Family & Friends Series

Jarv & Todd

By Ron Robbins,
edited by Frank Perry

Part One

Carnabee, Carter, & Darlington Office
Atlanta, Georgia

The three managing partners were seated around a long Danish-modern table in the tastefully decorated conference room. The view through the floor-to ceiling windows of the 45th-floor office revealed the vast city of Atlanta spread out below them. The early morning sun was burning off the light morning haze. It was going to be another beautiful day in Atlanta.

Ed Carnabee, the senior partner, chaired the meeting. Today was also the first Monday of the month and was the day set aside for their planning meeting, when the partners reviewed the existing projects and discussed any new business. Bret Carter, and Todd Darlington, the other two partners, each had a stack of job folders before them, ready to discuss each of their key accounts.

Bret and Todd were considered the top creative executives in the business. They had honed their skills and reputation working for the top advertising agencies on Madison Avenue. They were fierce competitors up to the year they formed their own agency. Ed Carnabee was the man that put the team together. He recognized their talent years ago when they both worked for him at Y&R. When Ed was Executive VP, he tried to coax them back, yet they always turned him down. Never one to give up, Ed finally figured out the perfect solution for the three of them was to form their own agency.

Ed was bored at Y&R and felt that both Bret and Todd were ready for the next step in their career. He reasoned that all three of them were at a point where they wanted complete creative control in their own agency. They had the money and talent and the drive to create the best agency in the business.

Ed approached them with the idea three years ago and laid out his business plan. The rest is history. Today they are one of the top creative agencies in the business and can pick and choose their clients. Ed is the operations man and sees that everything runs smoothly. Bret and Todd brought in the business and managed their key accounts. They are an aggressive team and hard to beat once they go after a new account.

CC&D is a full service advertising agency, yet, Todd enjoyed dabbling into politics. He became bitten by the bug in his freshman year in college and has enjoyed it ever since. He began campaigning in the local elections as an Independent and worked for the candidate he felt strongest about, regardless of the party. He donated his time every year and was a tireless worker for his candidate. It didn't take long to be noticed by the major party's campaign managers. Todd was a dedicated hard-working volunteer. They used his writing talent and his ability for recruiting people to work for his candidate. Todd had a sixth sense at picking the winners. As he moved up in his profession, he used his skills to analyze the mood of the voting public and hired the best campaign managers he could find to help, but in the end, it was his hard work and dedication that helped get his candidate elected.

"Todd," Ed said, "we have a request from the Democratic Committee to help them with three local campaigns. The candidate they're pushing is Grayson Thornton, running for District Attorney. It's not a big race, but it's an important race for the party. The Democrats want to win every race they can against this stronghold of entrenched Republicans. They think they have a good chance with Thornton. Do you want to take this one on? We're talking big bucks down the road. This could snowball into something bigger in the future with the party. There's a lot of untapped business outside the Metro area. If we do a bang-up job getting Grayson Thornton elected, this campaign could lock up any future business with the committee."

"I'll have to interview Mister Thornton first before I give you my answer," Todd said. "If I like the guy I'll take the assignment. Anyway, I need a change of pace from big bad Atlanta. It will be nice to romp in the country for a change. If I take it, I can't take on any other assignments until after November."

Ed passed the folder to Todd, "I don't see any problem. Our business slows down anyway during the summer."

They each gave progress reports on their accounts after which the meeting adjourned. "Our rest period is over, gentlemen," Ed said, "it's back to the firing line. Let's plan to meet again for lunch on Friday."

Todd walked back to his office and began returning the stack of telephone messages his secretary, Beth, had piled on his desk. He quickly sorted through the stack and began returning the most urgent calls first. He had made good progress until his six account executives began filing into his office for their eleven o'clock production meeting.

Each man made his presentation on the accounts they were handling and put forward their plan of action for the week. Todd discussed his new accounts and turned them over to his staff. The meeting broke up by one o'clock and the gang headed out for lunch. Todd had Beth order him a sandwich and coffee. He used the time to read through the Thornton papers and finish up on his calls.

Grayson Thornton was in court when Todd called his office. He left his name and telephone number with Thornton's secretary. Todd was typing a report on his computer when Thornton returned his call.

"Sorry, I missed your call, I was in court all morning. You left a message for me saying that you would like to meet with me to discuss my upcoming campaign? Did you have a day in mind?"

"Are you free for lunch tomorrow in Cranstonville?" Todd asked.

"I make the time, Mister Darlington. The sooner the better." He gave Todd directions to the courthouse. "The drive should take you an hour and a half, at most."

"Super, see you tomorrow," Todd said.

