Not a fool this time…. Chapter 17
"Another excellent dinner, Gale. This is like a five star eatery compared to the past few weeks living with a bunch of college roomies." Ralph said sitting back. "Even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches get old eventually."
"You said there are methods of speeding up the high school graduation process? Have you checked into it? The sooner you are in university the better." Walter said.
"Yes, looked into it. Have to talk to the councilor but my already having college credits as well as taking the step of being emancipated should be enough to get the ball rolling." Ralph said. "The school is aware of my legal issues but now that it is over, I will have to get back into classes Monday."
"I can drop you off and pick you up, but the sooner you get into classes that are worthwhile, the better." Walter said. "I understand the 'socializing' benefit but you have done well on that score, so best to move on in your education."
"Well, I need to get to that e-mail, so gonna' help clean up and get to it," Ralph said rising to collect plates and utensils to get to the kitchen. Walter and Gale rose to help.
"You have no idea how much I appreciate your hauling me to and from school." Ralph said getting out of the car.
"It is well worth the effort, Ralph," Walter replied.
After dropping Ralph off at school, Walter continued on to attend a conference with the 'eggheads' of the space division. The issue at hand was the ways and means of remotely building a habitat on the moon or endeavoring to launch prefab pieces to be assembled on site. One would be ready to move in, the other not. Walter mostly listened to the 'brain storming' to digest ideas and make recommendation in future.
After the conference, he went to discuss some issues with the engineers of the propulsion section when he got a text from Richard to stop by his office when convenient.
He knocked on Richard's office door and entered. Richard looked up. "Walter, thanks for coming by. Pull up a chair."
"What's up?" Walter asked as he set his laptop case by the chair and sat.
"I got a call from a friend who is an instructor. He is one of the people in my social organization promoting exceptional students of the area. He is real excited about one local kid and the name rang a bell- Ralph Dineen." Richard said. "Isn't he Paige Dineen's son that you have mentored for years?"
"You remember correctly. Ralph just recently was legally emancipated at fifteen and has come to stay with Gale and me," Walter replied. "He is now residing in the Airstream. He, like I said, is now legally an adult and is working with his public school to see about graduating as soon as possible so he can get back into his college classes his step father pulled him from. I gather that was the cause of dissension prompting his legal emancipation."
"Think he would be interested in an internship in one of my divisions? My social organization can help him navigate his way through early graduation and into college. We also have scholarship and grant programs for certain subjects- the hard sciences in particular. Even have condo studio apartments centrally located close to educational or the different company sites."
"You will have to talk to Ralph- he is an adult now so makes his own decisions. Matter of fact, I need to pick him up from school. Feel free to contact him or stop in the garage to talk face to face- you will be surprised to see he is but fifteen- yes, he is exceptional," Walter said rising to leave. "I will tell him you are interested- he may appreciate your organizations help in graduating from public school as soon as possible."
Walter was waiting for Ralph at the end of the school day. Ralph walked to the car and got in. "Thanks, Walter. I really appreciate your and Gale's help in all this. I talked to my councilor who is discussing my graduating early with assorted teachers. Might be able to shave a year, maybe more."
As Walter got in line of cars exiting the parking lot, he glanced at Ralph with a smile. "At least you may be leaving your public schooling with instructors having fond memories of you going through the proper channels. All my teachers were happy to see the end of me, and probably thought good riddance- especially the last few year's math instructors." He chuckled, "at least the whacks on my knuckles with their canes did not impede my typing."
"I will think of that when I start feeling sorry for myself- just how lucky I am." Ralph said shaking his head. "Just how lucky I was that you came into that restaurant years ago….. certainly changed my life."
"Was a lucky happenstance for me as well," Walter said with a smile. "I was called to Richard's office this afternoon- one of your instructors brought you to his attention. He may be visiting to talk to you about an internship among other things."
"Wow, wouldn't it be a trip were we to work together?" Ralph said excitedly. "That would be something!"
