up and prepared to leave. His employees never worked a moment longer than they had to. Today’s haul included a dozen rings, bracelets, chains, medallions, and four gold teeth. He weighed the items collectively and instantly knew he had netted more than $5,000 today.
Not bad. The economy’s not shitty for everybody
, he thought.
The Gold Mine was notorious for paying less than the other gold business in town, but most of the customers were desperate and didn’t consider comparing prices. They typically needed quick cash, and Moon Pie was happy to exploit their desperation. He knew that once someone walked in, he or she was ready to sell, and some money was better than nothing. But not all were down on their luck. Many wealthy wives cashed in jewelry for mad money, and divorces always created a general abandonment of sentimentality.
Through the one-way mirror built into his office wall, Moon Pie watched his favorite employee, Bailey, walk toward his door. She wasn’t the most productive, but she was the bestlooking. Moon Pie had his sights set on her the day she applied. Bailey was twenty-four years old and had been forced to drop out of college to take care of her sick mother, who had just recently passed away. A three-year battle against leukemia with no health or life insurance had left Bailey broke. Moon Pie had tempted Bailey with all sorts of side offers for financial assistance, but she never took the bait. Her redneck boyfriend was jealous of anyone who looked at her, and he had threatened Moon Pie early on. That wasn’t smart, and the boyfriend soon realized it.
Bailey didn’t know everything Moon Pie was into, but she knew he was of no account. She planned to leave the first chance she got. She had applications out all over town, but things just weren’t happening for her. She felt like she was stuck in the mud and couldn’t get out.
“Do you need anything else?” Bailey asked as she stuck her head inside his office door.
“Wanna go to dinner tonight?” he asked as he bagged the gold jewelry.
“You know I can’t.”
“I’m thinking sushi,” he said, ignoring her rebuff. He squirted antibacterial spray on his left palm and then vigorously rubbed together both hands. Moon Pie left the gold teeth on his desk. They gave him the willies, so he decided to see how other people would react. He arranged them into a smile.
Bailey was hungry, and ramen noodles were most likely on her menu.
“Sounds good, but you know I can’t. I’m leaving, if there’s nothin’ else for me to do.”
“I got sump’n for you to do.”
“Ethan, please.” Bailey used his real name to emphasize her displeasure.
“When you gonna dump that piece-a-shit loser and go out with a real man—someone who knows how to treat a lady?”
Bailey wanted to say, “I’ve already broken up with him, but I can’t get rid of his sorry ass,” but she knew it would be harder to explain than that. He had promised her severe pain if she didn’t come back to him.
“Look, babe, I’m going to North Alabama in a few days to pick somethin’ up. I may need you to drive me so I can work on the way. Strictly business, and it’s important,” Moon Pie said.
“What about Levi? Can’t he go?” she asked.
Levi Jenkins was Moon Pie’s half brother from another mother. His desire was to be Moon Pie’s right hand, but he hadn’t proven himself capable so far.
“That peckerhead got arrested yesterday in Tuscaloosa. I don’t know how quick I can get his sorry ass out…or even if I really wanna get him out,” he said with a glint of anger in his voice. It was just a quick glimpse of his well-known two-foot-wide mean streak, but it was unmistakable.
Bailey knew she had to get out of this toxic environment. She regretted having borrowed money from Moon Pie to pay her mother’s funeral expenses, but she’d had nowhere else to turn. She exhaled deeply. The only thing she liked about the Gold Mine was Levi. He treated her with
Not bad. The economy’s not shitty for everybody
, he thought.
The Gold Mine was notorious for paying less than the other gold business in town, but most of the customers were desperate and didn’t consider comparing prices. They typically needed quick cash, and Moon Pie was happy to exploit their desperation. He knew that once someone walked in, he or she was ready to sell, and some money was better than nothing. But not all were down on their luck. Many wealthy wives cashed in jewelry for mad money, and divorces always created a general abandonment of sentimentality.
Through the one-way mirror built into his office wall, Moon Pie watched his favorite employee, Bailey, walk toward his door. She wasn’t the most productive, but she was the bestlooking. Moon Pie had his sights set on her the day she applied. Bailey was twenty-four years old and had been forced to drop out of college to take care of her sick mother, who had just recently passed away. A three-year battle against leukemia with no health or life insurance had left Bailey broke. Moon Pie had tempted Bailey with all sorts of side offers for financial assistance, but she never took the bait. Her redneck boyfriend was jealous of anyone who looked at her, and he had threatened Moon Pie early on. That wasn’t smart, and the boyfriend soon realized it.
Bailey didn’t know everything Moon Pie was into, but she knew he was of no account. She planned to leave the first chance she got. She had applications out all over town, but things just weren’t happening for her. She felt like she was stuck in the mud and couldn’t get out.
“Do you need anything else?” Bailey asked as she stuck her head inside his office door.
“Wanna go to dinner tonight?” he asked as he bagged the gold jewelry.
“You know I can’t.”
“I’m thinking sushi,” he said, ignoring her rebuff. He squirted antibacterial spray on his left palm and then vigorously rubbed together both hands. Moon Pie left the gold teeth on his desk. They gave him the willies, so he decided to see how other people would react. He arranged them into a smile.
Bailey was hungry, and ramen noodles were most likely on her menu.
“Sounds good, but you know I can’t. I’m leaving, if there’s nothin’ else for me to do.”
“I got sump’n for you to do.”
“Ethan, please.” Bailey used his real name to emphasize her displeasure.
“When you gonna dump that piece-a-shit loser and go out with a real man—someone who knows how to treat a lady?”
Bailey wanted to say, “I’ve already broken up with him, but I can’t get rid of his sorry ass,” but she knew it would be harder to explain than that. He had promised her severe pain if she didn’t come back to him.
“Look, babe, I’m going to North Alabama in a few days to pick somethin’ up. I may need you to drive me so I can work on the way. Strictly business, and it’s important,” Moon Pie said.
“What about Levi? Can’t he go?” she asked.
Levi Jenkins was Moon Pie’s half brother from another mother. His desire was to be Moon Pie’s right hand, but he hadn’t proven himself capable so far.
“That peckerhead got arrested yesterday in Tuscaloosa. I don’t know how quick I can get his sorry ass out…or even if I really wanna get him out,” he said with a glint of anger in his voice. It was just a quick glimpse of his well-known two-foot-wide mean streak, but it was unmistakable.
Bailey knew she had to get out of this toxic environment. She regretted having borrowed money from Moon Pie to pay her mother’s funeral expenses, but she’d had nowhere else to turn. She exhaled deeply. The only thing she liked about the Gold Mine was Levi. He treated her with
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