Blue Bloods of Bois D’Arc (14 page)

Chapter 32

The reunion

Rod drove his shiny new black Mustang out to the RJ Systems facility and pulled into visitors’ parking. When he signed in at the main entrance guard shack, the guard on duty recognized him. There had been no official notice about Rod’s survival and return home, as promised by Jack, but word of mouth had spread rapidly from the Flats into town.

“You don’t have to fill our all this visitor paperwork. I know who you are. We are all proud of your service and glad to have you back home.” He handed Rod a visitor badge. “Mr. Workman’s office is on the second floor in the administration building right behind us.”

“Thank you.”

Rod walked the short distance to the building with the large RJ Systems sign over the entrance. Entering the reception area, he noticed several models of aircraft representing contracts the company had completed for the Air Force hanging from the ceiling. He immediately saw a model resembling his reconnaissance plane, complete with tail number and radar blisters on its lower fuselage representing the downward-looking radar. His body stiffened and the hair stood up on his neck as charges of electricity shot up his spine and radiated out to his arms and legs. He was momentarily paralyzed.

“May I help you?” the receptionist asked

“It’s alright Helen, come on up.” A voice from the mezzanine snapped Rod out of the flashback he was having of the flaming aircraft plunging to earth. He looked up, waved, and climbed the stairs to a beaming Jack Workman.

“Good to see you, son.” After a handshake, Jack ushered Rod into his sparsely furnished office. “Make yourself comfortable. Coffee?”

“No thanks.”

An awkward silence filled the room between two people who had been as close as blood kin. Rod tried to clear his mind of the trauma he’d felt from seeing the model.

Jack took a seat behind his desk and reared back with his cup of steaming black coffee. He paused momentarily, searching for words to breach whatever emotional barriers Rod had built up during his imprisonment. Jack sipped his hot coffee and finally spoke. “Son, I have no idea what you’ve been through these last couple of years, but I want to help any way I can. I—”

“It’s okay, Jack,” Rod interrupted. “I’ll be fine. It’ll take some time.” He fidgeted with his hands. “But you saved my life. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you any way I can.”

“No, son, you don’t owe me anything. That conversation we had before you left about coming back to work for me? Forget it, you’re free to do whatever you want to do with your life.” Jack spoke convincingly, but he knew down deep he didn’t mean it. “I’d never hold you to that. You made a big sacrifice for your country—a country that wasn’t even willing to rescue you. You deserved better than that.” He continued. “That’s all I wanted, just to give you the chance to make your own life choices.” He hoped with all his heart Rod would choose to stay in Bois D’Arc and work with him in his growing company.

“This is something I want to do, Jack. I’ll sweep floors, do whatever you want me to do,” Rod said earnestly, leaning forward in his chair.

“You’ve just made me the happiest man in Texas.” Jack sighed in relief. “Forget about sweeping floors. I want you as my special assistant, beside me at all times. You’re smart. You learned Russian and had a taste of what our enemy is capable of. You understand the workings of surveillance and the technology that makes us successful at it. I want you to learn this business from the ground up and take it over when I’m gone. When can you start?”

“Are you sure about that? I’m just an E-4 console operator.”

“Serious as a heart attack. I have a meeting scheduled in Washington next week with Harry and his Senate Armed Services Committee. Before the meeting, we can get together over a good steak dinner at Blackie’s House of Beef. I need to personally thank him for greasing the skids and clearing the path for my guys to get you out of Armenia. Is that too soon?”

“Not at all, I’ve been moping around the house long enough. Mom will be glad to get me out from under foot.”

“Great. While we’re at it, we’ll swing by Raleigh Haberdasher again and update your wardrobe. Mr. Gillespie asks about you every time I stop in. He’ll be glad to see you. How ’bout we go out to the country club for dinner, just like old times, and celebrate a new beginning? On second thought, maybe we need to make that Town and Country Watering Hole. There’s a big shindig for Eddie Winthrop, who’s back home at his daddy’s law firm. I’m sure you aren’t anxious to have to put up with his bullshit. And Cass and her husband will be there.”

“No problem. That’s one event I’ll be glad to miss. It will be nice to have a quiet burger and beer at the T and C. It’s been a long time between beers there.”

Chapter 33

Clash at the country club

Another returned son who wasn’t quietly received by the blue bloods of Bois D’Arc was Eddie Winthrop, home after graduating from law school. Rod’s old high school nemesis now preferred to be called Edward in keeping with his status as the son of Reginald Winthrop, whose prestigious law firm would someday be his. There was even talk of opening a branch office in Dallas with Edward in charge. But that turned out to be only speculation, probably spread by Edward. He definitely needed experience before being tossed into the lion’s den against the big leaguers in Dallas.

