"The family only moved once in the time since the adoption. They lived in Austin Texas when the girl was adopted. She was five days old, and her adoptive father was a judge at the time. He had to know that he was breaking the law, but we don't need to go there."
"The judge retired at a fairly young age and bought a section of ranch land in southwestern Minnesota, near the city/town of Hanley Falls. He moved his family to the ranch when Tiffany was fourteen years old."
"As things went with the economy he purchased several other ranches and ended up with almost three sections, or just less than eighteen hundred acres. He ran a profitable operation, and was well respected in the community."
"His daughter graduated high school and went to architecture school at the University of Texas in Austin for both her bachelor's degree and her master's degree. When she finished the master's degree she got a job with a pretty nice firm in Denver Colorado. All seemed to be going nicely for the Madison family, until the proverbial shit hit the fan."
"Tiffany's mother was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago. Judge Madison sent her to the best doctors he could find and spent a boatload of money on various treatments. None of which cured the cancer. Carol Madison died six months after the diagnosis. Judge Madison was nearly broke, both financially and apparently emotionally as well."
"It seems T. Rochelle Madison took as much time off as she could, and was hugely supportive of her mother and father. She went back to her job in Denver after her mother passed away, until her father had a heart attack, and then she took a leave of absence to help him with his cardiac rehab, and to run the ranch for him while he healed. She ended up losing her position in Denver."
"Judge Madison did not do well and the medical bills grew to staggering proportions. The judge authorized his daughter to take out a mortgage on the ranch to pay the bills. He passed away last year."
"Tiffany Rochelle was left with a large ranch, with a large debt, and no income to pay it with. It appears she cashed in her parent's life insurance policies and also her own retirement account, and paid off most of the loans. She was about eighty thousand dollars short, and the bank seems to think they can basically steal the property and make a killing on it."
"The foreclosure sale is tomorrow at 1400 (2 PM) on the courthouse steps. It's a very small county seat and I have no idea how big the crowd will be, but there's a better than even chance the ranch will sell for pennies on the dollar of it's worth."
"We've checked her financials, Marsh. She doesn't have anywhere near enough money to keep the ranch."
Rick stopped and let Marsh and Jimmy ponder the situation.
"Rick," Marsh asked. "What is the ranch worth, do we have any idea?"
"I only know what the original loan amount was, Marsh. They borrowed a million three. ($1,300,000.00) Tiffany did herself proud to scrape up all but eighty thousand, especially since she is going to lose it now anyway." Rick sounded quite sympathetic.
"OK." Marsh sighed. "I suspect you guys both know I will not let that happen if I can do anything about it."
"At this point the bank has already gone through the process with the county, and for all practical purposes they own the property already. They just have to go through the motions."
"Dad, I have the money to pay off the mortgage, but the bank is not likely to take a check. I'll need to take a cashier's check or cash. Can I scrape that much together this afternoon? If I was in Hawaii at my resort I could, but do we have back-up funds here at home?"
"Marsh," Jimmy replied with feeling. "We have as much as you need. I'll show you where it is before you need to go in the morning."
"Rick, please keep on digging and see what we have to do. As I think about it, Marsh is actually going to want to leave as soon as he can, so he can read the room, so to speak."
"And Marsh, you should probably take a lawyer with you as well. I know you are a lot better than me at the legal stuff, but you can probably do some things with a lawyer present that they might not want you to do at all without one."
"Thanks Rick!" Marsh exclaimed. I know you'll keep me appraised as you get information you think I need. I better get some airplanes in the air, and get myself out of here. I also better get Trish and Becca up to speed. I'll have hell to pay if I leave them out."
"Hmmmpphh." Jimmy replied. "I'd rather take my chances with a den of angry rattlesnakes than those two if you try to cut them out."
Marsh ended the call with Rick and turned back to Jimmy.
"Jimmy, I'd like to take two hundred fifty thousand dollars cash with me. And I'd like to have a couple million in the Gulfstream for back-up. The mortgage is only eighty thousand, but who knows what some small town clown is likely to do. If Becca stays with the Gulfstream and I have a unit of our best guards standing by outside of it, I don't think anyone is going to try something. Hell dad, no one but you and I will even know what I take."
