Trust Your family, Family Has Your Back

Part 3 chapter 6, 7, 8 [Tuesday]

Chapter 6 (Tuesday)
Owen

  I'm going to the meeting at Mr Mason at 11am. I go to the school to work on my schedules. Victor comes in and sits in Sean chair.
  "Well I was doing some research on some deconstruction companies around the area. I went to just ask quotes they charge to take down home or building and hauling of the materials. I told them my nonprofit is thinking of buying up the land around the plaza. They all have agreed to help take down certain areas as a tax write off. We just have to pay for the dump sight." Victor starts. I look at him nodding my head to go on.
   "So they all gave me numbers to their top places they dump. Number one place is a place that doesn't just do land fills. They first take a heavy duty magnet and pull the metal out. It gets sent to a place that recycles the metals."
   "Then they separate the concrete. It's sent to a concrete crusher that makes it into gravel or use for other stuff. The wood is harder because of the nails. Plastic or PVC is also harder to shift through. They take it to a place to super powerful grinder then use another very powerful magnet to go through again for metals. They then recrush the remaining stuff very fine adding as cheap fill for leveling around construction sites. It's not as cheap as a landfill but they do recycle as much as they can." I contacted them for prices and talked to the owner about our projects and he said if we get the debris there they will first go through the recycling process. They will crush the concrete and put in a pile, they will sell all the metal putting what they make to the bill. They only going charge for the employees pay and running the equipment. The fine crushed stuff and crushed gravel will be for our construction use. They want to see the neighborhoods cleaned up."
  "He also asked how his workers that need homes can put in for homes. I told him we have a list but we do background checks and work ethics. We want to help people that are trying to help themselves get their lives together. I gave him our website, but I asked him only give it to people that he thinks are hard working that just needs a little help. He agreed. It might cost a little more, but I like how they really try to recycle everything." He saids.
  "Yes, I agree them selling the metals and putting it into the cost is nice. It also sounds like he cares about his employees enough to ask. Next time you talk to him, see if he has certain people that need help. We can't promise anything, but we can double check names." I say. He nods. I check the time. Its almost 10am. I turn off my computer and put into my desk.
  "Let's go." I say. We head into the main office. Mr Hendricks was in his office watching us as we walked by. I see him get on his phone as we walk by.
  "Ok let's go see about some land." I say as we head to the car. As we drive out we have 2 cars following us. One was from the other day. I drive around watching the cars.
  "Let Mr Mason know we have 2 cars tailing us. I'm going to just pull in." I say. He calls Mr Mason giving him the heads up. I park in the parking lot. We head over to the guards station and show our identification getting a sticker. We didn't need to, but if they followed us in they would see us checking in. I did ask how the guard that was injured was. He was ok and back to work. He was off today. The guard left a note to the other guard, that we asked about him. We head to the elevators to go up. We saw both the guy Dominique and Mr McCoy were at the door trying to come in. We see Mrs Mason at her desk.
  "Hi Dearies, grab yourselves a drink if you like and head into the office." She said.
Victor grabbed a peach flavor water and I grabbed a  regular cold water. We go into Mr Mason office who was watching the tv of the front door. We watch the 2 men arguing to be let in.
  "They seem to think a private law office is a public building. My guards asked them if they had a appointment and with who. They keep saying they want in." Mr Mason saids as we watch.
   "Gentlemen if you don't have an appointment you need to leave as this is a private building. If you dont leave we will have to call the police." One of the guards saids.
  "But this is a public building." Mr McCoy saids. "We should..."
  "No Sir, this is a privately owned building. Please leave the property if you do not have business here." The guard saids respectfully.
   "Come on Mr McCoy let's go. We don't want to cause trouble." Dominique saids as he backs away. With a frustrated snort Mr McCoy left too. We watched as they go to their cars.
  Mr Gin Sims walks into the room with some files. His life partner Clint Sims who I believe is a internet lawyer. I'm not sure what a internet lawyer was. I greet and shake their hands. They been to eat with us a few times, but I don't know them well. They were part of Stan Mason team and his senior partners. He met his wife who was in a bird team. They fell in love and since Clint and Gin were life partners there was no problems with her joining them. They were just 2 partner teams in one. We all sat at the desk.
