For Better And For Worse
Chapter 8

Krist arrives at the address that Gauthier had given him. To his surprise, it’s a big bar, a really lively bar called La Fontaine. What to do ? Enter or return? He asks himself several questions.

Krist: is he the owner of the bar? Or is he here just to have a drink? How can he offer me work in such a place? No, I have to go home. No, I must at least first know what work it is. Okay, I have to meet him.

He writes her a message.

Krist: good evening sir, I am at the address you sent me.

Gauthier: ok, wait a moment, I’m coming.

Gauthier orders one of his men to go get Krist outside. He arrives and sees a well-dressed man and he approaches him.

Arnaud: are you Kristian?

Krist: yes it’s me.

Arnaud: follow me!

Krist follows him inside. They go to a somewhat quiet room in the bar. The room is equipped with sofas and fans. Gauthier was there with two other associates. Arnaud and Krist arrive and he gets up to welcome her and gives her a seat. Krist really doesn’t feel comfortable.

Gauthier: so, how are you doing Krist?

Krist: we can say that it’s okay.

Gauthier: don’t be embarrassed, relax!

Krist: I’m relaxed sir.

Gauthier: very good, what are you drinking?

Krist: no thanks, I don’t drink.

Gauthier: come on, once won’t kill you.

Krist: no thanks, I don’t drink so I don’t drink.

Gauthier: ok, ok, it’s understood. Do you still want a sweet?

Krist: How about we talk about serious things first?

Gauthier: no, here we drink before talking business.

Krist: very good, I would like a sweet.

Gauthier: come on Arnaud, bring him a frozen candy.

So we bring a bottle of candy to Krist who begins to drink little by little while Gauthier and his associates discuss the affairs that he tries to understand but could not. However, he senses something illegal in their words. Gauthier almost ignored him and as soon as he finished a bottle, they brought him more up to three and Krist was fed up.

Krist: excuse me but I don’t think I have anything to do here.

He gets up to leave but Gauthier asks him to sit down again. He sits down again and talks to her.

Gauthier: listen, the work you have to do for me is very simple and you have to do it at night.

Krist: What kind of work is this?

Gauthier: it’s simple, you have to deliver and liquidate a few products for me and don’t worry, it really pays off a lot.

Krist:

Gauthier: Hey, you just have to sell this in bars and nightclubs and even just about everywhere.

He hands her a bag with white contents.

Krist: you want me to sell sugar, aren’t you serious?

Krist had no idea it could be anything else.

Gauthier: no, it’s neither sugar, nor salt, nor flour for that matter. Taste a little and you will know.

Krist tastes the product and immediately spits it out.

Krist: What is that?

Gauthier: It’s drugs.

Krist: what, drugs for real? Tell me I’m not in a mafia movie.

Gauthier: It’s real drugs and you know what, it can bring you a lot of money. The drug market is the most productive market in the world and even the government authorities who fight it during the day practice it in the dark. Even the police, the drug squad and everything are in on it. Why do you think they never burn the stocks of drugs they seize?

Krist: no, no, it doesn’t matter sir, I will never agree to do this activity, ever.

Gauthier: think of everything this can bring you.

Krist: I’m sorry but I can’t do that, I make a good living from my little activities and I’m happy like that. I’m leaving here.

He gets up to leave.

Krist: I’m not going to let you litter the city with this filth.

Krist leaves and Gauthier brings Arnaud.

Gauthier: go tell Claude and Ghislain to follow him. He must not stay overnight and talk to the police. Don’t kill him, I want him to be able to be accused of using drugs, you know what I mean?

Arnaud: of course boss.

Gauthier: go ahead and ask Paulin and Arsène to follow them discreetly as reinforcements, you never know.

Arnaud: at your orders.

Arnaud goes to inform the four and gives them a packet of drugs. They therefore follow Krist, the two in front and two others a little further away. Krist takes a taxi. Claude and Ghislain take a motorbike and follow him. Paulin and Arsène as well. The taxi goes so far as to drop off Krist not far from his home. He was walking home and through a dark hallway. Claude and Ghislain pass by him with the motorcycle and Ghislain hits him with his shoe and he falls. They park the motorcycle and get off to meet him. He gets up and gets ready for a fight. This triggers and he dominates both. Paulin and Arsène arrive and grab Krist from behind. Ghislain hits him in the stomach and Claude makes him swallow the drug by force through his mouth and nostrils. The drugs have started to take effect on him and he is losing his composure. The earth turns on him. He can no longer stand up, yet he doesn’t want to stay on the ground either. All four of them start beating him for a while then they take him back to the side of the road and leave him. He stumbles here and there in the middle of the road and a car hits him. At the same time at the hospital, Isabelle, who was chatting quietly with her friends, falls. Her midwife friends help her get up.

Christelle: Madam, are you okay?

Isabelle: yes it’s okay, I think.

Alice: What’s happening to you?

Isabelle: I don’t know, I fell like that. My heart is beating so fast, I… I don’t understand what’s happening to me.

Christelle: does this happen to you often?

Isabelle: no, it’s the first time, I have a bad feeling, a very bad feeling.

Alice: I hope nothing bad happens.

Isabelle: I hope so too.

She gets up and decides to go home since there is no maternity service to offer at the moment. She still thinks about what happened to her but still doesn’t understand anything.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the car stops and a gentleman gets out to see the person. It was Doctor Roger’s car. He takes Krist with the help of the entourage and brings him to his hospital. Doctor Roger takes care of him personally, helped by a few nurses. Krist remains unconscious. They do tests and detect a large quantity of drugs in his b***d.

Julien: we need to transfer him to a doctor detoxification center.

Roger: you’re right, I’ll also notify the drug squad. Try to contact a family member.

Julien: wait a moment doctor, here is his phone, the screen is broken but I think it still works.

Roger: ok, let’s see.

Roger takes the phone and turns it on. He sees the photo of Krist with his wife Isabelle on the lock screen.

Roger: oh no!

Julien: what’s wrong, doctor?

Roger: I think I know him.

Julien: who is it?

Roger shows him the photo.

Julien: the… Madame Isabelle’s husband?

Roger: I think so.

Julien: is he a drug addict?

Roger: I guess so.

Julien: she is such a kind and beautiful woman, she deserves a better man.

Roger: I agree. Okay, I have to call him.

Roger therefore calls Isabelle who was surprised to see his call. But she picks up anyway.

Isabelle: hello doctor.

Roger: good evening my dear.

Isabelle: please doctor, stop!

Roger: sorry. It’s been over a year since we last saw or spoke to each other. If I call you today, it’s not as a joke. I have sad news to tell you and you need to be strong.

Isabelle: you scare me doctor, what is it about?

Roger: your husband is currently unconscious in the hospital, he was hit by a car.

Isabelle feels a big blow to her heart upon hearing this news.

Isabelle: what, not my husband, no. How is he doing, doctor?

Roger: I don’t know what to tell you Isabelle, he’s here at the hospital.

Isabelle: I’ll be there right away.

Isabelle hangs up.

Stella: what happened to uncle?

Isabelle: he had an accident, I’m going to the hospital.

Stella: Let’s go.

Isabelle: now I understand what happened to me in the hospital.

Stella: What happened to you?

Isabelle: I’ll explain to you on the way.

Being very shaken to drive a motorbike, they prefer to go to the hospital by taxi.