Pulling up to the garage bay door, Walter looked around to see a car by the garage door he did not recognize. "Ralph, get out of the car- do not go in the garage. Get your phone out and go to the corner of the building."
"What's wrong, Walter?
"Stay out of the garage- if you hear loud voices call 911."
"Walter…."
"DO AS I SAY," Walter said sternly while getting out of the car to open the roll up door to pull the car in while Ralph got out, closed the car door quietly and went to the corner of the building. Walter pulled the car into the bay and, leaving the door open for a possible needed exit, he walked into the common area to see Gale sitting at her desk and Steve Roehr seated on the sofa by the door.
A glance at Gale he saw she was unharmed so looked at Paige's husband and asked, "can I help you with something?"
"Yes, I am looking for Paige's son."
"Not here. He has contact information for you?" Walter asked. "He is an adult now so can contact you as he chooses. His mother contacted me about her wanting to see him. I passed that message on. He has contacted his mother I believe and arranged a meet."
Steve said "I do not want to cause trouble but Paige has been very upset with how Ralph has behaved over this legal action."
"That is between Ralph and his mother- neither Gale nor I were involved in his decision for legal actions."
"Have you seen him? Is he staying here?" Steve asked.
"As Ralph is a legal adult whom he sees and where he lives is his decision to make." Walter said, parsing his words carefully.
"Be that as it may, you have been a thorn in my relationship with Paige and Ralph since day one." Steve said. "Interfering with my family may cause me to do a very deep search into you. I am with Homeland. It was through Homeland you got your citizenship. I find anything, Homeland can change your status- all the way to possible deportation."
"That a threat?"
"Not at all, merely making you aware of circumstances. I am sure you are aware there are those in Homeland who do not look on your presence favorably. Many were aware of your fraudulent marriage, questionable loyalties."
"Very well, you have made your position clear, so can leave." Walter said. "I will pass on the information to Ralph when/if I see him, and he will do as he sees fit."
"I see we understand each other," Steve said, then rose from the sofa and left.
Walter looked to Gale. "Did he threaten you at all?"
"No, but you can bet the doors will be closed and locked at all times from this point forward." Gale said going to Walter for a hug. "As with all law enforcement types, he can be a bit intimidating." Walter kissed her then went to the bay door, went out to be sure Steve left and see where Ralph was.
"I watched him leave," Ralph said coming from across the alley. "I held off calling 911 as I did not hear raised voices or confrontation actions….. I am so very sorry about this. Is Gale OK? Did he scare her? He knows how to come off as big and bad."
"Gale is fine, however, like she said, the place will be locked up at all times from now on. Did you contact your mother?"
"Yeah, seeing her at the beach Saturday at noon- where the rocket was launched."
"Alright, get inside so I can close up." Walter then circled the building perimeter to be sure the area was clear, then closed up the garage door and went to sit at his desk. He brought up the security feed and noted the time Steve drove up and when he drove away. From the time the man got there until Walter drove up was seventeen minutes Gale was here alone with him. He made copies of that footage. He then typed out the entire conversation he had with the man and made a file of the footage and conversation. He opened a desk drawer and took out a flash drive and loaded it with the file. He then sat back in his chair with a slight frown.
Gale, sitting at her desk and Ralph sitting on the sofa watched him apprehensively. Walter then pushed his desk top keyboard to the side and opened his laptop to send a message to Richard.
Richard- Ralph Dineen is presently at the garage if you want to speak with him. I also need information on personal security. Walter
Within a few minutes the alert for new mail sounded.
Walter- will be at the garage within the hour. Richard
Turning to Ralph, Walter said "Richard will be here shortly to discuss an internship. He also has a social organization that helps promising students. Knows the steps necessary to get the time shaved off graduation, scholarships and grants for university. He will discuss all this so be prepared." He then sat back again thinking.
There was a knock at the door; Walter brought up the outside security to see Richard and told Ralph to let him in.
"Walter, Gale, nice seeing you." Richard said, turned to Ralph with hand extended, "I take it you are Ralph Dineen? Nice to meet you, I am Richard Elias of Elias Enterprises. I take it we have some things to discuss."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Elias," Ralph said shaking Richard's hand and waving to the sofa for him to be seated.
