Still not mine.
I don't know how the American legal system works with inheritance, taxes etc.
All a fiction of my imagination.
Enjoy!
ps. Thanks for the reviews.a
HOME WORK - MAKING THE DEAL
Thirteen minutes later Ranger stepped out on the patio in running shorts and sneakers with a t-shirt tucked in the waistband. I had to check for drool, that guy is sexy as hell. Am I allowed to think that about someones dad? Who cares, no-one can read my mind.
"That was fast." The guy wasn't sweating or even winded. "You want something to drink?"
"Please, just water is fine."
"I've got kombucha that I made my self. I've been experimenting with different taste combinations. I'm pretty proud of the one I've got going at the moment, raspberry and blueberry with a hint of hibiscus flower. I dare you to try."
"Sure, I'll take that but could I also bother you for a bottle of water."
"Oh, we don't do bottled water, we filter eau de tap. That ok?"
"Yeah, that's ok. Love your patio, who did your decorating?"
"Thank you, that would have been Hector, Felix and my self."
"You're quite the all around domestic Goddess aren't you"
"Domestic, my pumpkin? I guess they had to manage with Val when their mother had taken 'ill' and had to lay down. I'm Frank Plum by the way, father of the domestic Goddess. Does that make me a god?"
"Daddy!"
"Carlos Mañoso, but call me Ranger. Nice to meet you, sir."
"Likewise, call me Frank. Any relation to CC and Ricky?"
"Frank it is. Yes, they are my older siblings, you know them?"
"Stephanie lived and worked at SoBe when she first came to Miami. I stayed with her on occasion. I don't remember meeting you though."
"I don't live in Miami on a regular basis. The RangeMan HQ is in Trenton, so that's where I stay mostly. I have six offices on the east coast and one in Boston. I tend to spend at least a week a month in those other offices. Now I'm here for at least six months to get to know my daughter. I sent my ex-wife and her husband on a cruise for her 35th birthday."
"I thought Julie said they won that cruise in some competition."
"Looks like the truth is out, no I just wanted the opportunity to connect with Julie. This way it's a win-win situation, don't you think?"
"Are you going to tell Julie the real reason you're here?"
"Don't know, haven't figured it out yet."
"I think she'll love it. The fact that you're making an effort."
"You think?"
"I do."
"Well those are words I didn't think I'll ever hear again."
"You flirting again, aren't you?"
"Yes. But seriously what was it you wanted to discuss?"
"I got a call earlier telling me that my mother had died and left me all her worldly possessions."'
"I'm sorry for your loss, both of you."
"Nothing to be sorry about. We haven't been in any contact for the past six years. She disowned me when I divorced my ex-husband. And even before that we weren't on the best of terms. Without going any further in to my relationship or lack there of with my mother I am going to make you a business proposition."
"I'm all ears."
"My mother was part owner of Plum Bail Bonds in Trenton and my ex, who also happened to be her lawyer, informed me that RangeMan was interested in buying it. Vinnie needs the money and we don't know anything about bails or bonds."
"Your mother lived in Trenton, New Jersey?"
"Yes. As did I until six years ago."
"It really is a small world. We opened the Trenton office six years ago."
"Where was your HQ before?"
"Here in Miami"
"Any way, are you interested?"
"Yeah, do you have any estimate of the value?"
"The Dick, that's my ex Richard Orr, said the building is worth about 180 000$ with the existing furnishings."
"Ok, it's in a good location, we've done business with Vinnie. He's got a good reputation as a bail bondsman. Do you know anything about the figures?"
"Not a thing. All I know is that Vinnie is desperate to sell and we don't need it. You could probably call him and ask."
"I'll tell Tank to pay him a visit?"
"Ok, the point is I promised Dickie to deliver the papers signed and notarized as soon as possible."
"You don't even know what I'm ready to pay."
"I'll take a fifty."
"Fifty grand for a business that is worth four times that?"
"No, fifty dollars. That's ten dollars each for daddy, Val, me and the girls."
"The girls?
"Vals girls, Angie and Mary-Alice."
"Are you joking?"
"No, I'm completely serious. Fifty bucks and the deal is sealed."
"Frank don't you have anything to say about this?"
"No, Helen left it for Stephanie. She can do what ever she likes. Val doesn't need the money, the girls are both set up with college funds and more. I have my army pension. I still do some consulting for the government so I'm good."
