Chapter 22: Rogers

She finished pouring her drink.  She turned to look at him over her shoulder, "Would you like something?"  He shook his head no.  She turned and walked over to the couch and sat without saying another word.  She sipped her drink.  She made eye contact with him and then looked to the chair across from her.  He sat.

He knew better than to speak again.  She would just fix him with a stare until he stopped talking.  He had told her they had a problem.  Maybe this silence let her gather herself.  Maybe it was just to make him nervous.  She had seen her like this before.  Sometimes it had ended well for all involved.  Sometimes..

She inhaled and smiled.  "Have I ever told you my favorite story about Ginger?"  He managed not to wince but he did blink.  Even in this bit of discomfort, he was awed by her.  How did she know?  How much silk was in her web?  He shook his head to say no.

"The thing I love about Ginger is that he is so controlled.  Sometimes I thought he wouldn't actually sweat if he chose not to.  But he was also implacable.  Couldn't be stopped if set to a task.  That was useful to me at times - most times  actually.  That ability to separate himself from his emotions, his needs, the petty concerns of the common - I found that very attractive.  And familiar."

"He was never afraid of me.  And he was not afraid of failure.  He knew it was a part of life.  An inevitability for anyone daring to do great things.  He had no fear.  And he did not lose himself to ego."

"But my favorite story.  Happens to be true too.  John Malleck.  John Mallek was an earner.  Ran our New Mexico interests for six years.  Hated Ginger.  Hated him.  Professional jealousy was part of it.  Race was another.  Alpha male pissing on whatever he could."  She blinked her disdain.

"Called Ginger "Rogers" every time he spoke to him outside my presence.  And Ginger never once called him on it or told me about it.  Other people made a point of letting me know.  They thought it would lessen Ginger in my eyes.  Make him look weak.  I knew it was just the opposite.  I admired the fact that Ginger kept control of himself like that.  Went on for 8 months."

"Then one day it came to light that Mallek was skimming.  And not a little.  The man had been brazen.  Most people in Ginger's shoes would have been worried about that kind of thing happening on his watch, under his nose.  Not Ginger.  He came to me with it immediately.  And I gave him Mallek."

"I never saw Mallek again.  I did see Ginger's knuckles though.  Mallek did not die from a bullet to the head.  I know that much."

He cleared his throat. "I should have come to you as soon as we thought he was missing.  I know that."

She smiled.  Not a friendly thing.  "We haven't got to my favorite part of the story.  After the deed was done Ginger came here.  Iced his knuckles in that bucket right over there at the bar.  He took a deep breath and told me that Mallek had never stolen a dime.  He asked me why I had set him up."

"Because he disappointed me."