Chapter 3 – The Comforts of Home

My intercom buzzed from the front desk, Candace letting me know that Mr. Snyder from the Internal Revenue Service was here asking to speak with me. I said, trying to disguise the shock in my voice, "Send him up."

Frak, I thought, here all ready and I'd just gotten the notice yesterday, not to mention a late night out preventing Urck from making off with our exhibit. Thank God Ty had gotten in contact with the various elders from the Upper Sioux bands who had donated to the exhibit and they were overseeing the restoration, but I was stuck with preparing the accounting department for the audit, sacking and hiring a new security chief, and dealing with the Kendrick request all in the same day. I began to wonder if I could just crawl under a rock and disappear, not going to happen though.

A knock sounded at my door. I quickly straightened my hair and tie, then said, "Come in."

Snyder walked in. A short man, gray hair, a few wrinkles, and huge eyeglasses. He looked like a nebbish, which was confirmed after he greeted me.

With the Vulcan hand salute of piece I greeted my next audit to break the ice.

"I come in piece." I said chortling at my own joke.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Snyder," I replied, "I hope you will find some peace here."

Settling down in the left chair (price $75) in front of Mr. Slagenweit's oak desk (price $1500) and set my brief case down beside me. I prefer my clients at ease, but they always seemed terrified. I never know why. Leather couch and end table ($5267).

"Mr. Slagenweit, may I call you Michael?"

I raised an eyebrow, but not wanting to piss him off, I said, "All right." The little creep was assessing my office, piece by piece, determining the value. Sneaky, little...

The glasses framing his face ($75) hide any eye reactions but I could tell he was tense. Real Ficus Tree in the corner ($30 + labor). Michael, I want you to know I have been reviewing your files, and while overall I found them to be superb, I did find a couple of questions." The victim, I mean customer, white knuckled his pen ($1.50 per 12 pack) as I sat forward. "But before we get to the paperwork, I find that seeing complex operations at work usually answers most of them. It looks like you could use some fresh air. Would you mind showing me around your fine establishment?" I smiled broadly. (Government appraisal value of property and buildings 6.34 million +).

"All right," I replied, I rose from the desk chair ushering the bureaucrat out of my office. We began in the lobby, moving through the lounge and the restaurant. After that, I took him up to see the guest rooms and noted the luxury cottages were also available. I also decided to take him down and show him the gallery, despite the mess which was being cleaned up. Through the resort, I could see him with his notepad, scribbling down prices. Maybe I should offer him a special government discount: room, food, and drinks, on the house.

"I hope that you'll consider staying a couple of days, Mr. Snyder, after your work is finished." I said, as we walked through the exhibits of the Gallery.

He looked at me over the glasses as if I'd just stepped of the train from Mars, to which I realized that he was in full command of this and wasn't about to be patronized.

"Mr. Slagenweit. Should I choose to stay further than afternoon, please be aware of three things," I said looking up at him. "One: Kissing up doesn't help. In fact, it tends to hurt. Two: Should I stay here, it will be fully documented and billed and the paperwork filled. The agency frowns upon its auditors taking anything that could be construed as a kickback. And three: Please relax. I am finding your operations very impressive and several of my questions have already been answered in your favor."

Despite his reassurance, the muscles in my back still remained tense, but my voice carried a note of relief, "Thank you, Mr. Snyder."

After a quick tour of the grounds in the grounds in the golf cart--I thought it wouldn't be prudent to make him walk or run, despite the fact that I could easily--I took him down to meet Kane Damascus in the Accounting Department.

God Bless Kane, I thought when we arrived; he'd gotten all of the physical ledgers together as well as the computer records.

"Ah. This is very thorough Mr. Kane. And I see that they give you a nice office with a view of the Gazebo."

"Indeed," Kane replied, "Mr. Cartwright believed that seeing nature allowed us to work better, a tradition that Mr. Slagenweit has continued in his stead."

"Very pleasant thought." 30 person gazebo $12000, Desktop computer system $450, watching your prey see you appraising their items priceless. "Michael, perhaps you and Mr. Damascus would care to join me for lunch and discuss your future plans for the resort and tell me about the children's home across the water?"

"Very well," I replied. Kane left his staffers in charge and we walked upstairs to the restaurant. The good table was available and I ushered Snyder to his seat, while signaling a waiter, who brought ice water and menus.