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

Todd had no trouble finding the court house. Cranstonville was a charming old Southern town that served as the county seat. Driving through the brick paved local streets gave one the feeling that time stood still in this quaint town. He pulled over to read the historical marker at the side of the road. The town was settled in the early eighteen hundreds and predated the war between the States by sixty years. The wide tree-lined avenues with the stately antebellum homes were reminiscent of the elegant living of a bygone era. It was a different world and only fifteen minutes from the busy Interstate highway.

Todd figured that the DA drove the speed limits, because he had made the trip in only an hour and five minutes. After parking his BMW in the visitors' parking area in back of the courthouse, he activated the car alarm. Quaint little town or not, he had no intention of having this convertible stolen like the last one.

He useed the back entrance of the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked down the long corridor until he found the office he was seeking. The door was marked in large gold letters District Attorney. He opened the door and walked in. Seated behind a large mahogany desk in the reception room was an attractive young secretary. Todd greeted her and presented his card.

"Mr. Thornton is expecting you, Mr. Darlington, please go right on in; his office is the one with the open door on the right."

Todd thanked her and walked into the D.A.'s office. It was a large room with high ceilings. Two walls were lined with built-in mahogany bookshelves filled with reference books. The other two walls were covered with an unobtrusive wall covering that didn't detract from the oil paintings hanging on each wall. The window treatments were a warm brocade design that matched the sofa and chairs. The overall decor was warm and eye appealing. This was not typical of what you would expect of a county DA's office.

Grayson Thornton was seated at his desk when Todd entered the room. He bounded up from his chair like a quarterback and extended his hand. He was tall and solidly built and towered over Todd. He had a firm handshake and a deep resonate voice. A true cultured Southern gentleman. He looked nothing like the man whose picture appeared in the newspaper clipping. Grayson was a handsome man with thick, light brown hair, dark brown piercing eyes and a warm courteous smile. He was a man you would pick to play the part of a D.A. if you were casting a TV show. Grayson was self-assured with a courtly manner and was impeccably dressed.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Darlington, it was good of you to come. I hope you don't mind if we head directly to my club for lunch," he said as he slipped into his suit coat.

"Please call me Todd."

Grayson smiled, "You can call me Mr. Thornton; it's only proper that you show respect to your elders."

"I've always prided myself in showing the proper respect to the elderly and to my clients, yet you are neither, Mr. Thornton."

"Very diplomatically put, Todd. All kidding aside, please call me Gil." Ten minutes later Gil turned his car onto the drive that led to the main entrance of the country club.

"This place is beautiful," Todd said.

"I agree, this charming old plantation was a private home before my club purchased the property over fifty-years ago. I must say they did a first class job restoring the manor house to its original condition."

A tree lined brick drive lead directly to the stately entrance of this antebellum manor house.

The valet greeted them as he opened Todd's door. They walked into the building as the attendant drove the car to the parking area. The restaurant itself was to the rear of the main reception hall. It was separated from the manor house itself by a short covered corridor that led into a reception lounge. Beyond that was the main dining room. The restaurant was circular and completely enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a view of the golf course that was spectacular.

After they were seated, the waiter came over and took their order.

"Tell me about Gil Thornton and what he stands for," Todd said. "What do you believe, and what makes you better than your opponent? I assume you're not running unopposed."

"That will take some time," Gil said. "I was appointed to this post when my predecessor died of cancer. Prior to taking on this position, I was in private practice. At first I was reluctant to take on this job. But my friends in the Democratic party convinced me that I was the best man for the job. I've held this position for two years now and have found it to be a challenging job.

"I have never regretted that decision and now I would like to run for the office. To keep the job, I must run against my Republican opponent. This is one of the few counties that have been solidly behind the Democratic party since the Civil War, with no opposition from any organized party. Over the years, with the arrival of big business, the Republican party emerged and has found the power base they needed in this county."

"I'm going to need a professional like you to manage my campaign in order to win this election come November. I won't be opposed in the Democratic primary, but I must begin my campaign long before the primary. I'm still the new kid on the block as far as the voters are concerned, even though I was born and raised in this town. I have the financial support I need from the party, but I'm at a loss as to how to run an effective campaign. My family has lived in this town for generations. I was born and raised in this community and attended school here and graduated from Floyd Junior College. From there I went on to Yale, eventually receiving my law degree.

After that, I entered the family law practice. I met and married my wife, Janet, while we were students at Yale. In fact, my son, Scott, was born while I was in my second year at Yale. Our second son, Trace, was born here. Janet was in her senior year at Yale when we met. We were married after she graduated. At that time, I still had another two years to go to finish law school, so we lived in New Haven until I graduated.

