Retreat to Woodhaven (The Hills of Burlington Book 2) Page 15
The next afternoon Mark and Terry sat at Mary's kitchen table. They weren't alone. Crowded around the table with them in addition to Mary were Jake, Casey, Pete and Mary's next door neighbor, Court Gordon. Once the introductions had been made Mary went on to explain that besides being her neighbor, Court was also a distant cousin of some sort on her father's side of the family.
"Court was able to get quite a bit of information that might interest you," she explained. "I called both him and Grace right after Terry explained your concerns. He's lived here all his life and I knew that if anyone had a chance of finding out anything that you might need to know he would. Grace hasn't lived here that long but she talks with people day in and day out at the store. I hoped she might have heard something or knew someone that might have any little bit of information that you could use."
"Was she able to?" Terry noticed the way her husband's eyes slanted as they did whenever he was thinking too hard. And wondered what it was that had set him off now.
"It sounds like it. She didn't go into detail but she should be here any moment."
"Grace who?" Mark asked casually, thinking of the woman he'd seen through a store window months ago at the end of his first visit to this little town.
"Delaney." Mary answered wondering if Mark had already somehow figured out Grace's former place in the political spectrum prior to moving to Burlington. "And that's probably her now," Mary murmured under her breath as she rose to answer the knock at the door. She and Grace had already discussed this. There was no getting around it, she knew it and Grace knew it. And while she knew Grace had some misgivings, if Mark and Terry were going to settle down here, hiding was not an option. In her mind, even if they weren't, it wasn't the best option.
Mary introduced Grace to Mark and Terry, and then to Jake, remembering at the last moment that she'd not be around since his arrival. While Mark stayed silent on Grace's background, her cousin had no such compunction.
"Grace Delaney." Jake said her name as they were introduced, obviously familiar with it and her. "I'm an admirer of what you're able to do with words," he smiled, saw she was nervous and wondered about it. "Especially considering some of those who you had to write them for."
"I'll say," Mark agreed wholeheartedly, nudged his wife back far more gently than the elbow she'd just plowed into his side.
"I'm an even bigger fan," Jake continued without a clue to why his sister was glaring at him. "Especially after I heard almost verbatim from an unnamed source the wording of your resignation letter a couple of years ago." He smiled to those around the table, surprising some with the warmth behind it, something they so rarely saw. "Apparently after covering all her bases and making sure the esteemed congressman knew it, she let him have it and assured him that if her wishes to be left alone and in peace weren't abided she’d share it with the world at large." Jake took a sip of the beer he'd brought along with him, like Mark he found the local brew better than almost anything he'd had in years. "I wonder if you know that you were and remain to this day a hero to just about every poor peon wandering the Halls of our Capitol."
"Amen." Mark said softly. He caught her eye. "People talk," he looked to his wife, then to Casey for confirmation. At their nods he continued. "There were any number of people who suspected that you were being set up to take a hit and any number more who were determined should that happen that it didn't land as the man in question had planned." He shrugged casually at the surprise in her face, "Not everyone in the Beltway is heartless." He ignored Casey's unrepeatable comment on that topic. "It may seem like it, probably looks like it to insiders and outsiders alike, but there are a number who still believe that good prevails and right is the common goal." He looked around the table, knew the woman in question needed the attention on something other than herself. "So, are we going to be able to buy this paper or what?"
Grace somehow found her voice. She knew Court was waiting out of a sense of good manners for her to go first. "Why don't you fill everyone in first, I think what I know is either the same or an extension of what you've learned."
Nodding, Court took a breath. It was convoluted and personal. Not a good mix. He said as much.
"Just tell it like it is, we'll figure it out from there," Jake said easily.
"The paper goes back in this town, way back. It started as a family owned newspaper which it still is and by the same family."
"I can see the convoluted potential already," Mark spoke when Court paused. "Just tell me this much in regards to the personal end of it. Are you part of the family?"
"No. A friend of mine is. Someone I grew up with. Charles Mayne. I talked with him last night. I needed to clear it with him that I could explain some of the more sensitive parts of it to all of you. And quite honestly, I wanted to make sure I had the story right." He took a large gulp of his beer, deciding after this one he needed to switch over to coffee or tea.
"Go on," Mark urged.
"It was established about a hundred years ago by a father and son. The guy that runs it now who wants to sell it is the grandson of the founding son." He looked around the table to make sure everyone was with him then continued. "When the old man died, he left his half equally to his wife and the son." He pulled a sheet from the folder he brought with him. "I brought this with me so that you could see the flow of ownership over time." He passed it to his side and wasn't surprised when Mark stood to stand behind his wife so he could look at it along with her and Jake. "But it turned out that John Mayne, the old man, had another son. Arthur. As luck would have it for his legitimate son, Arthur didn't have any interest in the paper, and from what I know, what everyone in town knows because it's never been a well kept secret, he and his father didn't get along. There was no love lost there and no one was surprised when John Mayne didn't leave Arthur any interest in the paper. But what did surprise everyone at the time, including his other son, Chester, was that the old man left half of it to his wife instead of all of it to Chester."
