Day 167: Mr. Magnus

Mr. Magnus arrives and discusses Dan's employment.

approximately 1500 words

         

"La Patte de Desie" 
Day 167
Mr. Magnus

         

         A light breeze whispered through the discouraged potted trees on the rooftop garden and sent chills prickling down Dan’s torso.  He shivered and checked his watch: 1:08, no, 1:09.  Where was this dude Magnus?  Dan clenched himself and thought about running back to his apartment for a jacket.

         Just as he was about rush off, the door opened, and a man stepped onto the rooftop.  He was tall, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, and he’d styled his pale, gray hair in a conservative pompadour, like the evangelist preachers who populated the religious channels on cable. His craggy features suggested youth or, perhaps, early middle age, despite his hair color.  Brown eyes and smile wrinkles revealed a man at ease with himself and the world.  He wore a navy blue, bespoke suit, complete with vest and a muted, maroon regimental tie in tight, Windsor knot.

         The man strode with confident steps on the wooden path, across the dried-up river of muddy sticks, past the googly-eyed dog planter, and into the area where Dan sat, waiting for him.  When he spoke, his clear baritone and precise diction held a faint echo of Harvard Yard.  “Good afternoon, Mr. Black. I’m Mr. Magnus.  Thank you for meeting with me.”

         Dan rose to shake his hand, but Magnus didn’t offer.  Nonpulsed, Dan rubbed thumb and fingers together and said “It’s my pleasure sir.” He gestured and added, “Shall we sit? And please, call me Dan.”

         Magnus scanned the chairs, selected the one that Dan had dusted off, and sat. “I trust you are enjoying your day off, Dan.” 

         Dan kept his face impassive and sat on the edge of one of the filthy chairs facing Magnus.  “To be honest, sir, I kind of missed reading the websites this morning.  I’ve fallen into kind of a routine.”

         Magnus nodded. “I read a couple of your summaries this morning, to try to get a feel for you. I could tell you enjoyed your work.”  He paused and a tight grimace bent his lips. “You have a rather interesting sense of humor.  Sardonic, if I may be so bold.”

         “I hope my work has been satisfactory, sir.”

         Magnus shrugged.  “Those summaries are not important. What’s important is that they show you are reliable and will do what is expected of you.”  He steepled his fingers and paused to gaze into Dan’s eyes.  “Do you find your work rewarding, Dan?”

         What the fuck was he supposed to say?  “I guess. I mean, it fills up my day and gives me something to do.”

         “Your compensation, then.  Do you think you are fairly compensated?”

         Were they going to cut him off?  He always suspected this job was too good to be true.  “Yes, sir. I’m more than happy with my job and the benefits.”

         Magnus nodded and leaned back.  Some of the tension drained from his voice as he said, “That was our objective, Dan. We gave you tasks that fit your skills and provided benefits to mold you into the kind of employee we value.”

         Dan crossed, then uncrossed his legs.  The idea that he was being “molded” sounded almost like a threat.  Creepy. He wished this dude would get the point.  He was beginning to feel like one of Desie’s cat toys.

         “Have you wondered about your duties, Dan?  About what purpose your employment serves?”

         Dan tried to relax. “Yeah, of course. I mean, the articles I review are kind of interesting, at least sometimes.  But there doesn’t seem to be any connection between them.  I mean, what’s the point?”

         “I told you the point, Dan.  Weren’t you listening?  The articles aren’t the point, they are part of the program.”  He cupped his hands over his mouth, sighed, and then said, “Perhaps it will help if I tell you a bit about me.”

         At last.  This asshole hadn’t even given him his first name.  Right now, he was just some dude from corporate.  What the fuck.  Even his name was bogus.  Mr Big, like that fooled anyone.  Dan kept his voice even. “I’m listening.”

         “Very well, then.  First, my name is not Magnus.  You don’t need to know exactly who I am, but I am your ultimate employer. Two generations ago, my great-grandfather emigrated from…well, from another country. He eventually came to work in the oil fields of Oklahoma. Through hard work and sacrifice, he built an immense fortune. Today, my family is heir to a fortune so vast that even I do not know its bounds. I own this building, for example, but it’s through so many intermediaries that my own attorneys cannot unsnarl the connections. I’m your employer, but not even the best forensic accountant could ever trace a connection between the two of us.”