"Our storybook marriage changed drastically ten years ago when Janet was involved in a serious car accident. The accident left her paralyzed below the waist, and she has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Unfortunately, her physical condition has deteriorated over the past few years, and there is not much the doctors can do for her. It's up to the physical therapists and Janet."

"Can you think of anything in your personal life that would have a negative impact on your being reelected?" Todd asked. "Also, I would like to know your opinions on abortion, the death penalty, school prayer, gay rights."

"My job is to uphold the laws of this county and prosecute those people that break the law. My own personal feelings cannot interfere with that duty."

"I think you have answered my basic questions," Todd said. "Give me some time to pull some things together and I will get back to you with my suggestions. If I decide to take you on as a client, my firm is in going to need a letter authorizing me to handle your campaign. I will also need a ten-thousand dollar retainer. If you have anything to hide in your personal life, now is the time to come forward. I don't like surprises. I must warn you in advance that we will conduct a thorough investigation on your background before we start. We cannot afford to uncover any alleged scandal once you begin your campaign."

"An election campaign is one of the most stressful, nerve-racking, and demanding tasks that a person must endure. You must understand up front that this campaign is not going to be easy on you, or your family. You will be under pressure from the media at all times. That is something you must consider before you even start. If you're thin skinned, get over it, because political campaigns do get nasty at times. Now, that you know the good stuff, do you still want to go ahead?"

"You certainly paint a grim picture, Todd. I've done a lot of soul searching about this campaign and we have discussed it in detail as a family. They know the downside of this job already and are prepared to support me in my campaign. I must fight for what I believe and I feel that I'm the best man for the job. The letter of agreement and retainer are not a problem, so now the ball is in your court."

"All right, Gil. I'll email you a list of the things I'll need from you. If would be helpful it you could dig up some pictures of you and the family before I leave today. Some of the documents I'll need are a copy of your financial statement and your tax returns for the last three years. That should do it for the for this trip."

"Any information you can dig up on your Republican opposition will be helpful. In the meantime, attend every political function and accept any invitation to speak to the public. Even to presenting the blue ribbons to the local 4-H club. Have one of your family record all the local news broadcasts from now on. I need to get a feel for the local TV coverage in this area."

"If you have the time, Todd, we can run by the house and pickup up the photos," Gil said. "I also have some home videos of the family if you care to borrow a few of them as well. My hobby is photography. I have an extensive library of video tapes and snapshots I've taken of the family over the years."

"I've got the time," Todd said. "This is a pretty area, and I would like to take the guided tour some day."

"My pleasure, let's plan to do that on your next visit."

After lunch, it was just a short drive to the Thornton home. A large sign on the right side of the road announced the approach to the Thornton Plantation turn-off. Gil turned onto the paved road which was completely fenced in on either side. The fields were planted with corn and wheat. The drive seemed to go on for miles. Gil reached an intersection and made a right turn. The paved road ended at a huge black ornamental gate. The gate was inset within an ornamental iron fence that was anchored into a bed of brick and separated every ten feet by sturdy brick columns. The fence ran on as far as the eye could see on either side of the main gate. On the other side of the gate, the road became a red brick and concrete surface that curved off to the left. Beyond the gate was a beautifully landscaped lawn inclining to a knoll where the manor house stood majestically, high above the surrounding countryside.

Todd whistled, "My God, this home is the most perfect example of Georgian architecture I've seen in a long time. It's absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you. The foundation to this house was laid in the early eighteen hundreds and finally completed in 1850. The bricks were all made on the plantation. The white Romanesque columns and double galleries are on the back of the house as well. The marble and fixtures were all imported from Europe and shipped to Savannah; from there by rail and wagon to this location."

"The longest leg of the journey was for the wagon trip from Atlanta to here. That's why it took so long to complete. My ancestors came here from England to farm and raised cattle. They also had a thriving lumber business as well. They were really into anything that made a profit. We have a business manager for the agricultural areas and another manager that runs the other businesses. It's quite a large operation and keeps me busy when I'm not practicing law."

"Janet has been running the operations since I've been the D.A. She keeps tight control on the finances and that sort of thing. My sisters and brother refuse to have anything to do with the business except to sit in on the yearly board meeting every New Year's Day and collect their share of the profits."

"How many in your family?" Todd asked.

"I have an older brother and four sisters," Gil said. "My parents retired some years ago and alternate between their townhouse in Atlanta and their condo on the Gulf in Sarasota. They visit us when the spirt moves them. Usually, they try to visit at least four times a year. Come on in and meet my wife, after that I'll take you on a quick tour of the old place."

