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started. This shouldn’t take any longer than a few minutes. Let’s start with you, Pat. What’s cooking on your side of the street? Keep it short if you can.”
    â€œThere are two closings I’m working on. Then there are bills to be paid. I’ve looked at the books and we’re getting low on funds. We might last for about a month max. We need some green stuff fast or I’ll be working for nothing. We need about seventeen grand a month to cover salaries, utilities, office rent and general expenses. That’s a bare bones existence estimate. What do you think, Stan?”
    Rick looked at Stan. “How about it, Stan? Any ideas? Any prospects besides the two coming in tonight?”
    â€œNot really. This is a poor time of the year for our business. We’ve always come through this period in the past due to the heavy midyear transactions. Things might pick up later but Pat’s right. We need some sort of miracle to pull us out of this mess. This fall has been slow thanks to the goddamn poor economy. We just have to hang in there and keep our fingers and legs crossed. I guess I could take a second mortgage on the house, but that’s crazy economics, and I don’t think Helen would go for it.”
    Rick sat there thinking quietly for a second or two.
    â€œOkay, let’s leave it at that. We can’t do anything at the moment. I just wanted to warn you, Pat, that we may have to reduce your hours in the near future. There’s one ray of hope. I’ve just sold the Porsche to save the house. I didn’t want to mention it, but I had a house foreclosure warning served to me by the bank. I’m telling you this in confidence so please don’t spread it around. I could loan the business a few thousand to keep us afloat for an extra month, possibly into mid-January. I’ll keep the bank happy for a month ortwo which will give me a chance to get things together. Well, is there any other business we have to cover?”
    A motionless silence filled the room. Both Pat James and Stan knew how Rick treasured the sports car. They were aware this was a desperate action for him to take.
    â€œOkay, then, you are all dismissed on the grounds there are donuts to be disposed of.”
    Stan waited for Pat to leave the office, then he turned to Rick and said, “That was a nice gesture, pal, but don’t you think that was a hasty decision to make? We are in this together, you know.”
    â€œWhat other options do I have, Stan? Like you said, the car was expendable, and I could get quick cash for it. Anyway, who needs three cars? For that matter, why do
I
need two cars? Plus, I could always put the house on the market, but that would be the last resort.”
    â€œOkay Rick, let’s get on with business. We have to make plans as to where we are taking the two clients that are coming in tonight. When do we see them?”
    â€œI’m not sure. Better talk to Pat about that. I still have to find someplace for Sara to live. I know there’s nothing in the system, and I haven’t heard anything on the grapevine. How about you, Stan? Have you heard anything?”
    Stan looked hard at Rick and then erupted, “Holy shit, Rick! You asked me that just yesterday! You know there’s nothing out there. I would have thought you had more crucial business circumstances to worry about. She’s old enough to look after herself. For Pete’s sake, wake up and get yourself a life! Let’s get on with it!”
    Stan stormed out of the office leaving Rick stunned and speechless. This wasn’t like Stan. He had always kept his cool in all sticky situations, even when they had been under fire inDesert Storm. Of course he thought Stan was right. There
were
other things more important to think about. However, he knew now he was more interested in Sara than he had previously thought. Come hell or high water, he wanted her permanently for himself.
    He pulled