Chapter 63

WEDNESDAY NIGHT — SEPTEMBER 18

After the talk with Caitlin, Jeff called Joyce to meet with them in the living room. He sat between them on the couch hugging them to him, with Diana in a chair nearby. Both he and Diana stressed how important it was to keep Jeb and Annie's healing a secret. Without a viable reason to give them, plus the rest of the family's obvious knowledge, made it a hard sell, particularly to the nurse. Joyce gave her word, then reluctantly Caitlin did the same, though.

"One day, you'll know why and everything will make sense to you."

Diana's derogatory noise didn't help that statement any, and Jeff quickly amended his comment to reflect that they would know as much as anyone else.

Diana soon left with Caitlin and Joyce in tow. Jeff remained in the living room, brooding, staring into the fire.

Jeff looked at his watch. It's not really that late. I'm going to see if I can get this started. Picking up the phone, he got Dave on the intercom, then dialed Wainwright's home number. When Frank answered, Jeff told him that Dave was on the extension with them, then told Frank about wanting to buy the house from Dave and Evie for Jeb and Annie. "They're at the point where they will just about have to accept anything we do for them, but I want to salvage as much of their pride as I can. Frank, you were talking about 'government grants' one night..."

Wainwright interrupted by chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Jeff asked, a little irritated that Frank was laughing at his 'government grant' plans.

"I'm not laughing at you," Frank said as the chuckling continued. "It's just that you have come to the right person, because I've done this before. I — well Margaret and I — have put several people through school with a 'government grant, ' plus helped a few others, that they still think is real, or was real, as the case may be. But if we're going to do this, we need to get your accountant on the line with us. No use going over this again with him when we can do it all in one go."

A few minutes later, having gotten Jeff's accountant on the line with them and filled him in, Frank Wainwright continued, "Okay, I'm going to rough this out, then you, Billy, can get in touch with my accounting department and talk to Megan as need be. And since she's already done this several times, she more or less has it down to the old proverbial fine art. The tax people haven't even seemed to blink, for the foundation is real and it can't benefit me in any way. And, of course, Jeff, you can't benefit financially, either. If you're going to help these people, it might just as well be tax deductible, though."

Before the conversation was over, Jeff's lawyer in Denver was added to the conference call along with Wainwright's accountant, setting into motion the following:

Helping Jeb and Annie Reich without them feeling like they were receiving charity would be done by having it come from several sources. Jeff would create a general charitable trust and a family charity. The trust would then donate funds to groups, lesser charities (including his family one) and specific civic projects such as Helen's dreamed of aquatics center, her former swim team, etc., while gifts to individuals/families would come from the family charity.

Jeff and his companies would make tax-deductible donations to the trust each tax year to reduce income taxes. The trust's funds would earn investment income tax free as long as at least five percent of its gross assets were distributed for charitable causes yearly. Aid to the Reiches would come by several means from the family charity to hide Jeff as the ultimate source of all of it.

The trust would have Jeff, Diana, Arlene and Jeff's accountant serving as its initial directors with options to add more later. The three professionals were certain that the trust would receive provisional approval and immediately start its work. Jeff, Diana and Arlene had the task of defining broad terms for determining its charitable gifts. The lawyer and Frank noted that they could not use the trust itself as a conduit of a gift to a particular predetermined person — its donations had be determined based on the written policy they had to write, so there were legal as well as personal reasons for having the aid to the Reiches come from multiple sources. Jeff's family charity could be more flexible here than the charitable trust, but would still need its own board and written gift policy.

Jeff added that he'd have to find other individuals to help so that Jeb and Annie would not be the first or last to be helped. Listening quietly, Dave suggested that Jeff consider making the trust gift terms be broad enough to allow it to not merely make distributions to lesser charities, but allow the trust itself, when its officers and board noticed specific instances of need, to give assistance to individuals varying from a small amount such as gasoline or a tire repair for a stranded traveler to something much more substantial. That way trust personnel who weren't in Jeff's family could do some good themselves. When Jeff suggested Dave could be a director, Dave laughed, saying that wouldn't be wise as he could give away the money too quickly.

Jeff imagined his friend sitting in his apartment with his phone in hand thinking he had ducked that one. My friend we will talk later. You are not going to get off that easily. But that gets me started thinking about the need to make this much broader — Helen would be an ideal director. Perhaps I should put her in charge of finding worthy individuals and charities to give to.

Wainwright said this had worked better for him but that keeping with the approved guidelines was critical. The accountant and lawyer concurred. Then Frank noted that these organizations needed names. "Worse, we've got to have acronyms — horrid acronyms," Wainwright said, laughing.

