***
Jason looked back at Matt, smiled, and waved goodbye. He turned, walked down a long corridor, and left the visitor's center. On the way back to Dallas, he thought about the business he was supposed to buy. He didn't know anything about running a business and wondered if he could pull it off. He wasn't sure what Matt had up his sleeve but knew whatever it was, it would be dangerous. Nevertheless, he felt he had no choice but to do as Matt wished. He had to help Matt get his vengeance.
When Jason got back to Dallas, he bought a newspaper and started looking through the classified ads for businesses for sale. Not finding anything that looked appropriate, he called a business broker he knew to ask him what he had available.
"What kind of business are you looking for?"
"Oh, I don't know. Something simple. I don't want to have to go through extensive training to learn the business. Something well established so I don't have to worry about losing my ass the first ninety days."
"How about a printing business?"
"Hmm. Doesn't that take years to learn?"
"Well, you could hire someone to run it."
"No, I want something I can run."
"I've got a convenience store."
"How many employees?"
"Seven."
"No, I need lots of employees."
"Why?"
"It's a long story."
"How about a lumber yard."
"Where is it located?"
"Tyler."
"How many employees?"
"Thirty-seven."
"What are they asking?"
"Nine hundred and fifty thousand."
"How much down?"
"Two hundred and fifty thousand and the owner will finance the balance."
"Offer them a hundred down and a note for six hundred and fifty thousand," Jason said.
"Don't you want to see the place?" the broker asked.
"Well, yeah. . . . Of course, after we see the place, if I like it, then you can make the offer."
"Good. I'll call them tomorrow and arrange a tour."
"Do you have any financial information on them?"
"Yeah, I've got a complete packet. I'll give it to you."
"Good, I'll study it tonight and if I have any questions I'll ask you them in the morning on the way to Tyler."
"Fine, then I'll be seeing you tomorrow," the broker said.
"Right."
Jason had no clue what he was doing but he felt kind of excited being part of Matt’s scheme, whatever it was. He couldn't wait to see the lumber yard and report back to Matt on what he had accomplished so quickly.
After touring the lumber yard, the next day, he drove back to Texarkana to see Matt. He was impressed with what he had seen but he needed Matt's approval and the money if he was going to close the deal. After waiting quite a while in the visitor's center, Matt finally appeared.
"You're back awfully quick."
"You said to find a business, so I've done it."
Matt smiled. "That's what I like about you, Jason, you never pussyfoot around. What kind of business is it?"
"A lumber yard over in Tyler."
"Hmm. That should work. What's it going to cost?"
"I was going to offer $100,000 down and a note for $650,000."
"What's the asking price?"
"Nine fifty."
"Okay, that's good."
"What about the money?"
"Give me your account number and I'll have my bank transfer the money."
"Can you do that from in here?"
"Sure, I'll go through the internet."
"Okay," Jason said and then pulled out his check book and tore off a deposit slip. "Here, take this. The numbers are on the bottom."
Matt took the deposit slip, smiled and then said, "Now don't take a long vacation when you get this money."
Jason laughed and replied, "I've always wanted to go to Tahiti."
"You can live in Tahiti after we pull this deal off."
"Or, if we don't pull it off, I could have the same accommodations as you."
"No, if we don't pull it off, we'll more than likely be dead. If the inmates don't kill us the bank will see to it."
"Oh, great, Matt. You're a fun guy to be partners with."
"Well, seriously, I want to be honest with you. You'd be better off not getting involved in this deal. It's going to be extremely risky. If you want to back out now, I'll understand and I won't hold it against you."
"You need somebody on the outside though, right?"
"Yes, but there are other people out there. I'll find somebody."
"Yeah, but could you trust them?"
"Not like you."
"Exactly, and I want you to pull this thing off, whatever it is. I don't want you getting killed."
"Thanks. I kind of like living myself."
Jason put his hand on the glass that separated them and said, "Partners then?"
Matt nodded, put his hand up against the glass and replied, "Partners."
Plastic Gods, A Rich Coleman Novel Vol 2 Page 33