We met on a street corner. "Hi," I said. "Let's grab a coffee-- on me."

Robert nodded. We entered a coffee shop and slid into a booth. Robert looked around nervously. "I don't like diner coffee. You wanna go someplace else?" I didn't have time to hang around. I wanted to get the money and vamoose. The worst thing you can do with a guy like Robert is have him get to know you as a human being. Sometimes it's good to get to know a debtor-- when you wanna plead sympathy and act like you'll get in trouble with your boss if they don't at least pay you something. But with a maggot like Robert, the only way was to hang tough and tighten the screws.

"Robert, I want that HAWK money now. Then we'll get friendly."

He pulled out a wad of $20 bills an inch thick and waved it in front of my face. He pulled out a sheet of paper. "Here are the names and addresses of the guarantors you wanted. Now leave me alone!" Robert plopped them on the table, muttered that he wouldn't drink piss with me, and walked out.