A Ghost Of A Chance Part 2

Chapter 268-1

A Ghost Of A Chance

Part 2

 

Everyone quickly took a seat as Dad and I cleaned up the mess in the entryway. Grandma seemed a little off-kilter staring at a metal silver suitcase sitting on the coffee table. Mr. Holliman said. “First off, the moment we arrived at the bank... the bank manager was indeed waiting for us. He let us inside and locked the door behind him so people would think they weren’t open and disturb us. Being as he was just as curious as we were what would happen when we placed the contract into the safe deposit box.

“Tell you the truth I was scared as hell and twice as curious. Stringum quickly worked the camera taking several shots of the empty safe security box and then wittiness the final signature that needed the bank manager to notaries it.  He asked how I would like my check cashed, having him call the bank president in Salt Lake City to verify the funds was there and everything was in order.”

He leaned over the coffee table and opened the metal suitcase as everyone gasped seeing all that hard cold cash. Grandma's hands started to shake as she touched the money to see if it was real asking if she could verify it, having him say. “No, go right ahead, god knows we all did when the bank manager gave us the cash, so my wife could spend it where she sees fit today. This is only a small drop in the bucket; the rest is at the bank where I can get at it if I need too. Anyway, the check is obviously real as you can see, and including the house not far from here. Now as I was saying… this is only the tip of the iceberg.

“Once Stringum had his cameras in place; putting a brand new tape inside the bank vaults security system… I placed the contract in the safe deposit box. Then closed the lid and walked out of the vault, having the bank manager lock the vault so no one can say we had tampered with the safe deposit box we had left on the table in plain view of the cameras.  During that time we cash the first check and opened up a checking account here at the bank, and spent time discussing the best way to utilize the money; keeping an eye on the monitors, which I will show to you in a moment.

“After we had sat around gibe jabbing… allowing Stringum to leave so he can attend to things for Mr. Tate’s party tonight, and setting up a meeting to met with his investment bankers so we don’t spend our millions like a couple of half-wits with money too burn. We waited an hour maybe two as we waited for Stringum to come back. Once he did we opened the bank vault and the safe deposit box and found the contract had vanished and in its place, was a set of keys, and large red notebook with all names of children and their families we are to help and where we can locate them. And several stocks and bonds dating back to the early 1850s and present-day companies like Ma Bell, Microsoft and several others that rank in the top 500 companies today; which I gathered from Stringum and the bank manager, that I just became one of the most riches men alive today.

Grandma looked at him and then Stringum said. “So I am guessing you are waiting for me to admit I was wrong. Well then, let’s see this tape before I lose my nerve. The story sounds good, but I didn’t see an ounce of proof that what this man is saying is true.”

Dad said. “You’re a stubborn woman Doris; I personally believe everything he has told me. I don’t need to see the tape, and I betting no one else here but you don't either. I say if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it has to be a duck, but if you insist.”

Dad picked up the tape and put it in, asking one last time. Dad knew even though we believed their story we all wanted to see it happen. He pushed play and handed the remote to Mr. Holliman. Everything happened as he said. Grandma's face was unreadable as she asked if they could play it in slow motion. Said just for a moment she thought she saw something.

Everyone gasped when they opened the safe depot's box, in an instant, there was a white quick flash right before the contents he had just described were inside the safe deposit box and the contract is gone. Grandma's hands shook, as she stilled them and said. “Damn it looks like I just been sucker punched. That was either the best magic trick I have ever seen or someone or some else is making a fool out of me.”

She stood up and looked at me and Dad and walked over to Mr. and Mrs. Holliman. “I am sorry, but still feel that you are still making a big mistake. You have the money if it was me I would take it and run as far as it can take you and not look back. There is nothing stopping you from doing that. Leave here and don’t get mixed up in this mess. There is enough money on that table that you could live happily ever after, which you won't be if you stay here and get involved in this mess… where you are putting you and your kids at risk.” 

My caseworker stood up and said. “You think we are not scared knowing that if we allow ourselves to be part of this that bad things can happen. We are all terrified, but that’s because we don’t know if this is a risk where we all end up dead like those families and their children in those pictures. However, the risk is ours to take, and not yours…and nothing you can say will change our minds. I am going to help them, and my husband and I are going to help as many kids and families caught up in this mess as possible.

“Death is only the first chapter of life. Who is to say that when we die, we continue where we left off? We are all going to die, that is a given, it is how we live that matters. I will not stand before God and his angels and say I couldn’t do what you have asked me to do; even after you gave me the means to carry it out. I will not look into my dead grandparent’s eyes and say. No, it wasn’t worth the risk; I felt that it was too much for you to asks of me. I will not look into another dead child’s eyes and say I am sorry I couldn’t help you face the monsters of this world, hoping they will forgive me.

“I rather return all that money, and everything that they are giving me then call myself a coward. Knowing that people like the Rothwell’s and their friends are putting everything on the line to stop monsters like Mr. Tate and Crawford; who think they own this world and can do whatever they like without consequences because people think it is not worth the risk in stopping them. No Mrs. Shepherd I am not and my family not going to walk away from doing what is right for the right reason. You may be able to live with yourself, but the rests of us can’t.”