"I'd like to send a C-130 up there as soon as I can get that blue and gold Excursion loaded up. That will give me some wheels on the ground so I can move around, and see the lay of the land." Marsh had had a company mechanic customize one of the Excursions that were in the carpool. It was now reserved exclusively for Marsh, and had US government plates; authorized by the US Marshal's Service. The back of the truck had been turned into a small armory. . .
The outside of the big SUV looked like any other soccer mom team taxi. The strobes and the blue and red flashing lights were hidden behind other features on the truck. Marsh had had the suspension customized, and there was Kevlar lining in the doors and quarter panels. They had put bullet proof glass all the way around. Marsh wanted all the safety he could buy.
"If I can negotiate something with the bank before the auction it could save some hassle and maybe even some money in the long run."
When Marsh stopped Jimmy responded. "Marsh, I like it all except; I think Becca should wear a disguise, and go with you to the bank and/or the auction. I think you should get up there as soon as you can, and get a hotel. I'll stay at the hotel with Trish, while you and Becca do what you can to bypass the auction. If that doesn't work just plan on bidding what you have to in order to buy the place. If the Madison girl doesn't want to have anything to do with her family, you will just have done your good deed for the week when you give her back the ranch that she really should have anyway."
"I think I'm going to get a couple of C-130s in the air with your Excursion on its way to Marshall, Minnesota. That's the best/closest airport for the Gulfstream up there. I'll have Sam and Dirk take a couple of the C-130s up there with some men onboard. They can take an Excursion or two, in each of them, with room for plenty for muscle to use as needed. Sam will know which pilots are available as co-pilots for both planes."
Jimmy picked up the phone on Marsh's desk and called up to the air base. He gave instructions to Sam, and asked him to set up the pilots for the trip. Then he called the Turner duty officer of the day and explained the personnel he wanted to have on the planes. Finally he called the motor pool and asked them to get four Excursions, including Marsh's, loaded on the C-130s.
While Jimmy was making calls, Marsh went to the door between Becca's and Jimmy's offices. He called Trish and Becca over and gave them a brief rundown of what was in the works. Trish walked up close to Marsh and put her arms around his neck. Looking up into his eyes she purred; "Marshall Mitchel, you are without a doubt the best person I've ever met. I cannot begin to express how glad I am that you came into my life."
"Let's go downstairs and get you some cash." Jimmy said to Marsh when he got off the phone.
Marsh started to walk towards his private elevator, and stopped in mid stride. "Becca," he said. "Why don't you and Sally try to find us some rooms up as close to the destination as we can get. Reserve....ah... about ten rooms for tonight and for the next week, just to cover our asses."
"Trish," Marsh continued. "Why don't you go down and take your car up to the ranch. Get enough clothes for a few days and then take your car up to the base. We can have the load master of one of the C-130s put your car in with one of the Excursions, and then you and Jimmy can drive around the area while Becca and I are trying to do some business."
Marsh gave a hand signal to Wolf, and the big K-9 followed him into the elevator with Jimmy. Jimmy pushed the button to take the elevator down to the second basement level.
When the elevator stopped at the sub-basement level Jimmy pushed the button to open the back door of the elevator. He led Marsh and Wolf into a hallway to the left. They walked about three hundred feet till they came to what looked like the end of the tunnel.
"I probably should have showed you this place sooner." Jimmy told Marsh as he pushed a hidden spring loaded panel on the wall. The small panel opened and there was a keypad behind it. Jimmy asked Marsh to key in his own code, just to make sure it was programmed into the system. The concrete wall at the end of the tunnel slid sideways revealing an additional twenty feet of tunnel. Marsh watched as Jimmy opened another blind panel, and keyed his own code into the system and another six inch thick concrete wall slid open. Marsh noted that there was a half inch thick steel plate on the inside of the wall.
This time as the lights came on Marsh saw a safe room similar to the one at his house on the ranch. It was equipped and furnished quite a bit the same as well.
Jimmy led Marsh into the control room, and over to the side wall where there was a very obvious walk in safe door that Jimmy asked Marsh to open. This safe was very much like the one at the Turner North Shore Resort. There were drawers on the right side, shelves at the back and left side, and as in Hawaii, there was stacks of cash on the shelves on the back wall.
