This is the end… part 10
Richard won the toss. When the pack of motorcycles got off the track he got the all clear, so donned his helmet and drove the yellow Ferrari out of the pit area to make his first run. Having run on this track before he posted a decent average 100mph on the road course. Pulled into the pit area next to Walter standing by the blue Ferrari. "All yours, Walter."
Never having run the track before Walter's first lap clocked in at a slow 95mph average. He discovered quickly that this was a lot easier than street racing- no numb skulls in pickups and the chance of cops. He coasted into the pit area where Richard was standing by his car with a big ear to ear grin.
Richard's second lap came in at 107mph and he pulled into the pit area with an even bigger grin. "Do I have to show you were the gas pedal is, Walt? You're not in a VW, buddy!"
"I think I figured it out, thanks" Walter laughed, and headed for the track. Now being familiar with the track, he came in with 117mph on the display. When he pulled in next to Richard, he said "found that gas pedal at last. Best average of three laps?"
"Sounds good" and Richard took off for his third lap. Coming in at 113mph.
Walter headed out as soon as Richard pulled in to come back with 128mph. He pulled in next to Richard, shut down and got out and said: "three lap average speed 106.66 for you, 113.33 for me. Yup, I found that gas pedal," he laughed. "Too bad no wager was made. I used to street race for pinks."
"I know now not to wager with you. We will do this again, but some others want to do a few laps while the track is available. Company time for those that wanted to do a few laps." Richard said watching a couple bikes fly by. While the trucks and trailers came around to load the cars, Richard was called for some pictures for the company publication.
Walter was leaning against the side of Adam's truck when a motorcycle pulled up. The rider put the bike in neutral, feet down and took off their helmet. "Hey, O'Brien. Racing for pinks again?" Happy asked. "You know, if you let me at that engine I could probably get a few more horses out of it…. win by a bigger margin than 6.67mph like today."
"I usually take it to the garage the weekends in case Ralph wants to check it over."
"Maybe I will bring Ralph if he is to be there this weekend."
"That is the plan. I am usually there Friday night through Sunday when Ralph is picked up" He then turned and left to join Adam and Sue who were packing up the truck.
"Next time, Walter!" Richard yelled as everyone was readying to leave.
On the way back to the house, Sue ventured, "Saw you talking to that motorcycle rider- you race bikes, too?"
"No, don't race bikes." Walter replied without further comment. Adam and Sue kept the conversation light and between them as Walter appeared less than talkative staring out the window. When they got to the house and the car unloaded and in the garage Sue asked if he would like to join them for dinner. Walter declined and went into the house, showered and in boxers and t-shirt went into the bedroom converted into a computer workplace and powered his equipment up. He brought up his copy of the coding for the Australian banking job, on a second computer brought up extensive past coding jobs- those millions of lines of past research and trial for assorted scenarios to find what is compatible with present known parameters for Richard's US banking job. Seven hours later he emerged from the room and almost tripped over Rex laying at the door.
"You know what happens to a dark dog laying in a dark hallway? You get stepped on!" He headed to the kitchen for some water while mumbling "Pathetic, talking to a dog." He got a bottle of water for himself and gave Rex a cookie then they both went out on the patio. Need to get a decent telescope for here, Walter thought while looking at the mist rising from the pool. On a whim, he pulled off his t-shirt and jumped in to swim a couple laps with Rex trotting along on the pools edge. He got out, grabbed a towel from the box table by the chairs and dried off. Rubbing his hair with the towel changed and went back to the computer room to work some more- leaving the door open for Rex who curled up on the floor by the desk.
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Adam and Sue had lunch Thursday afternoon with Jim and Simon.
"I can't give details, but I will say O'Brien is one tough, crazy SOB, especially for a non-military trained tech nerd."
(Reference FanFiction LINE OF FIRE by Vesper Nexus)
"Had a bit of a head butting session when we first met, but he took responsibility for his team seriously just as much as I do. He is impressive. Hell, you be living next door- he is weird, a bit stilted socially, but nice once you get to know him," Jim said. "Super smart and takes care of business- that makes him better than most."
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By Thursday midnight the preliminary programming for the US banking job was completed as far as possible while awaiting the specifics from Richard's people. Standing up straight after so many hours at his desk, Walter stretched to get the kinks out. He had left the door open this time so Rex rose at the same time. Walter looked at the dog- "No cookie tonight, just going to bed."
Walter turned out the light, headed to the bedroom, stripped down to his boxers and stretched out on the bed while Rex curled up on the chair. Three AM the tossing and mumbling started making Rex raise his head on the alert to the impending nightmare. When Walter's tossing intensified and the mumble became a shout, Rex jumped on the bed and barked in Walter's face startling him awake. "GAH! What the…. "Rex pawed his chest and he pushed the dog down and laid back a moment. He swung his legs over and sat on the side of the bed fully awake, Rex standing in front of him wagging his stub tail. "Well, guess you do deserve a cookie." Both of them padding to the kitchen, Walter got some water out of the fridge and took a drink, then got a cookie and gave it to Rex with a pat on the head then both went back to bed. Walter slept soundly until morning.
When Walter awoke, he dressed and went to the kitchen to start the coffee and check mail on his laptop on the kitchen counter. First message was from Nicholas Gilman letting Walter know papers were awaiting his signature and to stop at his office at his convenience. Walter hit reply to write he could be there by eleven this morning. Second message was from William Bloant of MIT who was on the Reinler prize panel. It was an invitation to speak with his students on the Reinler theorem solution and the new scientific constant. If he could be available at some point, just let him know and he will inform students interested and have a lecture hall available.
