He sat in a dark corner of the small tavern, his back to the wall. He could see everyone who came and went while remaining unnoticed in the shadows. He sipped at his drink and returned it silently to the dark wood table who's surface was rough and scarred from years of abuse.
Smoke hung heavily just below the ceiling and its scent mixed with those of sweat, stale beer, and that undefinable stench that was the hallmark of all such low class hideaways. The air was heavy and close. Men sat hunched at the heavy wooden bar, elbows on the stained top or the railing that at one time in the dim past may have been shining brass but was now nothing more than a dulled and pitted ghost of it's former glory. They nursed their beers, talked amongst themselves, and occasionally uttered laughter that would curdle the blood of lesser men.
These men were of no interest to him. Murderers, thieves, and traders in all things upon which polite society frowned. To most people these men would be dangerous, but he gave them little more than passing notice. They were no threat to him. He could easily dispatch any or all of them without a second thought, but he was not here for them. The men sensed that he was not to be trifled with. Perhaps it was the cold gaze of his gray eyes which seemed to pierce right into the soul. Perhaps it was the sure and confident manner he moved. Perhaps it was simply fear of the unknown. What they did know for certain was that no man walked into this place like he owned it unless he was either very, very dangerous or very, very crazy. They didn't care to know which and that suited him fine.
He felt that tonight would be the night. If asked he couldn't say why he felt it, he just did. He had been waiting and watching for many years and it had never felt as close as tonight. Patience was his ally and his strength. He could sit here in the shadows for as long as needed. It was to be tonight. It had to be. He again sipped at his drink and waited.
It was now growing late and several of the men had staggered off to do what business they had in the dark of night. Business that shied away from the light and goodness of the sun. He waited.
A shadow passed by the dark doorway of the tavern. It was but a flicker slightly darker than the night, but his sharp eyes didn't fail to catch it. He felt his stomach muscles tighten. Was this it? He breathed slowly and steadily and he waited. He couldn't afford a lapse of attention or patience at this point. He couldn't afford to give himself away when he was so sure that it was close now. His ears picked up the slight sound of a leather sole scuff on the cobblestones and he waited.
The shadow returned to the doorway, filling it this time. A body moved from the dark of night into the dimly lit tavern. It was a man, but not the same sort of man as is normally seen here. His clothes were of a better quality and were clean. He stood erect, without the stooped shoulders of those for whom life was a burden of survival.
The man stopped just inside the doorway and looked around. His face revealed no hint of fear as he surveyed the remaining inhabitants of the place. The man's gaze passed over where he sat, seeming to not see him sitting there in the shadows. He breathed slowly and steadily and he waited. The man's gaze returned to his corner of shadow as the man began to slowly walk in his direction. This was finally it.
The man stopped directly in front of him. He returned his gaze easily. Slowly and carefully the man reached into his coat. This was definitely it! The man withdrew his hand and in it was an envelope. "I have been looking everywhere for you" said the man. He said nothing.
The man dropped the envelope onto the scarred table. "Do you know what this is?" the man asked him.
"I know" he replied darkly.
The man turned and walked away. When the man had left the tavern, he slowly reached over and picked up the envelope. He opened it and removed the piece of paper. He read it, carefully folded it, and returned it to the envelope.
So it had finally come. His wait was over. He slowly stood and walked out of the tavern with the envelope in his jacket pocket. Now that they had finally tracked him down he knew that he would have to pay them. There was simply no escaping those student loans.