Jeff hesitated for a moment, "How about FSHDVSD? That should sound official enough," he chuckled. "Federal Senior Housing Department — Veterans Studies Division."

The lawyer and both accountants groaned, while Dave and Wainwright laughed.

Wainwright continued, obviously choosing his words carefully as he went, "The charitable trust would have a serious amount of money and eventually need separate, professional management even if the board is all family and friends. I set one up myself. The family charity with less money would have a legally distinct board, even if those are the same individuals as the trust's board, but be more informally operated.

"The family charity's purpose is to provide special and unique charitable assistance to individuals and families who need help and where such assistance will make a meaningful difference to their personal well-being. Such difference may be, but not limited to education and training, personal health and safety, securing and/or maintaining of employment and/or their home, food and clothing."

"Let's see," Wainwright said after a pause, "All that is needed is for two of the family charity's directors to concur on the assistance and to communicate to the treasurer (the accountant) that assistance is to be given in a designated manner, and to have documentation outlining how such assistance meets the criteria and policies of the organization. Assistance of course has to be truly worthy and the documentation is critical to doing that."

The accountant reiterated that assistance could not go to themselves or those related to them.

"Uh, absolutely correct," Wainwright answered, "Now suppose that this FSHDBSD," he chuckled "is a poorly publicized program and it's soon to end. Receiving the grant allows the Reiches to receive a 'double match' from our so-called government agency — we infer that it's a government agency — and they need to do it quickly before it expires."

Dave broke in. "Look, I know this sounds a little on the fritzy side, but I drove over there today. There are a lot of empty houses, closed stores and the like, and it's really not that far from the downtown area. I know that the city has been involved in a big way in redevelopment..."

" ... and they've been handing out grant money like it was free," Fontaine (the Denver attorney) said. Jeff's accountant, Billy, whistled to murmured agreement from the other accountant.

"Evie and I discussed the possibility of buying an area there and seeing if we can get a redevelopment grant for a mid-range to high-end condo project. A lot of cities are doing this now. Jeb and Annie's house could bring a lot more than they expect if we add it to the area we're going to buy," he laughed. Meaning that they could fudge the amount upward without the couple realizing that they had been given more than their property was worth.

Jeff broke in. "Those two will know that we're slinging bullshit, but it will salvage their pride. Are you really thinking about buying up some of that area?" Jeff asked, "Or did you just get the idea to help those two out?"

"Well, obviously we want to help them, but we sat in front of their house, I guess after you were already gone, and talked about what was happening to the area. I don't know; it just ... seemed like a good idea. It just came as a rush. The city is making loud noises about redevelopment — it was even on TV the other night — and Evie and I have done this kind of thing before, just not on this scale. Admittedly, Evie usually tends to pull her hair out when I come up with these schemes, but this time she just looked at me and blinked. Then, with a twinkle, she jumped into the planning."

"Well, if you're going to do it, I want in," Jeff said. "If it's okay with you of course?"

"Saves us borrowing the money. I don't have nearly enough to build high-end condos, plus buying up all the property, without financing it. After looking at another two or three blocks we could also expand the project further. What about it, Evie?"

Evie, who had been listening on the extension, laughed. "To use Jeff's term, 'Damned straight.'" She got the inflections right, too.

Jeff groaned, and everyone else laughed.

Wainwright finally got a word in, "Me, too. Count Margaret and me in, please. Uh, if you're willing, of course."

"Certainly," Dave and Jeff said at the same time, then both laughed.

"Mr. Matthews and Mr. Henson, I would also like to get in on the property investment," Billy (Jeff's accountant) said.

Before either man could answer, Fontane jumped in with, "Count me in, as well. And my services, of course, will be free of charge for the matter."

Billy, not to be outdone by a lawyer, quickly spoke up, laughing. "Well I don't charge what an attorney does, but my services would also be free of charge."

"Does anyone have any objections to our attorney and accountant being part of our development project?" When there was no negative response, Jeff said, "Okay, you guys are in, too. We'll discuss the details later."

"Sounds good," both men said almost in unison, then laughed.

Fontaine cleared his throat, then added, "We both have connections where we might learn of similar opportunities in the future. One of my assistants attends all city council meetings to keep me abreast of what is going on. I'll admit, that I haven't paid much attention to the redevelopment projects, but I'll have Serena bring me up to date. She takes detailed notes, and I'm almost certain that I can help with information that you might need in that area — and for future projects."

"We need to get together," Fontaine told Billy.

"Okay," Billy answered. "I'll need to do some research and get things lined up about the grants, but it shouldn't take me long tomorrow. I'll call you as soon as I have everything roughed out. That sound okay?"

"Fine, I'll tell my secretary to expect your call."

"We need to get this done in a hurry," Jeff cautioned.