  "I have here different organizations that are nonprofit. One for veterans, 1 for single parents, few for low income. They have agreed to help build homes. They understand that you have conditions of who you will sell the property to. The condition of they have to be working to try to better themselves, though you want to help the homeless, but you cant just sell them a home if they not trying to work or on drugs and alcohol. They have to have a intense background check. We dont want violent people. We not saying no to people that have served time as long as they show they have been trying to stay on the right path. We understand people make mistakes as long as they learned from it. No one that has had domestic violence issues. No one on sexual predator list. We do understand some were put on because they were with someone little younger than them. They were stupid kids, They were not actually in to younger kids. Couple of our junior partners and newer lawyers have agreed if we find people that had these problems as stupid teenagers, they will check into it and offer assistance if possible." Mr Gin Sims saids.
  "The 2 apartment buildings may just need cleared out and remodel. We were thinking if not to bad offer one for a victims shelter. It has 6 floors, the one I'm thinking of. Main floor for offices, washing clothes area, kitchen things  like that. Top floor for moms with children, 5th floor single women, 4th floor  can have child care, clinic, classrooms. Exercise room, mental health rooms. 3rd floor for men that's been abused. Women are not the only ones abused. 2nd floor will be for lawyers or any visitors that is requested. Elevator and stairs will be locked on the main floor needing a  code and password to get on. Top floors has access to go down for safety reasons." He saids and we all nod.
  "The other could be made into a adult school. For people needing educational help. From GED to learning skills like cooking. Again also a clinic and places the homeless can get a shower if they going for a job interview. We can offer legal assistance. Even here we have very young lawyers and interns that can help. We do require at this firm so many hours of community help to work up the ladder. They still get paid their normal pay." He saids. I like the idea not sure how we could organize it.
   "We dont have the hours or know how to run something like this. I do like the idea. We just couldn't run it." I say.
  "We know I was going say put a organization that already doing something like this in charge. It's just a idea. Most if not all the homes will be easier to just tear down. You will probably need to put up notifications at each home is going to be torn down and when, get police to walk through to make sure there is noone or animals are in the homes. You will have to get with the water and electric companies to cut lines from the areas. It will take alot of time and resources. I don't know if you would even make back what you spend." He saids.
  "Yea Mr Mason said dont go much above ¼ billion. We are also looking for other people to donating time or money to help." I say.
   "Good let's go into the boardroom and chat with Murrell Selway and her associate with the Bank of South Carolina." Mr Gin Sims saids as we go to the big boardroom. Mrs Selway was up front and she had a older man that has that air of authority, but not in the I'm more superior way. I sit next to Victor and next to Mr Mason who was on the end. Both Mr Sims were sitting on the other side.
   "Hi gentlemen I'd like to introduce my boss the senior owner of our branch of my bank. This is Mr Kenneth Salvador." Mrs Selway saids. We greet him and Mr Mason introduce us.
  "Yes I brought your interest to maybe buy the plaza and the surrounding area. That you are a organization that helps others. You looking to also help the environment, reduce crime, but have limited resources." Mrs Selway saids. The gentleman stands looking at us.
  "Ok gentlemen I understand. I think your ideas is great. I actually grew up around that neighborhood. My family was one that had been not homeless, but we were close to it. My dad worked 2 or more jobs, my mom worked a job while we were in school. My dad and mom were high school sweethearts. They had my oldest sister before graduation. Their parents pretty much threw them out. My dad quit school to work. Mom had to quit school to work. Just to afford a place to live. It was a different time back then. They got married early. We were rich in love, but there were days we didn't know if we would have enough to eat. If someone had just offered my parents help they wouldn't have had to work themselves to the ground. I was lucky to be good in school and got a full scholarship. Unfortunately my sister didn't do so well. Anyway I want to help you help our communities. I honestly will be taking a loss with this. We will also help you offer a plan for the people you are planning to sell to. Obviously they will need a loan. I'm thinking you needed to own the land until they pay it off. With a lease to own agreement. You both would sign a agreement, but you need to put in the contract who is responsible for what. Normally the owners would be responsible of taxes and fees while the tenant is responsible for maintenance, but you can work out different conditions in the contract. You would set the amount you selling for, rent, and how long they have to pay it. Normally the rent would be higher, but it goes to the price of the home. By the end of the contract the amount owed would be lower and they can go to a bank to get a regular mortgage. This helps the buyer. 1. As long as they making their rent on time it helps their credit, it helps lower how much they need to ask for. Negative for the seller is they dont get the money right away. If the buyer stops paying then you can evict them. The home is still yours. When time for them to do the mortgage our bank can help with a lower interest rate." Mr Salvador said.
