Third Time Is a Charm Read online

Except then all hell broke loose. Hell in the form of a real tommy-gun being fired into the ceiling.

  “This is a robbery. Everyone stay right where you are. My two helpers will be collecting your wallets, purses and jewelry.”

  The guy with the machine gun pointed at his two cohorts who now had what looked like pillow covers.

  I worked my way deeper into the crowd while I pulled bullets out of my gun belt. Carefully loading the six shot revolver I thought furiously. It would be too dangerous to open fire in this crowd but I would watch events unfold.

  The collectors the gangster moll, really a guy, and the fake FBI guy were working their way through the crowd. This didn’t look too smart to me. The only thing they had going for them was the guy with the tommy-gun.

  The guy with the gun spoke.

  “You must be wondering how we will get out, I will take a hostage or two, starting with that little fairy princess right there.”

  Now that was a mistake as I worked my way to the center of the room. Mary had started forward but Mum grabbed her. This led to the gunman looking at Mum.

  That gave me an opportunity as I step forward and using a two handed grip shot the gunman in the chest. It must have been his lucky day because he was holding the machine gun in a loose form of port arms. I shot the machine gun right in the trigger.

  This had the effect of blowing off his finger and knocking him down. The bullet ended up in his lower stomach but I was told later it didn’t bounce around and tear him up.

  That was all it took for the rest of the crowd to beat the others into submission.

  From start to finish the whole event took about two minutes if that. Unlike that bank in Colorado there was time to think, not much but some. I would have let them rob us, but don’t put Mary in danger.

  Deputy Sheriff Burrill was in attendance along with several other law officers. They took control immediately. Bandits were searched and cuffed. The one I shot had lost a finger but lucky to be alive.

  Everyone was asked to take their seats. Some wanted to leave but weren’t allowed as statements were to be taken. Mum and Dad were having hurried conversation with the Deputy. One of our security people came in with a stack of invitations.

  Deputy Burrill announced to the crowd.

  “Okay folks, only people with invitations were let in. Now the question is; whose did they use, and are those people okay. So we are going to call out the names we have. When your name is called stand up, anyone who recognizes them please hold up your hand so we know they really are that person.”

  Other police started arriving.

  They got half way through the invitations when three names were called. No one stood up. A quick check of the names versus a list Mum had retrieved and four deputies headed out.

  One of the first things that occurred after the bad guys were down was that my pistol was confiscated. Luckily people had seen me loading it so I didn’t look like a nitwit.

  Since it was a charity event there were several society reporters there along with photographers. They were interviewing like crazy. The police kept me separate from them. There were plenty of pictures taken at a distance.

  I had to sit at a table hastily moved to the front of the room as an ad hoc command center and write out my statement. It was pretty simple, ‘they announced a robbery. I was okay with that, they threatened Mary. I shot the guy.’

  Mr. Burrill chuckled at my honorary Texas Ranger badge.

  “We will have to get you a Deputy Sheriff’s badge.”

  After the robbers were hauled away Mum had the band start playing and the dance was on. I did give interviews on the side but kept them as simple as my police statement.

  Would you believe I won the prize for best costume?

  After all that happened on Saturday, we did nothing on Sunday. I rode George around the park. Mum had a thousand or so phone calls. I also had a bunch, but wasn’t talking to anyone.

  At lunch it was reported the three invitations were to a couple and their adult son, they weren’t coming so they told a maid to pitch them. Instead she gave them to her boyfriend and the rest is history.

  I went out to Ontario and rented a plane for the afternoon and just flew around the area. Dinner was a quiet affair. Mary kissed me on the cheek for saving her from the bad guys. Not a bad reward.

  Chapter 15

  Monday morning the phone started ringing. The Halloween Nightmare Party as the press had christened it was national news. The stories were all over the place. A big deal was made of me shooting the bad guy; that was to be expected. What surprised me was all the criticism of continuing the event.

  From some of the tabloids it appeared that we danced and laughed on blood soaked floors. The reason we knew what the tabloids said was because Mum had sent out for a copy of everyone they could find.

  I found out that my date, the Bulgarian Princess was either mad at me, in love with me, carrying my child or dropping me for another guy. I wondered if I should write Cadet Rylski #6883 and tell him she wasn’t there. Heck I don’t even know if she exists.

  Mary was pleased with the photograph of her flying through the air. The question in the paper that asked, “How many will die for her,” left us uneasy. Mary had never been told the details of the Russians that kidnapped her.

  The NRA called me a hero for defending our home. Others called me a lunatic for carrying a weapon and shooting in a crowded house. I agreed with both of them. It could have gone very bad. But don’t try to harm Mary!

  We talked it over at the breakfast table. In the end we all decided that I had to give some interviews. Dads papers of course, then the LA Times. I had several calls to go to Washington for the Sunday morning shows but didn’t want to spend the time traveling. It was the same with the New York talk shows.

