Final Notice, page 26
If the room had been bugged to capture corporate secrets, it was an utter failure, as the majority of audio captured would have been heavy breathing and a number of other unintelligible but completely understandable sounds. The author was tempted to insert *** as a lot of time passed without much else happening; however, the episode ended with an extremely consequential discussion.
Both Jennifer and Vijay were exhausted and hungry. They had also missed “last call” at the hotel restaurant, which either meant going out, or calling for room service and possibly exposing their tryst. Vijay helped make their decision. “Will you marry me?”
The newly engaged couple, attired in matching, plush Four Seasons’ robes and nothing else, ate a sumptuous late supper accompanied by a bottle of pleasingly bubbly Veuve Clicquot and discussed their plans. Jennifer wanted to announce their engagement immediately and continue to work at KKL. She would insist on living in Boston and she was pretty certain that J. Edward wouldn’t have a problem with that. Vijay, the scientist and mathematician, discussed the logistics of their wedding – halfway ’round the world; and all he had to do to convince Jennifer of his idea was to describe an Indian wedding.
Despite the late hour in Quincy, it was three hours earlier in California, so she called her parents and told them to get ready to apply for an Indian Visa. The late hour in Quincy also made it possible for Vijay to call his family in Mumbai and tell them the news. They finished their meal and returned to the bedroom to resume the unintelligible noises, interspersed with a number of “I love you”s.
***
Kansas City, Missouri. Zoe Brouet had heard the news last night and she knew that Dr. Turner had been wrong. And that made her wrong, but what could she have done about it? How could she know that McAdam was meeting with Creud, Lawnley and Wooley? If she had, would she have been able to stop the killing? And the answer to this last question was possibly yes, or maybe that was 20/20 hindsight. But given the hard feelings between most of the Senate and McAdam, and given the stature of the four participants, it wouldn’t have been completely out of the question to provide some security for the meeting. One thing for sure was that the problems would become bigger when the VT2 was released in a full rollout. Vijay told her about the strong demand based on a few newspaper articles. If, rather, when the news got out about McAdam, the message would be clear: When you know you will die shortly, you can kill and die as an innocent man or woman. Her gut told her that this might be a game changer.
And then, her desk phone rang, and it was Hawke, her boss, wanting to see her.
Eric Hawke was not happy. He played ‘Cover Your Ass’ with capital letters and he was an all-star at it. He lashed out at Zoe for being soft on VitalTech and for allowing things to get out of hand. She countered by saying that VitalTech had complied 100% with the court order and was doing everything they could. She asked, “If John McAdam was diagnosed by his doctor, as opposed to a watch, as having 20 days to live, what could we do? Doctors don’t have to tell us anything unless they believe the person is a threat. We knew McAdam had a gun and we knew that he received his Final Notice at the same time he did, but his Doctor rated him as a low risk. I even called his doctor to ask him personally.”
Hawke asked what the doctor told her, and she repeated what Turner had said, that “He was more at risk of being killed than killing.”
Zoe then said something that made Hawke sit back and think. “The difference between that watch and a doctor’s prognosis is that doctors will never give you anything very specific, and, in most cases, they try to give you some hope. Therefore, it’s not as definite or real as saying ‘you have 20 days to live.’ There is no hope when that watch tells you it’s over. But there’s nothing illegal about it. In fact, since the watch has the capability to predict death, suppressing it may actually be considered illegal.”
Hawke’s demeanor changed. “I’ll talk with legal and see if there’s anything else we can do, but you’re probably right. And the fact is, we have no idea how many people, if any, have killed someone because they knew they were going to die shortly. You did everything you could. Thanks.”
***
Pasadena, California. Vince had walked the streets for hours the past night and he was out for so long that Trudi was fast asleep when he got back. His recent searches for the two guys were unfruitful and he feared that he wouldn’t find them in time. As he walked, he thought about the reality that he only had 28 days to live. How could it be? He was only 70. He and Trudi were supposed to have a lot more time together to enjoy each other … time they never had while he was working. What about 70 being the new 50? As his eyes misted, he wondered, “What will she do?” Financially she’d be fine, and everything was in order insofar as wills, insurance and instructions. He hadn’t thought about dying before. It was really hard to take in. The VT2 was supposed to be highly accurate and it had given him 30 days, which was now 28 … or was it 27? He needed to tell Trudi, prepare her, but what if the Rabies treatment worked? He decided to wait a little longer to tell her about his Final Notice death sentence.
