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“I have a wife,” he smiled. “I married later in life, so I don’t have children. My wife, Robin, she came to our team when she was in trouble. Twice, actually.” He laughed, shaking his head.
“Is she prone to trouble?” asked Casey.
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. Our team just seems to be in the right place at the right time for women who are in trouble.”
“Like me,” she whispered.
“You weren’t in trouble, Casey. You were searching for your father. And you found him. How incredibly lucky for you.”
“Lucky? He died,” she said.
“Yep. After you found him. You got a few short weeks with him, but what a great way to be able to close the loop on your relationship with him. He died knowing that you forgave him and loved him. Now, he’s gone to be with your mother, the only woman he ever loved. That’s all any man would want.”
“How did you get so wise if you don’t have kids,” she smiled.
“Oh, believe me, I’ve had my share of practice,” he laughed. “I practically raised an old teammate’s daughter, then helped her when she found her true love. She lives out at our compound now.”
“Lucky girl.” Otto looked at her, noticing the sadness on her face.
“Don’t you feel lucky?” he asked.
“I do. Sort of. I mean, I’m grateful that I have a good job and can afford my own place. It’s just lonely, is all.”
“Your time will come, honey. You’ll see.”
The farmer’s market was packed with people today, and from the sounds of the conversations around them, it was because so many places had suffered with food spoilage issues. The RMN booth was busier than ever.
“This feels strange, doesn’t it?” asked Casey.
“A little. Awfully convenient for them that they have their products available and everyone else has food spoilage issues.” He pressed a hand to her back. “Ready?”
“I’m ready,” she nodded. They walked slowly toward the booth, then stopped behind the crowds.
“Why are we stopping?” asked Otto.
“I just want to hear what they have to say,” said Casey. “My father can’t keep this up. He’s got to get with the future, and I think we should hear them out.”
“Casey, your father said no. La Fromage is not going to use anything except fresh and organic.”
“Well, well, well,” said the man behind the counter. “Did I hear that La Fromage is interested in what we have to say?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Otto, let me handle this. It will be my restaurant soon enough,” she said.
“Your restaurant, huh, kid? Interesting. Does your old man know you’re talking to us?”
“My father isn’t interested in what I’m doing. I’m going to own the restaurant soon, and I’ll make all the decisions. I’m interested in the future, and I know there’s more than one way to provide nutrition to the public.”
“Smart girl,” he smirked. “Come on over here, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Casey followed the man to the back of the booth, listening to him drone on about the new-age technology and how they would be on the cutting edge of nutrition for the future.
Otto just shook his head, taking a seat on one of the benches, just watching the chaos at the booth. Behind them was a small tent where they kept their food containers. Piquing his interest, Otto walked around the booth toward the food tent. Unable to find a way inside unnoticed, he kept walking, only to discover what he really wanted to see.
In a small refrigeration system were dozens of the round, black discs they’d found in their crate. He watched as two young women pocketed several of the discs, then walked along the back of the tents housing the other vendors.
