Chapter 2

EZRA

He didn’t look much different from everybody else in the room. Clothes wrinkled and unkempt. Hair messy. Face worn-out just from living. It didn’t matter if it was here in Ivory or another city, there were people like Ryan everywhere. And they were easy to find.

Ryan though… He was different. As exhausted as he looked from afar, up close, there was something in his eyes. An energy that was filled with enthusiasm and optimism.

“I take it you know what you’re doing,” he said.

He smiled at me, making the wrinkles on his face even more pronounced. I gave him a blank stare and nodded softly.

“And what makes you say that?”

“Besides the suit and tie? Besides the way you comb your hair? Besides that expensive watch you’ve got on your wrist?”

“Yes, besides all of that. I’m assuming that I’m not the only man in this town who wears a suit and tie.”

“True. But you don’t see any of them around here. And… You’ve got something else.”

“Do I? And what’s that?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, that grin still on his face.

“I can see it in your eyes,” he said.

“See what in my eyes?”

“Men in suits don’t come around here very often but I get a good look at ‘em when they do. You though… You’ve got that look in your eyes.”

“I still don’t understand what you’re getting at—”

“You’re up to something. You’re definitely up to something.”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I chuckled and reared back in my seat a bit, shaking my head in confusion.

“I am up to something,” I said. “But probably not what you’re thinking.”

“Oh, then you haven’t been in Ivory for very long. Everybody’s up to something. Even those with the best intentions.”

“My intentions aren’t the best or worst. They’re just intentions.”

Ryan shoved a forkful of food in this mouth, chewing with mouth open and that same smile still on his face. His unblinking eyes kept looking me up and down but I didn’t mind.

“How do you like it around here?” I asked.

“I like it here just fine. The people treat me right. The food fills me up. Everybody here is friendly. And I’m able to contribute and pass the time. There’s enough work around here that I feel like I don’t have to get a job.”

“Maybe I can get you a job.”

“That’d be nice. There’s not much an old man like me can do though.”

“First of all, you’re not that old. Second of all, there’s something everybody can do.”

“I appreciate the help Mister…”

“Grant. But just call me Ezra.”

“Ezra… Right…”

An older woman walked toward our table and greeted us with a friendly smile.

“Hello, Ryan,” she said to the man in front of me. “You haven’t been giving our guest a hard time now, have you?”

“A hard time?” Ryan exclaimed. “I’m just telling the man how it is around here. Ivory can be a… tricky place.”

“There’s no need for that kind of talk. Mr. Grant, I—”

“It’s all right,” I said as I stood up from my seat. “My conversation with Ryan has been very enlightening. I’ll leave you to it, Ryan.”

Ryan and everybody else in the dining room were enjoying their lunch. The place was packed with all of the downtrodden people of Ivory who were down on their luck. Ryan seemed the most optimistic out of all of them.

“Jackie,” I said to the older woman next to me. “I think I’ve learned enough.”

“Right this way,” she responded.

I started to walk away when Ryan called out from behind me.

“Hey, Ezra… You make sure you stay out of trouble now.”

He gave me a wink and shoved another forkful of his lunch into his mouth. I bowed my head to him and left the dining hall with Jackie by my side.

“What did you think?” she asked as soon as we got outside.

“I’ve seen enough,” I said. “The facilities seem to be in order.”

“We’ve gotten several big donations recently. It’s more than enough to renovate. I’ve been here long enough at the shelter to know how to stretch a dollar.”

“There’s always room for improvement. Just because it’s a nice place to be doesn’t mean there isn’t more work to be done.”

“That’s true. I can assure you, Mr. Grant, your donation wouldn’t go to waste. It’d be nice to hire more staff. Ivory city council gives us some funding but supplies are always necessary. I wouldn’t—”

“That’s all right,” I said as I put my hand up. “If you’ve been here as long as you said you have, I’m sure that your heart is in the right place. There’s no need for you to explain the details. I’ll be in touch with you in a few days once I get settled in.”

“There’s no need for you to hurry, Mr. Grant. Thank you. I really do appreciate everything.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Jackie shook my hand, her smile as big and kind as I’d seen it before. Seeing the old woman smile was enough to make me do the same.

Just as I was about to go on my way, a door to one of the offices next to us opened. A young brunette around my age stepped out. There was nothing about her that stood out too much.

“Oh, Anna,” Jackie said. “I want you to meet someone. This is Ezra Grant.”

“Hello,” I greeted Anna with a nod.

“Nice to meet you,” Anna said.

“Mr. Grant here is providing the shelter with a very generous donation,” Jackie explained.

“Is that right?”

Anna raised an eyebrow at me slightly. There was a bit of skepticism on her face. It wasn’t much but just enough for me to know that it was there. I smiled politely at her and Jackie continued to gush.

“Mr. Grant’s new in town.”

“I’m trying to keep it a secret,” I said. “But… I figure if I’m going to be comfortable in this town, I might as well get in good with the locals. What better way than to give to the people who need it most?”

