Un-Connected

by Noah Rea

  Barbara’s grandson Micah raised his hand.

  “We’ve been talking about this place. We don’t want to get anyone else hurt. But we don’t want to give it up either. So we want to make a plan that will be good for a long time. Several of us want to work here so we don’t want it closed. We also like to come here to eat so we can see everybody. So we don’t want the restaurant closed. This is a great family place. So that is why we have been talking. We aren’t trying to go behind your back or anything. We just think it needs to be different in the future.”

  Several started talking at once and Otis just sat there laughing. I whispered to Deb that it was probably to keep from crying. This was so much what he wanted.

  After a few minutes Otis’s grandson Samuel who was Sammy in the family got louder than the rest and got everyone’s’ attention.

  “I think we need to forget this building or do something different with it. I think we need to build a better building close to the back of the parking lot back there. It needs to be up higher so no one can drive up to any door. Several of us have talked about putting double doors front and back so there is an air trap so we don’t lose hot or cold air but it would also make it easier to keep people out we don’t want in there. We could put concrete or stone barricades out there but being higher would look better and I think work better.”

  Several started talking at once. Otis just sat there letting them work it out. Aaron spoke up and got the floor.

  “I want to be a mechanic. So I don’t want all this front part to close. I don’t know what to do with this building so we could think of something or tear it down but I want to have at least the three repairs bays we have now and I would really like to have more. Will isn’t likely to retire once he gets well. I’m not the only one who wants to be a mechanic either. I think I heard someone say they wanted to be a diesel mechanic. That would mean we need more bays.”

  Jack got up and everyone got quiet for him.

  “It is obvious that all of us want something here. It may be different for each of us but this place has been a part of the family and how many of us have come in here on fumes when we were first driving and left with fuel in our tank. How many of us have eaten here and had family around? How can we put a price on that? I think we all want it to go on. So how do we get there from here? How do we do it? I think we need to form a planning committee and let them sort through ideas and make a proposal to the whole family.”

  It was quiet for probably a minute which seems like a long time in that setting. Several said that is what they wanted to do.

  Tilly spoke up, “Otis, everyone who wants to can be on the committee, can’t they?”

  “There is no reason not to be.” He said.

  So someone started writing the names of everyone who wanted to be on the committee. It included most of the grandkids.

  “I think we should have one of the “old people” on the committee,” said Jack laughing.

  “Yeah!” several said. Then they were quiet thinking about it.

  Otis spoke next. “I need to focus on other things right now and I need Tilly. Will and Barbara would love to do it I’m sure but they need time to heal so these two families are excited about the committee but you probably need to do it without us. If you want someone older then you might be able to talk Betty into it. She was there without Jim.

  “I would love to. I can’t commit to a lot of time without talking to Jim but I’m sure I can be available most of the time. We are excited about doing something new so you can count me in.”

  Jack seemed to be the default leader of the committee and asked when they wanted to meet. A lot of them had to work but they decided the next Friday night would be their organizational meeting. Then Jack looked at Otis.

  “I think that is it for this family meeting.”

  “Meeting adjourned.” said Otis.

  Deb and I just sat there while all the kids cleared out. Otis and Tilly sat there too as did Barbara and Betty. It looked like we would have an “old peoples” meeting as I said as much. Deb punched me and told me to speak for myself.

  “Otis, are you guys thrilled or what?” I said.

  Barbara was the next to speak. “I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. Did you hear the kids talking all over each other they were so excited. This makes Will’s day and I can’t wait to tell him.”

  Betty looked at Otis. “Is there any way to estimate what a building back there will cost?”

  “Not really but let’s just say somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000 would probably get us everything they will think up. There won’t be any land cost of course and if they plan to keep the pumps and underground tanks where they are it will probably save at least $100,000. Then we will need money to renovate or demolish this building and I would hazard a wild guess of say $50,000. So at most I would think we could counsel them into something under $650,000 at the very most. If we wanted to have a tighter budget we could probably get most of it done for maybe $350,000.”

  “That won’t be a problem.” Barbara said.

  “No but we probably don’t want to tell them that.” Betty said.

  “You are both right.” Otis said. With a twinkle in his eye he said I bet between the three of us we could put down about three million without getting a loan.”

  Otis looked at me. “If we let these two strays buy in then we could probably put up another $500,000 in short order.”

  Deb and I just smiled.

  Betty and Barbara didn’t answer Otis. He just looked at them. “What?” he asked. They didn’t say anything.

  “Barbara you know Will and I talk all the time. We are brothers. I know good and well that you and Will could write a check for at least a million and if the bank didn’t already have it all then they would cover it until you transferred it from where ever you put it.”

  He just looked at her. “You don’t want to put that much in or you don’t want me to know how much you have?”

  “No it isn’t any of that. It is just amazing that we are talking about letting the kids spend our money like it isn’t a big deal. It is kind of shocking to think about it in those terms but you are right. Probably just about any amount they want to spend will be fine.

