Repacious creditor

[forthteller]

This is the first 39 chapters of a book series I am writing. I will be posting them one here as one string but will break it up when I post it in the completed works. I expect it to take about 50 chapters to toss the blighters out. It deals with the consequences of personal, public and government indebtedness and where we could end up in the next few years. I will be following several characters as they navigate through the financial apocalypse to come and the ensuing war that will follow. The war will be on two fronts, a civil war within because of the great divide between the desire to be saved by globalism and the passion for freedom, and a multi national war as not all governments are in agreement with globalization. When you read this, ask yourself, could this really happen and what am I doing to perpetrate it or prepare for it?


Chapter 1

Money management

Black Friday, 2017. It’s raining as Sarah and Max are standing in line waiting for the electronics superstore to open, they had staked out their spot at 3 am and are pretty stoked with their top 20 spot. Clutching their flyers to them they quickly devise a strategy so they can get everything they want and save money too.

“Okay jack, I’ll head over to TVs section and grab the 65 inch and head right to the checkout, put it in the trunk and get to game consuls area to get what I can. You head over to computers and grab as many laptops as you can get. Remember to use your size as you may have to push greedy bastards out of the way. Once through the checkouts we can leave everything in the car and head into the appliance store to get the new washer/dryer we want.”

For Max, everything goes according to plan until Max gets to the checkout. His cards are both declined and the checkout clerk suspends his sale while he accesses his online bank to transfer money to pay the bill. Only account with enough money is the mortgage account which is due tomorrow. No problem, thinks max, we can sort that out tomorrow, house is worth 30% more than they paid so it is a good time for an equity loan. Problem solved.

For Sarah not so well. In order to get the TV she had to push another shopper out of the way causing that person to fall and fracture their wrist. Sarah is unaware of the consequences of her aggression and worse yet, unbeknownst to Sarah a video camera was recording an excellent view of the event. Happily, Sarah carried her reward to the checkout and using a different card from Max rings her purchase through and triumphantly heads to her BMW.

Back in the store Max cannot find anything else worth, “investing in”, so he meets Sarah as she is just re-entering the store, forgetting to mention the credit card issue. Off to the Appliance store where to their excitement they can not only get the washer/dryer but the entire matching stainless ensemble for a “steal of a deal”. Maxing out their two remaining cards they purchase the items, arrange for delivery and delightedly head home to enjoy their purchases.



At checkout number 5, Jessica is one of the fastest cashiers on the crew. Twice she has declined opportunities for advancement not wanting to distract from her studies and goal of becoming an economist. It was Jessica who watched in amazement as a customer transferred money from one account to another because both his platinum cards had been declined. From her till she has a first-hand opportunity to observe supply and demand in action. For Jessica, Black Friday is an example of business reducing prices to induce spending and it is working but from Jessica’s perspective many of the biggest spenders really cannot afford their purchases. From her class discussions Jessica knew that her professors and fellow students shared great concern that personal debt was out of control and it was the artificially low interest rate that was really fueling the economy.

12 noon is fast approaching and Jessica is relieved as her replacement is heading her way. Four hours without a break, non-stop lineups, irate customers and even an ambulance, wow she is wiped. Out in the parking lot she un packs her lunch an puts it on the seat beside her. She fires up her trusty honda and heads over to Richards house to pick him up. Afternoon class is at 2 and having a classmate share the 45 minute commute not only saves money but makes the trip a little less boring.

At Richards house she is only in the driveway for seconds when he exits the front of his families modest stucco home and sprints to the passenger door. “hi”, he says as he drops his pack and books into the back seat. Jessica collects the revenants of her lunch and responds pleasantly. Once inside Richard buckles up and she backs out and speeds towards the University.

“I bet it was busy today, I saw on the news there were people in line before midnight.” Looking over at Jessica he noticed a little disquiet in her as she started to share some of the more eventful happenings of the day, starting with the woman who broke her wrist. “what an asshole, that guy should get his ass kicked for doing that. They get talking about credit and finance as she tells him of the number of declined credit cards and stressed out customers she saw today. Once on the turnpike the conversation turns to school and todays class. Both Jessica and Richard are handing in papers today and unknown to them the similarities in thought are striking. Their hours of commuting together and the conversation that takes place has helped both future economists to arrive at the same conclusion, that the economic bubble is on the verge of collapse and nothing is going to stop it.