"As you know, Mr. Snyder, we just held the first annual Great Wolf Film Festival here a couple of months back and the response has been very good for the business. Many of those who visited us have expressed intent to return next year and also made generous contributions to Timberwolf Teen Home and other charitable organizations we support. We are looking to create new learning opportunities for those students who live here and also bring in some more recreational opportunities as well. As for the resort, you saw our Exhibit in the Gallery and we hope that we may continue that with several more such exhibits as time goes on."

God, I hoped I didn't sound like blabbering idiot, I thought, praying Snyder didn't have the same abilities Ty and I had.

Fascinated by the well thought out plans of the gentleman before me, I sat spellbound through my southwestern salad and sweet potato. It wasn't until the waiter asked us for coffee that I realized I had given the poor man no break. "Michael, your efforts are truly amazing. Given the paperwork, could you please arrange a room for tonight and tomorrow? By that time, I should have gone through and been able to get my questions answered. On a more personal note, do you think I would be able to take one of your paddle boats out?

"Certainly, Mr. Snyder. I will arrange it right away; there are a couple of matters I have to attend to."

"Of course, I have monopolized you for the entire morning. If you need, I could finish up here with Kane?"

"There's a lot we have to go over, any way Mr. Slagenweit." Seeing as I was being kicked out, I bade goodbye to them and headed for the lobby. Candace was working the desk and I told her to set aside one on the suites for Snyder and to have one of the paddleboats reserved for him for the next couple of days. With that accomplished, I headed back up to my office. Another surprise was waiting for me when I arrived.

"Slagenweit, I knew I'd find you out here in the sticks wouldn't I?" Quentin Taylor said, from one of my visitors chairs.

"It's where I like to be," I replied, with a smile, "How have you been, Quentin? Saw your picture in the paper yesterday. Hometown hero and all."

Quentin just smiled a broad smile. Not one to shy away from the spotlight, he loved to be in on the action. "Well if I can bring a little bit of the global village to Mayberry, what can I do?"

"True, true. Always expanding the horizons." I sat down in the visitors chair next to him. "I was planning to call, thinking we might get together for lunch, but alas, I just got done with lunch, so it might have to be a dinner or a drink sometime."

"That's sounds kosher. We need to go hunting to. Catch us some deer."

"You know I wasn't much for it, other than walking in the woods, but sounds like it might be fun."

"Since college, I have been on safaris in African the Steppes and Australian on the reef. You would be amazed at the wildlife, Mike."

"Wow. I got to do a little traveling myself, but it was more business than pleasure. I'm hoping that one of these days I can do it without an agenda, taking my time to enjoy myself a little. Perhaps you can recommend a good travel agent?"

He chuckled. Of course my friend, of course. Hey, why don't you stop over by the manor this weekend?"

"Sure. Sounds like fun. And tell me about this new Wi-Fi project you're working on. It sounded really interesting."

His gray eyes brighten. "Mike, we are talking cutting edge technology. First there was dial up, then there was fiber and now we have the 3rd generation Wi-FI. Businesses that host a micro serve, will be up and running faster and easier than ever and have all their files centrally stored in our mega servers. It will speed up transaction between customer and businesses; you can order a pizza from your PDA and race it home. Court records, civil paperwork, shoot accessing your teacher’s page and downloading the assignment and sending it right back to her with the click of the mouse... WE ARE TALKING ASTRAL!!!"

"Wow," I said, impressed, "With that kind of access you could do almost anything."

"You said it. All those nights we stayed up talking at college about creating the future, we are doing.

"But with all of this access, wouldn't it also be pushing the boundaries of privacy? I mean, people would be putting more of their lives out over the net and someone would be able to access it."

"Bah!" Quentin said with a wave of his hand, the sunlight glancing off his gold cufflinks.

"People should be less concerned with privacy. I mean if you aren't doing anything wrong then why worry?"

"Still, Quentin, if people don't worry, you'd be able to exert a certain amount of control over them."

His face grew pinched. "The masses don't know what’s good for them. People should be grateful that I chose to pick Bluffhaven over those other towns and bring cutting edge technology to this backwater. Shoot Mike, even this place would benefit from what I have to offer."

"I don't disagree with that, Quentin. But some of what you propose makes me nervous."

Again he grinned. "Relax my friend. Would I ever steer you wrong?" Something changed subtly in his demeanor. "When we go on line Friday, it will be a whole new world." With that he stood.

I rose also. "Well, I certainly look forward to seeing what you come up with," I replied, offering my hand.

Quentin took it. Looking at the platinum wristband on his other hand, he remarked "Look at the time. I need to get back to the office and see what my little trolls are up to. See ya out at the Manor Saturday?"

"I'll be there." There was a look in his eyes, something cool; I'd seen it before, but not with this depth.

