Amidon - Human Capital

Drew Hagel was going to be late for the banquet. He knew it the moment he pulled out of the parking lot and saw the stationary line of traffic on Federal. Hed wanted to leave the office no later than five-thirty, allowing himself plenty of time to make the six-mile drive up to the historic village. The roads could be tricky at this hour, and finding a parking place near Country Day during a school function would be next to impossible. Thirty minutes would guarantee he wasnt late. In fact, hed probably get there early. That was all right, giving him some time alone with the Mannings. The invitation to join their table had been a piece of rare good fortune; he had every intention of savoring it.

But just after hed finished packing, there was a perfunctory knock on his office door and in walked Andy Starke. He seemed friendly enough as he performed his usual sly, loose-limbed greeting, though his eyes were ominously grave. They had been exchanging phone messages for the past weekor more accurately, Drew had been avoiding the other mans callsand now Starke had taken it upon himself to force the issue with a surprise visit. There was no escape. Starke had the look of a man owed serious money as he lowered himself into the chair opposite the big oak desk. Moments like these made Drew wish he hadnt let Janice go. Shed have sent Starke packing with little more than a ferocious look. She was smart and loyal, and shed learned the business under Drews father. Unfortunately, her loyalty hadnt extended to working without a salary.

I was just in the neighborhood, Starke said.

A low-voltage joke: His bank was two blocks away. It was only by careful maneuvering that Drew had avoided bumping into him on the street.

Been trying to get hold of you, he continued.

Sorry about that, Drew said. Things have been hopping.

Starkes expression briefly registered the offices sepulchral stillness.

Glad to hear that . Anyway, thought Id stop by and save you a call.

Drew nodded, ceding control of the conversation.

Hows Ronnie? Starke asked.

Good. Well, you know. Its getting to be something of a load.

She still working?

Shes going to try to give it another month.

And Shannon?

Great. Its her senior banquet tonight. In fact

Senior, Starke said, refusing to be rushed. That must freak you out.

I dont know if I feel too young to have one her age or too old to have babies on the way.

Starke nodded at this, his chin jutting in rumination, as if this were some nugget of profound wisdom. And then he got down to the matter at hand.

So. Drew. I was sort of under the impression we were going to get us some of that long green last week.

Andy, what can I tell you. This lawyer in New York is dicking me around on an escrow.

So whats the deal?

Next week, Drew said before hed really thought about his answer.

Starke began to nod, that long jaw still jutting.

Next weeks good. Its not last week, but then again its not the week after next. He sighed. You know my problem here, right?

Drew nodded. Starke told him, anyway.

This is the third month youve missed. Bells and whistles time. Sixty -day delinquencies are supposed to go to Collections. Ive held them off this far but

Ive got about five sales in the works. Honestly. Tell them that.

I have been telling them that.

Andy, come on. This is me youre talking to.

Starke didnt appear to take much comfort from this information.

So I can tell them next week for sure?

Yes, Drew said. Absolutely.

It was a minor lie; hed be able to give the bank its money in a little less than a month. Starke stared at him blankly, then gave a capitulating smile. They talked for a while about sports and the economy and Shannons decision to attend Oberlin. Although the tone was friendly, Drew couldnt help but feel there was something punitive in the way Starke lingered. Finally, he slapped the chairs weathered arms and stood, scowling for a moment, as if hed just eaten something disagreeable.

Hey, and Drew, for future reference? A note of offense had crept into his voice. A little respect. Return your calls.

Drew gave him a minute to clear the building before rushing from the office, his leisurely procession across town now set to be a mad scramble. As he rode the buildings groaning elevator, he fought off the temptation to be angry with Starke. The man was only doing his job. Hed been a good friend to Drew, arranging the loan and then its extension. And hed clearly been responsible for the banks leniency so far. Theyd known each other for the better part of a decade, working together on the financing for dozens of sales, meeting for regular drinks at Bills Tavern. Drew wished he could tell him how good everything was about to become, though Starke would be furious if he knew what hed done with the money. He would just have to keep stalling him for the next few weeks. After that Starke would be happy. The credit card people and the bursar at Oberlin; the contractors and the obstetrician. Everybody would be getting his due.

Drews pleasure at this thought evaporated when he saw the wall of cars at the parking lots exit. Traffic in Totten Crossing was getting worse with each season. Twenty years ago the only obstacle to traveling from one end of Federal to the other was a solitary flashing yellow, fooling no one as it winked with jaundiced indifference at the occasional drivers. Now there were a half dozen lights on the towns main street, programmed by a suite of remorseless Scandinavian software to slow everything to a sluggish crawl. As Drew waited for a space to open, he briefly contemplated a shortcut through one of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown, a route he remembered from boyhood bicycle journeys. But these streets had changed as well, reconfigured to be terminal, twisted into cul-de-sacs or blocked by steel security gates. Passing through was no longer an option.