2 streets over Brad picks up his breakfast dishes and walks them over to the sink, “great breakfast dad, I am going to marks Surplus to check out his Black Friday deals, wanna come.” “can’t says dad, I have to bid a job in Westrock this morning, Black Friday is not a holiday you know.” “I know, I have 2 summons to serve and a repossession order to enforce before monday, I have to wait until noon before I can act so I have time to check out Marks first.” As he puts on his jacket dad looks thoughtfully at his son, “I could use some 12 gauge shells for the Mouser and some high velocity 308 rounds for our trip next week. If they are good price pick me up a few boxes of each, I’ll pay you back later.” With that he is off.

Brad follows him out, pausing to lock the door and set the alarm and heads to his 1977 F250 4x4. As he climbs into the drivers seat he smiles as he fires the fresh 351m to life. For 2 months he and his father had been working together rebuilding the motor in the garage and just last weekend they had rented a hoist to swap the new motor with the old worn one. He backs out and heads west to the surplus store. Singing as he heads west he passes Jessica as she is headed towards Richards house. With a toot and a wave they exchange greetings as they pass. Jessica and Brad had dated in high school and even though they are no longer a couple they have remained good friends.

Marks parking lot is full so Brad drives around the back looking for a spot to park. Jackpot, another driver is backing out so he gives them room and waits. After parking he locks up and heads into the store and notices long lines at the checkout and more customers than ever perusing the shelves. A quick check of the sale prices and discounts available and Brad quickly decides it is not worth the wait. With a start Brad realizes that the individual who owns the truck he is supposed to repossess is in the checkout line. He slips out before the man in the checkout line notices him and heads into the parking area. Looking at his seizure order documents he begins searching for a grey 2015 GMC Tahoe and quickly spots one matching the description. Checking the license plates, he confirms the vehicle so he quickly returns to his own truck and retrieves a special boot he has which can immobilize a vehicle without damaging it. As he is just snapping the lock shut the owner loudly approaches so Brad backs away from the vehicle. As the owner aggressively demands his truck released he begins to threaten legal consequences and when presented with the summons he begins with physical threats. What he doesn’t know is that Cascade Asset Recovery has a policy in place that requires the presence of police in all vehicle and asset recovery actions to protect the safety of recovery technicians. Brad had already called dispatch and the police and a tow truck were already on route before Brad even approached the truck. As the owner approaches Brad he points to the parking lot entrance and the owner watches as a police cruiser pulls into the parking lot and stops near the entrance. Off the owner stalks, muttering about his bad luck and how unfair this crap is. Ironic though Brad as he watches the truck owner pick up his purchases which cost more than several payments on the truck he just lost. Brad just earned 500 for a few minutes work and a few hours paperwork. Great day.

200 miles away or as the Canadians say 320 kms, Jason sips his coffee while going over his schematics for his solar panel upgrades. “With this system set up BC hydro will be paying me”, he muses. As he sips three voices materialize from behind, “good morning dad, morning dad, howdy”, as they all clamber for the fridge and cupboards. David, the youngest at 13 chooses cereal and milk, the same as everyday, Alicia, at 15 is already on her first diet and tries to get away with a glass of milk and Jack at 17 takes oatmeal and toast. After a short heated discussion Alicia consumes some toasted waffles and stalks off for the bus, never would she be caught dead riding to school with her brother. As she leaves Jack and David collect the dishes and stack them at the sink and head out to Jacks truck, snow brush and scraper in hand.

As he brushes the fresh snow off the lifted Chevy Jack says, “Coach Hawkins says you can try out for a spot on the team next summer, he saw your 50 yard times and thinks that even though you may be small you could be a great running back and special teams player if you want.” We don’t have anyone who looks like they can take over for Sebastian when he leaves end of next year but if you make the team you would get a full season to back him up and get some great experience.” David responds with “I don’t know, your practices are during Jazz practice this year so I haven’t even been able to come watch you this year. Besides you wont even be there to help me, those guys don’t like me you know.” “They will if you run the ball for them. You know I got my full ride scholarship at Washington state to back up the back up quarterback, you are way smarter than me and you could make it too. You know dad won’t pay for tuition and if you have go to UCFV you will have to get student loans. As he slips into the passenger seat David says,” Doesn’t work, I won’t be old enough to even play on a college team regardless how good I am.”

