“Someone has been paying more attention than we give him credit for,” Dad said.
“This will just mess up what I had planned …” Caryn said and then smiled. “But, I’m flexible.”
“I have pictures,” Mom said and plugged her tablet into the TV that we installed for presentations.
There was a rumor that soap operas and daytime talk shows might be watched on breaks. I honestly didn’t care because I’d never heard anyone say they couldn’t get their work done.
“Malibu is a beach community located 30 miles from downtown LA. This house is in a subdivision called Serra Retreat. It was established in 1942, and many legendary people from the movie industry have lived there over the years. Some past and current residents are Dick Van Dyke, James Cameron, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, Larry Hagman, and Matthew Perry.
“It’s a gated community with guards at the gates, and the HOA is only around $325 per month,” Mom explained.
“That’s more than half my rent,” Megan complained.
“This is LA. My rent was around five grand when I lived there,” Kent shared.
“What’s this going to cost me?” I asked.
I about fell out of my chair when Mom said what I’d be on the hook for each month once I financed the home. It was a staggering sum when you figured in the principal, interest, HOA, insurance, and taxes.
“What’s Doug willing to pay in rent?” I asked.
“We agreed to a lowered rent during renovations and then higher once they’re done. He’ll be paying below market, but we have someone already moved in and willing to put up with what’s needed to upgrade the home,” Mom said.
“Does this sound like a lot of money, or am I looking at this wrong?” I asked.
“I talked to three local realtors, and they all told me you could sell it for 50% more than you’re paying without doing anything to it; three times purchase price if it’s fixed up. A few years down the road, it could be much more.
“Let me show you pictures, and you can decide,” Mom suggested.
It was built up on a hill and had a wraparound deck on the second floor that looked out over the neighbors so you could see the Pacific Ocean. The problem with the house was how dated it looked. Décor from the early ’60s wasn’t the best. The previous owner had been in her 90s when she sold it to Craig. Her husband had been a studio executive, and they’d had the home built. It looked like over the past twenty or more years, nothing had been done to maintain the house.
Then Mom showed us the renovation plans. An architect had computer-generated pictures that showed what they wanted to do. They planned to open up the second floor where the living area and master bedroom were. The plan was to install floor-to-ceiling windows and sliders to highlight the views of the ocean. If it ended up looking half as good as the drawings, I wanted it.
They also proposed to do a lot of upgrades to the exterior, along with the pool and pool house, and to add an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area. It would make the perfect LA home for my family.
“So, what’s the plan?” I asked.
“I recommend that we buy it. Normally, real estate isn’t a good short-term investment. This is the exception. I believe if we do the upgrades, which it needs, we could triple our money if you wanted to sell it,” Caryn said.
“What about Doug?” I asked.
“We leave him in there for a year and see how it goes,” Dad said.
“If there are no objections, I say we do it,” I said, looking around the table.
There was nothing else pressing, so I was assured I could ‘go play’ for the next month, as Caryn put it.
◊◊◊
When we came home, we found Fritz waiting for us. He wanted to talk about security for the trip to Mexico.
“The games will be held in Monterrey, probably the wealthiest city in Mexico. The average income is almost twice what it is in the US. Ten years ago, it was considered one of the safest cities in Mexico, and it is the most Americanized. Since then, there have been issues with drug wars.
“This all started back in 2011 when the Los Zetas cartel attacked the Casino Royale. They set the casino on fire and killed 52 people. Since then, things have only gotten worse. The US government considers Los Zetas the most dangerous criminal syndicate operating in Mexico. They’re the most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and efficient of the cartels. They’re also the most violent and ruthless. Since the attack, the police and military have moved in to protect the citizens and tourists.
“Los Zetas has expanded beyond drugs, sex trafficking, and gunrunning. Its activities now include protection rackets, assassinations, extortion, kidnappings, carjackings, and more. This group is no joke. The US government has a travel advisory for its personnel in the area. Employees are not allowed outside the city limits after dark and must use only the toll roads when traveling. They have also imposed a curfew from one to six in the morning,” Fritz explained.
“Is it safe to have my friends and family come to watch the games?” I asked.
“I want to hire some extra security to help us out; the extra manpower will keep us from being stretched too thin. However, we’re having problems with the Mexican authorities about carrying guns. You must get a special permit from the Secretariat of National Defense. Without it, you can go to jail for up to five years just for having a bullet in your possession,” Fritz said.
“Mom would know who to call for some help on this,” Dad said.
“I would appreciate any help she can give us. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to hire local security, and frankly, I’m not sure that’s a promising idea. You never know who they’re really working for.”
“What are you most worried about?” Mom asked.
“I’d suggest that you keep extra cash and valuables in your hotel safe. Men shouldn’t put their wallet in their back pocket, and women should watch their purses. I would use a debit card with a low balance or credit card with a low limit that can be canceled if stolen. Don’t walk at night, even if it’s a short distance. We will drive you. For someone like David, there’s a risk of kidnapping,” Fritz explained.
◊◊◊ Tuesday August 2
“Chuck!” I called out in surprise.
He’d been my security when I first got started and there were issues with me being cyberstalked, as well as concerns when I traveled to larger cities. I always teased him because he dressed like he was with the Secret Service.
“Hey, David.”
“Are you one of the people Fritz hired?” I asked.
“Yeah. I was shocked to hear your mom recommended me. I guess I survived her tormenting me, so she thought I’d be a good fit. That’s all I can figure,” he explained.
I took him inside so he could get some coffee. While I ate breakfast, Yuri, Roc, and Phil all showed up with their moms. We planned to leave for the airport from here. I was amused when the mothers cornered Chuck and explained that he was responsible for his charges.
I could tell he was about to step into it when I heard, “I’m not a babysitter.”
“Hey … uh … I think it’s time we go. I’ll make sure Chuck and everyone else knows what’s expected of them,” I said, pulling him out of the living room. “You go make sure the SUV is loaded up.”
I turned back to look at the moms as they eyed me. I could tell they weren’t done giving instructions.
“Look, everything will be fine. They know there’ll be hell to pay if they get out of line. I promise I won’t get them liquored up and buy them hookers,” I said with my best angelic face.
Mom looked like she was getting one of her headaches.
“Just get out of here before none of you can go,” Mom suggested.