         Dan fidgeted. The suggestion that a forensic account might look for a connection between them didn’t sound good, let alone that it would be impossible to find.  He’d already figured the dude was rich.  That explained a lot, but not anything relevant to Dan.

         Magnus continued, “My grandfather was an honest man, a Christian man, but, well, there were indiscretions. Missteps on his journey to wealth.  He was human, after all, and flawed.”

         Magnus clenched his jaws and his mouth squirmed, like he was fighting to spit out a foul tasting gob of bile.  “Another man, an evil man, has discovered those indiscretions.  He’s using them now to blackmail me, and my family.”

         Dan snorted. This sounded so fucking tacky.  “So call the cops. You’re rich.”

         Magnus shook his head. “The nature of those long-ago indiscretions are such that official attention would jeopardize everything.  Not just the fortune, but my family’s very right to exist in this country.  But the danger is even greater than merely to me and my family. The blackmailer isn’t content with money.  He wants us to be cruel to our employees.  That means the danger extends to others. The man threatens loyal, hard-working people who rely on the jobs we provide are at risk.  People like Tomas and Maria.”

         What the fuck was he talking about?  “Who?”

         “Tomas and Maria.  The couple who takes care of your apartment. They have a disabled child whose life depends on the insurance our company provides. Surely you know them.”

         Surprise made Dan lift his eyebrows. Who knew?  More to the point, why should it matter to him? “So why does the blackmailer care about them?”

         “That’s the point, Dan. He doesn’t care.  They are immigrants, so he hates them. There are many innocent people he hates. Our companies pride themselves on providing jobs with fair compensation to anyone gives honest labor. Like you, for example. The blackmailer wants us to be cruel, with special attention to groups he hates.”

         That opened a cold pit in Dan's belly. He leaned back and tried to stay impassive. “Okay. I get that he’s a bad guy. I even kind of get that you’re in a bind. Does this mean I’m going to lose my job?” 

         “I hope not, Dan. I sincerely hope not. As it turns out, it’s up to you. Everyone, my family, Tomas and Maria and their child, all our employees. You. Everyone's fate is in your hands.”

         That was just fucking bullshit. “You’re saying the fate of the world depends on those stupid summaries I’ve been doing?” What a load of crap.

         Magnus just shook his head. “No.  I already explained. The summaries have served their purpose.” He reached into his suit and pulled out an a bulky, unsealed envelope.  “Next Tuesday, at precisely ten in the morning, a man will arrive here, at this very rooftop. He will be expecting to receive a legal document granting him control of certain aspects of my family’s businesses.”  He placed the envelope on the table next to Dan. “Nested inside is an envelope containing the document this man needs to receive.”

         He stood and moved to survey the view from rooftop.  “Do you know why this rooftop is closed, Dan?”

         This was just getting weirder and weirder. “No. I never thought to ask. It’s been closed ever since I moved in.”

         “It’s been closed longer than that, Dan.  Nearly a year ago, there was a tragic incident here. The prior tenant of your penthouse committed suicide by jumping off this very rooftop.  It seems the railing wasn’t built to code, although that wouldn’t have stopped the poor woman from jumping. However, we permanently closed the garden as a safety measure.  Afterwards, we made sure Mrs. Dalloway took care of the woman’s treasured champion cat. I believe the animal now your companion?”

         Dan nodded.

         Magnus continued to gaze at the hospital across the street, not at Dan. “No one will be terribly surprised if someone else commits suicide by jumping off this rooftop.”  He gave the envelope a little nudge.  “If you happen to handle the inner envelope, you should wear latex gloves so you don’t leave fingerprints.”

         This was getting clearer by the second. “You expect me to be here. To give the blackmailer the envelope.”

         Magnus continued his inspection of Saint John’s. “I have no expectations.”

         Dan stood and straightened his back.  “I’m not going to push this guy off the roof. I don’t care if he’s the devil himself. I’m not a murderer.”

         This time Magnus did look at him. “Whatever gave you that idea, Dan? I’m just here to make sure you are with the program, that you understand your purpose.”  His jaws clenched and his eyes narrowed one last time. “If you have any needs, don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Dalloway. Taking care of you, protecting you, is her purpose.” He put the faintest emphasis on her. “I think that concludes our business.  It’s up to you if your work and our fair and just compensation will continue. Whatever you decide, it’s unlikely we will meet again. Meantime, enjoy the rest of your day off, Dan.”

         Without a another glance or another word, he departed.