Vince was up early and was hastily making coffee when Trudi came in. “What time did you get back last night? I didn’t hear you come in or come to bed.”
“I don’t know. Maybe midnight.”
“So why are you up so early?”
“Are you kidding? It’s pick up the gun day!”
Trudi didn’t understand why he was so excited, but she was happy to see him happy for a change. “Aren’t you supposed to see Dr. Malindra again to follow up after your last shot yesterday?”
“Damn. Thanks. I can do it after I get the gun.”
“I suggest you do it before you get the gun in case someone breaks into the car.”
“Do people break into Prius’s? Good idea. I’ll do that.”
Fifteen minutes later Dr. Sawyer’s office called to request another appointment for Trudi. She thought about the expression “bad news comes in three’s” … “So there’s the rabies, the shooting, and I wonder if I’m about to get the third?”
Vince went to Huntington to see Dr. Malindra, who wanted to draw blood after the last shot, as a final baseline. Vince was too excited to even think about his situation and immediately headed out to Turner’s Outdoorsman.
A different woman, Angie, was in the handgun department when he arrived with his receipt. She checked it carefully, checked his ID, and had him sign and date her records. He asked her to take him through the loading, firing and cleaning operations one more time. It was early and the normal crowds hadn’t arrived yet, so she patiently showed him how to operate his gun. The gun came in a nice box and had full and easy to understand instructions. She asked if he needed ammo or anything else, but he told her he was all set.
On the way home, he kept glancing at the box on the passenger seat, dangerously running outside his lane a few times. He brought in his new prize and tried to get Trudi’s interest, but she was too busy getting organized for dinner that evening. Even with Vince’s excitement, he guiltily realized that he needed to pitch in and help.
Trudi had decided on an American-style dish, roasted salmon encrusted with pistachio nuts, as the main course. For a starter, she chose Nori-Bean Lettuce Wraps, a vegan dish from her favorite vegan chef, Julie Morris. She and Vince alternated between eating vegetarian or vegan four to five days a week, and chicken or fish in between; and she liked introducing people to things that they might not normally eat.
Vince made sure there was beer for Rueben and white wine for Doris. He suspected that neither Qasim nor Rasha drank alcohol, and he knew the Khans didn’t, so he checked to make sure they had a good supply of fruit juices, Perrier and soft drinks. Trudi heard him yelling and swearing in the garage and went running out to see what happened. He had dropped a bottle of orange juice and it had smashed on the floor. She was very surprised that this would bother him so much. He was usually calm, even when things got rocky.
“Are you OK?” she asked.
“No!” he screamed back.
Trudi actually backed up a step at his reaction. She was afraid
to ask but did anyway, “Are you feeling OK, honey?”
Vince had regained his composure and apologized. “I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t sleep so well.” To some extent, that was true. Vince was excited about getting the gun and he did wake up a few times. “I’ll take a nap if there’s time.”
Trudi agreed and encouraged him to do just that. His outburst worried her, as it was ongoing proof that he was infected.
After lunch, Vince took a nap and Trudi went about prepping for dinner, but her bright enthusiasm for the evening was overshadowed by her doctor’s call and Vince’s outburst. Vince woke when Trudi emerged from taking a shower as she readied herself for the evening.
“Hello, sleeping beauty.” She tried to sound cheerful. “You must have really needed that. You slept for almost four hours.”
Vince was groggy from his long nap and mumbled an affirmation. “I’ll jump in the shower and shake the cobwebs off.”
***
The Melhos arrived at the stroke of 7:00. Perhaps it was Qasim’s taxi training or maybe Qasim was just one of those people who was always on time. It was hugs all around, after Vince had relieved Rasha of the sacred Syrian cheesecake. Just as they were settling onto the couch, the doorbell rang, and it was the Khans. Trudi led them into the living room and introduced Alma and Ahmed to the Melhos. Vince got their drink orders, three orange juices and one apple juice, and left them with Trudi, who explained to the Khans how she and Vince had met Qasim and Rasha. The doorbell rang again, and Trudi returned with Doris and Rueben, again introducing Rasha and Qasim. “This is the couple we told you about ... heroes, both of them!”