  The Beach House home inspection was scheduled for this afternoon. Dad and I both wanted to be there for that.

  I had a busy day, there was a business update, I had missed going to the office last Friday. Also there was the John Jacobs contract to get signed and finally pick up my books for the eleventh and twelfth grades.

  My first stop was my office. There really wasn’t that much new business to review. Most of it centered on the information commercial. That was a mouthful to say all the time so I kept calling it the infomercial. It worked as our in house slang. No one else would probably ever use it.

  This was not a time critical project but we did want to wrap it up. My role would be all voice overs on pictures of the various ports, ships and factories. It would start with me being interviewed on how I got this idea. There would be shots of crews loading ships and trucks the old way, then shots of containers being loaded.

  It was a blatant advertisement. We were trying to have President Eisenhower say a few words on how this would help America trade around the world. World War II had destroyed the manufacturing capability of most of the world. They needed our products while they rebuilt. How this would work out in fifty years I had no idea.

  Hairdryer sales were continuing upwards. Being able to dry your hair at home and style it appeared to cross all age and economic groups of women. Now if long hair came into fashion for men that would be something. Not that it is going to happen.

  Jim Williamson went over the financials with us. I was beginning to believe that I could end up as the richest person in the world. That was cause for concern. Would I live my life as I wanted or as the money dictated? I didn’t want to end up a recluse and scared to go out. Being able to do what I wanted was nice, but at some point security would become an issue.

  Would the world put expectations on me that I couldn’t live up to? I was saved from these morbid thoughts by a loud exhaust pipe going down the road. I wondered if I could take it in my new Corvette.

  There was a formal request from the Prime Minister of Australia to be present at the opening of the new facilities in Sydney. This wouldn’t be until the fall of next year so I asked for a letter to be drafted for my signature as I gave
a tentative yes. Who knows where I will be in a year?

  John Jacobs was waiting in the outer office to sign his contract. He looked very uncomfortable in a suit and tie. I think the suit was from the 1940’s as it had the look of a zoot suit. At least he didn’t have one of those silly hats. The one sitting in his lap was a modern fedora.

  I welcomed him and did my best to make him comfortable. The contract was here ready to be signed. I asked if he wanted to take it with him for his lawyer to review. He informed me that if he didn’t bring home a copy of a signed contract his wife would probably shoot him. This was the best thing that ever happened to them.

  I inquired about his family as I didn’t even know he was married. It turned out they were newlyweds and wanted to start a family. This would allow them to do so. I still had our lawyer go over each paragraph with him in plain English. It was not a complex contract. If he didn’t commit any criminal acts his income was secure for the next two years with a continuing option on both sides.

  There was also no penalty to John if he walked away. My lawyer wasn’t wild about this but my argument was that it was such a good deal it would take something very serious to make him leave.

  At last John was able to leave without being shot at home. I saw him going out the front door. He had an enormous smile as he was taking that tie off.

  It had taken all morning. Dad had things to do at his office so I headed towards the studio.

  When I went out the office door I had a smile as I lost my tie.

  Tooling down Rodeo Drive in a Corvette with the top down is good for the ego. Women would turn and stare at me. Men would look at the car. At least I hoped it was in that order.

  At the studio school they had a stack of books for me. It filled the boot of the Vette. I was also scheduled to attend Chemistry at Hollywood High. A syllabus had been printed out with a time line of work due and several exams. The exams would have been like the six weeks tests if I had regular classes. There was no mid-term, just a final.

  While a lot of work it seemed doable.

  I dropped the books off at home, scarfed some lunch to the annoyance of Mrs. Hernandez who thought lunch should be a leisurely affair. Mum agreed with her, but fortunately she was not there. I asked where she was; apparently she had a luncheon date at the British Consulate in Central City. I wondered what that was about.

  I met Dad at the Beach House. The real estate agent and the home inspector were already there and started. The inspector had some concerns. The wiring was definitely not to code. Every electrical plate in the house would have to be removed and checked. He recommended an electrician be hired. There were some receptacles that had to be replaced.

  The main electrical panel looked good and he didn’t think any new wires would have to be pulled so it was not a deal killer.

  His major concern was the addition I had noted. He had to check to see if permits had been pulled. Where the added room joined the house did not have a smooth professional look. That is why I had noticed it. If there were no permits for the job the room would have to be torn out and either replaced or the house made smaller.

  That would be a deal killer unless the price was reduced dramatically. The inspector told us he would go downtown and check on the situation as his next stop. Needless to say the real estate agent was not happy.

  Dad and I went our separate ways. His back to work and mine returning to the house to study. I had a ton of school books to get set up in the library. That project only took half an hour so I took my new world history text to the top of the tower.

  There were no signs out that sunbathing was going on. As a matter of fact I had it to myself. Mrs. Hernandez had seen me go up as she showed up with a pitcher of lemonade and a cheese and cracker plate. This was to make up for my lunch which I ate too fast. She was certain none of it would have stayed in my stomach so I must be hungry.

