep checkin’, okay?”

Darlin’? “Thank you, Rob. I have to go. My
afternoon students will be here soon.”

“Maybe I’ll see you later,”Rob says.

“Maybe.”

After lunch, Rob sits at his desk and stares,
tapping his pencil on his desk. The clock on his
bookcase ticks stalwartly away.

Repair requests… accident reports… work records…
what else?

Repair requests… accident reports…

Rob stands and goes to a file cabinet, pulling
out a form.

Five minutes later he picks up his phone and
presses a three-digit number.

“Yes?”

“Lisa, where’s—”

“I’ll send him over, Duckling.”

“Thanks.”

A minute later, Marcus opens Rob’s door.

Rob just sighs. “Marcus, please take this
downtown and have it processed. Find out how
quickly you can get it back.” He hands the
paper to Marcus.

Marcus looks at the form. “Really? You’re going
to try and go into the lion’s den?” he asks,
raising his eyebrows.

“Not me. I need… that guy. You know. The guy,”
Rob says, snapping his fingers, trying to
dredge up the name.

“Oh! That guy,” Marcus nods, knowing who Rob
is talking about now.

“What is his name?”

“You’re honestly asking me?”

“Right. Stupid of me. Get going,” Rob waves
him off and dials his father’s direct number
now.

“Carter,” Shawn answers.

“Me, too,” Rob replies. “Pop, what’s that guy’s
name?”

“I’m going to need a little more information,
Robert.”

“You know, that guy. You know, the creepy one.

The fix-it guy.”

“Jack Aredian?”

“Yes! Him!” Rob yells.

“You want to hire him?” Shawn asks. “You’ll need
a court order for what he needs to do.”

“I just sent Marcus. I have a plan, Pop.”

“Let me get you his number. Mention you’re my
son or he won’t even give you the time of day.”

“Right, because there are so many Carters
in Memphis,” Rob says sarcastically. “Last I
checked it was only you and me.”

“Do you want the number or not?”

“Hit me.”