Gas Lamp Quarter
Rex
Downtown San Diego was busy. I enjoyed the drive and parked in a lot near the sports bar. Theo said Cameron would be inside, so I walked in the place and rounded the bar. Cameron was focused on the television anchored overhead.
I glanced at the screen, “Horses, not a bad choice.”
The tension in the air was instant, but there wouldn’t be a problem unless Cameron decided to have one.
“What do you want?” he sipped his drink. “If you’re here about Laura, I haven’t talked to her.”
“She cares about you,” I told him.
Cameron ignored my statement. He motioned to the bartender. I told the guy to hold off because I wanted to have a conversation before the next round.
Cameron slumped on his stool and sighed, “Laura cares. Good to know, but she never got over you.”
Laura was mine, but I didn’t want to bring raw emotion into it. “I’m here to help,” I replied.
Cameron turned his attention to the screen when the next race started. “I’m fine, Rex, go back to your office, exotic bar, or wherever you spend your damn time.”
I could’ve responded to his comment, but I decided to give him a pass. Hell, I didn’t like him either.
I studied the screen. “I hope you bet on Marauder.”
Cameron laughed, “You don’t know anything about racing. He’s losing ground with each second.”
He was about to say something else, but the horse gained momentum. He raced inside and galloped past the other horses. Cameron was silent while Marauder was neck and neck with the lead horse, Phantasm. The announcer’s voice boomed the second Marauder dashed across the finish line.
Cameron glanced at me, “Do you bet?”
“No, it was pure luck.”
He motioned to the bartender again, “That was the best guess I’ve ever seen.”
“I understand you bet quite a bit.”
“I’m stable. My bills are paid. How I spend money isn’t anyone’s concern. Do you honestly think I conned Laura? I wasn’t after her cash,” he grumbled. “My boss is an asshole. Her father is too. Good luck dealing with him.”
Cameron’s mood wasn’t the best. I wanted to keep my promise to Laura, so I tried a different approach. “I’m here about your promotion.”
“Yeah, like that will happen,” Cameron slumped over his drink. “I started working for Winston Crane right after college. It was years of taking on the projects no one else wanted and traveling every fucking where to expand the business. So, he finally said I was up for a promotion, not an annual raise, but the next best thing to partner. All I needed to do was complete the deal and keep Laura happy. I’d never thought my professional career would depend on my relationship with her, but Crane is friends with her father. Laura probably told him what happened, so it’s a matter of time. I’ll be fired soon.”
“I spoke to Laura’s old man. His views are slanted when it comes to his daughter. I can’t say we’re on good terms, but I asked for a favor. Your boss will speak to you this afternoon. You’ll want to be in the office to hear what he has to say,” I left my bar stool.
“Why would you do this?” Cameron didn’t trust me.
The feeling was mutual, but I gave him an explanation. “Laura is upset. I want to make sure she feels safe.”
Cameron nodded to acknowledge my calm warning. “Thank her for me.”
“I will,” I motioned to his drink. “Go easy. Good luck.”
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