Vince returned and after welcoming the Martinezes, asked if it was beer and white wine or something else. When he returned with their drinks, as well as the predictable red wine for Trudi and himself, they all settled in and began a lively conversation – about their lives, children and latest happenings in the world and neighborhoods; but for the Khans and the Martinezes, all they wanted to hear about was Rasha’s school shooting. Trudi excused herself to get dinner ready while Rasha gave everyone a very modest overview. Vince prompted her a few times to tease out some additional details, and Rueben mentioned that he knew Jeff Sykes, the officer who shot the shooter. He said it was universally accepted amongst the local police that Rasha’s quick thinking saved a lot of lives.
Doris and Alma grabbed Rasha by the arm as they excused themselves to offer help to Trudi, giving both Ahmed and Rueben another chance to ask about the attack on Miles and Vince, and to get Qasim’s view. Vince gave Qasim a look that said, “Don’t mention the rabies,” which he seemed to understand. Qasim downplayed his part and said he did what anyone would, which met with headshakes and doubts. They asked about his job as an Uber driver, which seemed to them a more interesting occupation than simply driving a taxi. Qasim explained the system to them and they were surprised to know that the drivers rated the passengers. The payment system and bonuses were also a surprise. Qasim liked it but confirmed that you needed to work very hard and put in long hours for very modest compensation. He added that many Uber drivers had other jobs as well.
Ahmed asked Rueben about a recent incident involving the Los Angeles Police and a report that speculated about excessive force and over-reaction. Rueben was aware of the incident and it made him a little uncomfortable, perhaps because it involved Middle Eastern victims. He agreed, however, that it was very possible that they over reacted. He explained that the situation was one that might have been part of a terrorist operation and the officers knew that if it was, split seconds separated them and others from life or death. It’s not always as black and white as the media makes it out to be. He had confidence in the LAPD’s investigation process and integrity and felt that an honest outcome would come out of it. That was more than he could say about some police departments.
Vince was very subdued during the conversations and he seemed relieved when Trudi, Alma, Doris and Rasha returned to tell them that dinner was served. Trudi’s Nori-Bean starter was a hit and initiated a conversation about vegetarian and vegan food. It turned out that all of them were, in fact, part-time vegetarians, partly as a result of their ancestral foods – beans, rice, cheese, flatbreads and tortillas – and partly for health reasons. Trudi intrigued everyone with her knowledge of “super foods” and the outsized health benefits they provided.
The earnest and animated conversation continued over Trudi’s signature dish of roast salmon with a pistachio crust accompanied by stir-fried, Indian-style asparagus and sweet potato medallions with fresh ginger and cinnamon. The exotic flavors seemed to lead to the topic of travel bans for people coming from select countries, which included Syria, and to Rasha’s and Qasim’s relief, everyone disagreed with the idea. The conversation was reminiscent of the one at the Khan’s a few weeks ago, but more mellow.
In a blatantly sexually-discriminatory fashion, the dinner plates were cleared by “the ladies” while the men continued the conversation about immigrants. Ahmed asked Qasim if he had encountered much prejudice, both in his job and life here in general. Qasim said that there was some, but it was very seldom and mostly minor. He’d had a couple of Uber passengers that were obnoxious, typically at night and with strong smells of alcohol. Rueben asked if he gave them bad ratings and they all laughed. They laughed again when he said, “Yes,” but Qasim was now serious. He explained that many of the drivers were immigrants; and when viewed by others based on their appearance, proficiency in English, and accents, it was obvious they were, which sometimes caused trouble. A number of them had passengers who were extremely aggressive and, in a few cases, even waved guns at them. Rueben expressed surprise, explaining that carrying concealed weapons in California was unusual, given the strict control of concealed carry permits. Qasim continued that he felt the rating system served as a warning for all the drivers, and it was his duty to use it to help them avoid potential problems.
Staying with guns but shifting the conversation, Rueben asked Vince if he had gotten his gun yet. This took both Ahmed and Qasim by surprise, and Vince, and probably Rueben, too, wished he hadn’t mentioned it. Vince said yes, and also underscored that the purpose was for protection. He shared that he had obtained a biometric gun vault that could be opened only by Trudi and himself. This was interesting to the guys and they liked that idea. Vince didn’t tell them about the concealed carry holster. Nor had he told Trudi.
They were rescued from the awkward conversation by Rasha’s beautiful cheesecake and coffee and tea. Ahmed asked if the cheesecake was vegan or vegetarian and they all laughed. The answer was vegetarian. The admiration for the cake’s appearance quickly switched to admiration for its flavor. It was a big hit, although Vince was secretly disappointed when offers of another piece were accepted by everyone, reducing his opportunity for leftovers.
