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The door of the coffee shop two buildings down from Falau's apartment swung open with a hard push from Falau.
Entering the shop he ran his eyes over the room and saw Tyler sitting at the furthest booth. Tyler always placed himself in a position of power by facing the door and having his back to the wall. Nobody could sneak up on him from that position. Was it intentional, or was it just habit at this point for his friend to be on high alert?
Scanning his eyes over everyone in the room, Falau felt his senses were once again alive. He was running on instinct, and the sharpness of his mind was fantastic. The room was safe and he knew it. He knew the people who were the greatest risk, and he knew those who were not. He knew who had a gun and who didn't. He was back on track in every sense of the word, despite the difficulties of he'd witnessed.
"How are things going?" said the big man, sliding into a seat opposite his old friend.
"Things are always great when the world becomes a safer place overnight," smirked Tyler as he raised a cup of coffee, using it point at the TV set high above the counter.
The national news was showing a smiling man standing in front of a mountain of cocaine. He held up two automatic weapons and was awash in the flashes of camera bulbs exploding in his face. Across the bottom of the screen a banner with yellow letters surrounded by red, read: ‘Lt. Carlos Rivera of the National Police of Colombia makes the biggest drug arrest in the history of South America.’ A handsome man came back to the TV broadcasting live from Colombia. "More than 2000 kilos of cocaine and over 100 kilos of heroin were confiscated in the early morning hours at the Jet International import and export facility in Bogotá, Colombia. The result of this massive confiscation could limit the sales of drugs all over the United States and Europe."
"That's one happy cop,” said Tyler with a smile. He took a sip off his coffee and placed it on the table.
"National Police. I hear they are touchy about that kind of thing..." said Falau.
"That should put him on the fast track to the top command. He could be a good man to know if you're ever in that part of the world. Who knows what he could help a guy with in the future?"
Tyler was right. Rivera was now a major contact and someone who was willing to work with him if the price was right and if Falau could provide him with another big bust. If the judges were big on getting smugglers in Colombia, this was going to be an outstanding contact.
"Yeah he would be."
Tyler shifted in his seat and reached for his briefcase. Flipping the locks to open it, he removed a plain brown oversized envelope, the kind that most offices use for interoffice mail. He placed the envelope on the table and slid it across to Falau.
The envelope was thick, and sealed closed with red twine that linked around two red circles attached with string.
"This is for you."
Picking up the envelope , Falau opened the top and could see inside several small packs of money. All US currency, in denominations of $10, $20, and $100 bills that all looked used and dirty. There was no way they were counterfeit or had markings of any kind of sequential order. Nothing about the money would link him to the judges in any way. They were perfectly random.
“Thanks," said Falau, wrapping the red string around the circles again. "Feels good to be on the side of the good guys. I was starting to wonder if I was still one of the good guys now."
"Falau, there was never any doubt in my mind that you were still one of the good guys."
A large heavy-set waitress wearing a nametag reading Helen stood at the end of the table. "You want something to eat?" she grunted at Falau.
"Tell me something..." Tyler glanced up to read the nametag. "...Helen. Looking at this guy right now, would you say he is one of the good guys?"
"My name ain’t Helen. It's Ruth. I forgot my name-tag today. He’s a good guy if he leaves a good tip. Want coffee or food?"
"Coffee is fine,” said Falau with another smile.
"Great, I’m sure there will be a good tip on a $.99 cup of coffee,” moaned Ruth as she walked away from the table.
"See, even Ruth knows you’re one of the good guys, and you always have been. You’ve just had some tough times."
"Wish I could believe that. Maybe in time I can see things right."
"You can do it with us. If this is the work for you I've been told it's okay to give you more assignments. You wouldn’t exactly be part of the inner circle, but you would play a vital role in the success of the operation."
Falau looked down at the table and placed his hands behind his neck. He rubbed hard, as if he was trying to ease away a muscle knot.
"I don't know. I almost got myself killed down there. If not for some luck I would've failed."
"But you didn't. You succeeded. For whatever reason, you came out on top. That's all that matters. You're getting your chops back. You’re like a great jazz musician. You just can't pick up from where you left off after not playing for years and try to sit down with Miles Davis and knock out a few tunes. It takes time. I know you don’t like to talk about your past but you need to accept it. It’s who you are."
"I don't know what to tell you."
"Tell me you’ll think about it. No need to decide here and now. Just call me if you could use some work, even if it's only part-time." Tyler reach into the pocket of the suit jacket and pulled out a card very similar to the one he gave Falau before. The only writing on it was the phone number.
"Take care of yourself, my friend. Was great seeing you again," said Tyler as he stood up and placed his hand on Falau’s shoulder, squeezing it while looking down into his eyes. “Just don't wait too long if you want to be on the job. My bosses tend to like consistency, and to know what's going on all the time. I will hold the spot as long as I can. The fixer can’t take forever."
“Is that what the judges call me? The fixer.” Falau said with a wide smile.
“No. I am the fixer. I fix problems and I can’t take forever to get back to them.” Explained Tyler with a slight laugh. “Take care.”
Tyler patted Falau’s shoulder one last time and walked towards the door. Falau looked at the card in his hand and spun it between his fingers. Even with all the risk and Carla’s death, Falau was feeling better now than he had in years. The flashbacks had been gone for almost a week and his drinking had slowed. He felt like he had something to live for, and that was a feeling that had left him a long time ago.
"Where did your buddy go?" Ruth said, placing the coffee in front of Falau with a small splash. "Hun. He didn't even leave you with a few bucks to cover the cost of his coffee. Some friend he is."
Ruth rumbled away, her words echoing in Falau's ears. "Some friend he is." And she was right. He is some friend. The kind of friend that looks after you when you're at the worst point in your life. One who comes in and bales your ass out when you’re getting ready to end it all.
That kind of friend is a best friend.
Pulling the cell phone from his pocket the big man quickly dialed the number on the card, stopping Tyler right outside the coffee shop.
"Ya... Tyler."
"Falau. Stay there."
Falau shoved some money on the table and jumped up, moving to the door as fast as he could. Pushing the door open, he tried not to run to Tyler and cause too many eyes to look at his old friend. Falau detected at least two cars in the area he was sure Tyler would soon be followed by. Quickening his pace, he reached Tyler and caught his breath.
"One more assignment, just to see how things go."
Extending his arm, Tyler smiled as Falau shook hands with him. “Falau, I feel really good about this."
Suddenly they heard screaming from inside the coffee shop. Falau and Tyler turned to look, and saw Ruth crying and holding the hundred dollar bill Falau had left for her.
Falau shrugged his shoulders. "She earned it with her sunny disposition."