“Once the opening is over,” the commander continued, “you’ll be free to go. Your employment here is, to say the least, terminated.”
“You can’t do that,” the manager said, shaking his head. “I have a contract that guarantees me due notice as well as a share of the casino.”
Phule scowled and shot a sidelong glance at the casino owner.
“Do you have a copy of that contract?” he said. “I’d like to see it.”
Huey produced the document from a drawer in his desk and passed it to the commander, who moved closer to a light to study it.
“Why did you do it, Huey?” Gunther said, the hurt showing in his voice. “Wasn’t the deal we had between us enough for you?”
“Hey, nothing personal, kid,” the manager said. “It’s just that my mom raised me greedy. The way it was, it looked like I could collect on our deal and from Max, and by my addition, two paychecks are better than one. Like I say, nothing personal.”
“Excuse me,” Phule interrupted, turning back to the conversation, “but I don’t find anything in here about termination notice or about your having a share in the casino.”
“Of course it’s there,” Huey said, snatching the contract back. “Look, I’ll show you. It’s right …”
He began paging through the document, then scowled and flipped back a few pages to study it closer.
“I don’t understand,” he murmured. “I know they’re in here.”
“Believe me, Mr. Martin,” the commander said, “I just reviewed the contract, and they’re not.”
An image flashed across the manager’s mind. The image of Phule turning away to look at the contract.