"Hey, Elroy, I called three or four times this morning, but you didn't answer. You hear from Payne?"

Elroy Lewis was Payne's other full-time employee. He was a skinny man in his late forties with a roll of flab melting over his belt and yellow fingers from chaining Newport cigarettes. Lewis's dog, Coon, was sleeping in the middle of the floor. Coon, a lazy dog with bad hips, wagged his tail when he saw Frederick, but Frederick ignored him. Lewis put his elbows on the counter, and sulked.

"No, he didn't, and I gotta talk to you 'bout that. We got stuff to talk about."

Frederick stepped over the dog and made his way to Payne's office, doing a pretty good job of pretending everything was okay.

"Well, he called me last night, and said he was gonna give you a call. I guess he got busy with his sister."

"Goddamn, how long is it gonna take that bitch to die?"

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Elroy, sayin' something like that. She's his sister."

Payne Keller had disappeared eleven days ago without a word or note to anyone. When Payne turned up missing, Frederick fed Elroy a bullshit story about Payne's sister being T-boned by a drunk driver, but, truth was, Frederick had no idea. Payne's sudden disappearance terrified him. Payne could be anywhere and might say anything; Payne and his buddy, Jesus, confessing their sins.

I hope you're dead, you bastard. I hope your heart split open like a rotten grapefruit. I hope you put a gun to your head. I hope you're dead, and I hope to hell you didn't take me with you.

Frederick had decided to cover their tracks, and prepare for the worst. Elroy followed him into Payne's office.

"Well, I'm sorry about his sister, but it's goddamned rude, you ask me, him leaving without a word. The wife and I are going to her parents' next week. Payne knew I had that time off and said I could go."

Frederick rounded Payne's desk, took the keys from the top drawer, and flashed the big easy grin.

"Then go, Elroy. That's why Payne called last night, to ask if I'd cover for you. I said sure."

Elroy looked doubtful.

"You will?"

Frederick came back around the desk as a white Maxima pulled up to the self-service pumps. A teenage girl got out, looking confused by the pump. Frederick noted how Elroy stared at the girl.

"Heck, Elroy, I don't mind. You'd do it for me and we'd both do it for Payne. No problem."

Now Elroy looked guilty for being pissed off.

"Listen, when you talk to Payne again, tell him I wish the best for his sister."

"I'll tell him. You bet."

"I never knew Payne had a sister."

"You better see if that girl outside needs help. I gotta swing up by Payne's to feed his cats."