Reginald, or Reggie as only his closest friends and associates called him, was proud of his son’s stellar academic record at SMU law school, but he knew his son’s flaws. He was not only spoiled but had a short temper and a vindictive streak in his personality that bore watching. The welcoming of the firm’s newest barrister, as the associates often referred to themselves, was too big to be held at the firm’s downtown office. Lakewood Country Club looked more like the scene of a political reception. Among the hundreds of honored guests were Roger and Cass Helms.

“Eddie, excuse me,
Edward
—that’s going to take some getting used to—I want you to meet my husband, Roger.”

“A pleasure, Roger. You are fortunate to have the prize bride of Bois D’Arc on your arm, my good man,” Edward gushed, barely concealing his envy. He had lusted after her all through high school to no avail. He then mistakenly thought that after Rod was out of the picture, he’d woo Cass at SMU. He was a loser who didn’t know when to quit and was more than a little obsessive of Cass.

“What is your profession, Roger?” Edward inquired in a devilish tone, knowing full well his reputation more as a womanizer than an honest businessman.

“I’m building a chain of clubs and restaurants. We have two properties at the moment.”

“Well, if you ever need good legal counsel, I’m your man, right, Cass?”

“Yes, of course, Edward graduated at the top of his law class at SMU, Roger.”

Sensing the barbed edginess of Edward’s remarks, Roger replied, “That’s kind of you, Edward, but we already have excellent legal counsel who graduated first in his class at Harvard.”

“Oh,” interrupted Cass. “I see Eleanor Lewensky and her fiancé over there, we must go over and meet him. Congratulations, Edward, and welcome home.” Cass tugged on Roger’s elbow to get away from Edward and avoid a serious confrontation. “What
is
the matter with you? You know Larry Woodson barely made it through SMU law school. That wasn’t necessary.”

“Your friend was being a jerk, trying to embarrass me in front of you and your friends. Larry may not have been book smart, but he’s legally sharp and would chew
Edward
up in court. How long do we have to stay here? Your small town wannabe blue-blood snobs are worse than Dallas Blue Book old money. I need a drink. Where’s the bar?”

RJ Systems

It was almost dark on Friday at the end of the month. Jack and Rod had finished recapping the events of the last quarter and planning what needed to be done in the coming quarter. A new desk for Rod had been added to the large but mostly empty office. Jack broke out the bourbon from the cabinet behind his desk and lifted a glass to Rod.

“Care for one?”

“Nah, I promised Mom and the kids I’d take them out to eat. It’s become a regular Friday ritual. Ever eat at the Texas Rodeo, that new place out on I-30?”

“I’m a steak and baked potato man with a cold Shiner. I think old man Jefferson out at the country club grills the best steak around. You go on with your family. Oh, and Rod, before you leave, I just want to let you know how well you have done. You handled that conference in Washington like a pro. And Senator Langtree is really impressed with the way you conducted yourself. He even went so far as to say you would make a good politician. Do you have any thoughts along those lines?”

“Really, he said that? That’s the last thing I would consider. I enjoy the challenge of beating our competition and winning over customers because I have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about when I’m pitching our capabilities and what we do here. Politics? I don’t have a clue how to deal with that.”

“You will after you’ve been here long enough. It’s all about politics, my friend.” Jack chuckled. “Oh, dammit, I forgot there’s some big lawyer association shindig going on out at the club tonight.”

“Yeah, little Eddie Winthrop’s probably having another one of his parties with daddy’s money. He’s a big party guy trying to impress his coworkers. No surprise there. He’s trying to buy their approval, because he knows none of them can stand him. They only tolerate him because he’s the boss’s son. Come on and go with us. Mom would be glad to see you.”

“You sure you don’t mind?”

“Be glad to have you.”

“It’ll be nice to be with your family again. You’re lucky to have such a loving family. Thanks for the invite. It’s really good having you here working by my side.”

“I’ve got everything I want right here,” Rod said, walking over to the large office window and gesturing toward the lit-up flight line working three shifts a day on multimillion-dollar contracts to protect the country from the big bad Russian Bear he knew so well. “We will show the blue bloods of this town they aren’t the only ones who can build a dynasty. That is what we’re doing isn’t it Jack?”

Jack joined Rod at the window. “That’s great, son, but there’s more to life than this company. Don’t let your life slip by and wind up an old man like me with nothing to show for a personal life.” Jack paused. “Come on, let’s get out of here and check out the Texas Rodeo. I’m hungry enough to eat half a cow.”

With Jack’s arm resting on Rod’s shoulder, they headed for the door and the end of another busy week.

Chapter 34

Recession two years later

The Vietnam War raged on and on, engaging more than half a million American troops at its peak. RJ Systems was booming as it expanded into weapons systems control and arming specially modified aircraft into gunships with infrared sensors to seek out enemy targets at night.

While the war was profitable for the defense industry, the recession hurt the man on the street. The government plunged deeper and deeper in debt to pay for the costly war that resulted in inflation and large deficits. Oil prices tripled. The cost of food, homes, appliances, autos, dry goods, and almost everything else used by the average American soared.

