“What papers?” she asked.
I gave a wry smile. “Way back when, before everything went to hell in a handbasket, I put some shares in the Buckman Group away for you. I always figured I’d give them to you as a wedding present, but you took off before I could give them to you.”
“Shares? I own a piece of your company?” she asked, confused.
“Well, at the time it was $50,000 worth. I don’t remember how many shares that actually worked out to at the time. Since then, it’s grown quite a bit more valuable,” I said, smiling. I should have brought out a financial statement for her. “I’ll have to send you a statement. You have to sign some paperwork before you can cash them or whatever.”
“How much are they worth now?” she asked.
I looked at the three boys. No need for them to hear the surprisingly large number. “Let’s just say that you won’t need to scrimp and save for college funds and mortgage payments.”
Suzie slowly turned to stare at her husband. “Oh my God!” Her jaw was open and she was gaping like a fish.
He stared back at her, and then turned to me. “These are what, shares in your company?”
I nodded. “When you were investigating Suzie’s past, my name must have come up.”
“Yeah, as an investor or something. What are you, a millionaire or something?”
I pointed a finger towards the ceiling. “Billionaire, actually. About one point five, specifically.”
It was his turn to gape. “So, the bodyguard business…”
“There’s a reason for it. Back home, Marilyn and the kids are usually tailed by security. When I travel, I take protection. I usually am safe enough at home on my own, though. That’s what I meant by offering security last night. I can offer security if you think it’s needed when reporters start coming around,” I replied.
He shook his head. “I’ll just have my friends shoot them.”
“Sounds good to me.” I thought about my schedule for a bit. “Listen, the best time to come would be over the holidays. Why don’t you come down to the Bahamas with us?”
“The Bahamas?!”
I nodded. “We bought a place down there several years ago. Hey, it won’t cost you a thing. I’ll send a plane for you. We’re bringing Marilyn’s folks down for a few days, too, to break the news to them. They’re Democrats, so they just might disown their daughter.”
Suzie gave me a sharp look. “That’s not funny, Carl!”
I shrugged. “Maybe not.” I looked around at their children and their house, and then turned back. “Listen, I should get out of here, give you guys some time to talk.” I pulled out a business card and wrote our home phone number on the back. “That will get you to me at the office, or Marilyn at the house. We’re in the same house as before, but we added a pool way back when. Call Marilyn. She’s dying to hear from you. I’ll let you know when I file for Congressman. Make sure you let me know if any reporters come around.”
I stood and took my leave, collected my driver, and left. I made it back to Westminster by early evening.
Chapter 98: The Powers That Be
The next day, I shaved off my beard and mustache and went to my regular stylist at the mall for a haircut before I went to work. Everybody stared, and I called the brain trust into the office. “What’s with the beard and mustache? You look like you’re going back in the army!” commented Jake Junior.
“That’s why I called you all in here. Have a seat.” We all sat down around the coffee table. “Okay, I have something to tell you all. John already knows this, but now you have to hear about it.”
“You’re not sick, are you?” asked Missy, a concerned look on her face.
John snorted out a laugh at that and I gave him a dirty look. “Only sick in the head. I am filing next month to run for Congress in the Maryland Ninth District as the Republican candidate.”
“Holy Christ!” she exclaimed. Jake Junior’s reaction was pretty much the same.
Only Jake’s father’s face didn’t have a strange look on it. “I can’t say I’m surprised. What with your books and speeches, and the appearances on TV, I figured it was just a matter of time before somebody asked you to run. Was it John here?”
I nodded. “Yeah, we’ve been planning this for a few weeks. I got drafted by the various county committees and the RNC in Washington.”
He just nodded in understanding.
Jake Junior and Missy looked at each other. It was he who spoke up next, and I knew before he opened his mouth what the question would be. “So, what happens to the Buckman Group?”
I nodded. This was a pretty big deal, and no matter what happened, there would be some changes. “Okay, very good question. First things first. The election isn’t until November 6, so we have damn near a year to worry about this. While I’m running, I will still be in charge, but pretty much like now. In other words, you guys are doing the work and I am reaping the benefits.” Normally that line would get a chuckle from the others, but not today. Too serious, I guess.
I shrugged. “Okay, not so funny. Listen, there are two possible outcomes. First and foremost, I am running as a Republican in a liberal Democratic district in a liberal Democratic state. More likely than not, I am going to go down in flames that will make the Hindenburg look like a birthday candle. On November 7th I may have to hightail it out of town to escape the laughter!”
Jake Senior looked thoughtful and nodded at that. “Maybe, maybe not. You’re not all that conservative, and you’re probably smarter than Andy Stewart. You have a chance.”
“Okay, so outcome number two — I win. Then we have to make some changes. I can’t run this place and be a Congressman at the same time. That doesn’t mean we shut this place down. This place is too good to break up. No, I resign, but I keep my shares, and the rest of you keep running it. We are not going to shut down this place! We have all worked too hard to do that.”
There was a brief sigh of relief around the room, and some nods. I turned to Missy, a potential wild card. “What are your feelings about this? I know you’re a Democrat.” Then I looked at the two Jakes. “What about you guys?”
Jake Senior admitted he was a Democrat and Junior replied he was a Republican. Senior’s response was, “You can’t be any worse than some of the idiots in there now. Hell, I’ll vote for you.”
Missy smiled. “I’m a little more dedicated than that, but I won’t be leading any protest rallies outside your door. You’d better be nice, though. I know where we keep the stash of silly photographs!”
That got some laughter, and then we turned to business. We had to craft a response to media inquiries, and Jake Junior was designated the responsible ‘talking head.’ We needed a statement that would both reassure our investors and our clients, and demonstrate corporate neutrality. Then we worked on my responsibilities. Missy pointed out that since I was a director at Microsoft, Dell, and Adobe (I had given up the one at Autodesk) I had a fiduciary responsibility to inform them, and possibly resign my directorships. I knew I would be making some phone calls that afternoon. I wondered what Bill at Microsoft would think of this.
I got a call from Rich Miller to be available Tuesday afternoon of the following week to be in Washington. The reason — meet the powers that be! I had a command performance in front of the Minority Leader and Minority Whip. That would be Bob Michel and Newt Gingrich. In one sense I was expecting to meet them ahead of time, but in another, I was a touch surprised. There were 435 Congressional seats in the House, the majority of which were Democratically controlled. Would they be meeting all of the contenders one on one? That would be well over 200 meetings. Maybe they would split them up? Or maybe this was so important they would take the time? I just didn’t know.