The Maya 1.6

Previously On The Maya...

The President of the United States avoids assassination in Kiev thanks to the legendary agent-for-hire, The Maya. Six members of the U.S. Secret Service, including Lance Simmons, are under investigation because of the incident. No one, including two of the assassins involved, an Iraqi and a Soviet, remember what happened.

Meanwhile, two members of the federal government meet in an alley and comment on the trial ops, as well as discuss their next move—the total fall from grace of a man named Sutton. The men are prepared to pay handsomely for it, albeit with federal funds and completely off the books. There seems to be a level of distrust between the two.

We move forward somewhat in the story, introducing a couple more characters.

And now, the next installment of The Maya.

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There was a pause on the other end of the line, a ruffling of pages, and then Jim Layton asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

George Kirkegaard placed a hand on his forehead, closed his eyes, and sighed. Finally, he said, "I didn't know how."

"You could have come to me months ago," Layton said, "I knew the public notices were a ticking time bomb. I told you as much."

"You did," Kirkegaard said.

"I know you put your whole soul into this business. I could see it in the issues you sent me. I know what it takes. I even felt pride in your work, even though I had nothing to do with it. I struggled with that paper for so long."

"You have a family, Jim. I don't. Putting in the hours was easier for me."

"Yes, but you wouldn't want that to go on forever."

"No." George sighed again. It was bad enough he was out of business. He didn't need a reminder, even unintended, that he was twenty-eight and not yet married. No. It was worse than that. There were no women who would date him at the moment, let alone enter into a serious relationship with him.

Yet something else he'd worked on diligently, without anything to show for it, up until January. Then, saving the paper had become all consuming.

"You didn't have to keep sending me payments, either."

"I owe you." Kirkegaard had bought the foundering paper from Layton. He should have charged a lot more for it, but Layton didn't. He had been better than fair, and Kirkegaard felt indebted to more than the loan payment.

"Yes, but the business is gone. There's nothing left to pay for."

"I'm looking for work," Kirkegaard said, "Nothing yet, but I do have a few call backs. As soon as I get paid, I'll send you a check."

"You don't have to do that," Layton said. His voice was low. "I don't need the money, and you don't know how much you'll need to get yourself out from under things."

"It's a debt, Jim," George said. His tone was strained. He was trying hard to keep his composure. A volcanic anger had settled in him for months. He was likely to explode at the littlest thing. For the most part, he kept it in check around others. After all, just because he was seething, didn't mean he needed to take it out on innocents.

And Layton was one of the good guys.

"I know," Layton said. "Here's a thought. Since you've already paid down on it quite a bit, maybe we could at least modify it. Make the payments lower."

"Thanks, Jim, but I..."

"Fine. If it will only cause more stress, we'll keep things as they are."

Kirkegaard exhaled. "I appreciate it."

"Do you mind if I change the subject, then?"

"By all means. Please do." A sort of relief relaxed Kirkegaard's jaw lines.

"I'm wondering if you'd like to get away for a few days. Clear your head. Put things aside for a while."

"You know my financial situation, Jim," Kirkegaard said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I was thinking you could come and stay with us."

Kirkegaard fell silent. He wanted to say no, but after doing it so much over the business loan, he was tired of it. And he didn't want to sound ungrateful.

"I'd hate to impose," he finally said. "I'm sure Marie's got enough going on, even if you don't."

Layton chuckled. "Oh, there's plenty for both of us. We might not be able to babysit you night and day, but once you get here, I'd doubt you'd want that, anyway. There's lots to see and do around here. Especially for such an inquisitive mind as yours."

Kirkegaard could hear the levity in his friend's voice. He did like to learn, but there wasn't much humor in that. Obviously, it was a joke for one, and Kirkegaard wasn't the one.

"That's cryptic."

"It's meant to be. If it gets you out of your cave and down our way, then it served its purpose."

Kirkegaard slumped. The last thing he wanted to do was be around anyone. Not in his current condition, vacillating between rage, frustration and what amounted to self-pity. Unfortunately, the thing he needed to do was break out of the vicious cycle, and he already knew he wasn't making progress on his own.

"George?"

"I'm still here."

"What's the verdict."

Before he could change his mind, Kirkegaard said, "Okay, I'll do it."

"Cool. You won't regret it. Let me give you the address."

"When do you want me?" Kirkegaard asked, after Layton read him the address and gave him directions.

"Good question. Hold on a minute, will you?"

There was a soft click as the line muted. Kirkegaard waited for a minute or two, and was starting to think there might be a problem—maybe Jim's wife was objecting—but then his friend was back on with the answer.

"Monday, the nineteenth," Layton said. "So, next week. That okay?"

"Sure." Kirkegaard wrote down the date next to the other instructions. "Any particular time?"

"Before one pm." Layton was quick to answer. "Say, twelve-thirty."

"You buying me lunch?"

Layton laughed. "Don't cancel on us, please. We'll see you in a few days."

"I won't. I'm actually looking forward to it." Kirkegaard didn't sound convincing, even to himself.

"Take care, and we'll see you when you get here."

"Same to you. And thanks."

Layton said goodbye and hung up.

A gloomy silence, the same one pervading his apartment before Layton called and read him his editorial out loud, settled over Kirkegaard.

Now, he thought, I just have to make it through the weekend.

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Author's note. 'The Maya' is the working title of a previously unpublished work-in-progress of mine. If interested, you can find the first five installments here, here, here, here and here.

A portion of 'The Maya' publishes every Tuesday and Thursday.

_{Copyright © Glen Anthony Albrethsen, 2014-2018. All rights reserved.}