Deadly Negotiations Read online

store close, I cherish it too much."

  "How much Nathaniel?” Daisy crossed her arms, resting them on her bulging belly.

  "Ninety dollars, and a watch." Daisy winced at the amount. She knew this would keep them enslaved to the bank for a long time. "We've a new born coming soon, and this old store is worth that much to you?"

  Nathaniel felt bad. "I'll make it work Daisy. I'll pay the money back and keep the store. I promise we'll have a good life, with fine things." Nathaniel said the words, but he felt they were a little hollow.

  "I hope so," was all that Daisy could muster; she ran crying into the back room, still shaking from the experience. She didn't trust Mr. Pike; he seemed evil and callous.

  The door to the store opened, striking the little bell, which cheerfully clanged into life. It was Meg, Daisy's sister. "Just on my lunch break and saw my Boss, Mr. Pike, coming out of the store. Did he buy a watch Nate?"

  "No he didn't." Nathaniel wasn't his cheerful self and Meg recognized his demeanor instantly. "What's wrong, are you two fighting?"

  "No, she's in the back, she'll tell you." Meg rushed to the back.

  After a while Meg returned to the store. She walked past Nathaniel without acknowledgement. She was almost at the door, when she spun with so much haste, she almost lost her balance. "You're a fool Nate, a damn fool. I work for this despicable man. He doesn't have a soul; he's the biggest spider in Halifax, sat in his web, the bank. He can't be trusted, he'll bleed you dry, mark my words." Before Nathaniel could respond, she was gone, slamming the door as she left.

  That evening, Daisy had worked herself into a panic. Her heightened state of anxiety triggered an unfortunate series of events. A dry mouth resulted in a short walk to the kitchen. The darkness of the night resulted in a misplaced step. A tumble on the stairs and a severe blow to the neck, meant Nathaniel would lose his wife and his child, a daughter.

  Nathaniel was distraught and spent the next day making arrangements and grieving. Meg tried to console him, but he was inconsolable. He closed the store for the day. At three o'clock in the afternoon, a loud tapping sound could be heard at the store's front door. Nathaniel stumbled to receive his unwelcome visitor, with tears still welling in his eyes. He pulled back the lace curtain to reveal Mr. Pike, the banker. He pointed at the handle impatiently. Nathaniel unlocked the door.

  Mr. Pike barged his way in unceremoniously. "Here's the paperwork, sign here," he said, offering an expensive fountain pen. In an unconscious state, Nathaniel grabbed the pen and scribbled his signature. "Good, I'll leave this with you, the watch better be nice." Mr. Pike slid a black, square frame, onto the glass counter of a display case. It contained the mounted body of a spider. The spider was coal black with a distinctive red marking, splashed across its bulbous abdomen. Nathaniel looked at the poor spider, pinned to a white contrasting board.

  "Do you even know what happened to my wife and my child last night?" he said grabbing the banker's elbow firmly.

  Mr. Pike pulled his arm from Nathaniel's firm grip. "You told me that you cherish this store. Sometimes the things you cherish will kill. Your store killed your family, now you have a watch to make." Mr. Pike grabbed the paperwork and shuffled his way impatiently out of the store.

  That afternoon, Mr. Pike was exceptionally rude to Meg. She visited Nathaniel after work and was informed of the conversation. They spent the evening talking.

  One morning, a few months later, the buzzer sounded on Meg's desk at the bank. She quickly scampered into Mr. Pike's office. "Do you know what's supposed to happen when I press this button Meg?" he said, with a sarcastic flip of his wrist.

  "Yes Sir, I need to come into your office."

  "Quickly, you need to come into my office quickly, that's the point. You don't have all day. Do you want this job?"

  "Yes!"

  "Yes what?"

  "Yes, Sir." Meg shrunk a little, hunching her shoulders.

  "Then act like you do, I could replace you easily. Now type this lot up and don't make any mistakes." Mr. Pike threw a pile of papers, containing his handwriting, across his desk. Meg gathered them up efficiently. She turned to leave but Mr. Pike wouldn't let her. "Before you disappear. When will that no good watchmaker brother-in-law of yours have my watch ready? He took my spider and I haven't seen him since."

  He usually comes into the Bank every Thursday night Sir, to deposit his payment on the loan."