Grandma said. “Then you are all crazy, now I would like to go home where I can guarantee that I am safer there than here.”

Stringum said. “It could be at least a couple of hours. Landan can take you with my blessing, but know this Doris if you are thinking about stopping us, I wish you luck. For it seems we have friends that can shape the future if need be. You saw the tape, you have seen the evidence. If you still think we are putting on a dog and pony show for your benefit. Then you are beyond reasoning. Hell, I’d take you home myself if it would please you, but I can’t. I have a party to prepare for. So you can get on that chopper or you can wait for Landan and the rest of our boys to come back from Salt Lake.”

Grandma said. “I wouldn’t get on that death trap if you paid my weight in gold. Nor would I get into a car with a man that is about to get both my grandsons killed all because he thinks he can save the world; when all he is doing is putting a target on the backs of good people. I am going down to my room and going to make a few calls of my own, and see if I can stop this madness since is obvious to me, that none of you have a brain in your heads.”

Stringum said. “Baaa” waving her off said. “Ok ladies, who’s going and who’s staying here too tend the kids. So I can take our “sane” adults and see about what we needed to do about the party tonight and how fast we can move the Holliman’s into their new home.”

Kerry and Jody raised their hands stating they were staying. Jennie said she has a fear of flying. My mother said she wasn’t about too miss out on a shopping trip, and Rhoda, Jackie, and my adoptive Mom weren’t either and as for as she knew Dr. Sars and Dora was coming with, plus Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Earl. Let’s just say every girl on our mountain all wanted to go too shopping. Being it would be the last time before the Christmas madness before they could paint the town again and many of them wanted to get a head start on it.

Stringum counted the women said. “Ok, I am good with that, but the thing is ladies you all can’t go at once. There is only 8 seats plus you these fine young men also need to go with you. So let’s put your names in a hat. The ones picked will go first, and then when the chopper returns the rest of you can go; since according to Mr. Rothwell and these fine young strapping lads; they have been kind enough to be your escorts for the day. God help them, and I will send Landan down with a bus to bring you all back, and your packages.

Stringum tore a piece of paper off the wall where they wrote down things that we needed for the store. He went down the hall to my grandmother’s room telling her this was her last chance. Getting the door slammed in his face. I knew my mother didn’t have any money, I was about to hand her some when Dad said. “No son, it’s my treat; after all Aaron's my response-ability now.

My adoptive Mom said. “I want you too lie down and take a nap before the party tonight. And I have asked your sisters to make sure that happens. I would make you stay home if I could from the party tonight, but we both know that we can’t. How you’re still awake is beyond me, but then again, with all, that’s been going on this morning. I couldn’t sleep either. But the excitements over, now its time for you to get some shut eye.”

Grandma said. “My thoughts exactly,” wondering how long she had been standing in the hallway eavesdropping. Mrs. Holliman had drawn her name for one of the eight seats. Her husband gave her a brand new credit card that had no limit on it and handed their oldest boy the metal suitcase with all that cash telling her. To buy anything she likes that catches her fancy and buy lots of new furnishing for their new house. They had decided to donate most if not everything to goodwill and worked out an arrangement with Stringum and his moving company to start emptying the house immediately so they could start their new jobs as soon as possible.

Giving my caseworker the time she needs to see to that her caseload is well taken care of; she hated the idea of dumping her children on someone else, but she didn’t have much choice, to begin with, if things had turned out differently. Either way she would have had to quit her job and according to her, she had already turned in her notice. So she could get her house in order, move to England. Yet things changed, and things were in motion long before today.

It seemed final as she said. “I already feel light as feather not having to worry about a job for me and my husband, a place to live and more money then I can count. We wouldn’t even need the income from our jobs, but it gives access to the kids that need our help. I plan to make a large donation to that trust fund where it can help families and their children that don’t have the resources and see what I can do about fixing the broken system.”

Grandma said. “Providing you live that long to help anybody. Knowing what’s at stake tonight; which is another reason I want off the godforsaken mountain before that s**t storm hits this place when those child molesters, rapists, and murders find out that it’s a trap. The very moment they walk into that party tonight they will smell it, and everything will point to all of you. Then I will be spitting on your graves because none of you listened to me.” She took a seat in one of the chairs by the fireplace, which stated she couldn’t stay in her room with all the excitement going on.

Dad said to her and her husband. “You can still give the money back and work for me instead with no strings attached. You have always looked after my son Eric making sure he was well cared for. And have made sure each of my new sons has everything they need. I am more than willing to return the favor; I can’t give you even closes what’s in that suitcase at the moment, but I can give you enough money and place to live. You and your husband can have any choice of any of my stores if that job at the high school doesn’t pan out.”

Grandma waited to see if she would change her mind. But one look at her husband, and her boys, she shook her head said. “Nope, I think we're good. We both feel we are making the right decision.” Grandma frowned grumbling under breath how stupid and pig head we were all being.