Janet was in her office on the second floor working at her computer. "Janet, this is Todd Darlington, the man I've asked to run my campaign."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Darlington," Janet said. "How do you like our little part of the world?"

"Please call me, Todd. I could adapt to this kind of living very quickly. I've been a city dweller most of my life, but after seeing this quaint area maybe it's time to start thinking about buying some land around here."

"What would your wife think of this kind of living?" Janet asked.

"I'm single."

"Well then, you have no excuse," Janet said. "You should invest in property around here. I predict that the price of land is going to taking off very soon. It would be a good investment. I know you will love the area. Take my advice and invest in lakefront property, your money will double in a few years."

Gil found the photos and videos he was searching for and handed them to Todd. Gil said, "Well, honey, we've got to get back to town; I'll see you around five."

Todd stood on the veranda and surveyed the commanding view of the beautiful countryside. He let out a deep breath, "This is quite a sight. You have a beautiful place here, Gil. Imagine, living in a house that your ancestors lived in. Now your sons will follow in your footsteps. I find this fascinating."

"That's true," Gil said. "It's comforting to know that my roots are here. I love this place, but sometimes I feel that I'm nothing more than a caretaker. Sure it's a great old place, yet it's not mine. I own an eighth of this plantation. My son's shares will be divided even more when I'm gone. Sometimes I think I would be happier in my own home and let someone else be responsible for this place."

Todd smiled, "We're all caretakers for that matter. But I would rather be a caretaker in elegant surroundings than be in a new home that has no history at all."

Gil smiled, "This discussion could last all afternoon. We don't have the time now."

They got in the car and headed back into town. "Your wife is still a lovely lady, and she must have been a beauty before the accident. Did we catch her at bad time? She seems so tired."

"That's the way she's been for the last six months. The doctor wants her to rest more often. This all stems from her paralysis." Gill pulled into the parking lot behind the courthouse.

"Well I think I have all I need for now," Todd said, "I'll email that list to you tomorrow. It would speed things along if you could overnight the documents to me, and we can plan on getting started in two weeks." They shook hands and Todd headed off for Atlanta.

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

The following week Todd received a large envelope from Gil containing all the information he requested. His first call was to Armstrong Detective Agency to start a complete investigation on Gil. "Jack, you know the drill," Todd said. "Let's get together for lunch in my office at noon tomorrow to discuss this project."

Todd spent an hour copying the file into his computer. He had Beth assign a job number to Gil's project and gave her a stack of papers to file along with the extra photographs. He took the video tapes and his notebook computer and headed for his apartment.

Todd had purchased his penthouse apartment when the building went condo seven years ago. It was a landmark building on Peachtree Street only a mile from his office. He changed into shorts and Polo shirt and tackled the mail. He poured a glass of wine and took it and the tapes into the den to begin viewing the Thornton videos. They appeared as your all-American middle-class family, clean cut, handsome and wholesome. Todd thought they would come across well on the commercials. He was forming an image and approach to how he was going to present Gil to the public. He scribbled notes on his pad and headed back to the kitchen to prepare his dinner.

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

Two weeks had passed since his trip to the Plantation. Todd completed the two projects he was working on and could now concentrate on Gil's campaign. His only other project was to finalize a proposal for GM. He felt that could be squeezed in at the same time. He needed more time to come up with the right concept for Gil's campaign. Jack was also running late with his field report. It would be another week before the report was completed.

Todd finalized the game plan for the election campaign and emailed it to Gil for his approval. The only negative that Jack's investigation uncovered was Gil's use of call-girl services in Atlanta. Todd didn't feel that was a serious problem, even if the competition did find out. The public would be understanding and forgive Gil's indiscretions when they learned of Janet's condition.

The following week Gil called Todd to accepted his proposal. In addition, he was sending a package by special messenger containing the additional material Todd requested as well as the check for ten-thousand dollars. After receipt of the material Todd held his first meeting with the creative staff that would work on the project with him.

Todd was in the den watching the Thornton videos that evening when George Randolph walked behind his chair and kissed him on the cheek. "Hi, baby," George said, "Whatcha watching?

"I'm doing my homework for a new client," Todd said.

George watched it for a while, "Nice-looking family," he said. "That Thornton is quite a hunk. Is he the guy you were telling me about?"

"Right. I officially started working on the project today." Todd turned off the TV. He stood to embrace George and kissed him. "I've missed you; that's a beautiful tan you're sporting. Did you spend the weekend on your boat?"

"Yes, the weather was perfect for sailing," George said. "We had a great weekend. It would have been perfect it you were with me, baby."