Jack isn’t letting this one go, once on the highway he starts in again. “You have at least three years left at Hilldale and by the time you graduate you will be bigger and old enough plus your grades will give you a huge boost.” No, No, No exclaims David. You haven’t been listening, I am going to be finished in two years so I have to get an academic scholarship and music is the best way to help me get one”. You have to stop trying to make me be you and I don’t want to be.”

The rest of the trip to Hillsdale high in Agassiz is passed in silence as snow and ice slip by. In the parking lot Jack pulls his truck into his regular spot and shuts it off. Noticing a slight smell of antifreeze he thinks to ask dad about it when he gets home, “see ya shorty, be here at 4 if you want a ride home.”



Not everyone was shopping on black Friday. Nick and his mother Alana were on a 10 mile hike up Hogback Mountain, Montana.

“Your father loved this part of the climb” Alana said as she crested the hill. “We came up here so often that when he asked me to marry him I was shocked. I thought it was just another hike.” This is the first time she has been up here since she had scattered Alex’s ashes here 10 years earlier. He had been deployed to Afghanistan just days after her deployment ended. His coffin had returned months later and she had honored his wishes to scatter his ashes from the summit of Hogback. Now she was here with their son of the eve of his induction into the marines. As she looked down on Helena she shed a tear as the home she was born in, raised in, married in and raised her son in would soon be in her rear-view mirror. In January she would be moving to Skagit Washington to live near her sister and her family and to start the next phase of her life.

Nick slung his pack from his back and lowered it to the ground. He had attempted to join the modern world by going to Washington State where his cousin attended but by the end of the first year he knew he didn’t belong there. The marines were where he belonged and when he was done there was always the GI bill. No loans and debt for him. His mom supported his decision even though his father had been killed during his second deployment but he could see the concern on her face. He also knew her move from Helena was not so much to be closer to her sister but to get away from the painful memories this town represented. He would not miss Helena.

“Where do you want to put the flag mom”? he said. “I drilled out and drove a spike in the rock over there” she answered. “It should still be there.” He unwrapped the American flag and walked over to the rock she had pointed out and quickly located the spike. It still had remnants of a flag that had be attached years ago, it may have been the one his mother flew there those many years ago. Looping the rope on the corner of the flag over the spike he let it fly in the air. Stepping back he saluted the flag and whispered a private thank you to his father for his service. Only then did he notice his mother crying behind him so he stepped back, saluted again and went to hold his mother.



Chapter 2 Time to pay the piper


World debt December 16, 2017      61,493,795,390,650

US unemployment less than 4.1 percent

Inflation rate, 2.2 percent

Real Fed rate -1.04



The Canadian governments’ cabinet is off for the weekend but fresh on the mind of all is the private budget update they received Friday at the weekly cabinet meeting. The unemployment rate is the lowest in recent history and inflation is steady at 1.4 percent but they all know the truth, currant economic buoyancy is only an illusion as growth of debt is twice the rate of inflation and only historic low interest rates are saving us from further indebtedness. The US just increased interest and expects to do so several times more over the next 12 months. Canada and the other G8 countries will have to follow suit or face declining exchange rates, increased prices and trade imbalances.



The US government just passed a new Tax bill. Tax cuts across the board and the biggest cuts for corporations. The government believes the tax cuts will stimulate spending and pay for themselves in increased sales tax revenue and more jobs. The reality is that with a 443 billion deficit and a 4.1 percent federal unemployed rate there is no where to go. Everyone who wants to work is working so increased demand will only drive up prices and inflation is the last thing need in an indebted world.



Germany is about to have another election as the currant minority government does not seem stable enough to manage the largest economy in Europe. The main question is can Angela Merkle win another majority or will Germany follow most European Union nations into minority status with a widening gap between right and left. Debt is the main reason most union countries have managed but the time to pay the piper is fast approaching.



Across the channel, England is entrenched in a massive split. Barely 51 percent voted to exit the union and the economic consequences for this decision will be monumental. What hasn’t been explored is that when the cost of exiting the union gets onto the books of the British taxpayer who is going to pay. Increased borrowing, increased taxes or decreased spending? The blame will be tossed around and because almost 50 percent wanted to stay with some regions closer to 70 remain expect major disruptions, demonstration riots and possibly even civil war.



Here are a few of the most striking American debt statistics according to a recent Nerdwallet Report.

