CHAPTER EIGHTEEN D: THE WORKER CENTER’S DOOR
The first wage recovery meeting took place several weeks after Russell’s arrest.
Simone had warned everyone that the process would be slow and that not every claim would succeed.
Jake attended because Celia had asked him to help carry folding chairs.
He did not expect to stay for the discussion.
Luis arrived with copies of his work schedule and a notebook filled with dates.
Mateo brought photographs of job sites where he had worked.
Priya carried delivery receipts that showed when trucks had arrived at the packing plant.
Nolan came with his lawyer.
Warren stood near the entrance holding a folder he had given the investigators permission to copy.
The room felt tense before anyone spoke.
Simone opened the meeting by explaining the difference between a criminal investigation and a claim for unpaid wages.
“The two processes may overlap,” she said.
“They do not have the same purpose.”
A worker raised his hand.
“Does Russell going to jail mean we get paid?”
“No,” Simone answered.
“That depends on the claims, the responsible businesses, and the available funds.”
Several people looked disappointed.
Simone continued.
“I won’t promise money that nobody has recovered.”
Luis asked whether the contractors could deny knowing about the deductions.
“They can say what they believe is true,” Simone replied.
“We will examine the evidence and the contracts.”
Jake watched Everett Sloan enter the room with an attorney.
The contractor chose a seat near the back.
He looked uncomfortable but did not leave.
During a break, Celia approached Jake.
“I thought I wanted him to be frightened,” she said quietly.
“Who?”
“The contractor.”
Jake looked toward Everett.
“What do you want now?”
“I want Luis to be paid for the work he did,” she answered.
“I want us to stop counting every dollar before we buy groceries.”
Jake nodded.
“That makes sense.
”
Celia looked at him.
“You don’t have to agree with everything I say.”
“I don’t,” Jake replied.
“But I agree with that.”
The meeting resumed with individual appointments for workers who needed help organizing their records.
Jake spent the final hour carrying chairs back into storage.
He left with a practical understanding of what the worker center could accomplish.
The people in the room had begun a process, not reached a victory.
He found the distinction reassuring because nobody had asked him to pretend otherwise.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN E: THE SECOND STORM