Jimmy took a briefcase off of the shelf on the left side of the safe and set it on a small rolling cart. He put bundles of cash into the briefcase, closed it and picked up another larger, case. Jimmy proceeded to fill three more cases, and then he asked Marsh to carry two of them while he carried the other two cases.
"You've got one case with the two hundred fifty thousand dollars there, Marsh. The other one has a million, and both of mine have one million as well. We'll leave the three million in the Gulfstream unless you need it. I think you already knew about it Marsh but I'll confirm that there is a safe onboard the jet that will hold the briefcases."
"Just so you know," Jimmy continued as he and Marsh walked back to the elevator. Rick called me and said the Madison's ranch was appraised, just four months ago, for two point eight million. ($2,800,000.00) The Madison girl has hit a rough patch, but if you get the ranch back for her, she'll be OK." Jimmy paused for a minute. "Hell son, the girl doesn't know it, but she's my granddaughter. We're gonna do everything in our power to make things right for her. Whereas I already know you don't need it, that's an Order!"
Marsh laughed. "You're right dad. I didn't need your order. The girl is my sister-in-law," Marsh paused then continued, "and technically she's also my step daughter. That's family, and even if she tells me to go to hell, I'm going to give her the best chance I can, to get back on her feet."
When Marsh and Jimmy got back up to Marsh's office Trish had left for the ranch, and Becca and Sally Armstrong had just finished making the hotel reservations. "We took the whole top floor, Marsh, at the Sleep Inn and Suites." Becca said as she walked over to Marsh and wrapped him in a hug. "I know you aren't just doing this for me, but I also know you would do it just for me, and that means a lot, my love.
"Sweetheart," Marsh replied. "I was told just a few minutes ago that I was to help your grandfather's other granddaughter in any and all ways I could. Your grandfather is as deep into this as I am."
"That's what is so great about being a member of this family," Marsh continued. "Everybody helps everybody. And the best part is that Jimmy has worked hard enough, and smart enough, to make it affordable to do what needs to be done."
"And I love you both." Becca said just before she gave Marsh a warm kiss. "Now let's get the hell out of here, and go up to Minnesota. I have a sister to rescue."
Becca flew the Bell 230 off the office building and landed at the ranch in the normal parking spot. Jimmy walked over to his house, and Marsh took Becca down to the bull-pen to get her disguise. They didn't need a lot of time and were in the Gator and on their way up to the house quickly.
Marguarita met them as they walked in through the laundry room. She hugged them both and told them that Trish had already headed up to the airport to get her car loaded in the transport. "Your mother and Michelle went out to the Hole in the Wall to pick up some groceries. I'll tell them where you went."
Marsh and Becca spent very little time packing lightly and were back down at the helicopter in time to see Jimmy putting his things into the luggage compartment. Becca and Marsh's bags were added, and the trio made the short flight up to the airport. Wolf had sensed the urgency in the mood of his human partner and he was keeping up without getting in the way even once.
Trish was waiting in an office in the same hangar that the Gulfstream sat in. Her car had been loaded into the transport aircraft almost immediately when she had arrived at the base. As it turned out, the loadmasters had put two Excursions in each of the C-130J-30 aircraft, with room for Trish's car in one of them, as well. The extra trucks would allow the Turner security personnel to have wheels also. Both C-130s had taken off by the time Marsh, Becca, and Jimmy arrived.
Baggage handlers transferred everything from the helo and into the Gulfstream with the exception of four briefcases that Marsh and Jimmy carried into the plane and secured in the safe. The four family members were in the Gulfstream, with Wolf, in just a few minutes, and the tug pulled the sleek jet out of the hangar.
Marsh went through the pre-start checklist while Becca programmed the flight data into the computer. They talked through the start-up procedure together and received clearance to taxi to the active runway, and clearance to take off, immediately when Marsh requested it. Funny thing how responsive the guys in the tower are when the bosses are in the cockpit of the plane that's requesting clearance.
The flight north to Marshall, MN would be a little less than an hour and a half. Considering it was a short trip, Marsh and Becca were planning to fly at a higher cruise speed than if they were going to a more distant location. There was no particular need to conserve fuel, and there would possibly be an advantage to getting to their destination earlier in the afternoon.