  "That is interesting. We are also going as green as we can. We been researching different solar power and heating options for some land we own. We started wondering about how we can do it in the neighborhoods if we get the properties. We want to work out each neighborhood house around a communal area with a big gardens, a communal kitchen, a building that stores the batteries for the solar power system. We thinking each home will have solar panels, the kitchen and other buildings. We still have to figure it out." Mr Sims saids. They talk back in forth for a bit. Finally Mr Salvador saids for all the land $30 million and Mr Sims counters with $25 million was okayed by the Phoenix foundation for everything. Mr Salvador looked thoughtful then agrees. They went over everything that needed to be done to transfer everything to the foundation. Victor said the foundation will have a certificate check when they was ready to sign over the properties. We all shake hands as they leave.
   "Well that was interesting. Looks like the Phoenix Foundation has it first land purchases. Congratulations, Mr Phoenix Westmoreland." Mr Mason said.
  "I suggest we form the committee to work on it. See who we have in the Academy that is good at planning out how the land can be organized. I suggest getting Chief Wallis in on it. We will need to get the area searched, the mayor, anyone that is helping with the project." Mr Sims saids. Victor told them of the research of deconstruction crews he found and organization that help build homes. Mr Sims saids he will contact everyone and pull them all in. See who would want to do which area along with someone to plan where everything from roads and everything. We all agreed. We go back to Mr Mason office and we see on his tv of the parking lot. Looks like Mr McCoy and Dominique were still in the parking lot. They were trying to talk to everyone coming in and out of the building from behind a vehicle hiding them from the guards. We turn up the volume of the sound as they stopped Mr Salvador and Mrs Selway as they head to their cars. Mr Mason was getting on the phone with security.
   "Sir and ma'am can we ask you if you were in a meeting and with who. We are looking into a criminal organization called the Academy and we think this building is their base of operations." Mr McCoy saids quietly.
   "No sir this is a law firm of great lawyers. Excuse us." Mrs Selway saids as they walk by. McCoy reached to grab her arm, but Mr Salvador pulled her away from him.
    "Do not grab my associate. I don't know what you are talking about, but you do not just grab a woman. Were you not taught how to respect a woman. This is a respectful business no criminal organization here." He saids as 4 security guards walk up. One was on the phone.
   "Mr Salvador and Mrs Selway, sorry we thought these 2 left. We saw this guy try to grab you ma'am. We on the phone with the police. You not hurt are you." One of the guards ask.
   "I am ok. He just scared me. He was spouting about some criminal organization that was here. We all know that is not true. This is a well known law firm that helps others. Thank you Mr Salvador for pulling me away before he could touch me." She saids turning to Mr Salvador.
   "Of course Mrs Selway. You are part of my banking family." He responds with a respectful tone.
  "Well we are going now. We don't want any trouble." Dominique saids trying to back away to his car with a red face Mr McCoy.
   "Sorry Sir, but the police is pulling in. We asked you to leave a while ago. Ma'am and Sir we will need statements." The guard saids as 2 officers followed by Chief Wallis came over to them.
  "I am going I don't want any trouble." Dominique saids again backing away.
  "Hold on sir. We need to find out what is going on before you can go. First off the gentleman that called I will  talk to you first." The Chief saids.
