Dance of the Rising Sun

“It’s Tah-tay” she stated. “He is involved in a religious ceremony. “A religious ceremony.” “Yes.” “It isn’t Sunday” he all but giggled, an elbow to the character to his right “ Or Saturday if he’s Seventh Day -“ She glanced to Martin, then back to the young guy with blazing red hair and pure white teeth and a sorority attitude able to nauseate a bull. “Are you making fun of him, sir?” “Of course not. I have no idea what Indians do for religion. How am I supposed to know that?” “You are aware sir, the property you want is Indian land, treaty land to be exact.” The colleague to his right, older and wiser as it was supposed cleared his throat in an attempt to be appearing unmarked by this revelation. “No,” said Curtis Mortsen, “I was not aware of that. My question would then be, so?” A snicker from his left. She smiled sweetly. “So I would assume that you, being the capable business man you are, came prepared, should you win this case, to sacrifice all your holdings to own the property.” “What does that mean, Miss, uh - Dubreaux? Is that it? As in the daughter of Cati Dubreaux?” “And Patrick Dubreaux, sir. I grew up handling family business. I know business law better than you know your own name. A little research showed me that you had no interest whatsoever in your father’s business until you graduated college and needed money to support your - appetites. Which led you to a bank that bailed you out of bankruptcy and straight to a federal investigation in 1974, and ultimately, out of business? I’m sure your grandfather was very proud of the way you swindled his hard work quite smoothly down the tubes, per gambling and uh, expensive women. But of course, he wasn’t alive to see it was he, nor was your father. You were free to do as you wanted, and that you did.” She leaned forward, arms across table. “Do you honestly believe lucking out with a mall and a few resorts qualifies your credentials to deal with us?” “We opened a retirement facility last year.” “That you did. Medicare should be contacting you any time now, concerning your use of government funds. And your business interests will be very interested in your connection with a supremacist group.” “I’m not connected with any.”  “It’s not what they say. You made a few promises you had no intention of keeping I take it. So now you have not only Natives of the land unhappy with you, but a supremacist group as well.” She sat back in her chair, tossed her pen to the table.