The Richard Jackson Saga: Book 11: Interesting Times

by Ed Nelson

  One evening at dinner time at Jackson House a phone call came in. A new kitchen maid grabbed the phone and answered it. She said something rude and hung up.

  “What was that Rosa?”

  “It was a prank call, someone claiming to be the Empress of China.”

  The phone rang again. I pushed Rosa aside in my haste to answer it.

  “Jackson House.”

  “Lord Blackhoof I’m glad to get you, I think my aide dialed a wrong number before.”

  I threw the aide to the wolves.

  “I’m sorry to hear that Empress Ping, now that you have me how may I help China?”

  “You must be aware of our recent unpleasantness. It was very costly in weapons, munitions, and other infrastructure. Are you in a position to expand our letter of credit?”

  “I thought that might be needed so I have already instructed my staff to shift funds around so we can do another one hundred million dollars. This time though I will need to be repaid.”

  “We can do that. We will ship gold to England. Our loan will only be for a brief time, it’s just that we need hard currency immediately.”

  “We can do that; I will make phone calls and arrange for the letter of credit to The Bank of China tomorrow. Also, we need to look at how we can establish the yuan as a hard currency.”

  “I will talk to my advisors, Chairman Deng and others, if you would do the same it will be appreciated.”

  “I will. Is there anything else?”

  “Not at this time.”

  I hung up the phone and turned to a stunned-looking Rosa.

  “We receive some very important phone calls, treat them all seriously and I or my parents will decide if they are prank calls.”

  Dad spoke up, “Rick did you just loan the Chinese another hundred million?”

  “Yes, sir, I knew this would be coming after the fighting broke out.”

  Mum chimed in, “You need to let the Queen know what you have done, and I suppose those Kennedys.”

  Bobby had made a not so indirect threat to our family. He was treading on thin ice with Mum.

  It was seven o’clock in the evening, so I waited until the morning to place my calls. I hope if I called early enough my news would beat the morning briefings.

  I called the White House first as that was the place that would be the most upset by my action. They would probably be upset by any action I took.

  I managed to get through to Ken O’Donnell. He took my news well. I suggested that the White House issued a press release saying that they had approved a major loan to China from a private citizen. That way they would get some credit and none of the risk.

  That seemed like a good idea to him, and he would talk it over with his boss.

  Next was Mr. Norman. He wondered how much I could afford to give. I told him that I had that much cash on hand in various accounts. That if I had to liquidate Jackson Enterprises it would be approaching a billion dollars.

  Once he wrapped his head around that number he asked if he could borrow a measly ten thousand pounds or so.

  “Certainly, Mr. Norman. How shall I make out the cheque?”

  “I was just teasing Richard.”

  “Oh, I never know these days.”

  “That doesn’t make things easy, does it, lad?”

  “No, sir it doesn’t. I never know who a friend is or just out for money. I tend to keep my distance from people unless I know them. That is not healthy.”

  “No, it isn’t, I wish I had an answer for you.”

  “I don’t think there is an answer. I have found just because someone is rich doesn’t guarantee they won’t be after my money. I have more luck being friendly with middle-class people. Maybe because I was there not that long ago and know how to talk to them.

  “There is something to be said for that, but at the same time, how can they relate to what you face on a routine basis? I could see you at the soda fountain with your friends, “I was talking to the Queen the other day.”

  They wouldn’t begin to understand.

  “I have another situation I would like your advice on.”

  “What is that?”

  “I need to get a group working on how to make the Chinese yuan a hard currency.”

  “You don’t take on little projects, do you?”

  “It has to be done if nothing else to protect my investments.”

  “The London School of Economics would be your best place to take that problem. I will have some calls made to see how to proceed.”

  “I would appreciate that, if needed I will fly over.”

  “I would plan on it if I were you, if for no reason other than that you haven’t robbed any dogs for the Queen recently.”

  As a joke, it was getting old, but it did hold some truth. I had to be seen doing something for the Queen or the press would be complaining that my job was a meaningless one given as a favor.

  I then called Hastings Aviation to put them on notice that I would have to fly from LA to London and back shortly. They told me the plane should be free for the next week or so because Lady Nina had told them she had no work for the next two weeks.

  When had she become Lady Nina, and whose aircraft was it anyway? I did ask about the Lady bit and was told that they just assumed we were going to get married and that she would then be a Lady, by marriage.

  What do you say to that?

  After all my calls I rode George over to the Forestry Service station to practice my golf. Somewhere along the way, the fun had dimmed. I was glad that I wasn’t doing this as a career.

  In the middle of a scene on set, I realized that this too was becoming tiresome. It wasn’t what I wanted in life. What did I want to do?

  I wasn’t about to walk away from either the golf or the movie. That wasn’t my style. If I could win the grand slam that would be the end of tournament golf for me. I would play rounds for fun but that was it.

  As far as movies went, we would see. It would have to be a demanding role rather than another B-level money-making effort. Maybe I could direct a movie, that might be fun. No one in their right mind would hire me to do it without any experience however I could fund my projects.