Over dessert conversation, Vince belatedly thanked Qasim for asking his fellow Uber drivers to keep an eye out for the two guys and their pit bull. Rueben asked what they would do if they spotted them and Qasim explained that they were to call him; and he would contact the detectives handling the case. Vince added, “And he’d call me, too.”
Rueben asked Vince, “What would you do if he called?”
Vince knew where Rueben was going with this. “Nothing. It just keeps my hopes alive,” he replied unconvincingly.
Rueben persisted, “I hope you guys and your Uber colleagues don’t get involved with a vicious dog and two deadbeats. Leave it to the police.”
Qasim, said, “I agree, but our only chance is if the drivers call me first. Most of these guys won’t call the police to report a white American. They mostly come from places where the police are not their friends. I have the phone numbers of Detectives Lucker and Reed and they know me. I can call them, and I trust that they will respond.”
Vince slapped his hand on the table and emphatically demanded that he also be called. “I want to know too!” His demeanor and tone of voice raised eyebrows around the table, prompting Qasim to placate him, “Don’t worry, Vince. You know I will.”
Vince’s outburst cast a pall over the group and Rasha began the exodus saying that they needed to get back as their sitter was young and needed to be taken home. The others used the opportunity to make their excuses and the three couples left together, leaving Vince and Trudi to say good night, as their dinner party seemed to come to a screeching halt.
As they walked out to their cars, Rueben pulled Qasim to the side and implored him to only call Vince if he was sure that the police would be there. Qasim understood and assured him that he’d do that.
On their drives home, all the couples discussed Vince and his behavior. He had been withdrawn for much of the night and then agitated at the end. They were worried about him being so much out of character. Back in the house, Trudi was also worried, but she knew why.
While Trudi was, again, cleaning up the kitchen on her own, Vince went to the bedroom and removed the gun from the vault. He quickly checked to ensure there was a round in the chamber, the clip was full, and the safety was on, and promised himself that he and Trudi would take lessons soon. He fished out the hidden holster and wrapped everything up in a windbreaker. Unenthusiastically, he asked Trudi if she wanted any help in the kitchen and when she said no, reading his vibes, he said he was going for a walk and he’d take Miles out and let him in again when he returned.
Both Jennifer and Vijay were exhausted and hungry. They had also missed “last call” at the hotel restaurant, which either meant going out, or calling for room service and possibly exposing their tryst. Vijay helped make their decision. “Will you marry me?”
The newly engaged couple, attired in matching, plush Four Seasons’ robes and nothing else, ate a sumptuous late supper accompanied by a bottle of pleasingly bubbly Veuve Clicquot and discussed their plans. Jennifer wanted to announce their engagement immediately and continue to work at KKL. She would insist on living in Boston and she was pretty certain that J. Edward wouldn’t have a problem with that. Vijay, the scientist and mathematician, discussed the logistics of their wedding – halfway ’round the world; and all he had to do to convince Jennifer of his idea was to describe an Indian wedding.
Despite the late hour in Quincy, it was three hours earlier in California, so she called her parents and told them to get ready to apply for an Indian Visa. The late hour in Quincy also made it possible for Vijay to call his family in Mumbai and tell them the news. They finished their meal and returned to the bedroom to resume the unintelligible noises, interspersed with a number of “I love you”s.
***
Kansas City, Missouri. Zoe Brouet had heard the news last night and she knew that Dr. Turner had been wrong. And that made her wrong, but what could she have done about it? How could she know that McAdam was meeting with Creud, Lawnley and Wooley? If she had, would she have been able to stop the killing? And the answer to this last question was possibly yes, or maybe that was 20/20 hindsight. But given the hard feelings between most of the Senate and McAdam, and given the stature of the four participants, it wouldn’t have been completely out of the question to provide some security for the meeting. One thing for sure was that the problems would become bigger when the VT2 was released in a full rollout. Vijay told her about the strong demand based on a few newspaper articles. If, rather, when the news got out about McAdam, the message would be clear: When you know you will die shortly, you can kill and die as an innocent man or woman. Her gut told her that this might be a game changer.
And then, her desk phone rang, and it was Hawke, her boss, wanting to see her.