"Okay, getting an idea where the convoluted and personal comes in," Casey joked.
"Honey, you don't know the half of it yet," Pete teased, looked around the table. "This is the stuff that small towns thrive on. And in this particular case it has always been the gift that just keeps on giving."
Court shook his head while everyone else at the table laughed but didn't disagree with Pete's analysis of the situation. "Anyway, the widow, Angela, Angie to her friends and most say she had to have been an angel to survive in that family, let her son run the paper as he pleased. Was about as silent as a silent partner can be." He pulled out another packet of papers from the folder. "This is the relevant page of her will in regards to the issue." He passed it to Jake.
"Wow!" Was all Terry could say as she skimmed over the document. "I guess this is part of the gift that keeps on giving."
"You would be right. If the old man's Last Will and Testament surprised folks hers brought on a general state of hysteria." Court thought back, remembered some of what he'd heard over the years. "I don't know that she was close to Arthur in any real way but word is she was close to his son even though there was no blood relationship to her. Treated him like a grandson. Edward Mayne. He was a good man."
"You knew him." Jake looked over at him away from his study of the family tree he'd been studying. He could see it in the eyes. He hadn't just known the man...had loved him. Missed him. Even now.
"And he was the father of your friend Charles. Do I have this right?" Casey was looking over the family tree he had outlined.
"Chase. He's always gone by Chase. And yes, Edward was his father. He and Ollie share the same great-grandfather, John Mayne." He took a long gulp of his beer. "Ed was only in his early twenties when Angela Mayne died. He really didn't have any interest in the paper, much the same as his father, so things mostly continued on as they had. He was a very, very silent partner."
"So instead of leaving her half of the newspaper to her own son when she dies, Angie leaves it
equally between him and Arthur instead." Casey looked up from the paper in her hand. "Why do I get the feeling it gets worse?"
"Because it does." Court pulled out another packet of papers, "Chase emailed me all this and I spent some time printing it out since I thought it would make things easier to understand. He passed the papers to Jake who again with Terry sitting next to him and Mark standing behind them, looked over the documents.
Court explained to the others at the table what they were looking at. "About twenty years ago Ed needed money. The how and why aren't relevant. But Ollie lent him what he needed. One of those documents is the signed loan agreement between the two. The other documents are copies of the checks including the back side showing Ollie deposited them and in total they amount to the principal of the loan and the agreed upon interest."
"It looks clean." Jake looked at Court. "What isn't?"
"Ollie claims the loan was never repaid and is trying to sell the paper as the sole owner." He took out the final paper from the folder, passed it on. "That's the communication recently sent by Chase to Ollie stating that he was in the process of obtaining a lawyer and would provide if necessary in a court of law the documentation showing the loan was paid in full and then some and Ollie's claim to his share of the paper is baseless."
"And that would explain maybe why his rep was in a rush to get things finalized." Terry leaned back as she spoke. Looked up at her husband. "That's the little oops I couldn't put my finger on."
"But the sale could be invalidated couldn't it, if your friend won in court even if it was after the sale was finalized?" Mary asked speaking up for the first time.
Jake leaned back in his chair, frustration etched in the lines of his face. "I don't know much about the law but I know this, one way or another if we had bought it unknowingly from a partial owner, it could simply have become a big mess for everyone. Including good ole Ollie."
Casey laid the last of the papers Court had passed around with the rest of them in the center of the table. "So basically, your friend still owns twenty-five percent of the paper and Ollie is claiming otherwise." At his nod, "Does Ollie know that Chase's father kept really good records?"
"He knows Chase has claimed proof that the loan was paid off but doesn't know what that is. Outside of the family we're the only ones who have seen these."
"So what does Chase want to happen now?"
Court looked straight at Mark who stared back. "Chase won't fight the sale of Ollie's seventy-five percent. In fact he welcomes it. For the moment he wants to stay a silent partner and as such he would remain a minority partner as well. That's the way it's always been."
"What's in this for him?" Jake asked bluntly knowing all gifts came with a cost.
"He wants Ollie out. He wants to see the paper become what it could under different owners and management." He smiled wryly but it held no joy. "He suggests that you let Ollie know that you're aware of the situation and because of that you're also conducting negotiations with him as well and expect to be purchasing one hundred percent of the paper when all is said and done."
"Because he thinks Ollie might have second thoughts if he thinks good ole' cousin Chase is going to hold on to his share."
"Because he knows Ollie will have second thoughts about it. I know Ollie too. He's going to have a hard enough time accepting that he can't legally reap the financial rewards for what he would like to believe is his due. In his mind it has always belonged to him and his father before him. One hundred percent."
"Not from what I'm seeing." Jake looked up at his future partner. "We need a lawyer. One we can trust without a hint of doubt."
"Lord knows between Mary and Carrie's brothers, not to mention our own, there's plenty to choose from." Casey sent a look around the table that was filled with amusement.
"Which one?" Mark asked his soon to be business partner.
"I'm thinking."
