The Purple Patch - Missouri Valley College

Roberts went on, oblivious to the question. “You
see, Paul, ScienTel Pharmaceuticals fell into the wrong
hands: yours. June Morgan fell into the wrong hands:
yours. Last, but not least, Burt Stockton fell into the wrong
hands: yours. Did you have enough soap and water to wash
them?”
Normally, Jensen kept his emotions in check, but
due to the effects of the drinks of the previous four hours
his voice became belligerent: “HEY FUCK YOU, DAVE,”
he yelled at the intercom, “IT SURE AS SHIT WASN’T
MY FAULT THAT SCIENTEL SANK!”
Remaining calm and speaking matter of factly, Roberts
asked him if he remembered the Stockton trial.
“Sure I do,” Jensen said. “What of it?”
“Well, Paul, the what of it is that not only did I lose
a close friend in Burt Stockton, but my wife as well. June’s
asthma flared up when her boss told her about the company
closing down. Strongest attack she’d ever had. They
lost her and the baby I didn’t know she was carrying on the
way to the hospital. That, my friend, is the what of it.”
“Dave,” Jensen said. “I’m sorry . . . I didn’t know . . .”
Roberts cut him off: “THAT’S THE PROBLEM,
PAUL, NOBODY EVER KNOWS ANYTHING!” he
yelled. “However,” he continued, “there is one thing I do
know: the vault is hermetically sealed upon closing; I’ve
got too many important contracts in there. I’ve spared no
expense in keeping them safe. Even if someone were to
leave the lights on, they automatically go off in 15 minutes.”
“So Dave,” Jensen said to the intercom. “What
would you like me to do, wait here until Monday?”
“Don’t worry about Monday, Paul; every year I shut
down for two weeks over the holidays. To save money, I
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