Eric Hawke was not happy. He played ‘Cover Your Ass’ with capital letters and he was an all-star at it. He lashed out at Zoe for being soft on VitalTech and for allowing things to get out of hand. She countered by saying that VitalTech had complied 100% with the court order and was doing everything they could. She asked, “If John McAdam was diagnosed by his doctor, as opposed to a watch, as having 20 days to live, what could we do? Doctors don’t have to tell us anything unless they believe the person is a threat. We knew McAdam had a gun and we knew that he received his Final Notice at the same time he did, but his Doctor rated him as a low risk. I even called his doctor to ask him personally.”
Hawke asked what the doctor told her, and she repeated what Turner had said, that “He was more at risk of being killed than killing.”
Zoe then said something that made Hawke sit back and think. “The difference between that watch and a doctor’s prognosis is that doctors will never give you anything very specific, and, in most cases, they try to give you some hope. Therefore, it’s not as definite or real as saying ‘you have 20 days to live.’ There is no hope when that watch tells you it’s over. But there’s nothing illegal about it. In fact, since the watch has the capability to predict death, suppressing it may actually be considered illegal.”
Hawke’s demeanor changed. “I’ll talk with legal and see if there’s anything else we can do, but you’re probably right. And the fact is, we have no idea how many people, if any, have killed someone because they knew they were going to die shortly. You did everything you could. Thanks.”
***
Pasadena, California. Vince had walked the streets for hours the past night and he was out for so long that Trudi was fast asleep when he got back. His recent searches for the two guys were unfruitful and he feared that he wouldn’t find them in time. As he walked, he thought about the reality that he only had 28 days to live. How could it be? He was only 70. He and Trudi were supposed to have a lot more time together to enjoy each other … time they never had while he was working. What about 70 being the new 50? As his eyes misted, he wondered, “What will she do?” Financially she’d be fine, and everything was in order insofar as wills, insurance and instructions. He hadn’t thought about dying before. It was really hard to take in. The VT2 was supposed to be highly accurate and it had given him 30 days, which was now 28 … or was it 27? He needed to tell Trudi, prepare her, but what if the Rabies treatment worked? He decided to wait a little longer to tell her about his Final Notice death sentence.
Vince was up early and was hastily making coffee when Trudi came in. “What time did you get back last night? I didn’t hear you come in or come to bed.”
“I don’t know. Maybe midnight.”
“So why are you up so early?”
“Are you kidding? It’s pick up the gun day!”
Trudi didn’t understand why he was so excited, but she was happy to see him happy for a change. “Aren’t you supposed to see Dr. Malindra again to follow up after your last shot yesterday?”
“Damn. Thanks. I can do it after I get the gun.”
“I suggest you do it before you get the gun in case someone breaks into the car.”
“Do people break into Prius’s? Good idea. I’ll do that.”
Fifteen minutes later Dr. Sawyer’s office called to request another appointment for Trudi. She thought about the expression “bad news comes in three’s” … “So there’s the rabies, the shooting, and I wonder if I’m about to get the third?”
Vince went to Huntington to see Dr. Malindra, who wanted to draw blood after the last shot, as a final baseline. Vince was too excited to even think about his situation and immediately headed out to Turner’s Outdoorsman.
A different woman, Angie, was in the handgun department when he arrived with his receipt. She checked it carefully, checked his ID, and had him sign and date her records. He asked her to take him through the loading, firing and cleaning operations one more time. It was early and the normal crowds hadn’t arrived yet, so she patiently showed him how to operate his gun. The gun came in a nice box and had full and easy to understand instructions. She asked if he needed ammo or anything else, but he told her he was all set.
On the way home, he kept glancing at the box on the passenger seat, dangerously running outside his lane a few times. He brought in his new prize and tried to get Trudi’s interest, but she was too busy getting organized for dinner that evening. Even with Vince’s excitement, he guiltily realized that he needed to pitch in and help.
Trudi had decided on an American-style dish, roasted salmon encrusted with pistachio nuts, as the main course. For a starter, she chose Nori-Bean Lettuce Wraps, a vegan dish from her favorite vegan chef, Julie Morris. She and Vince alternated between eating vegetarian or vegan four to five days a week, and chicken or fish in between; and she liked introducing people to things that they might not normally eat.