In the end they decided to go with Mary's younger brother. Casey and Jake unanimously agreed they'd rather not draw any of their brothers into the situation. And while there was some serious thought to asking one of Carrie's brothers, Jake scotched that. With the skating rink deal on the agenda he didn't think having any of his aunt's son's around as Mallie tried out her new adult-sized wings would work for any of them. So by the process of elimination it came down to one of Mary's brothers. It was Mary herself who suggested Dave. And it was also Mary who suggested that Jake make the initial phone call to give him the details, plenty that they were, and see if he would even be interested.
As the house slowly emptied out, Casey waited until Mary was alone in the kitchen before she asked what had been burning in her thoughts. "Are you sure about Dave handling this?" She saw her cousin sigh, "I love Dave, Mary. But..."
"I'm certain," Mary interrupted her gently. "I’m certain that asking him first is the right thing, the best thing for him and the family." She glanced over at her cousin. Understood the concern better than she could guess. "And if it doesn't work out I'm certain between Jake and I we'll deal with it."
"What do you think Jake will think about that?" Casey chewed on her lip before realizing it and slamming her teeth together.
"Jake thinks that giving Dave a shot at this might be just what the doctor ordered." Jake said as he walked into the kitchen. He studied Mary's expression, saw the concern and something more. "You're hoping that once here he'll consider staying...maybe setting up shop in Burlington."
She shrugged. "It wouldn't be a bad thing."
"No. No town can have too many lawyers." Jake watched Mary as he thought about the little he'd heard through the family grapevine. He looked over at his sister who just shrugged her shoulders then turned his attention back to his cousin. "What is it? If you can't tell us who can you?" He teased, not used to seeing this woman worried about anything.
"I just think it would be good for him to be out on his own. Dave's an excellent lawyer when he wants to be. Besides, it wouldn't have to be Burlington." She struggled with the frustration she knew came through in her voice, could hear it herself.
"You think it would be good for him to be out on his own? Or you think he would be better and happier with what he does, and you're right, he does damn well when he chooses, if he were on his own and not part of the family partnership." It wasn't a question and Casey knew Mary well enough to read her like a well read book and saw the answer immediately. "Well, we'll just have to make sure good ole Dave sees all the benefits of small town life."
"Casey," Mary began.
"Don't thank me. Not yet," she tugged the towel away from her cousin. "You've dried that same cup three times now. I don't think it needs it again."
"It's just that the situation is..." she started, looked for a better way to put it. "My brothers simply don't see how..."
"They're obsessively controlling, Mary," Jake put it bluntly. "They've always been. Dave can be that way but he's the youngest of them and that puts him on the bottom of the totem pole at the firm. And that's a tough place to be especially when it's family." Jake swung his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the door where Pete was waiting for Casey. "They'd try to control you if Daniel let them."
She sighed. There had been some mighty battles early on in her marriage. Her Daniel was not one to let her stand in front of him when he wanted that place for himself. That and he dearly loved a good argument and Lord knew her brothers were good for that. "Will you let me know how it goes when you talk with him?"
"You'll be my next phone call after Mark." He winked as he made motions toward his sister walking down the walk with Pete, raising his eyebrows, making her laugh just as he intended. "Lock the door behind me."
"Please. This is Burlington." She shut the door behind him. And once she saw he was on his way down the street she slid the bolt over and hooked the chain lock. Some habits were hard to break no matter where you were.
CHAPTER NINE
Jake hung the phone up. He had
a few more calls on his list to make but all in all it had been a good morning. It would be an even better morning if he wasn't worried because he hadn't heard anything more from Beth. He hadn't thought much of it the night before but with no new emails from her direction this morning he was on the edge of concern and heading straight towards worried.
He decided to give it until that night before emailing her again. The last thing he wanted to do was come off as pushy or overbearing. With that resolved in his head for the moment he picked up the phone again to make one of the several calls he still needed to get through.
Twenty minutes later he sat back. He had one more call to make but was sorely tempted to deliver that news in person. He'd talked to Mark to let him know Dave was interested and had all the information he needed including how to get in touch with Chase Mayne. He'd be in Burlington sometime in the next couple of days so they could move forward with all the paperwork required in buying the newspaper. If the deal went through, he was also willing to handle the partnership agreement between Mark and himself that would now also include Chase Mayne. He'd also talked with Mary as he had promised letting her know that Dave had taken the case and would be calling her presumably to discuss the possibility of staying with her at least during this initial visit. Jake had a strong feeling that it would take more than one to resolve the situation if they really wanted to make this work. And the farther along they got the less he was willing to give up on it. They could start their own newspaper if it came down to that and Mark was agreeable to that scenario if it came right down to it. But this one was set up and already running smoothly for the most part which was a heck of a lot easier than starting from the ground up.
Dave had also agreed to handle the other business partnership it looked like he was going to be part of. He picked up the phone again and called his aunt's number at the Carriage House. He hadn't understood in the beginning why the Carriage House where she and Mallie lived had a separate phone line than the main house where Casey and Carrie lived and worked. In the short time he'd been here he'd come to understand it quickly. It wasn't so much that Carrie kept her mother or niece on a short leash, far from it. But Aunt Charlie and Mallie seemed determined to make sure it never happened and were taking steps every which way they could to prevent it or the temptation of it.