The Long Way Home

  ****

  Emilio came to his senses after Doug and Angela had left the building. He let the shoe box fall to the ground, spraying 20, 50 and 100 dollar notes in all directions and erupted in a huge whimpering mess.

  “Boss, boss, snap out of it man!” One of the bouncers was still shaking him gently. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Emilio fell backwards to the floor and immediately began scurrying backwards across the room, slipping on the money that was littered all over the carpet, and kicking it in all directions until his back was pressed up against the wall at the far side of the room. He looked up to see his two puzzled security men looking down at him concerned.

  “Boss don’t be scared, it’s us!” One of them was reaching down to help him up. Emilio swatted his hands away and pressed himself harder against the wall.

  “Are they gone?” He asked both of them.

  “Yeah, of course boss, just like you said. Jesus. Are you okay?” The smaller of the two asked.

  “Arrghh!!!” Emilio screamed. “Don’t say that! He can hear you.”

  “But they’re gone boss, both of them.”

  “Did you see him? Did you?” Emilio spluttered.

  “Yeah, ‘course boss. Dorky little guy with coffee stained pants. Who’d have guessed he had a shoe box with 10 grand inside?”

  “No you idiots! Did you see him?” Emilio yelled angrily as he pointed in the direction of where they were just standing.

  “Um, boss are you okay ‘cause you’re starting to freak us out, do you need to see a doctor or something? I mean who are you talking about? There’s no one else here except us.”

  “I mean the bright, white, eyes like fire, 8 foot tall with wings and a huge sword that was just spinning in front of him sort of all by itself, Angel.” He screamed the last word at them.

  “Man boss, what have you been smoking upstairs?”

  “I haven’t been smoking anything you idiots! He was right there!” Emilio screamed at them again. “He was standing right beside him when he took that shoe box out. It’s the money, it’s cursed. I don’t want it, get rid of it!”

  “The money’s not cursed boss, it’s your money now.” The evil henchman tried to calm him down.

  “Yeah, it’s the money that Angela owed you, remember?” The other bouncer added.

  “Is she gone too?” Emilio asked quietly.

  “Yeah boss. Do you want us to bring her back?” Evil henchman asked, somewhat confused.

  “No!” Emilio yelled. “I don’t want to see those two ever again. No-one is allowed to even go within a mile of them. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes boss.” Both of them chimed together.

  Emilio sat on the floor and began to cry like a young child. By the time the two bouncers could reach down to help him to his feet he was a huge slobbering mess.

  “C’mon boss.” The evil henchman said as he got Emilio to his feet. “Let’s get you to a doctor.”