"Oh sure, I don't think Sarah would be too happy sharing you."

"I tried to reach you Friday and Saturday night," George said. "Where were you?"

"I spent the weekend with a real estate agent looking at waterfront property on Lake Altoona. I've always liked that area and thought it would be a good investment. Since it was such a beautiful weekend, I decided to get out of town and spend a day in the country. In fact, I've already bid on a great parcel. My financial consultant thought it would be a smart investment, tax wise. I'll know next week if the sellers accept my offer. It should work out well now that I decided to take on the Thornton campaign. I can charge it off to the company. It will be a great place for us to make out."

"Did you have any place special in mind for dinner tonight?" George asked. "I'm starved; I only had an apple for lunch."

"How about Bones Steak House?" Todd asked. "They have the best steak in town."

"Great, let's do it."

After a satisfying dinner they returned to the penthouse and made love. They were lying together in Todd's king-size bed.

"I'm surprised at your sudden decision to buy a place in the country," George said.

"That's the first time in eight years you made an important decision like that without talking it over with me first. Is there something going on that I should know about?"

"Not really; it was a spur of the moment decision. I was lonely this weekend and decided to take a drive in the country. You were with your family and it seemed like everyone left town for the long holiday weekend."

"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about my life," Todd said, "and I've decided to do something about it. My career is going better than expected, but my personal life sucks. I missed you a lot this weekend and I was looking forward to spending the weekend with you. There I was, the only person in the office last Friday. Naturally, because of the holiday weekend, most of my favorite lunch places were closed. I decided to go home to make my own lunch. It was such a beautiful day, I thought I'd knock off for the rest of the day and drive up to the lake, and find a place to eat lunch along the way. I pulled off the highway and came across this lovely old town that Gil Thornton showed me on my last trip. I stopped at this cozy little country inn for lunch.

It was quaint little place. There were several young couples our age having lunch with their kids. I noticed this one family in particular. They were seated at a table nearby. They reminded me of you and your family. That was the first time I was ever jealous of Sarah. For the first time in my life I really felt alone. That never bothered me before. I thought my career was the most important part of my life, that's why our love affair has been so great. Neither of us wanted an exclusive relationship.

"Now that the business is doing so well, I can afford to take more time off to enjoy myself. I've always dreamed of having a getaway place in the country. One thing for sure, I don't plan to spend them cooped up in this penthouse on my free weekends. I guess I'm going through some mid-life crisis; who knows. I'll be thirty-five next year and I haven't slowed down since I graduated college. Besides which, I'm lonely; I don't have anyone, George. You have a wife and children to share your life with, but I have no one."

"Nothing has changed between us, I still love you, I just would like to see more of you. You're a terrific lover and a good friend. Is it wrong for me to want to spend more time with you? I'm sure my mood will change when the hectic pace picks up again after this campaign is over. But, I've noticed that I've lost some of my competitive edge. I find I have to push myself to come up with creative concepts. My doctor said I need a long vacation and a change of scenery. So, I've made the decision to take the next three months off and become a hermit. If the deal on The Moorings works out, I plan to do nothing but read, paint and relax. If the real estate deal falls through, I'll rent a place on the water."

"That's why, when I saw that real estate sign advertising lake front property, I had to stop to see what kind of property was available for rental. No way will I commute to Atlanta every day when I take on the DA's election campaign. After filling out the agent's questioner, she showed me pictures of three listings, and mentioned a forth listing that they received two days before. The first three were okay, but really nothing that turned me on. The forth listing was The Moorings. That was another story. I knew the minute I drove through the gate, that this was the property I wanted. It was the ideal setting with all the amenities."

"I also thought it would make the ideal love nest where we could spend time together."

"This is the first time you've felt this way, baby, and it's scary," George replied. "I don't want to lose you, Todd. I hope to God this is just a passing phase you're going through."

"Why the long face, George, surly you're not really that concerned about me buying a house in the country; what's really bothering you?"

"Christ, you know me too well. Now you make me feel like a heel to even bring this up. I'm going to have to cancel our vacation plans for next month. Sarah's folks will be flying in to spend Memorial Day weekend with us. This has turned into a family reunion. I'm really sorry, but there is no way I can get away."

"I'm really disappointed, George. I was looking forward to spending a whole week with you. You're going to owe me big time. You better be prepared to spend a four-day weekend together after your in-laws leave."

George squeezed him tightly and kissed him. "You got it, baby, I promise. Now, I need to shower and be on my way home," George said as he headed for the bathroom.