"The paperwork will take a while," Wainwright said.

"Well, in the meantime, I guess we'll just bullshit them," Jeff sighed. "I really want to help these people, but I had rather do it so they can hold their heads up."

"It will work," Billy broke in. "There won't really be a government agency with matching funds, it will be your agency — both of them. But I guarantee that they will never know."

"Good enough," Jeff sighed.

Shortly, the accountants and lawyer said their goodbyes and hung up, leaving Jeff, Dave, Evie and Wainwright on the phone.

"You're going to be here Friday night, right?" Jeff said to Wainwright.

"Oh yes, Margaret and I will certainly be there. With a double birthday, there's no way we're going to miss it. We'll need to talk as well. Those Denver guys smell big money in the redevelopment idea Dave mentioned."

"I gathered that," Jeff replied, "it sounded like they about had erections."

Frank chuckled, "They see a wonderful opportunity to do well by doing good, courtesy of your charities. That gives them a legitimate interest in the area which they can use in their day jobs, both in advising their other clients and getting in on some of the deals those clients will make. We'll do quite well too."

"Where's Margaret? I assume you would have put her on if she were there.

"Hah. With a double birthday party, where do you think she is?" Wainwright laughed. "Shopping."

Jeff chuckled, "Okay. Take care and see you then," and hung up.

He sat for a moment, thinking, then punched intercom and dialed Dave and Evie's apartment again. "You two get your butts down here. I've got to hear more about this." Hanging up, he couldn't wait to tell his wives and hear more about Dave's scheme.

Thirty minutes later, Jeb and Annie stepped into the room.

Dave grinned at Jeff. "Boss, Evie and I are going to turn in. She's been chasing me all day," he said, just to embarrass her in front of the older couple.

Evie blushed crimson. "He is so lying. It's been the other way around."

Evie finger waved at Jeb and Annie and Dave dragged her out the door, both of them laughing.

"They really seem like nice folks," Jeb said, still grinning.

"Indeed, they are," Jeff said. "As far as I'm concerned, they're two of the best people in the world."

"Mr. Matthews, could we speak with you for a moment?" Jeb said.

Jeff motioned to the couch, indicating for them to sit. "Sure. What's on your mind?" It was all that Jeff could do to keep from sighing. Here it comes again. They must be mystified beyond belief after waking up with new teeth and their injuries healed. But I couldn't let Jeb suffer, and even I know there was an excellent chance of that long cut getting infected, especially without antibiotics. And poor Annie's face looked terrible. Oh, crap. I keep digging myself in deeper. I've put them off as long as I can. Now what in the heck am I going to tell them?

When the couple sat, "There isn't a Mister Matthews in here. Remember. Will I do?" teasingly reminding them that he had asked to be called Jeff. "And besides, you two have insisted that we call you by your first names."

Annie looked hesitant, but sat quietly while Jeff turned his chair toward them.

Jeb looked at his wife for a moment, took her hand, then turned back to Jeff. "Annie and I have a new set of teeth — real teeth. My cut is healed and her face as well. Now you folks have already told us that you sold an invention and got this ... hotel as partial payment. So, I guess that you've used that invention on us, or maybe you've invented something else." He again glanced at his wife for a moment, "What I'm trying to say is that we've put up a little money. Oh, not much, but some. Normally, I would say that it's foolish for old folks to invest. They just don't live long enough for it to make any sense. But, well, the way we feel right now, it's kinda obvious that we've not got that foot in the grave that we had when we came up here."

Crossing his legs and looking uncomfortable, he continued, "I guess I need to say it straight out. Could we take that little we've got saved up and invest it in your company? Obviously, when your invention hits the market, your stock is going to skyrocket, or the company that you've sold your invention to is."

Oh crap. What am I going to tell them? "Uh, my invention was an advanced ... well, radar will give you the idea, although it really isn't. What caused your wounds to heal, and uh, your teeth to grow back is something that I can't talk about."

Fifteen minutes later, Jeff had two more people looking at him strangely. Clearing his throat, he casually remarked, "Now that I've thoroughly confused you and maybe made you wonder about my sanity, I've got something else to discuss with you. I've been in touch with a friend of mine — well, more family than friend. He and his fiancée live here on the weekends and whenever else they can get up here. He's the one that I sold my invention to. Anyway, he deals with the federal government a lot, and I mentioned your house and that you needed to get out of the neighborhood, but couldn't sell since everything had gone down so much in the area."

Jeb and Annie glanced at each other as Jeff continued, "Dave just told me yesterday that he has a nice house not too far from here that he's almost finished doing an upgrade on, getting it ready to sell. Anyway, I just got off the phone with Wainwright."