Vince made sure there was beer for Rueben and white wine for Doris. He suspected that neither Qasim nor Rasha drank alcohol, and he knew the Khans didn’t, so he checked to make sure they had a good supply of fruit juices, Perrier and soft drinks. Trudi heard him yelling and swearing in the garage and went running out to see what happened. He had dropped a bottle of orange juice and it had smashed on the floor. She was very surprised that this would bother him so much. He was usually calm, even when things got rocky.
“Are you OK?” she asked.
“No!” he screamed back.
Trudi actually backed up a step at his reaction. She was afraid
to ask but did anyway, “Are you feeling OK, honey?”
Vince had regained his composure and apologized. “I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t sleep so well.” To some extent, that was true. Vince was excited about getting the gun and he did wake up a few times. “I’ll take a nap if there’s time.”
Trudi agreed and encouraged him to do just that. His outburst worried her, as it was ongoing proof that he was infected.
After lunch, Vince took a nap and Trudi went about prepping for dinner, but her bright enthusiasm for the evening was overshadowed by her doctor’s call and Vince’s outburst. Vince woke when Trudi emerged from taking a shower as she readied herself for the evening.
“Hello, sleeping beauty.” She tried to sound cheerful. “You must have really needed that. You slept for almost four hours.”
Vince was groggy from his long nap and mumbled an affirmation. “I’ll jump in the shower and shake the cobwebs off.”
***
The Melhos arrived at the stroke of 7:00. Perhaps it was Qasim’s taxi training or maybe Qasim was just one of those people who was always on time. It was hugs all around, after Vince had relieved Rasha of the sacred Syrian cheesecake. Just as they were settling onto the couch, the doorbell rang, and it was the Khans. Trudi led them into the living room and introduced Alma and Ahmed to the Melhos. Vince got their drink orders, three orange juices and one apple juice, and left them with Trudi, who explained to the Khans how she and Vince had met Qasim and Rasha. The doorbell rang again, and Trudi returned with Doris and Rueben, again introducing Rasha and Qasim. “This is the couple we told you about ... heroes, both of them!”
Vince returned and after welcoming the Martinezes, asked if it was beer and white wine or something else. When he returned with their drinks, as well as the predictable red wine for Trudi and himself, they all settled in and began a lively conversation – about their lives, children and latest happenings in the world and neighborhoods; but for the Khans and the Martinezes, all they wanted to hear about was Rasha’s school shooting. Trudi excused herself to get dinner ready while Rasha gave everyone a very modest overview. Vince prompted her a few times to tease out some additional details, and Rueben mentioned that he knew Jeff Sykes, the officer who shot the shooter. He said it was universally accepted amongst the local police that Rasha’s quick thinking saved a lot of lives.
Doris and Alma grabbed Rasha by the arm as they excused themselves to offer help to Trudi, giving both Ahmed and Rueben another chance to ask about the attack on Miles and Vince, and to get Qasim’s view. Vince gave Qasim a look that said, “Don’t mention the rabies,” which he seemed to understand. Qasim downplayed his part and said he did what anyone would, which met with headshakes and doubts. They asked about his job as an Uber driver, which seemed to them a more interesting occupation than simply driving a taxi. Qasim explained the system to them and they were surprised to know that the drivers rated the passengers. The payment system and bonuses were also a surprise. Qasim liked it but confirmed that you needed to work very hard and put in long hours for very modest compensation. He added that many Uber drivers had other jobs as well.
Ahmed asked Rueben about a recent incident involving the Los Angeles Police and a report that speculated about excessive force and over-reaction. Rueben was aware of the incident and it made him a little uncomfortable, perhaps because it involved Middle Eastern victims. He agreed, however, that it was very possible that they over reacted. He explained that the situation was one that might have been part of a terrorist operation and the officers knew that if it was, split seconds separated them and others from life or death. It’s not always as black and white as the media makes it out to be. He had confidence in the LAPD’s investigation process and integrity and felt that an honest outcome would come out of it. That was more than he could say about some police departments.
Vince was very subdued during the conversations and he seemed relieved when Trudi, Alma, Doris and Rasha returned to tell them that dinner was served. Trudi’s Nori-Bean starter was a hit and initiated a conversation about vegetarian and vegan food. It turned out that all of them were, in fact, part-time vegetarians, partly as a result of their ancestral foods – beans, rice, cheese, flatbreads and tortillas – and partly for health reasons. Trudi intrigued everyone with her knowledge of “super foods” and the outsized health benefits they provided.