Anna kept staring at me, her eyes unblinking.

“I’m sorry,” Jackie said. “I have to get back to work. There are many things to do. Mr. Grant, again, I appreciate you taking the time.”

“Not at all,” I said to her, my eyes still on Anna. “It’s my pleasure, I can assure you.”

Jackie excused herself and headed back into the main dining hall where all of the residents of the shelter were.

“Well,” I said to Anna. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to be going.”

“I know you’re in a rush,” Anna replied. “But if there’s a chance I could speak to you.”

“Of course.”

Anna walked outside through the front entrance and I followed right behind her. Her tone was curious but not enough for me to lose my composure.

The Ivory sun was warm. The sky was clear. Everyday people made their way up and down the streets. It was another quiet, comfortable day in the city I’d only just arrived to.

I looked out into the street while Anna did the same.

“You’re new in town,” she said.

“Just arrived a few days ago. I’ve visited a few times but never more than a weekend.”

“You planning on living in Ivory?”

“That’s the plan, yes.”

“What is it about Ivory that made you want to come here?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I sighed. “Ivory seems like a nice, quiet, quaint town. The type of place where someone can do business without the hustle and bustle of the city. I never cared much for bumper-to-bumper traffic and skyscrapers that blocked the view. Ivory has a beautiful skyline.”

“It certainly does.”

I looked over at Anna. She kept staring out into the streets. The frown on her face wasn’t subtle.

“How much are you planning on donating?” she asked.

“Not much,” I said. “I figured I would start with 10,000.”

“I see… Starting with 10,000 dollars.”

There was a grown tension coming from her. I was never one to avoid it. If anything, I cut right through it.

“Do you have a problem with that, Anna?”

She crossed her arms and turned toward me.

“Look,” she said. “I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing here, but most businessmen don’t just show up to Ivory and dump a huge donation like that into a homeless shelter without an ulterior motive.”

“I can assure you that I have no ulterior motive. I’m trying to be as open and honest as I can be. I want to help this town. I want to help these people. If my donation isn’t welcome, I’ll find a place that’s more appropriate. Perhaps there’s a hospice in this town. Or maybe some at-risk youth who need the funding more.”

“There are a lot of people in Ivory who need help.”

“Then I’ll help them all.”

Anna took a step toward me, her eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I came to Ivory because I wanted to do business.”

“Business, huh? And what kind of business is that? Drugs? Weapons? Sex trafficking?”

“Anna—”

“I’ll give it to you straight. Rich businessmen like you come to Ivory because there’s a lot more they can get away with. There’s always something shady going on in Ivory. Believe me, I know that better than anybody else.”

“You have nothing to worry about.”

She shook her head and sighed.

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” she said. “It’s the people of this shelter. They’re innocent in all of this but they’re still vulnerable. I’ve seen it for myself.”

I could tell that Anna was serious. I would’ve been offended if I didn’t appreciate her being honest with me.

I nodded to her in understanding.

“I see what you’re getting at,” I said. “Your heart is in the right place. The truth is, I would’ve been skeptical the same as you if some businessman from out of town just wandered into the shelter with a big donation. But I can assure you that there’ll be no consequences from accepting my money. I came to Ivory because I wanted to do business. Legitimate business. Nothing under the table. Nothing behind anybody’s backs. Ivory…”

I swallowed before I said it.

“…Ivory is special to me.”

“It’s special to me, too.”

“Then you can appreciate where I’m coming from. Believe me, Anna, I’m here because I want to make this place my home. If anything, I’d like to clean this town up.”

Anna stared into my eyes like she was trying to read me. She twisted her lips, holding back a smile before finally relenting.

“Okay,” she said with a nod. “I believe you.”

“I have no reason to lie to you. You can see for yourself what I’m doing. In fact, I’d like to ask you some advice.”

“Advice? On what?”

“I’m planning on opening a business. A restaurant.”

“A restaurant, huh?”

“Where do you think it would be the most successful?”

Anna looked around, thinking about it.

“That’s going to be tough,” she said. “There are already plenty of good restaurants in Ivory. Family-owned places that have been around for decades.”

“Surely there’s room for one more.”

“…You want my advice, go to Old Town. There’s plenty of room for you there.”

She started chuckling at me.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You’ll see when you get there.”

I didn’t second-guess the smile on her face.

“All right,” I said with a shrug. “Old Town. Thank you for your time, Miss Anna.”

I walked over to my ride parked along the side of the curb. Anna walked toward me as soon as I got onto it.

“Is this your ride?” she said, confusion on her face.

I gave her a nod.

“Suits aren’t much good for riding,” she said. “You didn’t have to put on that whole facade for Jackie. She would’ve taken your donation anyway if your heart was in the right place.”

“It’s not a facade,” I said. “This is who I am.”

“Don’t see too many businessmen in suits riding around on choppers. Especially not here in Ivory.”

I revved my engine before replying to her.

“Then maybe it’s time for a change.”