“You’re home early tonight. Anything wrong?” Cass asked Roger, who never came home early, in spite of the beautiful fully equipped home office he seldom used. “I don’t have anything ready for dinner. Maybe we could go out to your new Hideaway Club. Their food isn’t too bad.”

Uncharacteristically, Roger pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down. “I don’t think so. I’m not very hungry.” Roger blurted out, “We’re in a little rough spot right now.”

“What seems to be the problem? You spend money like it grows on trees,” Cass said.

“Save the wisecracks, Cass. Sit down. This is serious. Our accountant called me over and laid it out in simple terms. With the depressed economy, people are cutting back on spending. Translation: they eat out less. One of the easiest areas to cut back on is restaurant meals, which hits us right in the cash register. Do I need to spell it out for you? We’re broke and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.”

“Can’t you extend your credit line until the economy gets better?”

Roger groaned. “What credit line? We’re maxed out, have been for months. Our bank won’t lend us another cent.”

“So, what are you going to do, shut down the clubs? We could sell the house. That would tide us over for a while.”

“Get serious. We don’t have enough equity in this house to meet a month’s bills and payroll. And besides, it has devalued in the market and nobody is buying three-million-dollar bargain houses right now.” Roger reached across the table, took Cass’s hands in his, and looked deeply into her blue eyes. He softened his voice, “I thought maybe you would talk to your granddad and ask him to lend us the money to tide us over.”

“I don’t know, Roger.” She frowned. “How much money are we talking about?”

Roger took a deep breath and squeezed her hands gently. “Oh, we could get by with ten million until business picks back up.”

“Ten million dollars! Are you serious? I’m not sure Gramps even likes you after the way you ignored his advice on your business plans. Remember?”

“Okay, okay, maybe we could make do with six or seven million, but that’s bottom line. You know he can’t refuse his granddaughter anything when she snuggles up to him and bats those big, blue eyes.”

“Cut the crap, Roger. I’m not ten years old. He warned you that you were getting in over your head when he shot holes in your business plan. You just laughed and said, ‘What did that old man know?’ Well, he knows a hell of a lot more than you do and could buy you out twice over if he wanted to.”

“Are you going to ask him or not? We could lose the business, the house, cars, everything if we don’t get that loan. And you know he won’t let his darling granddaughter be evicted and become homeless,” Roger said with the wicked smile he used when he thought he was the smartest man in the room.

Cass wrung her hands, got up, and paced the dining room floor. “Okay, I’ll ask him, but don’t ever ask me to do anything like this again. Get your shit together and stop throwing away money we don’t have on parties with your old fraternity brothers. They’re just a bunch of leeches. Why don’t you ask them for the money? I’ll tell you why. They don’t have any and they’re having too much fun spending yours.”

Roger kicked his chair back and stomped around the table. He grabbed Cass by the shoulders and shook her, yelling, “Don’t talk about my friends. At least I have friends. I don’t have to keep running back home to Mama, lying about what a wonderful life I have in Dallas. You don’t have any friends and never will have until you cut your umbilical cord from your family and that snobby little town. Oh, and that high school kid that dumped you. Yeah, I know all about that. It was the first time you didn’t get what you wanted. Still hurts doesn’t it? I know you still have a yen for him, but he wouldn’t give you the time of day now if you asked him.”

“Shut up and take your hands off me. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I wanted you, the big stud on campus, and I got you. I actually thought you were going to be somebody, make something of yourself. You swept me off my feet with all your drug money. And you haven’t changed a bit. Except you drink more and chase anything in a skirt. So let’s just get it all out in the open. I know about your dirty little meet-ups with the waitress and barmaid whores on all those nights you were working late. So you like tattoos and fake boobs. Well, don’t come home drunk or high and expect me to hop in bed and fuck your brains out any more. Not going to happen.”

Stunned by her outburst, Roger released his grip on her shoulders and stepped back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lose my temper. I’m under a lot of pressure and sometimes that’s the only way to relieve the stress. I don’t expect you to understand. You’ve always had things your way, whatever you wanted. I apologize for what I said. I don’t want us to fight. I really need your support.” Roger stretched his arms out toward her. “Truce?”

Cass paused for a moment, shaking her head as her libido kicked in. “You always do that and I fall for it every time.” She sighed, leaned in against his chest, and nestled her head against his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her gently, pulling her tightly against him. Warm emotions flowed through their bodies and Cass pressed herself against him. They stood silent for several moments, swaying to music that wasn’t there, rubbing their lower bodies against each other, just like at their wedding reception.

“Let’s skip dinner and go on up to bed,” Roger said softly. Without waiting for a response, he scooped her up into his arms and headed toward the stairs to their bedroom suite that looked like it came right out of the Playboy mansion.

She offered no resistance, snuggled up in his arms, then slipped her hand down the front of his slacks and stroked his growing erection as he ascended the grand spiral staircase like Rhett Butler in
Gone with the Wind
.