Then he remembered.
She’d moved to Arizona with her new husband and hadn’t paid child support in six months.
Michael stared out through the windshield.
He was on his own.
Then he remembered the business card.
PART 4 — The Name on the Card
He took the card out and actually looked at it.
Catherine Morrison
CEO
Morrison Supply Chain Management
Michael stared until his eyes burned.
The woman he’d helped on Route 9—
was the owner of the company that had just fired him.
For a long moment, he considered crumpling the card and tossing it on the passenger seat.
What was the point?
She’d handed it to him before she knew he worked for her. Calling would feel like begging. Like manipulating gratitude for special treatment.
But Lily needed to eat.
Rent was due in two weeks.
Pride was a luxury he didn’t have.
He dialed.
A crisp, professional voice answered. “Morrison executive office.”
“Hi,” Michael said. “Um… Catherine gave me her card this morning. I helped her change a tire. My name is Michael Harrison.”
“One moment, please.”
He waited through 30 seconds of hold music that felt like punishment.
Then Catherine’s voice came on, warm but direct.
“Michael. I’m glad you called. I was hoping you would. I wanted to thank you again.”
Michael didn’t have the energy for polite.
“I got fired,” he said.
Silence.
