Chapter 9 - The Debt Collectors Wait Outside In The Shadows
The morning air outside the bakery on Milwaukee Avenue was crisp and freezing, the fresh snow crunching under heavy footsteps. Rosa unlocked the front door, turning the sign to 'OPEN' while letting in the cold draft of the Chicago morning.
A rusted gray sedan idled across the street, its engine chugging quietly against the winter chill with dark exhaust pumping from the tailpipe. Two burly men sat inside the cab, their faces partially obscured by tinted windows and brimmed wool caps.
They had been parked there since dawn, waiting for the young girl with the blonde hair to show up for her shift. They had no idea that Julian Croft’s private network had already dismantled their operation at the source.
The driver, a heavy-set man named Sal with a thick scar across his knuckle, checked his silver wristwatch with a scowl. “Where is she? She's usually opening the register by now,” Sal muttered, tapping his fat fingers against the steering wheel.
His partner, a younger punk named Vince chewing aggressively on a toothpick, leaned back against the passenger headrest. “Maybe she skipped town like the last one; boss is not going to be happy if we come back empty-handed,” Vince replied nervously.
Sal reached for the door handle, pushing it open with a metallic creak as freezing wind rushed into the car. “Let's go have a word with the old lady inside; someone knows where she's hiding,” Sal grunted, stepping out onto the icy pavement.
They crossed the snowy street together, their heavy boots thudding against the concrete outside the bakery storefront. Rosa saw them approaching through the glass window, her heart dropping instantly into her stomach.
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She grabbed the telephone behind the counter, her fingers trembling as she punched in the emergency digits for Julian’s private security detail. Before she could complete the call, the front door bell chimed harshly as the two men barged into the shop.
“Where is Maya? Tell her the grace period expired yesterday, and we want our money right now,” Sal demanded, slamming his heavy hand down onto the glass pastry display case. Rosa backed away slowly, her eyes wide with terror as she realized they hadn't heard the news yet.
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