  Well I’m a teenage boy so I’m always hungry.

  With a full tummy sitting in the sun I dozed off. I would tell Mrs. Hernandez about my siesta. It would gain back some of the brownie points lost at lunch.

  My history text actually was interesting. I learned that the Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, not Roman and not an Empire. Talk about false advertising!

  Dinner was a quiet affair. At least the phone had stopped ringing about the Halloween Party. Dad had heard the guy I shot was going to be fine. He would get more jail time for his fully automatic machine gun than the attempted robbery. Of course besides the robbery there would be charges involved with the threatened hostage taking which is a form of kidnapping.

  We wouldn’t see those guys for a long time. The only good to come out of it was the money raised. They had collected a record thirty-five thousand dollars for the women’s shelter they were sponsoring. That made their entire annual budget.

  Denny wanted to know if they could arrange a robbery every year. I think he was kidding.

  After dinner I went back to my history text and started looking at end of chapter suggested readings. I would have to obtain a copy of every book in the bibliography if I was to maintain my current standard of learning. There was no reason to back off just because I wanted to finish high school.

  It was amazing the different viewpoints to be found when you started looking at sources other than the official school text book. It was like someone, somewhere had decided what their take on history was and they were making it the official version.

  Then to cover themselves they added in the bibliography with other text knowing full well few if any would read them. Yet they could claim all facts were presented.

  I had been skeptical about text books since the fifth grade. I will never forget reading in my social studies text book that southern children walked barefoot. This led to hookworms, which in turn was why southerners talked so slow. My neighbor Eugene Wilson was from South Carolina and talked slow as all get out, but he wore shoes.

  Anyway I talked to Mum and she was going to have someone order all the books listed in all of my text. It was getting to the point that before ordering our library shelves should be checked to see if we already had a copy. After thinking about it, she decided we needed a card catalog for our books. I wasn’t the only book collector in the family. She and Dad had bought a lot in the last year.

  I studied until bedtime and called it a night.

  Chapter 16

  I hadn’t ridden George for a while so I took him out on the trails in the park behind our house. It was a pleasant outing. By the time I had finished my exercises, riding and rubbing George down I couldn’t stand myself. The shower was exceptionally refreshing. I was going to have a good day.

  At breakfast everyone was cheerful. We were past Saturday night, other than one tabloid was wondering if my Bulgarian Princess was going to have a boy or girl. What was going on with that? I wasn’t even certain if Bulgaria had a King, much less a Princess.

  It had me curious enough earlier that I checked in the Encyclopedia Americana and found there was a King in exile but gave no information about brothers or sisters of the current Monarch in Exile. Wow, it must be a mouthful to say that all the time.

  Dad changed the subject.

  “Rick I had a phone call yesterday from the membership chair at the Riviera Country Club. He told me that if we applied for a family membership it would be viewed favorably.”

  “I thought there was a waiting list a mile long for places like that.”

  “There is apparently not a wait for Dame Jackson or her son Sir Richard.”

  “They are making an exception because of me and Mum?”

  “Yes, because I asked about having a single membership and I got the runaround. They want your titles.”

  “Have you decided?”

  “We are joining, its good business and tax deductible.”

  Mum said, “The women there must be something else, they better keep their hands off my men.”

  “Oh I doubt any of them would be interested in me.”

  “
Christina would hang out at a place like this.”

  I shuddered, that was one English blonde I would never forget.

  “I will be on my guard.”

  As we were leaving the breakfast table an envelope was delivered. It contained the home inspection report. The house had some major issues. It would need to be completely rewired and no permits had been pulled for the addition. According to the city it had to come down.

  I figured that would kill the deal which was a shame because I loved its location right on the beach water side.

  Dad had a different take.

  “Rick now these items have been found in the inspection they have to be provided to all prospective buyers. Instead of a five hundred thousand dollar property, this is at the most a three hundred thousand dollar house. If they will sell for that you can add another one hundred and fifty thousand or so and have some major work done.”

  “The wiring will have to all be replaced, but instead of getting permits and replacing the one room you could add two bedrooms and a full bath. There is enough room. The property is not wide but it is long, it could be done.”

  “For another fifty thousand you could add an enormous deck. So for the same five hundred thousand dollars you would have a considerably better house.”

  “I wondered what the valuation on that would be after the rework.”

  “Let’s pass it by one of our in house people.”

  “Dad, it sounds like a good deal no matter what, so I would like to make an offer of three hundred and twenty-five thousand.”

  “Why so much?”

  “I have learned its best not to take a deal to the bone.”

  “Whoever taught you that was a wise person.”

  “You did Dad.”

  “Then they were super smart.”

  “Well…”

  “Aren’t you playing golf today at Riviera? You don’t want to miss your tee time.”

  “Yeah I had better get a move on.”

  John Jacobs had moved my golf clubs and gear over to Riviera so I didn’t have to worry about that.