Landmark 2a. Run on the Banks
Leads to Bankruptcy
If you're stumbling upon this post for the first time, you're entering the narrative midway through its unfolding saga. Alternatively, if you've eagerly awaited the next episode, consider revisiting Chapter Index to refresh your memory.
Ranell breathed a sigh of relief. After enduring the frigid cold of Nunavik, the familiar sight of the massive runways at the Los Angeles International Airport, surrounded by a seemingly infinite sprawl of residential and commercial buildings stretching out to the horizon, brought him a sense of peace that he hadn’t experienced for weeks. He was home.
From long habit, he retrieved his cell phone and swiped the screens to disable airplane mode. He sighed again. Incoming messages were blowing it up. He checked his watch and grimaced. It was late in the afternoon. Whatever they want, it can wait until tomorrow. He imagined first taking a hot bath and then sipping scotch while savoring warm California breezes as he watched the evening roll in from the deck of his pergola.
He moved to replace his phone in his jacket, but a message in all caps caught his eye.
JOSEF, NEED YOU AT OFFICE ASAP. REFI FALLING APART!
Ranell stared at the screen for a long, quiet moment. Finally, with trembling hands, he dialed a number.
"Hi, honey! I just landed at LAX." He struggled, and failed, to keep his voice light.
He listened to the angry question and replied, "Nothing’s wrong, dear. I’ve just got to stop by the office for a little while before I head home.”
Ranell glanced furtively at the passengers sitting beside him in business class. Could they hear what she was saying?
“I’m sorry…” Ranell listened for an opening. “I’m sorry about dinner. You know why I’ve got to go in… you know everything is on the line here, right? I won’t be too late.”
As he pulled the cell phone from his ear, Ranell’s face pinched from the effort to control his emotions. She’d hung up on him.