  You know I couldn’t keep Will from putting up his share without killing him. He will be so excited he may crawl out here tonight to hand you a signed check and let you fill out the amount when you know how much that is. I’m leaving to go see him and I’ll probably spend the night with him there but I’m considering not telling him until morning. He will be so excited he may not be able to go to sleep.”

  “Don’t tell him tonight.” Otis said. “I know he won’t sleep.”

  “Betty you haven’t said anything.”

  There was a long pause. “We don’t have many secrets in this family and the three of us split the net income so we all make the same and know what the other is getting. Jim and I have had our house paid off for at least twenty years. We have no expenses. Our biggest challenge financially is keeping it from being taxed into oblivion.”

  “I’m just amazed like you guys are. We have hoped and prayed for years that the kids would see value here and want to be a part of it. It is just a little breath taking to see them actually jump in and what we have wanted so long actually start to happen.”

  “It is just amazing!’ she said and kind of stared off into the distance.

  “Well do we want to do more? I mean we can afford to put more into it than they will likely spend. Do we want to do something together that maybe would be a tax write off to start a new business?”

  They were quiet for a few minutes.

  “Why don’t we see what the kids come up with and then see? Maybe at that time we could tell them we would do more if they dreamed bigger. We don’t want to overdue something so that we have diminishing returns but maybe we would see something profitable that they don’t.” Barbara said.

  “I agree,” Said Otis. “Let see what they come up with. Betty
will be in on it and can nudge them along if she feels like they need it.”

  No one said the meeting was adjourned but Betty hugged Barbara, then Otis then Tilly and then us and headed out the door. Barbara followed her in about that order and left.

  “What did you think of that?” Otis asked looking at me.

  “I’m so excited too. Your family is really doing well. Why did you guys have that conversation in front of Deb and me?”

  “I don’t know why they did it but I wanted you to be included. I didn’t tell them I wanted them to talk in front of you but they know how I feel. Besides they are comfortable with you and wanted you to hear too or they wouldn’t have said anything. I couldn’t make either of them talk if they don’t want to. I love Barbara like a sister and she doesn’t keep much from me. Betty being married to a lawyer is a little more private but not much. She knows I love her and would do anything for her. She has just learned from Jim to be a little more careful what she says and when.”

  “Well it was certainly an education.”

  “Let’s go eat,” Otis said. “I’m buying. God in Heaven is smiling on us today and I feel like celebrating.”

  Tilly laughed at him and looking at us pointed to him like she was showing him off. “He is really happy right now let’s go eat a lot.”

  With that we followed them to one of Otis’ favorite steak houses. They did a really good job with tilapia and catfish as well. Deb and I liked the place. I helped get Otis into his wheel chair and I pushed him inside.

  “You better enjoy this. It may be the last time you get to push me around.” He said.

  “I know that is true. The local FBI and a few others would like to have the opportunity.”

  He laughed. “I know very well that is the truth.”

  They had a ribeye and tilapia special that Otis and I both ordered. He got his steak medium rare and the tilapia blackened. I got my steak medium and blackened tilapia. Tilly just pointed at us after we ordered.

  “Those two are so much alike. Sam could be our son.”

  “I think I am.” I said. “I have sure had good treatment for not being at least.”

  After we ordered I asked Otis what he thought would happen.

  “I think they will come up with some use for the current building. They will leave the pumps where they are and maybe add a few more farther back. I think they will want a raised building that will function like the one we have but be a lot safer, nicer and larger. We will see but I’m very contented with what happened today.”

  “You know Deb and I haven’t had much time to do long range planning but California is creating some interesting problems that might be solved by a combination of things right here.”

  “Really,” Otis said. “Like what. You have really got me curious now. Californians don’t necessarily like us.”

  “They have extremely strict rules for semi trucks running in California. That creates some interesting load price wars. For example if someone wanted to take a load from Chicago to Los Angeles they would normally take the load with a California compliant truck. They are expensive and less fuel efficient than many of the ones that can’t go into California. The truck Deb and I have will go there but our fuel economy is about a mile per gallon less than the best ones. That is a lot of extra money from Chicago to here. What if we had another truck that got say six and a half miles per gallon and we brought that load here. Then we swapped trailers and we used the current tractor to take the load into California. We would save a mile per gallon from Chicago to here. That is about 1750 miles. We get about 5.5 miles per gallon. If we could get 6.5 MPG that would save about $200 getting here. It takes less than five minutes to drop a trailer and hook a trailer. Then we could go into California with our current truck. But we would have a $200 advantage when we are in a bidding war on that route.”

  “I don’t know if we could sell it or make it work but if we had a trailer exchange program like JB Hub has or LandHaul has then those companies could send loads in here to drop from all over the country. Then we could have trucks running from here into California going back and forth. That way they could save fuel times multiple hundreds of trucks. They should be interested in us providing a drop where their trailers are safe and they could get some repair work done and get a good price on fuel. The lot could probably be some land with a gravel pack and a six foot fence and guard gate. As long as it wasn’t too far from the truckstop we wouldn’t need a bathroom out there.”