   "Of course Sir. First thought I want to say we should probably go to the security office and a private boardroom that is not on surveillance. I personally don't care, but they might not want their interview on tape. We also can show you recording of incident." The helpful guards saids.
   "Wait you dont have my permission to video me." Mr McCoy screamed.
   "Sir we have notices posted, when you first pull into the private parking lot. We have signs all over said parking lot. We have alot of high profile people coming in. We have victims coming in all the time. The cameras are there for their protection. We take our security seriously." The guard replies respectfully.
   "It does make me feel safer knowing someone is watching to make sure noone would grab me." Mrs Selway saids.
   "It doesn't bother me to talk in front of the cameras. Mr  Salvador saids.
   "Ok let's begin come with me and tell me what happened. I have my body camera set to record, technology sure helps save on writing." Chief Wallis saids taking the guard to the side.
  I look at Mr Mason. "Is the Academy able to act on them talking about the Academy?" I ask.
  "I will have to see and talk to the Elders." He saids. We look back at the screen. The Chief and guard walked back over.
   "Officer Frank and officer James please get everyone's information. Ma'am I will talk to you next. I will have my body camera on to record your statement. They walk to the side as they talked. The 2 officers checked everyone's identification and writing the information down. Dominique looked worried. Mr McCoy seemed angry for some reason.
   Chief Wallis comes back over with Mrs Selway then takes Mr Salvador away after stating he was using his body camera to record the statement.
  When they came back he took Mr Dominique William to take his statement. Mr McCoy started getting more agitated. When it was his turn he started talking before they walked where the cameras were not recorded.
  "You have no right to hold us. I'm Vice Principal of the high school and  he is on the educational board. We are important people. There is illegal activities in there by a group of criminals called the Academy. You need to go in there and arrest everyone." McCoy yells.
   "Sir you will calm down and calmly give me your statement." Chief Wallis saids.
   "Don't tell me what to do. You just some low paid officer. I am a Vice Principal now go in there and arrest everyone." He saids stamping his foot.
  "Tell me what they doing that make you think a high paid attorney is doing something illegal and your proof?" The Chief ask.
   "Proof is I'm telling you. NOW GO do your job." He saids as he lifts his hand up pushing the Chief towards the building.
  "You  are under arrest for assault on a officer. Put you hands behind your back." Chief Wallis saids pulling out his handcuffs. McCoy trys to push back and struggle as Chief Wallis and the other officers struggle to secure Mr McCoy. McCoy was kicking and spitting trying to get away. One of the security guards, a big guy walks over asking the officers if they needed help. They said yes and the security guard reached down and put pressure on McCoy shoulder holding him down. They finally secured him. Chief Wallis read him his rights then put him in the patrol car. He went over to Dominique.
  "Ok from my understanding you and your friend were asked to leave the property. You have been stalking people as they come in or out of the building. Claiming the law firm are criminals. You are trespassing on private owned property. I'm taking your friend to be booked into jail for violence to  a peace officer. It would have been a misdemeanor until he spit on me that made it a felony crime. He will be in jail until he talks to the judge tomorrow at the earliest. Hold on." Chief Wallis turns to the first guard. "Can you get someone that is in charge to come and officially ask this gentleman to leave and the one in the car. That way we can write him a trespassing warning. Then if you see him come back we can arrest him." The guard nods and pulls out his phone and Mr Mason's phone rings. He picks up and saids yes I will be right there.
  "I will be right back gentlemen." He saids as he heads down with both partners. We watch as we see him walk out the door a few minutes later walking over to the officers. He listens and nods going over to Dominique.
  "Mr Dominique William, I ask you to leave my property. I trespassing you with a warning. You are not welcome here for any reason." Mr Mason turns and follows to the police car. They rolled down the window and you could see him talking to Mr McCoy. He nods then goes over to  Mr Salvador and Mrs Selway.
   "I'm so sorry you had to be stopped by these people. Are either of you hurt. Would you like to come back in for a coffee or tea decompress before driving off?" He asked. They said they was ok and not upset. They shook his hand and left.
  "Mr Wallis is there anything else you need. You are welcome to any of the videos." He shook hands with Mr Wallis before they head back in. The Chief and his officers all left.