Jeff cleared his throat. "My accountant thinks he can come up with enough funds from grants to make up the difference in the value of the two houses. We want to buy your house and put you in a very nice one not too far out of Winter Park. It was owned by a retired executive who got tired of the cold and snow and moved to Florida. We decided that you would balk if you thought it was charity, but we're concerned about you going back to the area after what happened."

Annie squeezed her husband's hand. "Mr. Matthews..." At Jeff's frown, she changed it to, "Jeff, you, your wife and your family have gone out of your way for us. But to tell you the truth, I'm terrified that those three will get out of jail on bond and come after us. They work for one of the local big dope dealers, but to our knowledge no one has ever lived to testify against anyone in his organization. Folks just turn up dead, or disappear. We figure that's going to happen to us. Might even happen if they don't manage to get out on bond. This Rayfield guy will probably have us killed for having the gall to mess with some of his flunkies. In other words, we lived instead of dying when they robbed us."

"Now, Honey. It's not that bad. I've still got my .45. We're just going to have to be careful..."

"Bullshit, Jeb. You know they'll be after us."

Annie looked around at all Jeff's wives who had quietly settled around them, listening to the conversation. "A couple months ago, we woke up when our bedroom door opened. When I flipped the bedside light on, this guy was walking toward us with a knife in his hand. Jeb grabbed his gun from under the pillow..."

Jeb broke in with, "I'm so damn old that it took me a while to get on my feet. By the time I got to the living room, he was going back out the window. I shot him in the ass, and he fell the rest of the way out. When the cops got there, he was lying on the ground under the window. He wasn't going anywhere, and from what we heard later, the doctor told him he would always have a bad limp. That .45 did a job on his hip.

"Well, anyway, this young cop was writing up the report when this older sergeant walked in. He read over the narrative that the young cop had written, then both of them went outside for a while. When the young cop came back in, he started the report all over again. He said things like, 'Now let me get this straight. He had a knife in his hand and you were in fear of your life. Is that right?'

"Well, I may be old, but Momma didn't raise any retards, so I said, that was about the way it was. Then he said something like, 'By the time you got the safety off and fired, the guy must have turned around, but in the dark it would be hard to tell. So the bullet hit him in the rear instead of from the front.' Oh, he went on and on. It was basically the same story, but with a little different slant on it."

Jeb grinned. "The sergeant came back in and reread the report, then gave us a lecture about lawyers and lawsuits, seemingly unrelated to the incident, just talking, you understand — making conversation. Then he winked at us and left. We got interviewed by a detective, and an assistant DA even came out to the house and talked to us. I guess he came out instead of calling us in because we are so old. I got the impression that I came close to going to jail for shooting the guy as he crawled back through the window, the threat to us being 'over' and all. 'Course, he would have come back later and killed us. Anyway, we haven't heard anything else."

Jeb frowned. "Then again, maybe the deal in the grocery store parking lot wasn't really a robbery after all. That first asshole yelled something about giving him our money, but hell, he stabbed at me with that knife before I could even reach for my billfold. Shit. How damned dumb can I be? They weren't after money. This was payback for shooting that burglar in the ass."

Realizing that he had cursed in front of the girls, he began apologizing, but the women and girls shushed him.

Jeb and Annie looked at each other, a silent communication happening between them. Annie glanced around at everyone. "Let us think about your wonderful proposition; sleep on it. I'm honestly afraid to go back there. What you're offering is a Godsend. We may just have to suck up our pride and accept your charity. Besides," she laughed, "as old as we are, we probably won't be in your house very long, anyway."

"Uh, it's not really charity," Jeff tried to say, as Annie and Jeb grinned at him, "We're thinking about buying up the area where your house is and building condos. The city has a redevelopment project going on, and with us buying up several blocks, your lot might be worth a lot more than you think. I'm not the only investor interested in your area. I just learned about it because of you, rather than through business channels. But your area won't change fast enough for you to stay there, so I'll at least get you full value for your property."

Jeff shifted in his chair. "The house we're talking about for you actually belongs to Dave and Evie, but we might be able to get a grant or two to make up the difference in your old property and the new. The paperwork will take a while, but Dave and Evie don't have a problem with you going ahead and moving into the house. I talked to my accountant, and he assured me that you would qualify for a grant that he knew about. Whatever happens, the house will be yours."

"Mr. Matthews, in all due respect, I hope you never have a job that requires lying. You'll starve to death." As Jeff's face turned red, Jeb continued. "Looks like we're caught between a rock and a hard place though. So, I suspect that we'll wind up sucking up our pride and taking you up on your offer. But, no offense, please let Annie and I think on it tonight. I don't want to get my wife killed by these hoodlums, and what you're saying sounds like my wife said, a Godsend, but remember, it doesn't take much room for us."