He turned and walked out of the office. I sat down behind my desk, thinking to get back to business, but the arrival of the IRS and this visit from Quentin had just put me on edge, and I decided I needed a walk. I was just walking into the Lobby when I saw Alicia walk through the front door; she saw the look on my face and knew that I needed to get out. I offered my arm and we headed out together. The sunlight felt warm and a breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees, neither of us said anything, just preferring to be in each other's company.

Jealous eyes watches them walk along the lagoon path. Yes. Soon. Very soon.

I noticed Tobey outside, teaching the Phys-ed class. Boys and girls running about, laughing and having a good time outside Ember Hearth. We waved, to which everybody paused and waved back, smiling.

Once again Mike and Alicia were out and about together. It did my heart good to see love blossoming. It was time for Mike to find someone that loved him as much as he loved those around him.

**THWAPP!!! The beach ball smacked me upside my head.

"Sorry Tobey." The little voice came from Christina. The red headed 8 year old looks upset and near tears wondering if I would be mad.

With a roar and a smile on my face I trotted towards her and swept her off her feet and swung her around. With a peck on the forehead, I let her down and some how a tickle fest and dog pile of the kids with me on the bottom. Gods life was great!

We stopped, laughing at the moment, my gray-sky mood lifting to blue, the IRS and Quentin's remarks forgotten like a leaf on the wind.

"Mike?" Alicia asked innocently. "My parents want to have us over for dinner Friday night." And with that bomb, Mike's face fell.

"I'm not sure, I mean, I'd love to meet your family, but... Well with that letter, I mean, you're sure this won't turn into some kind of... I don't know, business negotiation?"

"BUSINESS NEGOTION?!?!" Alicia said indignantly.

"My parents want to meet the man who is dating their daughter and all you can think is BUSINESS NEGOTIONAT!

"Okay, okay," I said, then after a moment, "I'd love to."

Still not placated she walked along till they came to the beach and she removed her shoes and walked along the water line.

I followed, not trying to say anything for fear of stumbling on my words again. Sometimes, I knew my presence spoke more than my words ever did.

"So what am I going to tell Mother?"

"Tell her, that I would be honored to join your family for dinner on Friday night. No strings attached and I'll even bring the wine."

"That is, if everyone is over 21, in that case I will also provide the pop."

Alicia felt her spirits soar as he flashed that bedeviled grin.

"I’ll call the butler and ask what is being served.” That through Mike for a loop.

"Wait a moment? The butler? I knew that your father was wealthy, but didn't think your family was *that* well off." I said, my eyebrows in my hairline.

"Oh hon. Don't worry we aren't that well off."

I let out a long breath, here I'd been thinking I'd have to have the tuxedo dry cleaned. Alicia smiled at me and something inside just made me snicker. She reached down, scooped up some water and flung it in my face, saying "Cool off!"

"Oh really?" I replied, I did the same and she fell into my arms, the pair of us laughing.

"Really, I mean just three years ago we had to let the staffs go."

"Oh? Hard times?"

She nodded all serious. "Well Daddy thought it would save money if we used one staff for our house that we have here and just take them with us on the yacht, to Geneva, Sydney, Rio, Brist-" by this point Alicia couldn't keep from giggling at Mike's horrified expression as she recounted the houses.

"Holy..." I said, unable to finish my sentence.

Tickling Mike under the chin as she looked up from him, she just smiled broadly. "Honey, we are just like everyone else. Hellraising boys, Tomboy girls, tithes to the church. We just happen to have a Daddy who did very well in business."

"Indeed, he did. I'm impressed and looking forward to meeting everyone."

She could tell that he was putting on a brave face for her and the thought of meeting her family terrified him, but it warmed her heart to see that he would endure for her.

I helped her back to the bank and after she put her shoes back on, we started back for the road. Suck it up; I kept telling myself, this wasn't as bad as it sounds. This is personal, not business, and don't make it into business.

"Can I tell Charles what to make for your dessert?"

"I've always been a fan of Key Lime Pie," I said, smiling, "Haven't had it in a long time."

Looping her right arm through his left, she put her head on his shoulder as they walked contently. "Then Key Lime it shall be." They had walked a minute or two watching the sun begin it's decent when curiosity got the best of him. "Honey?" "mmmm?" "Who's Charles?" He asked with a slightly worried tone. "You don't want to know dear." And on they continued with their walk.

Don't worry about it; I told myself, I've got secrets I'm keeping too. Focus, here and now, and forget what's waiting over there. You'll burn that bridge when you come to it.