Walter drank some coffee then went and got dressed to get to Gilman's office. Driving his car, he was at the office by 10:45.
"Thanks for coming in so quickly, Walter. We can review the issues, get you to signing things and get the ball rolling. The prize funds have been transferred into seven accounts: One million to Ralph Dineen a minor, one million to Paige Dineen, Ralph's mother, two million jointly to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, one million to Sylvester Dodd, and one million to Cabe Gallo. The account for Ireland we are getting an attorney over there to set things up so will take longer. One million into a liquid account for your use- here is the card, make your PIN at your convenience. The rest is in an investment account. Once you sign all these documents where each is marked everything will be set. If you have any preferences for investment directions just let us know.
"Amazing the amount of paperwork to do what should be simple things" Walter commented as he read through and signed sheet after sheet. "Have not signed my name so much for anything in one sitting in my life."
When he finished reading and signing, Nick said "I told Richard you were coming in this morning and he said to have you stop in before leaving." He rose and shook Walter's hand. "These funds should be distributed within the week. I will buzz Richard and let him know you are on your way."
When Walter reached Richard's office he was standing by Toni's desk waiting for him. "Walter, nice seeing you, come on in."
"Richard, I have been working on the US banking job but am still waiting for your people to send me the specifics. Once that information can be ascertained and added in the programming I have already gotten done it could be ready within a week for testing. Once testing is done, the biggest problem will be launching for a seamless turnover."
"They said another week and all would be ready to drop in your lap. So looks like you are ahead of the curve… as usual, Walter"
"That being the case, I am at a standstill. However, I got an invitation to speak at MIT. William Bloant, remember he was the MIT professor on the Reinler panel." Walter said. "If you have no other jobs or issues for me to tend to, I would like to let him know I could be there next Monday. Fly in spend a couple days and fly back late Thursday night. Might be nice to get into the academic atmosphere- get an idea of the up and coming."
"Sounds like a mind cleanser for you, Walter- as long as I don't lose you to the hallowed halls of the Ivy League." Richard replied. "Once again, care to join me for lunch? You really do need to get some meat on those bones. Have a car waiting and reservations at the Italian place."
"You twisted my arm, sounds good."
After lunch they returned to the office, Walter got his car and headed to the house to change vehicles and headed to the garage. Once he opened up the garage and pulled the Ferrari into the back bay, closed the rollup door and locked it, he walked into the garage and had no need to stop and look around. He opened his laptop booked a flight to Boston for Monday with a return late Thursday. He then sent a message to William Bloant informing him Walter would be flying into Boston Monday afternoon. He would be available from Tuesday through Thursday as his return flight was late Thursday night.
He then went to the whiteboard and set some formula and math questions for Ralph to work Saturday. Proton Arnold was powered up as was his desk top computer. With everything ready for Ralph's arrival in the morning, he went to bed in the loft.
Saturday morning he had the coffee going and was at his desk doing some coding when Ralph entered with Happy.
"Walter!"
"Hey, Obrien."
"Ralph, have some good ones for you on the board, have at it. Happy, I doubt the car needs any major work, but you are welcome to do what you want." He then turned to join Ralph at the board. About an hour and a half passed when Walter heard the engine lid close. Shortly thereafter he heard Happy's truck leave.
Later in the evening the telescope was set out and the pizza had been delivered. Sitting at the roof picnic table Ralph said, "Walter, can I ask you a personal question?"
"You can ask me anything, buddy. What is it?"
"I know there was a big fight with the team, it destroyed Scorpion. Yet I heard you referred Happy AND Sly to get jobs for Mr. Elias. They started Centipede and you lost jobs to them so you had to close the garage. Why do you help them, get them jobs? Why talk to Toby last week and now have Happy in here? Walter put down his pizza slice and closed his eyes.
"I'm Sorry, Walter. Never mind it's none of my business."
"No, Ralph, you can ask me anything, it just takes me a minute to collect my thoughts. First, when it comes to the 'big fight' it was probably a long time brewing until it finally exploded. The differences between people, while it may work for a while, things fester. You have to admit, this group was made up of a very volatile, diverse bunch of people. Like the proverbial 'herding cats' issue, things were difficult. Centipede is doing well, I gather- different management style makes all the difference. Businesses are started, some thrive, some do not, many fail. As Richard said when his smart building failed, failure is a learning experience. Added to the issues was the law enforcement and even military jobs when none of us were trained for such work. Remember that night Toby was treating my burn and he asked 'when did we turn into action heroes, jumping out of burning planes'? That kind of stressful, life and death, bullets flying action can only be tolerated for so long before issues arise. As far as referring Richard to Sly and Happy- he needed their expertise. Richard asked me if I knew an engineer for an issue he had and Happy is the best and proved to him she was. Same with Sylvester. Richard needed an expert for stats, probabilities and math and Sylvester is the best. When a tool is needed you get the best one available to do the job at hand. I do not base my recommendations on social norms but on ability to get the job done and done right."
"And my mom?"
Walter felt a constriction in his chest and unconsciously put his hand on his chest then continued. "As with businesses that fail, so do relationships. The differences were too much to bear, so like the team, it exploded."
"Walter, will I always be alone, too?"
"No, buddy, no way. You have so very much that I lack, and that is solely due to your mother. She succeeded with you where my parents failed. Remember you said you wanted to go to school so you 'wouldn't turn out like us'? You were right, you will turn out much better than us, so you very well may exceed us in time. Now, the clouds have cleared so let's check out Mars. After all, you may go there one day on one of Richard's rockets…. using my modified booster."
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