Not Quite a White Night Vol. 06d

Not Quite A White Knight Vol. 6 Part D

By LolaPaul49

Part D. Gracie

Chapter 30. Gracie Arrives

Sunday September 28, 2008

Los Angeles

The Gulfstream G450 touched down at 10:27 AM at Van Nuys airport in LA, bringing Gracie back to me from Detroit where the first chill of Fall had entered the air in Michigan. Gracie was fine with her experience of Detroit in the Fall before she left the city behind. But really, one week was enough. She did not own a Detroit-weight Fall wardrobe and now that I said her enemies had been removed from LA it was safe as usual for her. She saw no reason to start a Detroit wardrobe when she really wanted an LA wardrobe. She had a lot of clothes buying to catch up on.

Actually, since her home was destroyed the only clothes she had were those purchased in Detroit over the summer, she brought them all. She would be start a new LA wardrobe for all four seasons in the next day or two. But she could afford it.

It was 8 days after Darnel and Doria shared the last moment of their love/hate affair and coupling in a seafood meal. Most Sunset Sharks presumed the two were in Africa, either loving or trying to kill each other. Maybe both. There were betting pools about who would come back alive, and when. Odds were on Doria, returning in three months, after she had stolen all Darnel's secrets, then skinned him and sold off the best bits as "tender bush meat." TIn the old country there are some family recipes that folks can't do without. The longest odds on the table were 40-to-1 that neither would be back in 13 months. The speculation and rumors were interesting to hear about. But the one person who knew the truth was not talking or betting despite the odds, I would win but collecting on the bet would be a problem. Besides it would be a crime and right now the good folks who resolved crimes had other things to do.

I won big when that plane touched down with Gracie aboard.

For deplaning the jet taxied to the hanger where I was waiting. The hanger bore the name of the aircraft leasing company that matched the jet's paint job, a company where 20% of the equity was now Gracie's.

I had been at work in the office before 5 this morning doing final proofing on another section of the E-book. It was boring work. Now I was taking the rest of the day off, my PA knew I would be out of the office until tomorrow afternoon. She had my number if anything critical happened, like Joe Pope showing up to work.

Something told me that was one call she would not make.

I was standing close to the bottom of the stairs for the Jet. As soon as they opened the cabin and dropped the stairs Gracie flew off the plane into my waiting arms for the kiss she and I had been waiting for. We stayed that way for a moment. Maybe several moments. A lot of moments. Time stretched out. She was very glad to be back in LA, but she was much happier about being in my arms. I felt the same. So we stayed that way for a while. In due time the other folks deplaned and walked around us.

You gotta love private jets.

-

The folks who owned the jet-powered taxis used by this little jet taxicab company were a hodgepodge including individuals who flew because they could, investors who were in it for an operating profit, corporations who had enough business to want their own plane but sought to defray the overhead, time-share groups of millionaires, pilots who wanted to own their own "cab" etc. Gracie was now in the second group, earning a profit. The leasing company was like a taxicab company, they marketed the service, took care of records and paperwork, serviced the aircraft, and contracted pilots and crew. Business jets are expensive but essential for some, LA had enough demand so all kinds of novel business innovation took place.

Gracie mother got in on the ground floor with this company, her financing and operating advice took a small repair outfit and a failing "learn to fly" company into the leasing business, serving a wide variety of ownership arrangements. The woman was smart and had a genius for putting people together, like most of her start-up investments this one did well. At this point Gracie ownered three aircraft in the fleet. Besides the new G450 she had a second older jet (Gulfstream G200) and a helicopter (a large amphibious Sikorsky S-61N similar to Marine One, it usually serviced oil rigs). Both older units functioned as very profitable investments. This jet was not so profitable because Mumzy used as personal transport. But Ernie would fix that.

Gracie now owned 20% of the equity in the leasing business itself, making her the second largest stockholder, and everybody who worked here knew it. So nobody asked us to move or "get a room." Instead they were very circumspect about our display.

