Many thanks to my readers for your patience and appreciation; particular thanks to Miss Betty, Jim and Mudcat for your emails fussing at me to get the final chapters written and posted. Sometimes I need to let things simmer a while. This begins present day, goes back and forth in time or when there is a change of perspective; the dot breaks note the change. I hope you enjoy the work. Please remember to vote and never hesitate to comment. Thanks again.
*****
It was a hot day for the Dakotas, nearly 100 degrees. Bob Fletcher had his 2013 Beech Bonanza ferried from Paducah, Kentucky all the way up here to the Carson City Airport so that I could see her for myself. By God she was every bit the fine aircraft he'd told me. Bob was up to his ears in financial problems between his soon to be ex-wife and his bankers he was going to declare bankruptcy as soon as possible. He owed my company almost $ 500,000 for work we'd done at two of his developments.
Bob and I had done business for over 15 years and I had no reason to doubt his ability to pay before we began the projects. When it became clear he was over extended, he called me personally and asked if I would finish the work so he could get a considerably better price at the closing - I agreed. Bob had always been a stand-up guy and I liked him.
When his world began to fall apart he called me and asked if I had any use for a fine airplane. In fact, I'd wanted to add another aircraft to our fleet for the last couple of years, so I said, "Yes."
We had a Lear for fast efficient commutes and a little Piper bush popper for site surveys and aerial photos, but nothing in-between - so this could be it.
After I'd looked this beauty over, I was waiting for our mechanics to give me the go ahead, the street value of the plane had to be between $ 650,000 and $ 725,000; so at an even $ 500,000 it was an absolute steal, too good to pass up.
Mark Katz, the senior mechanic at the airport maintenance facility, walked up to me smiling, "Mr. Braun, if I was you I would buy that little sweetheart before your man changes his mind. It is a beauty, less than 200 hours since he took delivery, perfectly maintained and pristine throughout. If I had the money I'd buy it right now; it really is a beauty."
"Thanks Mark, I really appreciate you looking it over, you always do a great job on our aircraft." He smiled at me as I reached into my work shirt pocket and fished out two one hundred dollar bills, "Go have dinner one me bud!"
"No Mr. Braun, you don't owe me anything, really, it was my pleasure."
"Bullshit! You always do the work, you never complain, so take this and don't give me any more sass," I said with a smile and a laugh.
He took the bills and tucked them into his pocket saying, "Thanks Mr. Braun, it's good of you."
We shook hands and he walked back into the maintenance office at the rear of the hanger. I pulled out my cell phone and called Bob. "Hey Bob, this is Jim. I want the plane, but not at the price you quoted me, it's too cheap!"
There was a smile in his voice as he said, "Jimmy, don't fuck with me on this ... I'm trading a paid for asset for an outstanding debt. Anything extra will go to the damn banks and that woman I married; screw'em both. You've been a good friend to me for many years and your company has always done great work, delivered on-time and helped me out more than once. The price is $ 500,000 firm, payment in full for your work, if I had more cash I'd put it in your pocket not mine. Is it a deal?"
"Sounds like I don't have a choice - it's a deal. I'll fax back all the paperwork this afternoon. My baby girl will be over the moon when she sees this beauty."
"Jimmy, you've always been a friend to me and I really appreciate it. I want you to know it's gonna' take me a couple of years to get clear of this mess and get re-established. I'd like to think we could work together again."
"Bob, you've always been square with me. Anytime you call I'll answer."
He laughed saying, "Thanks Jim. Enjoy the plane, take good care of yourself. Catch you later," he hung-up quietly. I was sorry for my friend, but he was smart and a hard worker, if anyone could come back, he was the guy.
I went over and walked around the Beech again. The Beech Bonanza is one of the most reliable aircraft on the planet. A pleasure to fly, great lines and you could damn near land her on an arctic ice floe. Bob had gone out of his way to make her pretty. Custom ocean blue metallic paint with a dove grey and ivory leather interior, full instrumentation, all the trimmings; I wanted to jump up and down and holler but I'm too old for such behavior; so I jumped and hollered very quietly.
"Dad! Holy crap! Is that the plane? Did we get it? Oh my God, it's beautiful!"
I turned to see my pretty 20 year old daughter running toward me across the tarmac. She looked like her mother and my mother in equal parts. Of course, she had all the good parts. Livy is 5'8" and lean like my mother with beautiful light taffy brown hair, brilliant blue eyes and a sprinkle of freckles across her pretty face like her mother.
She was wearing white tennis shorts, pink athletic shoes and a tan long-sleeved shirt tied under her breasts showing her flat muscular belly. She had my mother's natural tan complexion deepened by the soft summer sun and her mother's sweet C-cup breasts bouncing softly under her shirt as she ran toward me. I haven't seen her naked since she was a baby but my imagination worked just fine and in there she was a naked beauty.
When she reached me she threw her arms around my neck and slammed into me, "Sweet Jesus Livy, take it easy on an old man!"
"Dad, you may not be twenty but you're damn sure not old. So, did we get it?"