  "Well you boys always make life around here interesting when you come by." Mrs Mason said as she came in with the same drinks we had earlier handing us all our drinks.
  "I don't know why. Thank you for the drink." I say as Mr Mason come in by himself and thanks his wife for the water she gave him.
  "Well I officially trespassed him. I don't know if the school board will allow Mr McCoy to stay at the school if he is going to get a felony charge. I don't know if they will be able to get another Vice Principal for him before classes start. I will also see if we want to fill out civil papers for saying we are criminals lawyers." He saids. We left after that heading to Uncles restaurant and going to the trailer.
We get there heading into the restaurant. We see Uncle talking to 2 older ladies we nod at him as we go through the kitchen into the back going around to the trailer we go in all the school stuff still on the table but looks like more was added. We go through to the computer room. Corey was watching the screen as we walked in he feed it to the tv. Mr William was in Mr Hendricks office.
  "I am telling you, your Mr McCoy is a idiot. The school board will probably replace him. We don't need another person watching us." Mr Williams  was talking to Mr Hendricks. Hes not loud, but you could hear the anger in his voice.
  "Calm down we are fine. Noone would find anything." Mr Hendricks saids like nothing was wrong,
   "He also kept talking about the Academy. If they find out he could be in more trouble. I'm also worried he might talk to get out of trouble." Mr William kept on. As he walked around the room upset.
   "I am not worried they have nothing on me. You are part of the school board try to get someone you know for Vice Principal if it comes up. Maybe they will not even notice." Mr Hendricks saids leaning back in his chair. 
   "If I don't say anything and they find I was there and don't say anything. They might even boot me. I need to tell them something." He saids.
"That's up to you. I have no idea why you was there." Mr Hendricks saids smiling from his seat.
  "You told us to follow them. It's your fault." He argues back.
   "You have no proof. Just keep calm. If its a issue just say you were having lunch with Mr McCoy when he stopped there. You was following him. You stayed trying to get him to leave." Mr Hendricks saids.
"Now go away I need to get going. I have a important appointment." He saids going back to his computer ignoring Mr William. After he leaves we watch for a bit. We talk quietly as we watch.
  "If the school board kicks Mr McCoy out of the school do you think we can get someone in to be Vice Principal?" Victor ask.
   "Maybe but who would we want in as Vice Principal?" I ask back.
  "Well if Mr Bubbles hadn't gotten into trouble, he would have been good. Mr Duncan could work.  One of Lily Anderson's husbands Liam maybe. I would love to see either Dad, Drew, Sarge, or Corp be Vice Principal. I could see them having them outside running and doing a lot of push ups instead of detention. Raven is scary sometimes one look of him would make most kids not want to make him mad." Corey saids snickering. We all started laughing.
  "Honestly I think if we had punishment of exercise like we do in the Academy most of the kids would start to behave. Especially if we could say have everyone in the incident or even a class having to do it together. Most time suspensions gives the kids a way to get out of school. In school suspensions are really just a study hall. After school might be tidus, but it's a hour. I would also like to see parents have to come to school with their child for a week. Seeing how they misbehave. One, they would have to take time out of work. 1 day wouldn't be to hard for a child to behave but a week a child will forget their parents are there." I say.
  "Yea I actually like the idea of kids having to drill together. We do it. Though it has been long time we had to as self discipline." Victor replies.
  "We might need to start drills again. Not for punishment, but I found we are getting out of shape during our event Saturday." I say.
  Suddenly Mr Hendricks gets a phone call. We stop and watch.
  "Hello Mr Volto, Yes we still need more drugs. Yes the last shipment was taken by the police those stuck up people got arrested with. No I dont have the money for those drugs lost they were taken. Yes we will pay more for a new delivery. Yes when you drop them someone will be close to pick it up." He hangs up. Mr Hendricks shoves stuff off his desk in frustration. He then gets up and leaves.
   "Well that's interesting. We have the same Mr Volto or a different Mr Volto. It to uncommon of a name to be 2 different people." I say.