-

As long as the jet was making the trip for Gracie and her luggage, Marta had sent 8 Tribe members and 1 Colonial back to LA with her. Some would continue south by commercial means, some would stay with me. They were all very understanding as they passed by Gracie and I kissing in the hanger. Zar and Nia had brought the Town Car and a 4-door pickup truck to take them and their luggage to the mansion. There was a lot of luggage, Gracie went to Detroit with just the clothes on her back (she stopped for panties in Vegas) but she needed a new set of bags to carry the summer wardrobe she had bought in Detroit which was now out of style, but she could not leave it behind. Still, they were the only clothes she had. During unloading the Indians put Gracie's one small carry-on bag in my car while the rest of her bags filled the capped bed in the pickup. Well, Gracie would not wear many clothes during the next 24 hours. As soon as everything and everyone else were loaded they drove off. Zar had a full day scheduled for them.

We were still kissing. It just seemed like the thing Gracie wanted to do.

The three pilots (there was a backup) finished their paperwork and also left. They wanted to get off the clock and get into one of their favorite LA flight attendants ASAP. During the drive to the hotel they would call the girls and make arrangements, lining up two to four depending on who was free and horny. The early arrival meant a long day and night of fun for the pilots after getting their pick of the available playtoys/companions. I happened to know that the spare pilot was married and lived in LA, but he was home a day earlier than planned so he was sticking with the two single pilots looking to have some fun and get some strange if possible. His wife was a flight attendant currently working on another continent, they had agreed on a nightly phone call with a tell-all arrangement since really, in their line of work fidelity was not an option. From the chatter I heard, the wife enjoyed a double helping of Chinese multi-millionaries last night.

We were still kissing.

Eventually Gracie and I noticed that, except for AJ and one of the other soldiers acting as security, we were alone when we finally broke the kiss. Effective today one of my operational orders included a security escort for Gracie - using my soldiers with carry permits and TSA IDs. Gracie was used to this type of arrangement from her mother. Since she became 20 Gracie had some limited freedom to travel by herself. But her last solo adventure did not turn out so well, so she was kind of happy with my rules and the armed men keeping an eye on her outstanding tush.

After an appropriate number of "I love you" and "How I missed you" I finally got a chance to say I was surprised to see her name, "Gracie Robinson," on the side of the jet. Anybody cruising the airport could see it, but then the name had been there all summer as the plane went hither and yon about it's taxi business.

On the other hand, the jet was based here, so being here didn't say anything about Gracie being here. Plus, none of the Sharks or Black Kings, either dead or alive, knew Gracie's real name.

"So was I. I knew Mumzy flew a lot in a jet, but I didn't know she owned it and leased it to a company that does the charter stuff. Ernie explained it to me, he went on and on about wet lease and dry lease and holding corpses, he got very excited about the business. But I guess that is his thing, he is a lovable guy. This has a custom interior and is not really a money-maker like the other two, Mumzy asked me to pick out some colors a few years ago when she traded up. She used my choices and added the name. Want to see inside?"

I did, I had never been in one. The standard G450 is laid out for 2 pilots, with seats for up to 19 passengers, and a range of over 4,000 miles. This one had a much nicer interior with more comfortable seating for 12 passengers plus two crew (attendants or backup pilots). It is pricey, but is pretty near the top model for the 2 pilot/4,000 mile class. It would need refueling to get to Peru, and it needed a long paved runway to land, but for Mumzy's needs getting to the Bermuda or some Caribbean island it worked fine.

"You know I never meant for your mother to die," I said.

"You didn't get her killed, I did it when I smiled at Darnel. I understand that now." Gracie had given the matter a lot of thought. "I made bad choices. I wanted drugs and a couple of fun cocks to enjoy on my only twenty-first birthday. Darnel was a smooth talker and looked shifty enough to be good for the naughty stuff." Gracie was sharp and accepted responsibility, so many of her peers would not do that. "I can't say I liked Mumzy, but I did love her. Isn't that funny? Marta took me right in, she was wonderful. I guess you know that after Peru I was horny because you turned my sex drive back on, so Marta and I were intimate... we were very good for each other. Still, Mumzy would have moved all creation if she knew what we were about. Then maybe I would not have a bundle of joy coming along to mess up my figure... Say, I have been thinking about that... Can we get married? Soon?"

