Crime Writer Margot Kinberg

Dan waited with his co-workers as, one by one, they clocked in for the day. As the men shuffled along, he wondered where he’d be working today. City road crews could be sent nearly anywhere, especially during pothole season. Dan almost groaned out loud when he found out he was going to Blandon Avenue. It was a run-down street in a rundown area. Just about everything was boarded up except for a couple of pawn shops, a dilapidated thrift shop, and a payday loan place. There weren’t many places nearby for a person to get some food or sit down during breaks. Dan was sure he was being sent there as a punishment. He and his supervisor, Leo, had never gotten along, and yesterday, it had all come to a head.

‘I just want to know why I wasn’t promoted to crew chief when Ray was,’ Dan complained. ‘We have the same amount of seniority.’
‘Being a crew chief – well, it’s not an easy job. It’s more than just paving over potholes. You gotta work with your team, too. You’ll get there, but right now you just…you need a little more experience is all.’ Leo didn’t want to say out loud that Dan wasn’t a good team player.
‘So you’re not going to promote me?’
‘Look, next time there’s an opening, you can apply again.’
‘Yeah, and you’ll still turn me down!’ Dan glared at his boss and shoved a nearby chair as he stormed out.

Now, Leo watched as the road crews got into teams and went to their trucks. He shook his head a little as he watched Dan join his crew. Dan was definitely a loose cannon. Even some of the other guys had mentioned it. Leo hoped Dan would learn some self-control before he did something to get himself fired.

Dan and the rest of his crew got to the job site and started placing cones and signs to mark off the work area. He didn’t like the way some of the people around here acted when road crews were at work. Some of them honked, and some even threw the finger. Once or twice, Dan had thrown the finger back, but not so the driver could actually see it.

It was only eight o’clock, but it had already started to get hot. Several times, the crew members stopped to wipe their faces or take swigs from the cold water bottles they’d brought. The hot asphalt didn’t make things any easier. By eleven, the job was well under way. Dan looked up from his work to see a city vehicle pull up. He sagged a little when he saw that it was Leo. ‘I just wanted to stop by and see how everything’s going,’ Leo explained as he got out.
‘Everything’s fine’ Dan grumbled. Why couldn’t Leo just leave them all alone? Leo walked around the site, checking to see that things were going smoothly. ‘You don’t need to babysit us,’ Dan growled. ‘We’re getting the job done.’
‘Yes you are,’ Leo agreed. He spoke quietly to the other men, making comments and suggestions as he went. One or two of the guys had ideas, and Leo made notes. Dan fumed silently. He hated it when Leo checked up on them as though they were kids. The heat didn’t help his mood, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Leo was getting back at him by sending him to this rotten area. He couldn’t wait to find another job. Then he’d be treated the way he deserved.

Leo went back to his truck and climbed in. He had a few calls to make, and he decided it would be a good idea to keep an eye on Dan for a few minutes. He hadn’t liked the look on Dan’s face. By the time he’d finished, it was almost noon. He’d have a talk with Dan during the lunch break, but he’d sit in the air-conditioned cab a few more minutes first, maybe close his eyes.

The crew stopped and the men broke up to get some food and sit for a while. Dan couldn’t rest, though. The more he thought about things, the angrier he got. How dare Leo treat him that way? Dan knew what he was doing, and he didn’t need someone spying on him. Dan decided he’d do something about it. He walked halfway down the block, pretending he was going somewhere to eat. Then, he glanced around. Nobody was watching. He turned around and slowly made his way back up the street, keeping out of sight as he did. There was only one guy there – must be Leo inspecting things. Good. He was standing over the biggest pothole, looking down at it. When he was close enough, Dan leaned down and picked up a chunk of concrete that had been dug out to make room for the asphalt. He stood next to the pothole truck, hiding from sight. Then, as Leo bent his head to look at the pothole, Dan threw the concrete, hitting Leo in the back of the neck and knocking him into the hole.

As quickly as he could, Dan jumped into the truck and turned the machine on. Soon, asphalt poured slowly into the hole. When it was halfway full, Dan got out of the truck and walked over to the slab of concrete he’d used. He moved it out of the way so it wouldn’t be noticed. He was glad he’d kept his work gloves on.

Just then, the other crew members drifted back from their lunch breaks. ‘Hey, where’s Pedro?’ one of them asked.
‘He’ll be along,’ Dan said. ‘Let’s get back to work.’
The men were just starting up again when Leo’s truck door opened, and Leo stepped out. Dan’s face went pale, and his skin felt clammy as Leo walked over to the group. He felt sick as he thought of how similar Pedro and Leo looked when they were wearing their regulation gear.