  “Then we might be able to talk someone on putting a distribution center here. That way they could ship stuff from here into California with our kind of truck and to the rest of the US on cheaper trucks. They would win on fuel. And again if they were able to get repairs and a good price on fuel it could be really nice for them”

  “Besides I would be very surprised if we couldn’t do warehousing cost here way cheaper than they can in California.”

  Otis chuckled. “You have been thinking young man. I liked everything you said and would agree that you are probably right.”

  Our food got there so we all returned our thoughts to the immediate.

  We had a pleasant meal and fun talking about the kids and what they said and were doing with their lives. It was more fun to watch them than remember how much energy it used to take us. Otis said he didn’t have it any longer.

  Once we were done eating I helped Otis get to the car. I asked Tilly if she didn’t want us to follow them home and I help there. She said they didn’t need help at home because Otis had something rigged up so he could get into his wheel chair by himself.

  I shook Otis’ hand and thanked him for the meal. I hugged Tilly and thanked her. Deb hugged them both.

  “You have given me some things to think about Sam. Some of that is very interesting.” Otis said before waving goodbye and rolling up his window.

  Deb and I were tired when we got home. It was an exciting time for Otis’ family but it was also draining. Our life was draining without adding anything else.

  Chapter 14

  Connecting the Dots

  About a week later Jim called back and said they had found something else interesting. Seth had shown Rebecca’s picture to people at the nursing home where Leon lived last and to former neighbors. Several people both places recognized her, and all said she was a friend of Leon’s. When he died, she tried to get copies of release forms from the nursing home or of the death certificate. They would not give her either one. She went to the lawyer who had represented Leon and got him involved. When she got a copy of the release form, it was signed by someone she had never heard of. She and Leon were the only ones authorized to release him, not even the lawyer.

  The lawyer sent a demand letter for the original list of those authorized to release him and they didn’t have one. It was a part of their check-in procedure for everyone they admitted, and they always got it filled out, but it wasn’t there. Then the lawyer asked who at the nursing home authorized the release to someone not on the list. They pointed out the line where the nursing home approval should have been signed. It wasn’t, so they didn’t know.

  Somebody looked the other way, and a stranger wheeled Leon out the door. Also it looked like Leon was moved to the nursing home so they could take his house and clean out his stuff. They probably improvised Leon’s final days since they could not easily take him down and out with Rebecca watching so closely.

  When Rebecca tried to pay the lawyer with Leon’s funds, the account had been closed, and the money was gone. She had paid the lawyer herself and was raising a stink about Leon’s whereabouts. She had the lawyer threatening the bank about authorized signers on the account, which were only Leon and her. The bank let someone not on the account take all the money. They had shown an IRS badge, but no one verified who he was or got any legal authorization to release the money. The bank had no demand letter or real authority to give up Leon’s money.

  Leon’s house and all his property were sold, and the proceeds went to an IRS account. Le
on was supposed to be un-connected but wasn’t, and Rebecca was about to get someone in trouble.

  A lot of stuff happened only God knows how, and it was done simply by showing an IRS badge. We found out the banks are afraid of the IRS, of course and never tell them they can’t do whatever they want. That is why the IRS likes big banks. They can log into their server and see the accounts and the activity of anyone banking there. They can’t always do that so easy at smaller banks.

  Jim went on to tell how they were beginning to find similar circumstances all over the place. Sometimes people died mysteriously or prematurely. But the common thread through all is that the people who died were un-connected with anyone and had at least a modest net worth. Most had lawyers who gave them little time. In short order, they and their stuff were gone.

  Even if a will was probated, there would not be enough in it to pay the lawyers. Most of the time the lawyer would discover there was no value, and they would just drop the case. Then it might or might not be probated, but it would only be a judge involved, if so. A lot of things were not normal.

  I was silent.

  “Are you OK?” Jim asked. “Rebecca was doing a good job and being a good friend but crossed the wrong person or persons.”

  He must have sensed I was overwhelmed because he told me he’d call later, and I should call him anytime I had questions.

  Deb brought me some ice tea and sat with me in silence.

  Finally, I said, “Whoever did this was powerful and well connected in Washington.”

  She agreed but neither of us said any more for a while.

  Then I got up and said I wanted to go for a walk and wanted to know if she would go with me.

  “Sure,” she said.

  And off we went holding hands and walking in silence.

  I began to recognize something in me that I had not recognized before. I was beginning to get angry. I was angry that someone killed my first wife. I was angry that my new best friend and wife was scared. I was angry that Otis and his family had been hurt. Until now, my thoughts had been about surviving, but now I wanted to do something to bring justice to whoever this was. I wanted to find out who they were. I wanted to expose them and let the light of truth shine on their dark deeds.