Those last five words took us both by surprise. Not that they were unexpected, I made the decision in my own mind in July when I told the Patron I would have an LA wife, one I would choose. But the timing, the circumstance, and who asked the question were not quite what I planned.

She was rich and beautiful and was carrying my child. Actually, the 'rich' part was the biggest factor, but not for the reason you think. She was rich so she would attract all kinds of slime and vermin and charmers that would ignore the other stuff. I needed to protect the mother of my child, and for that I needed the protection of spousal confidentiality, plus a bunch of guys who carried guns and my special disposition.

The pilots and their sunglasses were already long gone, so a quick flight to Las Vegas for a wedding was not in the cards for today. Also, I knew the Vegas rules required a one day wait after you get the papers, it helped the city's hotel industry. (The slogan of the city really should be "Honeymoon first, then place your bet.")

Still, I was tempted to call back the pilots. That quickly, the very messy subject was in the open between us.

It would be easy if we were penniless kids, but there is a lot more paperwork involved for a millionaire lawyer/drug lord and a sheltered new mega-millionaire. She would need a lawyer. I would need to dust off my old legal notes from school. It would be complicated. But she seemed to want it, so it would happen soon.

She kept talking, I remembered she did that. "Look, I didn't mean to say that in here, I dreamed about a bedroom, or maybe a big party... letting you do the 'one knee and a ring thing...' but I have felt it ever since I found out about... you know who." She patted her tummy, so I guess she knew before I did. "Why wait? We will live like we are married anyway. I heard we can get hitched in secret here, while I can still enjoy the honeymoon without showing a watermelon for a tummy, then do it again in public later, when I am back to a normal size with a wedding gown that allows for nursing as I walk down the aisle. What do you say? Now, before you answer, I know we have a lot of secrets. Marta explained the facts of life for rich people. Paperwork to fill out. It was my 13th birthday when Mumzy gave me a sample prenup instead of the poop-a-lot miniature pony I told her I wanted. I am not totally naive or foolish or innocent. Don't forget, I have met Kwool and Cynthia and Belen plus your adorable pair of clever young Tribal wives-to-be... I also know about your grandfathers and their traditional plans for molesting preggers young brides, I know they want to stick it in me before they die. I see their point and could do that if you want me to, Marta tells me I will like it because she does. There are lots of details that need discussion. I have also talked to Abril and Li on the phone, I know they are in your heart so I have to make them friends of mine, friends I will lick until they smile big. I have seen Bente's pictures of their privates and it looks like good stuff to lick. So I want you to say 'yes' but we will both agree that 'yes' means we can work out the other stuff, like your other wives and family responsibilities, which are not a problem for me... they seem more like a bonus. Don't forget, I lick girls, and a certain one-eyed lady told me that it is mainly the sweetest lickable types that you pick. We practiced on each other," her tongue came out and wiggled. "She is so sweet."

It was a very cogent little speech from Gracie, she really was smarter than she let on and she could talk non-stop for a long time if she wanted. Well, I could see how that could be useful.

I said "Yes, dear" like Marta told me to say if a supper-rich hottie ever asked me to marry. I am not stupid, my IQ is over 150. I also promised to do the 'one-knee while asking the question' thing after we made sure the parts still fit right after so long apart. Plus there was the paperwork. Another issue was the law firm, they thought I was married to Abril so we would have to hide it from them as long as they were relevant. (Yes, I was still going to rob them, it was my job!)

When I said "Yes dear," Gracie jumped with glee, jumping high enough to hit her head on the cabin ceiling.

Of course I kissed it to make it better. Then we started kissing again until people came aboard to start the post-flight cleanup.

-

Now, lest you think I am the sort who would marry Gracie to steal her mega-millions, I had already checked things out, her father and mother and subsequent stepfathers were not stupid, and they paid the best lawyers money could buy to protect Gracie from people of low moral character - or anybody else - from taking advantage.