  When I got home from the set and before dinner, I received a phone call, Rosa answered the phone, she nonchalantly handed me the phone and told me that it is Buckingham Palace for you.

  She learned quickly.

  As expected, it was Mr. Norman. He had talked to the Chancellor at the London School of Economics and they would like a meeting on my project. Would the day after tomorrow work?

  It would, I would have to let the studio know I wouldn’t be available. I needed to let Sam and John know I wouldn’t be here to practice. George would just have to figure it out himself.

  Chapter 23

  I called Hastings Aviation and confirmed my flight to England for the next day. The aircraft would have to be moved here tonight. Next, I let Mr. Norman know when I would be flying over, and could he please set up meetings after that.

  He reminded me that today was Thursday and that I would get there on Friday, so Monday would be the earliest that a meeting could occur. I hadn’t paid attention to what day of the week it was. When you don’t have a real schedule, it is easy to lose track.

  Since I would have the weekend free, I called Nina to see if she wanted to come to England or me to Switzerland. For some reason, she was evasive saying she had things to do and couldn’t breakaway.

  I agreed not to come over, but after I hung up, I wondered what was going on.

  Riding over to the Forestry Service, I told George I wouldn’t be around for the next few days. He didn’t act disappointed, so I guessed it was okay with him. Hey, I can talk to my horse if I want to. Now, if he answers me, I’m in trouble. Mr. Ed aside horses, don’t talk. Mules might, but not horses.

  Sam and John were both at the range, so I informed them of my plans, without going into why I was going to England. Not that I didn’t trust them, there wasn’t a reason to tel
l them.

  Sam told me, “Good, that will give the greens a rest. They could use a couple of days without you tramping all over them.”

  I wasn’t certain if he was serious or pulling my leg so just nodded.

  John asked, “Do you have time to see the Troon course in Scotland where the British Open will be played this year?”

  “I don’t think so, John, I have to get back here right after my meeting to work on the movie. They won’t be happy that I will be missing a couple of days shooting.”

  “I bet; it would be okay if you were doing something big like helping that mess in China.”

  “Yeah, it would.”

  I was correct in thinking that the studio wouldn’t be happy with me being gone for a couple of days.

  I finally had to take Mr. Monroe and Mr. Wayne aside and explain why I was going. They understood why I had to do it; it didn’t mean they had to like it.

  “Rick, you have too many irons in the fire, one of these days you are going to have to decide what you want to do and stick to it.”

  “John, I agree, I have been wrestling with that for a while now. One thing I know this will be the last B-movie I make. I don’t need the money and it takes a lot of my time. I enjoy the company, don’t get me wrong, but this isn’t what I need to do in life.”

  “Are you going to turn professional as a golfer?”

  “No, this is my last year of tournament golf, no matter how it turns out. I’m done. I will only play for fun.”

  “Then what do you see yourself doing?”

  “I don’t know, but projects like China are giving me more satisfaction now than either golf or movies.”

  Mr. Monroe spoke up, “I hope you aren’t upset with Nina right now.”

  “Why should I be upset?”

  “She told me she can’t see you this weekend.”

  “I don’t see that is a problem; We both have lives to live.”

  From the look on his face, I could tell there was something he wasn’t telling me.

  I decided I would talk to my inside person, Mary. She knew all the gossip about the models.

  I left the studio and returned home. Mary was out of school, so I cornered her.

  “Mary, how are you doing?”

  “Fine, and what do you want?”

  Suspicious little kid.

  “Nothing just paying attention to my favorite sister.”

  “I’m your only sister, I figured that out when I was three.”

  “You have got me. Any good gossip about the models?”

  “I knew it, you have heard about Nina.”

  I hadn’t heard anything about Nina, but my little sister had just spilled the beans.

  “Sure, short stuff I heard all about it, what do you know?”

  “Well, she has only been on two dates with him so far.”

  “I don’t know his name, do you?”

  “I don’t know his real name; all the girls call him Prince McDreamy.”

  “Thanks, Mary, you are the best sister I could ask for.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

  “That’s okay, I found out anyway.”

  She got a funny look on her face and her hands flew up to cover it.

  “You didn’t know, did you!”

  “Not for certain, until you told me.”

  “I’m so embarrassed, Mum told me that this was something you had to work out and handle by yourself.”

  So much for family support. Though Mum was right, this was my problem to sort out.

  The next morning, I flew to London. I directly asked the Head Stewardess if Nina had anyone accompany her on her flights for modeling.

  “Some of the other models and that Prince guy. He was a pain, acted as though he was owed all the service in the world.”

  “Did he try anything with any of the girls?”

  “He and Nina seemed close, but I never saw anything untoward.”

  “Let me blunt. Was the bed ever used?”

  “No, we always change the sheets after a trip, and I can tell you no one used them.”

  “Thank you, that’s what I wanted to know.

  We arrived at the Oxford airfield on time. During the whole trip, I kept thinking of things that could be going on. There was no way that she would be seeing another guy. I kept denying the possibility, but black thoughts kept running through my mind.

