Part 24 (2/2)
”It's a long story,” Wil said, getting out of his chair to help Rick to the bathroom. ”I'll fill you in later. Right now I have to get him out of those clothes and into bed to sleep it off.”
Chapter 55.
”An appropriations bill in the a.s.sembly sponsored by yours truly has granted funds to establish a technical curriculum in Bankstowne High School.”
Tank's condo Sam paced in front of the fireplace like he always did. This time of year, the gas fire logs weren't lit and Tank had already warned him not to spit his tobacco juice on the fake logs.
The General a.s.sembly was in short session considering raising the tax on cigarettes. The cigarette tax bill was mired in the Appropriations Committee and would likely die there like it had every session it was introduced.
”Have you pulled in all your chips on this one?”
”Come on, Pop, they're only talking about a nickel a pack. Even if it's pa.s.sed, which it won't, how much can that hurt your profit margin?”
Sam shot him a stern glare. ”Enough to make me worry. You should be worried, too.”
”They aren't going to raise any taxes in an election year, especially on tobacco. That bill will never make it out of committee.”
Sam merely grumbled in response.
”It's a pretty neat thing you did,” Tank said, ”pulling strings to off-load the tax liability of the Shops property onto the state to house a new Steam History Museum. Pretty ironic, don't you think?”
”What do you mean?” Sam stopped pacing and turned a quizzical face toward his son.
”You closed it down and I'm going to open it back up. Truth is, my first term as state senator is almost over, thank G.o.d. We both know I'm not going to get re-elected. The Grad School a.s.semblyman has lost his appeal with the people. For once I can to do something I feel good about.”
”You're giving up too soon. I need you here for another term, and then we can retire rich men. The folks in Bankstowne are excited about the idea of a museum. It means tourist dollars and could save the town. A nostalgic speech about the good old days at the dedication could give you a boost to get re-elected.”
Tank sighed and leaned back in his chair. ”I'm tired, Pop, really tired. Playing football was never this hard. I really don't want another term. I want my life back.”
”To do what? Sit behind a desk in some law firm in Raleigh? Take advantage of the weekend in Bankstowne to rest up at the house. You just need a break. You'll think differently when you've rested up a bit.”
”We'll see.”
”I'll be there representing Coastline along with a contingent of other officials. I doubt if my presence will be very welcome, but you don't say no to the major stock holder and president of Coastline Railway, even if he is younger than me.
”How is Mom doing these days, anyway?”
”You could call once in a while and find out for yourself, you know. She finally made a couple of friends to play Bridge with. Otherwise, she hates it in D.C. The few friends she had down here dropped her after the strike. Now she wants me to retire so we can travel.”
”You have all the money you need. Why not get out while you're ahead and make her happy for once?”
”I hate to fly, there aren't many pa.s.senger trains anymore, and driving tires me out too much. But I think I might enjoy having more time to play golf. I play a couple of times a week at Kenwood Country Club in Bethesda. I could get used to playing there every day. There are usually a few congressmen and senators being schmoozed by lobbyist. I've joined them on occasion and do a little politicking myself. Railroads are suffering and we need a strong presence on Capitol Hill.
”There you go, thinking about business even in retirement.”
”Your mother has taken up tennis and plays Bridge twice a week while I'm on the golf course. So what if I do some work on the side? I'd go crazy if I left work completely.”
”Not me,” Tank said, wistfully crossing his arms behind his head. ”I'm going to enjoy my eventual retirement. And you should give more thought to sucking it up and getting on a plane, if only for Mom's sake.”
”You realize that would be contributing to the compet.i.tion? That wouldn't set well with young Thaddeus Banks”
”Sure Pop, give it some thought, like you always do about things she would enjoy doing in retirement. Are you staying over tonight? I'll fix the guest room for you.”
”I have to get back for a big board meeting tomorrow. I can sleep on the way back. Henry is a safe driver and that Cadillac limo rides like you're floating on air.”
”Relax about the cigarette tax, too. It isn't going to happen, so you can keep all that New York tax money.”
”Don't say things like that out loud. This house might be bugged . . .
”Because of that money you speak so derisively of, you won't have to worry about a job if you don't get re-elected. Just keep that in mind. We aren't doing anything more than hundreds of little operators are doing running a truck load at a time, just on a bigger scale.”
”Pop, it doesn't matter whether somebody loads up the trunk of his car or you load up a freight car. I'm a lawyer and member of the General a.s.sembly. I'm tired of walking through a minefield every day, worried someone like that newspaper reporter will discover our business operation. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable I feel? If this thing blows up, we'll both go to prison.”
”Every one of those politicians has a game of their own and use their office to promote or protect it. And as far as being a lawyer goes, they defend their clients-it isn't their job to decide guilt or innocence. I'm your client, so don't go getting a conscience on me. Tell you what, I'll make a deal with you. If you continue to protect our enterprise for the rest of your term, I'll get out of the business and you can get out of politics if you don't get re-elected. You're right, we'll have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Deal?”
”Deal, but I think I could have made just as much money playing in the NFL and had a h.e.l.l of a lot more fun.”
”You would be aging out about now if you were lucky enough not to get injured.” Sam scoffed. ”Be grateful for what you have, son. You can afford to make a run for the U.S. Senate if you want to.”
”No way. We just made a deal. I've had enough politics. I'm thinking about maybe coaching. Carolina hasn't won a bowl game in two years and that's too long. I think I could do a better job coaching a football team than running the state.”
”My G.o.d, son, you can't be serious? College coaches don't make any money.”
”I already have enough money. You said so yourself. I want to do something I'll enjoy. A waterfront beach house on Nags Head sounds appealing. I could do some serious thinking there.
”I'm tired, Pop. Bone weary. I just might go to our house in Bankstowne and sleep for a week,” he joked. ”But right now, I need to start work on my speech for the dedication. I'll walk you out.”
Standing in the doorway, Tank waved to his dad climbing into a sleek limousine. ”Give Mom my love.”
”Call and tell her yourself,” Sam responded as the chauffeur closed the door.
The limousine pulled away. Maybe I'll do that, he thought. She's coming down a few days before the dedication ceremony to open the house. We could do a lot of catching up.
Chapter 56.
”This funding will allow your children to be trained in the latest technical fields as electricians, mechanics, and drafters.”
Ann gets a break Ann tried to look busy waiting on a phone call from Officer Cartier. The coffee vendor restocked supplies for the next week. Her monthly payments to all other bills were caught up. She'd finished going through Marie's desk and file cabinet and found nothing usable in either one.
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