  Mr. Pike's face reddened. "I don't give a damn about his payment habits. When do I get my watch and when do I get my spider back! Ask him, I want answers." Mr. Pike slammed his fist down onto the desk in pure frustration.

  "I will Sir. I'll see him tonight and ask him." Meg made her exit while she could.

  It was another two months before that fateful day arrived. The watch was now complete. Nathaniel visited the bank and waited patiently for Mr. Pike. Meg was excited that Nathaniel had managed to build the watch. Nathaniel was invited into Mr. Pike's office. "Come in, finally the day has come. This has been a long wait, I hope it was worth it."

  Nathaniel took a chair at the side of the large mahogany desk. He held items wrapped in a blue cloth. He carefully removed the cloth to reveal a square black frame. It contained the Black Widow spider. Nathaniel placed the frame upon the desk for inspection. An impatient nod of approval moved Nathaniel onto his next item, the watch. With keen anticipation, Mr. Pike stared at the cloth-covered shape, nestled within the watchmaker’s palm. Nathaniel removed the cloth and gently placed the watch upon his desk.

  The watch was outstanding, hand crafted to the finest quality. The face was inlaid with mother of pearl; a black onyx spider straddled the dial. A cut ruby represented the distinct mark usually found on the abdomen. The watch’s bevel tightly clasped a crystal face. Running down each side of the watch, was a very unique series of cylinders. They tucked neatly into the thick body of the watch. The cylinders were styled to look like spider legs. A black leather strap was held together at the back with a very unusual clasp. It sported the shape of the spider’s red marking.

  The watch was stunning, unique and advanced, beyond any design of its day. Nathaniel had worked tirelessly, making the watch to perfection. He’d never made such a challenging watch before and was pleased with the result. Mr. Pike picked up the watch and studied it from every angle. A smile permeated his crusty exterior; he was pleased with himself. He’d managed to reposition the loan from a default position and negotiated the delivery of this unique watch. He was delighted with the result, he didn't have a lot of faith in Nathaniel, but this was an amazing piece of work.

  "Do you like it?"

  "Yes, now get out of my office. You have watches to sell, in order to repay your loan." Mr. Pike barked out his order and pressed his buzzer button. Meg arrived promptly to escort Nathaniel out. Nathaniel looked worried, but Meg took him by the arm and guided him to the bank's waiting area.

  "I think he liked it?" Nathaniel looked nervous.

  "I'm sure he did, now go home and get back to work. Your obligation has been fulfilled."

  Mr. Pike quickly placed the watch upon his wrist; it was a perfect fit. It looked elegant, smooth and modern. No watch in the world looked like this and he knew it. Over the next month clients and fellow bankers commented on his watch, inquiring where he got it. His watch became the envy of his friends and elevated his status in the banking community. News spread and he received a visit from the regional manager, from Montreal. An excuse was made to check the branch's deposit numbers, but the regional VP couldn't take his eyes off Mr. Pike's amazing watch. When asked, he would never tell where he got the watch. It didn't match any of the watches displayed in the store down the street. The quality alone meant it couldn't have come from Canada, perhaps Switzerland?

  In one particularly boisterous meeting, three bankers were sitting around laughing and smoking cigars. The buzzer summoned Meg. She entered Mr. Pike's office and peered through a cloud of smoke. He was trying to impress the neighboring bank heads. "Meg, come in so we can see
you." Meg walked towards the mahogany desk, until she could see Mr. Pike clearly. As she came to a stop, one of the bankers pushed his chair back from the desk and looked her up and down. She felt embarrassed as his eyes came to rest on her rear end.

  "What can I do for you Mr. Pike, Sir?"

  "Whiskey Meg, pour each of us a glass of whiskey, straight up.”

  "Meg knew the whiskey decanter was housed in a concealed cabinet at the back of Mr. Pike's office. She made her way to the cabinet and the men continued talking.

  "It's an amazing watch, Gerald."

  "Yes, I don't think you'll ever see anything like it. I would wager a weeks wages that you would never see this watch anywhere else in the world, other than on my wrist." He held his arm aloft and pulled at his sleeve to showcase the unique timepiece.

  The men craned their necks to see it more closely. Meg delivered the whiskey tumblers, relieved that she didn't spill a drop. The one banker continued to leer at her, smiling a sickening advance. Meg smiled back politely and beat a hasty retreat. As she was leaving, she heard Mr. Pike say, "I don't cherish much, but I do cherish