Raymond Sterling Comes For Lunch
Chapter 09 - Raymond Sterling Comes For Lunch
Raymond entered the diner the next day at noon.
He came without security, wearing a charcoal suit and a smile prepared for cameras. Reporters crowded the sidewalk. He shook hands as if arriving for a ribbon cutting.
Walter stood behind the counter.
Mack remained seated at booth seven.
Lucas waited near the pie case.
Raymond approached Walter.
“This has become unnecessarily ugly.”
Walter poured coffee.
“You made it ugly before anyone saw it.”
Raymond offered a new agreement. Sterling would withdraw the immediate transfer, pay every debt, renovate the diner, and preserve the name. In exchange, Walter would lease the underground access rights for ninety-nine years.
Mara reviewed the pages.
The lease allowed Sterling to condemn the structure after construction vibrations made operation “commercially impractical.”
Same destruction.
Slower language.
Walter slid the papers back.
“No.”
Raymond looked toward Lucas.
“Tell your father what happens when the bank calls the loans.”
Lucas stepped forward.
“The loans were purchased by a Sterling shell company.”
Raymond’s expression changed.
The Saints’ accountant had traced them. Sterling bought Walter’s medical debt, accelerated interest, and engineered the default used to justify intervention.
Lucas continued.
“I gave investigators the emails.”
Raymond’s smile disappeared.
“You signed the deal.”
“Yes.”
“You think betrayal will make them forgive you?”
Lucas looked at Walter.
“No.”
The honesty unsettled Raymond.
Forgiveness could no longer be used as leverage.
Sheriff Brooks entered through the front door with two state investigators. They served Raymond with warrants relating to forgery, elder coercion, bank fraud, and obstruction.
Reporters surged against the windows.
Raymond looked at Mack.
“This is your victory?”
Mack remained seated.
“No.”
He pointed toward Walter.
“It’s his lunch rush.”
The cook rang the service bell.
Walter lifted the order.
“Burger and fries!”
May you like
For the first time in three days, the diner moved like a diner again.
Raymond was escorted outside while customers applauded only after Walter asked them not to block the aisle.