Once airborne Becca called the regional radar control center to activate her flight plan. "Turner Air one this is center. You are cleared to Southwest Minnesota Regional. Please contact Minneapolis Center when you get in range for updated weather information and local traffic."
"Roger center. Turner Air one." Becca replied.
Marsh got up and went into the passenger area of the luxury jet, where he brought up the Turner Communication system, so that he could talk to Rick. "Anything new that I need to know, Rick?" Marsh asked his information guru.
Becca set the cruise control and came back to join Jimmy, Marsh, Trish, and Rick in a discussion of any pertinent facts that Rick and his team had dug up.
One of the things Rick wanted to tell Marsh was that the law firm from Minneapolis, that Turner Global had a relationship with, was sending an attorney down to Granite Falls in the morning, to be available as needed. They had asked Rick if the Turner aircraft could fly up to Minneapolis in the morning to pick up the attorney, and bring her back down to Marshall. Rick had assured them it would be done, and procured the pertinent airport and timing information.
"Marsh," Rick sounded a little hesitant. The Madison girl was evicted from the property last week. She had an auction and sold everything she had. That was part of the money she paid down on the mortgage. I haven't talked to anyone up in that area that knows where she is staying. I know you want to talk to her and ultimately give her the ranch back. You may have a challenge finding her."
Marsh looked at the family members in the plane with him. "We may have to do a bunch of running around, looking for a runaway." He said. "Let's hope someone in town knows where she is staying. My understanding is that she will have to sign some papers after the auction tomorrow, so we know she's supposed to be there at least by then. It would be better if we can talk to her before we buy the place and let her know what's happening. I can imagine she's pretty down in the dumps right about now. She's lost her parents and now the ranch her father worked so hard for."
Becca looked at Marsh and Trish. "And she gave up her good job in Denver to try to help her dad." Becca took Marsh's thought a little further. "Hey mom!" Becca's voice picked up a happier tone. Do you think we could put Tiffany to work for us on the new hotel and conference center? We are paying outside firms for most of the stuff we are building right now. Do you have anyone working on the restaurant on the sixth floor and the big new complex on the back of the property?"
"That's a great idea," Marsh commented. "Where are we on those projects, Trish?"
"Actually Becca," Trish answered. I've just spoken to the guys that are doing the urgent care and the gym/fitness center very briefly about the future expansion. We really haven't gone anywhere at all, on either of the other projects, because they're swamped with what we have given them to do so far. I would really like to have my own daughter working with us. That would be so cool. Marsh, daddy, could we just put her on staff, and create a position for her at the Turner Company?"
Now it was Jimmy's turn. "I think that is a superb idea. Let's see if we can interest her in that. It may be an inroad to get her back into doing what she seems to like. Hell Trish, we can create any kind of position at the Turner Company that we want to create. It's our company."
"You know I like that notion." Marsh quipped. "I think I'll create a Vice President of Massage Therapy. I'll fire the current Executive Vice President, and re-hire her as the VP of Massage Therapy. She can spend all day just giving the management team massages."
"Like hell you will!" Becca barked. "The CEO of this company is the best person we have to fill that position. We can take a vote, and I know there will be no less than two votes already. If we have to bribe grandpa to vote with me and mom, I can think of a couple ways to sway his vote. You're outnumbered Mr. CEO."
"Holy shit Marsh!" Jimmy responded as soon as Becca was finished. "There's not a chance that I'm not going to vote with my girls. You are definitely SOL on this one son."
Marsh smiled as he replied, "Do you want me to start right now, or should I wait till we get this tin can back on terra firma?"
There was a pause before Becca responded. "Come to think of it we're getting pretty close to needing to contact Minneapolis Center. Maybe one or two of us should go up to the cockpit and see if there is anything else we need to take care of. ... You know, like landing this bucket?"
https://nk.pl/grupa/1418242/wpis/53795556/2
http://writeskills.ning.com/profile/LovieWonggu
https://note.com/siqihuyo/n/n59c8d7a9a2a1
https://www.wipplay.com/fr_FR/user/Margiotta/
https://profiles.wordpress.org/margiotta/
https://buddypress.org/members/margiotta/profile/
https://easypropertylistings.com.au/support/users/margiotta/
https://fishsniffer.com/forums/member.php?u=46905
https://www.diigo.com/profile/margiotta1