Todd grabbed his robe and returned to the den to finish watching the Thornton tapes. George was back twenty minutes later, dressed and ready to head home. He kissed Todd goodnight and left.

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

The real estate agent called Todd on Monday afternoon to let him know that the sellers had accepted his offer. The agent told him the owners were leaving for the West Coast in three weeks and wanted to know if Todd could be ready to close the deal by then. Todd agreed, providing his lawyer okayed the contract. As soon as he received the signed contract, he would meet with his lawyer.

Todd placed a call to Gil at home. "Hi, Gil, I'm purchasing place on Lake Altoona and wanted to know if you could take a look over the contract before I sign it this weekend?"

 "I'll be happy to," Gil said. "Let's schedule it for Friday afternoon."

 "Thanks, I set it up with the real estate agent right now."

"Good, see if you can make it for two o'clock on Friday afternoon. That will give us plenty of time to poke around and read over the contract. If you're free for the weekend, I would like you to be our guest. We can talk about your new place and it will give you a chance to get to know me and my family."

"Thanks, I really appreciate this Gil; be back to you tomorrow to confirm everything."

"Why don't we meet at the court house and we can drive over to the real estate office?"

"That's fine," Gil said.

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

Todd parked his car behind the Court House and took the back stairs up to Gil's office.

Dotty, Gil's cute secretary, looked up from her computer as Todd walked in.

"It's nice to see you again, Mr. Darlington," Dotty said, "Mr. Thornton is expecting you, he told me to send you on in when you arrived."

As Todd entered, Gil said, "Hi, Todd, don't sit down, let's get out of here before someone finds me."

They drove to the realty office to pick up the keys and the electronic gate opener.

Ten minutes later they drove through the gate of The Moorings. Todd followed the road that led to a circular drive and around the back of the house to the parking area. The drive continued on around the house and out to the front again. The four car garage sat to the rear of the parking area. They took the flagstone walk around to the front entrance.

The house was a large, modern two-story, split-level home that faced the lake. The structure was built into the side of the hill. You entered into a large glass walled foyer, which was the first floor. Immediately to the left was a circular staircase that led to the upper level. To the right was another circular staircase that led to the lower level. The entire front of the house was constructed of one-way tinted glass. The first floor consisted of a living room, dining room, den, library, powder room, a full size eat-in kitchen and a morning room with sliding glass doors that opened onto a large tiled patio.

The second floor consisted of four bedrooms, two spacious master bedroom suites, and two other large bedrooms. Each had ensuite baths.

The ground-floor level contained a spacious family room with a small efficiency kitchen, a fireplace with gas logs, a built-in king-size Murphy bed, and a shower bathroom with a door that led to a large open patio. This level also housed the utility room, laundry/storage room, and two small bedrooms with baths. The family room faced the lake with sliding glass doors that led out to the large patio complete with patio furniture. There were cushions stored in a locker next to a second outdoor efficiency kitchen.

A wide brick path led down to a guest house and a recreation building. The area included a screen enclosed swimming pool and tennis court. Next to the swimming pool was a combination cabana and boat house. The property was tastefully landscaped. The surrounding area was planted with ground cover that stayed green year round. Wildflowers and shrubs were added to the little cluster of planter islands that doted the grounds.

"This place is great," Gil said. "It's like something right out of American Homes and Gardens. What's in the boat house?"

"There should be three boats," Todd said. "A 28-foot cabin cruiser, an inboard speed boat for water skiing and a two-man fishing boat. Want to take a look?"

"You bet."

Todd opened the door. Sure enough, three boats were sitting above the water in their slings.

"They look new," Gil said, "not a scratch on them. Scott would go out of his mind to get his hands on one of these beauties; so would I, for that matter. I sold our cabin cruiser a few years ago. It was a hassle to get Janet on board after her accident. The boys were too young at the time to really enjoy the boat."

"According to the agent, the two power boats are a year old and were only used last season. The fishing boat is three years old. The seller has a contract with a local marina to service the boats. This building has the latest, state-of-the-art alarm system. Even if you managed somehow to get in the building you could never get the boats out without opening those steel doors which are controlled from the house. In fact this entire property is protected by a sophisticated alarm system."

"Let's go back to the house and take a look at that contract of yours," Gil said.

They walk through of the house once again and checked off each item on the Schedule.

"Well that's everything," Gil said. "The contract is very straight forward. You do realize you walked into a sweetheart deal, Todd? This place is a steal at $500,000. Be prepared for a large tax increase next year. They are going to sock it to you."

"My financial adviser thinks it's a good investment. I can write a portion of this place off while I'm working on your campaign since I plan to make this as my base of operations."