Gracie was rich. She was not in the top 10 in LA or in the top 100 in Cali, but as a single individual she was clearly in the top 100 in LA. Of course it was all book values of the investments, she (that is Ernie) projected when fund were needed and managed liquidity accordingly. They set up trusts to protect the larger part of the assets from those pesky mistakes of the heart a young woman with a fortune might make. There were several trusts, at different banks with different sets of trustees, one set dealing with what her real father left (he was very rich) and a two more dealing with what her mother acquired in other marriages. Some of her former stepfathers were still alive or had heirs who could tie up substantial sums of money if she ever tried to break the trusts.

Plus there was Mark, her poorest stepfather at the time, who like me was a direct-action kind of guy.

In simple terms, Gracie had access to the current earnings of each trust fund, but she could not touch the investment principal without board approval - and the trustees were the types of folks selected for their predispossion to frown and not approve "such foolishness," even if the beautiful young woman stamped her feet and insisted. There was some wiggle room for investments she might want to make if she had an accredited advisor, and a narrow door for special transactions between the income funds and the principal funds. Her children would also be protected from birth. There were also few free investments her mother made which could not be shoehorned into the trusts because of the other parties to the investments. But for the most part those had liquidity issues and could not be sold. The most liquid asset was the $35 million insurance settlement for the house and contents that was collecting interest.

The idea behind the trusts was to keep a young woman from giving the money to a scoundrel or swindler or a drugged-out rock star based on foolish youthful emotions. Only the grumpy emotions of professional old fogies were considered valid. I had seen the trust agreements, on first reading they were reasonable, legally tight as can be expected, and the boards could not be easily manipulated. I would have to sketch out similar trusts of my own in a couple of months.

There was another issue; my plans for robbing the law firm required me to appear married to Abril at least until the February social (typically held around Valentines day) so she was available to fuck my partners, they all drooled over the thought. However, that was close to the due date for Gracie's child, when some women get more excitable about having a ring. I knew Gracie would want us to marry legally before the birth of the child. As a lawyer, that would be my advice.

To complicate matters, it was reasonable to expect some members of the law firm personally knew Gracie or her family, that was the first hurdle I had to clear. Finally, there was the pesky issue of California not yet reached the idea of legal multiple marriages for most folks.

It was clear that Gracie and I both needed specialized legal advice, and the last guy to give me such advice that I trusted was the late Mr. Pope, who was not yet resting in peace since he was in my safehouse freezer, with a thermometer in a body exit, informing the computer running the freeze/defrost program.

Speaking of the freezer, there was the more significant looming question of spousal privilege. Once we were married I had some protection from Gracie being forced to give testimony about my actions. The problem was that she might learn about some criminal acts before we were married, plus I could see where some of the facts of my life might be things that changed her mind about getting married.

So, I outlined what was needed: get a prenup, sign it with a real lawyer, and get married in a confidential ceremony. She sounded suspicious as she wondered how quick we could pull that off. I said that if were willing to forgo some of the things that took too much time, we could we pull it off before the end of the week.

"The end of the week? Really!" Just like that the suspicion was gone and I was the most wonderful future husband possible. Well, it made sense to get working on things right away. Her personal choice was the practice for the honeymoon first... as long as it did not slow down the "I do" business.

I agreed with her priorities and had a plan.

As she rubbed her head where she bumped it she said that she loved that I planned ahead.

-

Given that I am in the import business, you might think I have regular access to private jets. This is not true. The primary issue is that biz-jets require long paved runways to take off and land. Such runways are very hard to disguise from the nosey cameras in space looking for such things. Plus the jets are very expensive to maintain, if you were a trained jet engine fixer, would you accept a ride into the hot, rainy, bug-filled jungles of Venezuela? So for my family business private jet are simply impossible to use. I fly commercial or do the charter thing when needed to move people. For business there is the Patron's workhorse fleet of Cessnas to move product. My father used to use fast boats, but by the end of the 80's those became impractical, radar got better, government helicopters were faster and boats could be stopped with a single bullet. You would think that trains could travel between North and South America, but in fact there is a gap, the Darien Gap, which interrupts the Pan-American highway. The area has no roads to speak of, is extremely harsh and isolated, and with no police presence it is essentially lawless, dominated by criminal elements who have better weapons.