The earnest and animated conversation continued over Trudi’s signature dish of roast salmon with a pistachio crust accompanied by stir-fried, Indian-style asparagus and sweet potato medallions with fresh ginger and cinnamon. The exotic flavors seemed to lead to the topic of travel bans for people coming from select countries, which included Syria, and to Rasha’s and Qasim’s relief, everyone disagreed with the idea. The conversation was reminiscent of the one at the Khan’s a few weeks ago, but more mellow.
In a blatantly sexually-discriminatory fashion, the dinner plates were cleared by “the ladies” while the men continued the conversation about immigrants. Ahmed asked Qasim if he had encountered much prejudice, both in his job and life here in general. Qasim said that there was some, but it was very seldom and mostly minor. He’d had a couple of Uber passengers that were obnoxious, typically at night and with strong smells of alcohol. Rueben asked if he gave them bad ratings and they all laughed. They laughed again when he said, “Yes,” but Qasim was now serious. He explained that many of the drivers were immigrants; and when viewed by others based on their appearance, proficiency in English, and accents, it was obvious they were, which sometimes caused trouble. A number of them had passengers who were extremely aggressive and, in a few cases, even waved guns at them. Rueben expressed surprise, explaining that carrying concealed weapons in California was unusual, given the strict control of concealed carry permits. Qasim continued that he felt the rating system served as a warning for all the drivers, and it was his duty to use it to help them avoid potential problems.
Staying with guns but shifting the conversation, Rueben asked Vince if he had gotten his gun yet. This took both Ahmed and Qasim by surprise, and Vince, and probably Rueben, too, wished he hadn’t mentioned it. Vince said yes, and also underscored that the purpose was for protection. He shared that he had obtained a biometric gun vault that could be opened only by Trudi and himself. This was interesting to the guys and they liked that idea. Vince didn’t tell them about the concealed carry holster. Nor had he told Trudi.
They were rescued from the awkward conversation by Rasha’s beautiful cheesecake and coffee and tea. Ahmed asked if the cheesecake was vegan or vegetarian and they all laughed. The answer was vegetarian. The admiration for the cake’s appearance quickly switched to admiration for its flavor. It was a big hit, although Vince was secretly disappointed when offers of another piece were accepted by everyone, reducing his opportunity for leftovers.
Over dessert conversation, Vince belatedly thanked Qasim for asking his fellow Uber drivers to keep an eye out for the two guys and their pit bull. Rueben asked what they would do if they spotted them and Qasim explained that they were to call him; and he would contact the detectives handling the case. Vince added, “And he’d call me, too.”
Rueben asked Vince, “What would you do if he called?”
Vince knew where Rueben was going with this. “Nothing. It just keeps my hopes alive,” he replied unconvincingly.
Rueben persisted, “I hope you guys and your Uber colleagues don’t get involved with a vicious dog and two deadbeats. Leave it to the police.”
Qasim, said, “I agree, but our only chance is if the drivers call me first. Most of these guys won’t call the police to report a white American. They mostly come from places where the police are not their friends. I have the phone numbers of Detectives Lucker and Reed and they know me. I can call them, and I trust that they will respond.”
Vince slapped his hand on the table and emphatically demanded that he also be called. “I want to know too!” His demeanor and tone of voice raised eyebrows around the table, prompting Qasim to placate him, “Don’t worry, Vince. You know I will.”
Vince’s outburst cast a pall over the group and Rasha began the exodus saying that they needed to get back as their sitter was young and needed to be taken home. The others used the opportunity to make their excuses and the three couples left together, leaving Vince and Trudi to say good night, as their dinner party seemed to come to a screeching halt.
As they walked out to their cars, Rueben pulled Qasim to the side and implored him to only call Vince if he was sure that the police would be there. Qasim understood and assured him that he’d do that.
On their drives home, all the couples discussed Vince and his behavior. He had been withdrawn for much of the night and then agitated at the end. They were worried about him being so much out of character. Back in the house, Trudi was also worried, but she knew why.
While Trudi was, again, cleaning up the kitchen on her own, Vince went to the bedroom and removed the gun from the vault. He quickly checked to ensure there was a round in the chamber, the clip was full, and the safety was on, and promised himself that he and Trudi would take lessons soon. He fished out the hidden holster and wrapped everything up in a windbreaker. Unenthusiastically, he asked Trudi if she wanted any help in the kitchen and when she said no, reading his vibes, he said he was going for a walk and he’d take Miles out and let him in again when he returned.
