Robert thought.
“Bigger.”
Daniel noticed the answer.
“Not the same thing.”
“No.”
Robert watched him work.
“There are still good people.”
“Like who?”
“Plenty.”
“And bad?”
Robert laughed.
“I like my pension too much to answer that.”
Daniel finished the first shoe.
Robert lowered his voice.
“You want free advice?”
“Always.”
“Stay away from Victoria Langford.”
Daniel stopped brushing.
“Why?”
“Because she sees job titles before faces.”
Daniel said nothing.
Robert continued.
“She came in six years ago. Smart woman. Very smart. Brings in money. That's why nobody challenges her.”
“About what?”
“Little things.”
Robert shrugged.
“How she talks to drivers.”
“Receptionists.”
“Cleaning crews.”
“People she thinks can't hurt her.”
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
“Does management know?”
Robert gave him a tired smile.
“Management sees numbers.”
Daniel felt something uncomfortable.
His father saw numbers too.
Maybe not only numbers.
But enough.
Robert handed him ten dollars.
Daniel tried to return five.
“Keep it.”
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
Robert stood.
Then looked at the building.
“Some people forget the first Whitmore warehouse had dirt floors.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“Maybe somebody should remind them.”
Robert picked up his toolbox.
“Good luck with that.”
Chapter 6: Security
The following morning, Daniel returned.
This time, Victoria saw him before entering the building.
She stopped abruptly.
“You again.”
“Good morning.”
“I told you yesterday this wasn't appropriate.”
“You said you didn't like it.”
“I said you shouldn't be here.”
Daniel looked toward the sidewalk.
“Security said I wasn't blocking the entrance.”
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“Security works for the company.”
“Yes.”
“So do I.”
Daniel nodded.
“I figured.”
That answer made it worse.
Victoria pulled out her phone.
Ten minutes later, Marcus Hale came outside.
Marcus was fifty-three, muscular, shaved head, dark suit. He ran building operations with the seriousness of a man protecting a military installation rather than corporate offices.
Daniel had met him before.
Marcus had met Daniel too.
Once.
Three years earlier.
But Daniel had been wearing a tuxedo at a charity gala, standing beside Thomas Whitmore, and had kept a beard then. Marcus looked at the man in worn clothes and saw no resemblance.
“Sir.”
Daniel looked up.
“Yes?”
“You working here?”
“Yes.”
“Who authorized this?”
“A guard yesterday said I wasn't causing trouble.”
Marcus frowned.
“That isn't authorization.”
“Fair enough.”
Daniel began closing one polish tin.
Then Victoria emerged behind Marcus.
“Don't waste your time negotiating.”
Daniel looked up.
Victoria pointed toward the stand.
“Just get this out of here.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I can handle it.”
“He’s been bothering employees for two days.”
Daniel said:
“I haven't bothered anyone.”
Victoria turned sharply.
“Did I ask you?”
Marcus watched.
For the first time, Daniel noticed discomfort in his face.
Interesting.
Marcus did not immediately agree with her.
But he did not challenge her either.