"Do you play tennis?" Todd asked.

"I try to play three times a week. Are you looking for a partner?"

"Yes, I am, as a matter of fact. It's been a while since I've played; I'm a bit rusty and need a lot of practice."

"I'll be happy to play with you, just give me a call when you settle in."

"I'm taking a leave of absence after this deal is closed. My doctor wants me to take a break and recharge my batteries. So, I'll be living up here and working on your re-election campaign. I'm going to be your shadow on and off for the next several months. Do you mind if I discuss a personal matter with you?"

"Go ahead," Gil said, "if it's too personal, I'll let you know."

"My detective agency learned that you are using a call-girl service in Atlanta. This could become a slight problem if it ever gets out. I suggest you forget about the service until after the election. If you feel you need to get your rocks off, I suggest you fly to another city on the East Coast. Also, never use the hotel you're registered in to entertain the ladies of the evening. Rent a motel room under an assumed name. Again, never park your own car, or a car that can be traced to you. Always pay by cash, never credit cards. What you do after the election is your own business, but on my watch you're going to be an eagle scout."

Gil smiled, "I'll stop completely."

"I hope you're not going to get testy with me later on for depriving you of your bit of fluff?"

Gil laughed, "Who knows, maybe I will. But, I have the feeling you have a tough hide and can deal with testy people."

"I fight to win, Gil, and if you follow my advice you will win. From now on, we're going to work on your speeches and your delivery for every occasion. I've brought a list of questions I want you to study and we'll talk about them tomorrow."

"Can you handle the closing for me next week?" Todd asked.

"I told you I would; we'll use the real estate office for the closing," Gil said.

"Let's get back there now and make sure we have all the papers we'll need for the closing. I'll have all the paperwork pushed through the county for you. You realize this is going to cost you big, don't you?"

"I'm sure it will. All kidding aside, I want you to send me a bill for your services. I don't expect you to work for nothing."

"Common, let's move it," Gil said "The cocktail hour is almost upon us."

They sat with the agent for an hour and filled out the necessary papers for the closing.

The survey engineer's report and the insurance policies were at hand. Satisfied that everything was in order, they left to return to the court house to pick up Gil's car and head for the Thornton Plantation.

Gil and Todd played a game of tennis on Saturday morning and spent the rest of the time going over the speech material. Todd coached Gil on how to conduct himself at a press interview.

They sat on the front porch to have their after dinner drink. "There is a lot more to running a campaign than I imagined, Gil said. "I've learned a lot from you in these last few days. I appreciate you giving up your weekend."

"This has been a relaxing weekend for me, Gil, the best I've had in some time. I'm so used to working on the weekend that I've forgotten how to relax. You have a delightful family, but that was obvious from the video tapes. It is so peaceful here and the air smells so fresh. I'm convinced more than ever that I made the right choice in buying The Moorings."

♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦

Todd had the marina people service the boats and instruct him how to operate all three.

He then hired a full time male housekeeper and a grounds keeper to take care of everything outside the house.

George and Todd finally spent their weekend together. It was like a second honeymoon for them. George went wild over the place and asked Todd if he could bring Sarah and the kids on his next visit. Todd arranged two lawn parties to kick off Gil's campaign. He invited his staff from Atlanta to his Open House party. He also included his neighbors and the local movers and shakers. By the second month, the campaign team was working like a well-oiled machine. Scott, Trace, and Gil became regulars at The Moorings. They were fine boys and Todd enjoyed their company. Sometimes they would drop by with their dates to use the pool or the boat for some water skiing. Todd encouraged them to bring their friends around and make themselves at home. Todd enjoyed having young people around, and the fact was that he needed young volunteers to help with Gil's election campaign. He used the boys to help organize several Father and Son barbecues to recruit even more volunteers for the campaign. Todd found his neighbors to be warm and friendly people.

By the 4th of July weekend, Todd pulled out all the stops. He hired a pyrotechnic professional from Atlanta to handle a fireworks display. His family flew in for the occasion as well. He hired one of the Blue Grass Country groups for entertainment. The house and grounds were tastefully decorated for the occasion. The party started Saturday afternoon and continued on until after the firework display late in the evening. The Democratic Party footed the bill and everyone had a good time. Todd was in his element, he was doing the things he liked most, making things happen.

Gil's campaign was taking shape and he was uncontested in the primary. The Republican Party was spending big bucks on their candidate and he was making some gains.

Todd's strategy was to keep the pressure on his people and not act over confident. He wanted the Republicans to think that they had a fair chance of winning. He had the Armstrong agency dig up some explosive information on Gil's opponent to make sure that Gil was not sandbagged before November's election.