"So where is everything standing now? Between my educational contacts bringing your name to me and Walter's mentoring you I can see you are a likely candidate for my social organization that promotes exceptional students. I do have to be honest, I endeavor to get these exceptional candidates into my organization in one division or another, whatever their proficiency and interest." Richard said, "So what is needed at this point?"
"I was recently emancipated, I would like to get graduated from high school as soon as possible and back into my college classes. I already have college credits in the fields of mathematics and robotics, if it is possible to 'test out' for graduation, I am sure I can manage that. I have already talked to the councilor about what I am trying to do. One thing that she said would help would be recommendations by prominent teachers, having an internship would also help."
"Have any particular line of work you are interested in?" Richard sked.
"Mathematics of course, robotics, space. Engineering for system design or theoretical for future- enjoy the mathematics….. but Walter has me beat on that subject," Ralph replied.
"For the time being," Walter said from his desk.
Richard looked to Walter. "That is high praise, indeed. While I understand you are legally an adult, an older persons wisdom would be good to have as a sounding board for you. Walter has the knowledge and experience as you appear to have similar interests and abilities." Richard thought for a moment then continued. "I will talk with my group of recruiters who work with promising students. We may be able to hasten the public school graduation process- as long as you can do the testing necessary. You do so, we can then determine what division you should get an internship in. If space, there are a number of sectors within that division to explore. Once my people contact you they will meet with your councilor and get the ball rolling." Richard then sat back. "Once you are out of public school, it will be an easy move into college. We have scholarships and grants to help if necessary. I also have condos available for students that are located on metro routes of the local university and college as well as close to the different facilities." Richard pulled a data pad from his inside jacket pocket. "Enter your contact information as well as your school info and councilor's name. I will pass it on to my people and they will contact you for more information on your college credits and any other info they need."
While Ralph was entering his contact information, Gale spoke up, "Richard, care to join us for dinner?"
"As a matter of fact, I was going to invite all of you to join me for dinner. Ralph can ride with me if you two want to follow. My favorite Italian restaurant- you know it well by now."
"We shall see you there," Walter said getting up to pull the car out and lock up.
Returning from dinner, Ralph who rode with Richard went to the Airstream while Gale went to the loft to shower. Richard and Walter had the time to talk.
"You said you have some security issue, Walter?" Richard asked. "I did not forget but did not know if you wanted to bring it up with the others."
"Yes, you remember meeting Steve Roehr at the dinner- Paige's husband. He came here- was here for seventeen minutes alone with Gale. I got my citizenship through working with Homeland. He intimated that my citizenship could just as easily be revoked and I be deported. You being a billionaire I am sure have a personal security detail yet move around without interference- that is the information I need. I can keep the garage secure, my servers in the cellar are secure and I have countless back up hard drives in my safes. This guy is a capable Homeland agent, and while I may not be as capable in a physical confrontation, if he should do anything to Gale…. it will not go well."
"Do you really think he would resort to violence?" Richard asked. Walter pulled out the flash drive he loaded with the security footage and the transcript. After viewing and reading, Richard looked up, "Wow, veiled threats- amazing they guy would pull a stunt like that."
"This place will be locked up at all times from now on even while we are here. I will be giving a copy of this flash drive to my attorney just in case. While I enjoy living here in America, it will not be the slightest bit difficult for me to live in Europe as he seems to think it would be. My whole reason for discussing this with you is to give me information on who handles your personal security so I can have some on Gale…. at all times."
"I am really sorry to hear about this kind of mess. I will have my people get hold of you by tomorrow afternoon at latest. Be sure to keep your security feed on-line, saved, and keep it safe. I know there is nothing anyone can do computer-wise you can't overcome but take extra precautions. The guy may just be macho blow hard, but time to take different routes to known destinations- situational awareness at all times." Richard got up to leave. "Good night Walter."
Walter rose as well, "Thanks for the help, Richard."