  We had arrived early Saturday morning. I went to the Meadows to say hello to Grand Mum, she and Elizabeth, the Queen Mum, were having an early cup of tea.

  They were going to spend the morning at the Roman digs. I joined them to catch up on what was going on. It turned out not a lot, as the weather had not cooperated and even though everything was tent-covered it was a muddy mess.

  I excused myself and returned to the house for a nap. Even though I had used the bed on the way over I hadn’t slept well. Nina kept going through my mind. What was going on with her?

  At two in the afternoon, I returned to the Oxford airfield and filed a flight plan for Zurich using my Cessna. By the time I had a fuel stop in France along with dinner, I arrived in Zurich at about eleven o’clock local time.

  I hired a cab for the ride to Nina’s. I wasn’t going to mess around. I wanted to know if we were still a couple.

  As the cab pulled up in front of her apartment a Ferrari cut the cab off and came to a sliding stop. It had British tags; it was mine. Nina got out of the passenger side and a guy out of the driver's side.

  He wasn’t much taller than Nina and lightly built. I could break him in half. He left the engine running and got out and went to her. She grabbed him and got him into a liplock.

  That gave me all the answers I needed. I told the cab driver to wait. Then I went over to the Ferrari while the two were still going at it. I got into the car and buckled up the five-point harness that I had installed.

  I then stepped on the gas and after fifty feet ran the car into a stone pillar.

  Getting out I heard the guy yell, “Hey you jerk what do you think you are doing with my car.”

  Nina didn’t say anything she just ran for the door to her apartment. I got back into the cab and asked to be taken to the airport.

  The driver never said a word.

  Back at the airport, I called the Zurich police.

  “This is Lord Blackhoof. I wrecked my Ferrari tonight. There were no injuries, and the only damage was to the car. I will be responsible for any charges.”

  Of course, they wanted me to come down to the station and file a report. I told them that wasn’t possible as I had to leave for London.

  I flew back to Oxford arriving at daybreak. I stopped by Hastings Aviation, which was in the process of opening. I informed them that Nina Monroe no longer had flight privileges on the 707.

  I drove the estate Bentley back to the Meadows and went to bed. When I woke in time for lunch Mr. Hamilton had a stack of phone calls for me. They were all from Nina.

  “I won’t be accepting any calls from her, please inform her of that the next time she calls.”

  I was numb inside, I wasn’t mad, yet. I had a feeling that there was great anger in me ready to break loose.

  Chapter 24

  I had no direction for my anger. That guy, Nina, the world, myself? Instead, I went for a long walk around the property. I thought about horseback riding but decided I might end up hurting the poor horse.

  I carried a stick in case of a snake, not that I had ever seen one. I did beat up on a lot of innocent plants. I could have cut a path through the thickest jungle.

  I kept replaying the scene with that Prince whatever and Nina in my mind. It wasn’t very adult to wreck my car, but it was satisfying at the time.

  That reminded me I needed to notify my office in London and have them retrieve the car and sell it as is. It had been nothing but trouble since day one.

  I must have walked twenty miles or more that day. I was exhausted by the time I got back to the house. There was another stack o
f notes of phone calls from Nina which I dumped in the trash.

  The news had caught up with Grand Mum.

  “Rick, you are young. This is normal in early relationships. Take some time to get over this, then remember there are many, many fish in the sea and that fishing can be fun.”

  Intellectually, I knew she was right. Why did I feel like my heart had been ripped out?

  “Grand Mum, what do you do to get over being betrayed by the one you love?”

  “You don’t, ever. Time will soften the memory and the hurt, but it will always be there. It will be a reminder to never do that to one that loves you.”

  Again, sage advice that had no meaning right now. It did nothing to ease my pain.

  I retired early and had a fitful night's sleep. I kept dreaming of smashing that guy's face. After that Nina would fall into my arms and tell me she knew how wrong she had been.

  When I woke up, I realized that all those phone calls from Nina were her trying to tell me that she was wrong and sorry.

  That realization focused my anger, she was the one who had betrayed me, I wouldn’t accept a mere apology. We were done.

  Monday morning, I flew back down to London and met Mr. Norman at the London School of Economics. He was accompanied by an expert in economics from the foreign office.

  I had never been to the school before and was surprised it was just off The Strand in Clare Market, I had been there several times and never noticed the full-blown university plonked down beside it.

  We met with Sir Sydney Craine, the school chancellor. After introductions, we explained that we were part of a group trying to figure out what had to be done to have the Chinese yuan accepted as a hard currency.

  “I can see mighty things are afoot in the world.”

  He did speak that way.

  “Yes, they are,” I replied, “Do you have anyone that can guide us through this?”

  “There is one man, one of our Dons who wrote a paper on that very issue. I would like him to meet with you, and I would like to add one other person.”

  “Who would that be, and for what reason?”

  “A senior student by the name of Lee Kuan Yew. I reason that it would be helpful to have someone who understands the culture.”