Todd had always admired Janet Thornton. In spite of her accident she still was an attractive woman. Todd enjoyed her company and received her permission to paint her portrait.

It was during the sittings that he got to know the real Janet. He admired her courage and dogged determination to fight back. By the time the portrait was finished they became good friends.

He encouraged Gil to use the unveiling as an excuse to have a cocktail party in Janet's honor. This was to be a party for the family and friends. The night before the party Todd hung the portrait over the mantel in the drawing room and draped for the unveiling. Up to this point no one had seen the painting. At the appointed hour for the cover to be removed from painting, Gil made a little speech and pulled the cord that released the silk cloth covering the painting.

It seemed as if everyone in the room gasped at once. The room was so quite you could hear a pin drop. Staring down with that warm smile on her face was the full length portrait of a Janet seated in Louis XIV gilt chair, dressed in a beautiful off-white, brocaded, full length gown.

She looked absolutely beautiful. She was wearing an exquisite ruby neckless with matching drop earings. There was spontaneous applause after a few seconds. Most of the guests remembered Janet the way she appeared in the portrait. One by one the guests went over to Todd and complimented him on his work. Gil wheeled Janet over to where he was standing. She had a radiant smile on her face, "Thank you, Todd; you have immortalized me on canvas. Words fail me right now, all I can say is that you are a very talented artist and a dear friend."

Trace and Scott were the last to approach Todd, "We've never seen my mother so happy," Scott said. "Thank you for this generous gift." He hugged Todd and walked away. Trace did the same.

Todd turned and walked out the French door onto the patio. He was pleased that Janet and the family liked his work. He was happy he had captured Janet's inner beauty and grace on that canvas. He walked around the garden for a while and finally returned to the drawing room.

Many of the guests were leaving. Gil was in the entrance hall saying goodbye to his guests. Todd joined the throng of departing guests to said goodnight.

"How about a game of tennis tomorrow morning?" Gil asked.

"Great; if you get there by seven, I'll feed you breakfast."

"I'll be there," Gil said.

After Todd returned home, he fixed himself a chef's salad for dinner. He saw Gil's latest TV spot during a station break and smiled. 'Gil will win this one, the only question is, by how many votes?' The polls showed that he was leading his opponent more each day. He called George's service and left a message. He took a chance and called Sarah. She said that George was not expected home until later. His last call was to his answering machine at his penthouse in Atlanta to check his messages. Unfortunately the machine was not working again. "Darn," Todd said aloud, "now I'm going to have to waste three hours making the round trip into Atlanta to check this out. This is starting to become tiring. That's it. I'm call forwarding all my calls to The Moorings." He made good time driving into Atlanta. The traffic was light. He parked the car in the underground garage and rode the elevator to the lobby to speak to Fred, the doorman. He found Fred in his glassed in booth in the lobby.

"Hi, Mr. Darlington, you just missed Mr. Randolph, and his brother. They left about ten minutes ago," Fred said.

"Thanks, Fred, I'll catch them the next time. Has Mr. Randolph been keeping an eye on the place since I've been gone?"

"Yes sir, they've dropped by quite a number of times since you've been up at the Lake."

"I came by to drop off this order to let the carpet cleaners in to the apartment next week. My housekeeper should be here to let them in, if not, will you let them in, please?" He tipped Fred twenty dollars and took the elevator to the penthouse.

'George is a real bastard,' Todd thought, 'how could he cheat on me like this? It's obvious now why he hasn't returned my calls. He's found himself a new playmate while I've been away. Christ, that means I'm going to have to take a blood test tonight.'

He called his doctor and made arrangements to stop by Strathmore Laboratories for the test. He checked the answering machine and saw that it was turned off. George forgot to turn it back on. He copied the messages and programed the telephone to forward his calls to The Moorings. After checking the apartment carefully, he found that the shower and the sink were still wet. He walked into his bedroom and pulled back the bed spread. Sure enough, the bed linens were soiled.

He removed the soiled sheets and took them to the utility room. He changed the combination codes on the doors and the alarm system and made a call to his housekeeper and the security company with the new code numbers.

He made the return trip back to Lake Altoona by eleven o'clock. The light on the answering machine was blinking, so he listened to his messages. The third one was from George. "Sorry I missed you. I'm leaving early tomorrow morning and will call when I get back in town. If you're free next weekend, maybe the kids and I can spend the weekend with you?" Todd returned the urgent calls and left the rest for tomorrow. He took a tranquilizer and went to bed.

♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦
Goto - Part 2
fpperryaz@gmail.com
♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