Chapter 216 – John and Frank (short)
When John, Peter, and Frank got to the office, John turned and looked at Frank.
"Do you want it to be just us or can Peter sit in and take notes?" John asked.
"I have nothing to hide." Frank said.
The three men took a seat. John sat down behind the desk and Peter sat off to the side while Frank took a seat across from John.
"First, I don't want you to think that something bad is going to happen." John said. "I saw that you signed and returned the contract to Devin."
"Yes, Sir." Frank said.
"I just wanted to have a quick conversation with you." John said. "You said that you needed to pack up your apartment and let your landlord know."
"That is right, Sir." Frank said.
Frank was sticking to short answers as he had been taught in the military until he knew what the conversation was about. At this point, Frank was still unsure about what John wanted.
"When Devin gave me your address." John said. "I realized that you are living in one of the buildings that is part of one of JP's holding companies. That is why I wanted to speak to you. If you are okay with me hiring professional movers, I can have your entire apartment packed and up here by the end of the week. I will also return your July rent, minus one week. I also won't charge a cleaning fee or anything."
"Thank you, Sir." Frank said. "But I can go to the city and do it."
"If you want." John said. "I just thought that this might be easier for you. I see the calming influence you have on not only my grandson, but his friends as well. I know that this week will be hard for them with the holiday and then the show next Saturday. Next week is going to be even crazier. I just thought if you wanted to stay, I could take care of this for you."
"What about changing my bank, address and all that other stuff?" Frank asked.
"You can do the post office online and have your mail forwarded here for now." John said. "Once you have your place we can change it again. What bank do you have?"
"I have an account at Citizens Bank as well as the Navy Federal Credit Union." Frank said.
"There are branches of both of those here in Saratoga." John said. "I happen to know the president of both. We can easily get your stuff transferred here."
"Here you go, Sir." Peter said, getting up and handing him paperwork from the printer.
"What are those?" Frank asked.
"Paperwork ending your lease, along with the money that will be returned to you." Peter said. "One agreeing to John hiring movers and for them to go into the apartment and pack everything. There are also the forms for the post office and both banks. You just need to sign them. I will take care of everything on Monday."
John pushed the paperwork toward Frank and held out a pen.
"Just so you know." Frank said. "I have three locked gun cases in the bedroom as well as my footlocker that has my body armor in it."
"Noted." Peter said. "I will let the movers know, but it won't be a problem. The movers we hire are professionals that we have worked with before. They will take care of everything and bring it up here. The boxes will all be marked."
"I have already spoken to James." John said. "He has no problem with storing your stuff down near the stable until we get you into a place of your own. He has storage built for employees as well as the farm. There is plenty of room."
"Thank you." Frank said
Frank picked up the papers and looked over them. He took his time, neither John or Peter minded. Finally, Frank signed them and handed them back to John. John made sure all the signatures were there and then handed the paperwork to Peter.
"This will be the first thing that I do on Monday." Peter said. "If you have any problems, please let us know and we will make sure it is straightened out."
"So how long will it take to transfer my accounts?" Frank said. "I have a couple of auto payments that come out. One is for my Netflix account and the other is for the internet."
"Cancel your internet." John said. "We will provide that for you. If you need, we can give you a card to use for things until things are transferred, but it should be done by the end of the week."
"You still have the card that Devin gave you?" Peter asked.
"Yes." Frank said.
"Then if you have any problems." Peter said. "Please use that. I will call Conner and have more money transferred to it, or even better just have all bills sent to his office."
"You don't need to do that." Frank said. "I have money."
"I am not saying that you don't." John said. "All I am saying is that we are taking care of things. If you haven't noticed, JP likes to take care of people and especially those he cares about."
Frank held up his hands in surrender.
"I would argue, but I have a feeling I wouldn't win." Frank said.
"See, learning already." John said. "Since you will be here and essentially working, I have taken the liberty of adding you to JP's payroll starting Monday. As soon as you have your new bank numbers, we will set up the direct deposit. You will get paid every Friday, so your first paycheck will be the Friday before the show. Let us know if you need help with health insurance or anything like that. I know as a former military, you might have it, but please let us know if there is anything else that you need."
"There are two things that I need." Frank said.
"Okay." John said.
"First." Frank said. "I need the forms to change my address for my license as well as all my military benefits. Which is going to be a pain since I just changed things at the beginning of the year."
"I will find the forms you need." Peter said. "If you fill them out and give me permission, I will deal with them for you. I will print off a few forms for you to sign giving John the right to speak to the Veterans Administration on your behalf, in this matter. You can end those anytime or they will expire in one year. I should have those later today or tomorrow. Please check with me, if I don't give them to you."
"Thank you for that." Frank said.
"What was the other thing?" John asked.
"This might have to wait until things are further along at the other property." Frank said. "But I have a red 1991 Harley Davidson Road King. It is at my brother's place in Kentucky. Jack explained that his grandmother doesn't like the machines, so I won't bring it here."
"Peter." John said.
"Already looking." Peter said. "We have a transport coming through Kentucky in ten days and there is room for the motorcycle. There is plenty of room at the Albany house to store it for now."
"Are you sure?" Frank said.
"Absolutely." John said. "Please get Peter your brother's information and then give him a heads up. As long as you don't mind traveling with two thoroughbreds."
"More than fine as long as there is room." Frank said.
"We were supposed to have four horses so we arranged for a four horse trailer." Peter said. "Plenty of room, even with two horses."
Frank pulled up his brother's information and handed his phone to Peter. Peter quickly copied down the information.
"Send him a text." Peter said. "And let him know that he will be getting a call from Dwight, the driver, that he will be there some time on the tenth. Dwight will call when he is about two hours away. It works perfectly, since they will stay overnight in Kentucky as it is. I have already changed the manifest with him dropping the motorcycle at the Albany house before bringing the horses here."
"Thank you." Frank said. "When Jack said, you work fast, he meant it."
"No point in wasting time when there are other things that need to be done." John said. "Have you had a chance to look at modular homes or RV?"
"No." Frank said. "I was thinking I would do that tonight."
"Very well." John said. "I am going to tell you again, for the house, pick out what you want. Get with Elizabeth and figure out something for RV. JP will just have to deal with what you pick out. He can't control everything and everyone and the sooner he learns that, the better."
"Thank you, Sir." Frank said.
"If you feel comfortable." John said. "I would hope that you could call me John. I know that you were military, so the sir and ma'am are like second nature."
"I will try." Frank said.
"If you think of anything else that you need help with, please let me know." John said.
"I will." Frank said. "Now it sounds like the ladies have a list of things for me to get in town. I am just glad that I can help, especially since the media don't know me."
"Thank you for that." John said. "We are hoping with the press conference this morning that things will be better, but it might take a few days."
"I will let you know what things look like in town." Frank said.
"I will get those other forms for you." Peter said. "I will do what I can today and the rest will be the first things I do on Monday."
"Thank you." Frank said.
Frank stood up and shook John's hand and then Peter's.
"You can leave the door open." John said.
Frank did just that as he left. Peter pulled up a spot closer to the desk and both men set about the things that they needed to get done that day.