Shortcut

Yanky scanned his e-mails. Wilson was ready to close a deal on twenty hospital beds, Moscowitz wanted another estimate, this time without the IV poles, and then there was Lewis. Thank you for your visit. We appreciated hearing about the various options your company could offer our nursing home. I just wanted to let you know that we found a supplier whom we feel would be a better fit for our needs. All the best, Nate L.

Yanky narrowed his eyes as he mentally went through the list of competitors Lewis could be using. It wasn’t Med Supplies Unlimited — they didn’t have the special wheelchairs he needed. And Lewis was too cheap to go for Graceful Aging’s high-end products. Your Health, it was probably Fisher from Your Health who was undercutting him. He always swooped in just when Yanky was about to close a deal and tried to pluck the carcass from his mouth. He’d been working on Lewis for two months. He wasn’t going to let this happen. No one stole Yanky Kurland’s prospective clients.

He thought for a moment, trying to recall what products Lewis needed most, which prices he’d fussed about, what questions he’d asked. Then he sent a carefully worded e-mail addressing every one of the man’s concerns. He hit send and sat back with a smile. There, Fisher, I can play this game, too.

A quick glance at his watch. Five to five. Yanky worked hard, but he never left the office later than five; daf yomi was at six thirty and that was immutable. He sent two more e-mails, then switched off the computer, grabbed his coat, and left the small office.