"But you do get something for selling the house, right?"
"I already promised to sell the house to the reason of my divorce."
"Dickie is buying the house?"
"No, I'm selling it to the woman I caught him fucking with and their daughter for a dollar."
"Let me get this straight, you're selling a house for a dollar and a business for fifty, what am I missing here?"
"The lawyer, The Dick, gets twelve percent of assets sold. That makes six dollars and twelve cents. With that money he can arrange the funeral."
"And he has agreed to that?"
"I told him he didn't have to pay me alimony any more, that swayed his mood to receptive."
"That amount don't buy a casket, flowers or even tip the pallbearers."
"That's his problem, he knows that. The can cremate her for all I care."
"Frank, what's your take on this?"
"I'm with her. There's no love lost between me and Helen. And I doubt there will be anyone missing a funeral service. She had alienated her self from her social circle years ago. Angie and Mary-Alice haven't even met her."
"Do you mind if I contact my lawyer before signing anything?"
"Be my guest, you can use my office, there's a scanner if you do sign."
"Do you have skype? I think I want Tank in on this meeting."
"Yeah, let me set that up for you. Have you eaten anything by the way? All this talk about money made me hungry."
"I had some gluten free pancakes and blueberry syrup."
"Ah and how did those turn out?"
"They were actually really good. I'll show you the video ."
"You made a video? I told them that a few pictures would suffice."
"The video is far more entertaining than the pics, trust me."
"I bet. Well it's all set up. We'll be in the kitchen when you're ready."
"Ok, thanks."
"Do you have something going on with Ranger pumpkin?"
"Would you oppose if I did?"
"No, of course not. You're a grown woman, you make your own choices. He seems like a good guy."
"I think so. I've only met him a couple of times. Hector and Felix know him. They vouch for him. They used to be Latin Kings in their teens."
"He's a gang banger?"
"Emphasis on the used to be as in past tense. You like Hector and Felix well enough."
"And they were in a gang too?"
"Yes. They bled out together, the gangs don't look to kindly to homosexuals."
"I never knew."
"It's not something they talk about but it's no secret."
"So what do you know about this Ranger fella?"
"He's ex-military, a colonel, I think. Julie was an r&r accident when he was 18. When he retired from the army he and Tank, that's Thomas Sherman, set up the first RangeMan office. He employs mostly veterans, male and female. I don't even know how many people work for him. I do know he's not hurting for money. I walked by his house the other day. He bought the former Versace Mansion. And here I thought I live in luxury."
"Compared to Emory Avenue anything is luxury."
"You can say that again."
"Compared to Emory Avenue anything is luxury."
"Ha ha ha, you funny man."
"I try."
"Ok, I'm back. I talked to Tank, Vinnie and Lester Santos, he's the lawyer. Unfortunately this deal is not as easy as you think. Although you want to sell for fifty bucks Vinnie wants the remaining half of listing price, 90 grand."
"So Dickie will still get a hefty sum?"
"No Lester said we'll make the deal for fifty each and then RangeMan will donate 90 grand to the Bonds Foundation. The foundation provides grants upon request, to be distributed at discretion. The only ones seeking that grant will be Vinnie and Lucille. This way RangeMan gets a tax deduction and Vinnie and Lucille don't need to pay taxes either."
"And the Dick?"
"He gets twelve bucks with change."
"Is everybody happy with that?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I'll ask Lester to email the contract, we'll sign it and that's it. A done deal."
"Doesn't it need to be notarized?"
"Lester is a certified public notary, he'll do it."
"Well daddy, how does it feel to inherit that much money? Any big plans"
"I was going to buy a new boat but I'll settle for treating you to dinner. Us heirs can't spend it all at once."
"What if I offer to buy you guys dinner instead. I feel like I've cheated you out of your money. On the other hand I wish all contracts would be this easy. So what do you say? Dinner's on me."
"Ok, if you're buying you get to decide where. Call back in lets say two hours and we'll meet you there."
"I thought we'd go now."
"I hate to point out that you'r wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I don't think that will fly anywhere else than McDonalds drive thru."
"You're right. I'll go home and pretty my self up and call in two hours. You think you'll be ready by then?"
"I do."
"There you go with the 'I do' again."
"Get out of here"
"Later."