Note: This story is a novel. All characters, places, and time frames are fictitious and any references are strictly coincidental in nature. The author retains all rights to this story.
47. Another Domino Falls
Ann was very pleased that her bouts of morning sickness were now passed and she could concentrate totally on the upcoming festivities of her wedding. Charlie had been an absolute trooper in coordinating everything to this point. The only person she had ever seen that could strike more fear into people was Celeste.
With 10 days remaining, Charlie had the people, who were erecting the three huge tents behind the mansion, running for their lives. He gave them explicit instructions to set the tents up facing east to west, with the rising and setting Sun. He even marked the exact locations of the tents for them, using orange Day-Glo paint. He left to let them do their job, and went into town to check on the caterers. When he returned, two tents were up and they were working on the third tent. There was one problem: They were facing north and south, and Charlie was not happy.
He calmly asked to speak to Mr. Scherb, the owner of the company, to whom he had given the directions, at the beginning of the day.
He was informed that Mr. Scherb had another project he was preparing, and that their supervisor had left for the day.
Charlie said, "Contact either the foreman or Mr. Scherb, and tell either one of them, I am about to burn down their tents, if one of them is not here within 30 minutes. If they wish to know why, tell them "I am unhappy; very, very unhappy."
Steve Scherb showed up, driving his Maserati, 20 minutes later, with smoke coming out of his ears. He drove up on Celeste's manicured lawn, and tore it up, when he skidded to a stop. He was a very big man; 6'5" tall and at least 240 pounds of muscle. He walked up to Charlie and said, "So you are the asshole, who is going to burn down my tents. I am going to drive you into the lawn, like a stake."
Charlie stood there calmly, and said, "You and how many of your men."
Scherb reared back and took a swing at Charlie's head. He missed. Charlie broke Scherb's left leg, with one well-placed kick.
Scherb's screamed in pain, as his men looked on in shock. No one ever dared to talk back to their boss. This man dared him, and then broke his leg.
Charlie looked down at his victim, and asked him, "Do you own that car, or does the bank?"
"Call an ambulance you prick; you broke my leg."
"Answer my question before I break the other one."
"Yes I own the car."
"Is the registration in it?"
"Of course it is you idiot."
"Good, because your signing it over to me. It is my car. I am charging you with assault, and I have all these witnesses. You have destroyed the personal property of Ms. Celeste Mesner. You drove your car onto her lawn and skidded to a stop, thereby destroying it. She is going to sue you for everything you own, and every dime you will ever make for the rest of your life.
You were instructed, by me, to set these tents up East and West, with the rising and setting Sun. I marked their positions on the ground for you. You disobeyed my directions and destroyed more of Miss Mesner's property, by doing so. You will instruct your men to take down these monstrosities, immediately. They will return tomorrow morning and erect them in the positions that are marked. We will not be billed for your services. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Will you call an ambulance for me, now?"
"Crawl over to my car, get me the registration, and sign it. Then I will call you an ambulance."
An ambulance had already been dispatched to Celeste's home, because one of Scherb's men had done it. By having this man crawl to his car, in extreme pain; he was just adding insult, to his injury.
When the police arrived, Charlie gave his statement, and Scherb gave his. Amazingly, they were very close to being identical.
As they were loading Scherb into the ambulance, Charlie reminded him to send him the title to the car, within 48 hours, if he liked his right leg the way it is."
When Scherb asked him if that was a threat, Charlie calmly said, "Until last December, I worked for the FBI, in the Brooklyn drug enforcement unit, and it was amazing how many friends you make all over the country. Drugs can be found in the most amazing places and upon people you would never expect use and sell drugs."
Scherb looked at him in horror. "The title will be sent to you, without delay."
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Scherb. Are the keys still in the car?"
"Yes they are."
"Enjoy your ride to the hospital."
When Charlie arrived home he yelled to Ann, "Babe, I got you a present."
"Charlie, I don't need anything, but what did you buy me?"
"Take a look, I hope you like the color, because I cannot return it."
Ann stepped out of the house, looked at the bright gold Maserati and gasped. "Charlie, that thing costs a fortune."
"I got it at a fire sale."
"It has fire damage?"
"It will take too long to explain what happened. Do you want to take it for a ride?"
"Do you want to eat your doughnuts?"