Chapter 6

I wasn’t sure what to expect from my evening with Corey, but it beat sitting in living room, getting drunk while watching reruns.

A half an hour later, I pulled up to the front of his house. There were a lot of cars parked out front, all of them newer models in the over seventy-thousand-dollar range. I parked my beat-up truck behind a red Maserati.

I walked up the front door and rang the bell. It opened immediately.

“Pete!” Corey greeted me warmly, apparently relieved at my presence. “Thanks for coming over. There’s a big crowd, but they’ll be leaving soon.”

He ushered me inside, closing the door behind me. I followed him through the kitchen and out the back door. A number of men and a few women were sprawled in chairs or standing around tables. They were loud and boisterous. A small bar had been setup where drinks were being served.

As I walked by, I overheard conversations, mainly bragging about deals and bonuses. It was a world I was happy I’d left behind me.