With a pep in his step and whistling a tune, Beowulf walked into the headquarters on 12^th Street in Detroit.  After the suspicious death of this former crew leader, he had reached out to an old friend.  A few conversations and promises later, he had a new home with Tranquility.  As he walked into the ornate front entryway, his mind raced with what missions he would be assigned.  Someone with the elite skill set that Beowulf had incurred would surely be provided ample opportunities to prove himself.

A pretty young receptionist greeted him as he approached her desk.  “Good morning sir, welcome to Tranquility.  How can I help you?”

Clearing his throat, Beowulf responded “I’m here to see Soseki, he’s expecting me.”

With a smirk on her face, the receptionist said “Well, who might you be then?”

Realizing he hadn’t introduced himself, Beowulf smiled and said “I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself.  My name is Beowulf and I’m one of the newest members of the family.  Just arrived from Seattle.  And aren’t you just the prettiest thing?  I guess I didn’t catch your name.”

Keeping the smirk on her face, she rebuked “That’s because I didn’t give you my name.  Mr. Soseki warned me about your ego.  Unfortunately, Mr. Soseki had pressing matters across town, but he did leave a message for you.”

Beowulf was taken aback by the reception’s jab of refusing to share her name, but quickly discounted it as “must be her time of the month”.  Unfolding the note, he read:

Beowulf, 

Good to have you in the family and reunited after all this time.  But you have to earn your place as if you’re a rookie.  You’ll never get the respect of the other family members if I give you preferential treatment.  Sure you understand.  Now, I’m gone till tomorrow and have a very important business meeting first thing in the morning.  Need you to do something.  Pick up my laundry and drop it off back in my office today.  I’ll swing by and pick it up this evening.

Soseki

Beowulf read the note twice.  With a look of disappointment, he glanced up and the receptionist had a smug look on her face.  Then she handed him another note.  Looking at her quizzically, she said “Address to the dry cleaners….figured you would need it, being new and all”.  Beowulf glared at the receptionist for a second, then snatched the paper from her hands and left the building.

Once outside, he took a deep breath and a smile crossed his face.  This was a test.  And laundry was code for drug smuggling.  Soseki was having him run drugs on his first day.  The pep in his step returned and he quickly made his way toward the dry cleaners, four blocks to the south on 8^th Street.

Walking into Comet Cleaners, Beowulf was greeted by an older woman that sat behind a large wooden counter.  “Name please” she stated matter of factly.

“Soseki” answered Beowulf, looking around, casing the joint to make sure no trap was set for when she handed him the “package”.

The lady walked into the back and sixty seconds later, walked out to the front entry area, carrying something that was covered in a white cloth cover that said “Comet Cleaners” on the outside.  Beowulf smiled at how well the drug exchange was disguised to look like an actual laundry pickup.  Soseki really knew his stuff and Beowulf was impressed.

The lady set the white cover on the counter and said “That’ll be $1.50.”

Caught off guard, Beowulf responded “Put it on Soseki’s account please”.

The lady shook her head and said “Soseki always pays in cash.  No account.  $1.50 please.”

Beowulf grumbled as he pulled out his wallet and handed the lady two crisp one dollar bills.  In return, she handed him the change and wished him a nice day.  Carefully picking up the white cover by the hangers sticking through the top, he noticed that the package didn’t really weigh that much.  Instantly, he envisioned bags of dried marijuana hanging inside the white cloth covering.  Nervously looking out the window to make sure the area appeared safe, he opened the door and exited the business.

Beowulf tried to remain calm, but continued to find reasons to stop periodically and look back to see if anyone was following him.  Confident that he had completed this first highly important mission, Beowulf walked into the headquarters and back over to the cocky receptionist.

“I completed the deal.  Where’s Soseki’s office babe?”

The receptionist shook her head and in a condescending tone, said “At the end of the hallway.  There’s a coat rack behind Mr. Soseki’s desk.  Hang it there, if you can “finish” the deal”.

Beowulf walked to the end of the hallway and into an office with a large ornate desk and an oversized leather chair.  As the receptionist had said, there was a coat rack behind the desk.  Beowulf hung up the package.  Glancing back to see if he was being watched and seeing no one, Beowulf reached down and lifted the bottom of the cover so that he would see what was hidden from sight. 

To Beowulf’s dismay, there were no drugs.  Only two suits, nicely pressed, one black and the other grey.  Beowulf ran is hands over the material, feeling to see if anything was hidden inside the suits.  Beowulf felt his jaw clench tight as he discovered that the laundry back simply held two pressed suits.  He lowered the cover back into place and said under his breath “God Dam@ Soseki really had me pick up his laundry!”

As he walked back down the hallway, he dreaded the interaction that was about to happen with the receptionist.  As she came into view, she was simply filing her nails and without looking up said “Glad you completed such a challenging job BABE.  I’m sure Mr. Soseki with have something less challenging for you tomorrow.”  Beowulf glared at the woman who just ignored him, focused on manicuring her nails.

Beowulf walked out of the building and remembered the words on the note from Soseki “You’re a rookie”.