  "I could not find anyone with a first or last name Volto before." Corey replies.
  "Well let's call a meeting tonight maybe invite the Elders and the mayor to get their take on Vice Principal McCoy. Let's go out to eat. Invite the kids and everyone's families. It be good for them to see what we do and how. Victor you see if we can get a big private room somewhere." I say.
  Corey started to power down most of his equipment only keeping motion detection video cameras ready to record. Victor got on his phone and started looking for places to eat. I get up and leave the trailer going back into the kitchen. I see Uncle is cooking with the 2 older ladies. It smells good.
  "What smells good Uncle?" I ask.
  "Hi my boy Owen. Meet my cooks Ms Linton and Ms Genets. Ladies meet one of my adopted nephews, Owen Blackbourne. We making a big pan of baked spaghetti Ms Linton makes at home. Ms Genets is making a cucumber salad. I am making garlic bread. We have fresh sweet tea and peppermint tea in the fridge." Uncle saids as Victor and Corey come into to the kitchen.
  "That sounds better then the restaurants I'm looking at." Victor saids.
  "Why you looking for a restaurant?" Uncle ask.
  "We need a meeting with our families plus a few others." I say looking at the older ladies not sure if they were Academy.
  "It's ok these ladies are friends with a late Academy member wife. They are looking after her friends grandchildren. 2 twin sister and a younger brother. Sarah and Rachel almost 14 and Connor who is 12½. I think that's right." Uncle saids then he looks at the ladies.
  "Yes dearie our best friend Mrs Lonnie had took in her son's kids years ago. Shes been poorly so we have stepped in to help her look after them. We see them as our grandchildren also. Me and Ms Linton are I guess you call it life partners now a days. She had some health issues so she stays home. The girls will be going to the local high school and the boy too as he was tested out of 7th grade last year. He has high IQ he was put in 8th last year and was so bored. We are lucky he is a good boy. We fear 9th grade will also be too boring for him. But we didn't want him to get bullied in a higher grade." She saids kindly. You could see the love and fondness she had for the kids.
   "What is their names, I'm working as a counselor at the school this year. I will try to keep a eye out for them." I said.
  "Thank you dearie. They are Sarah Huckabee, Rachel Huckabee, and Connor Huckabee they are all good kids. They help around the house with out us asking. Sarah is the little leader, Rachel and Conner follow her lead. They are all shy around strangers. I think because there parents before they up in left one day didn't take them out and introduce them to other people. Even Sarah the leader is very shy around anyone besides our family." Ms Genets saids.
  "Well we have a bunch of good kids we have started mentoring. Ages 10 -14. Also some toddlers and 5 year olds and twin brother and sister new borns." I say and see the old ladies smile at the mention of the babies. I noticed anytime I mentioned the babies around older grandmotherly women they get all gooey eyes.
  "Well my boy we have all this food we were testing for dinner. Can make more garlic bread and  more ice tea. The tables are ready. Just need to set them. I might call and see if any of my workers want to come in for a test run before Saturday soft opening. It will help with any of them that is nervous of their first day gitters." Uncle saids happily at feeding people.
  "We was planning to invite all our families, all the kids, Nanny, the Elders, Mr Wallis family, David Savage, the Kings I believe the father is retired now. Sarge's group and kids. Maybe the kids grandparents if they feel up to it. Sarge told me they are the great grandparents and on the frial side. Mr John Lewis family. Maybe we can invite the kids helpers to help with the toddlers and babies. I also want to invite the Mayor" I say.
  "Well I will have Gabriel and Kota go shopping for a shorter table for the toddlers and helpers to eat at. Get some coloring books and crayons and easy to clean toys to entertain them so you can talk business. Ladies do invite your friend and her kids if she can if not the kids at least they can meet some of their soon to be friends. Ask Nathan to see if Mrs Campbell and her little girls want to come, and Mrs Lee and Jessica. I know Holly hero worships my little bit I will invite the farmers. Since this is family they can bring the dogs. I know Shadow will be here." Uncle saids. There are our orders. I nod to Victor who smiles and starts typing on his phone.