• The total pool of consumer debt has surpassed $1.3 trillion.

• The median student loan debt for a person who has attended some college or graduated from college is more than $49,000.

• The average household credit card debt is about $5,000 with the median debt at more than $16,000.

• The average mortgage debt is nearly $173,000.

• The average auto loan exceeds $30,000.

• Personal loans and other miscellaneous debt are more than $10,000 per household.

• The total average of debt combined (including those who have no debt at all) is $139.5 thousand per household.

This is actually from a site I frequent as of May 2017 so with a consumer debt growth of 6.5% per year these figures would actually be higher.
www.thebalance.com/consumer-debt-statistics-causes-and-impact-3305704

Attachments:

Cant go back chapter 1.docx (39.15 KB)

cant go back chapter 2 Time to pay the piper.docx (31 KB)

[9idrr]

Interesting start.

[pbbrown0]

To borrow a regular weekday sign-off statement from a long time television broadcast news anchor, "And That's the way it is. Friday, December 15, 2017."

Touche`, forthteller.

[udwe]

Like this a lot. please keep writing!

[forthteller]

Chapter 3



Max and Sarah



Pulling into the underground parking Max negotiates his Tesla into his assigned parking spot. He gets a free spot and free electricity because he has an electric car so he and Sarah have used the second spot they own for a parking spot sized container to store things they don’t have room for but want to keep. He heads over to the 8 x 12 container and opens it up. On the neatly staked shelves are a wide assortment to electronic devices, new and used, small barely used kitchen appliances never used tools and a locked gun case. He put 2 of the new laptops on the shelf and several other boxes of things he “saved money on”. As he is just locking the door he smiles as Sarah pulls her white x5 into the adjoining spot.

He helps carry the TV, a new game console and a one of the laptops to the elevator. As they wait for the elevator he asks if it would be a good idea to upgrade their satellite package. “I think that’s a great idea because with the new TV we can save money on entertainment by not going out as often.” Exclaims Sarah. “I think if we set up the console on the old TV in the den we can both enjoy some well-deserved downtime without spending as much at theaters and bars.”

They proceed up to their 16th floor condo and enter the roomy 2 plus den corner unit. They place their packages on the floor and begin the process of opening them and removing the contents. Several hours later all the electronics are up and running. During that time Sarah spends about 45 minutes on the phone to their satellite provider changing their plan and Max does the wiring and testing of the systems. Once done it is now 4:30 and Sarah plops down on the leather couch, “I’m pooped, unless you want to make dinner I think we should go out to eat.” “Okay, how about Ming’s down the street, we don’t even have to drive.” “works for me”. Off they go to spend another 50 dollars.







December 21, 2018

Sarah grabs the mail on her way up to the condo. Flipping through it on the way up she notices one is from LSG financial. That is their mortgage holder, “probably with an offer for an equity loan or maybe a late Christmas card.” “I’ll look at it later, she says to herself.” The rest of the mail is boxing day and January first flyers. “Not really anything we need but max can see them”. Inside the apartment she puts the letter in the wall mounted holder and tosses the flyers on the table. Opening the fridge, she starts removing food to make dinner with.

2 Hours later she hears a key in the door, it opens and Max appears as he is already removing his jacket. He puts his shoes and jacket in the closet and walks into the living room flipping on the TV as he passes. News channel is just announcing that Angela Merkle has just dissolved government and a new election is called for in May. Media opts to pan two opposing demonstrations, one unhappy with the decision and one absolutely excited with the prospect of going back to the poles. In the group of those wanting another election is a smattering of Nazi flags. Very weird thinks Max.

As he walks into the kitchen and kisses Sarah on the neck he asks what’s for dinner. Sarah responds with “Chicken and Rice with Asian vegetables.” “Awesome” says max as he picks up the flyers on the table.” “My sister is really going to love the laptop we are giving her for Christmas, I was thinking that if we bought the commercial tax software she may do our taxes for us too this year. She can do 25 returns with it so she could do several and make some money for school. “Sarah turns to face him and responds, “makes sense, a win/win is always good in my books.” Are you going to get her into your law firm for her next co-op term?” Max turns to the fridge and taking a Coors from the fridge says, that it likely wont happen this year because for some reason they seem to be cutting back in the office. “I don’t know what’s going on but they sent out a memo today limiting us to only pre-approved meals and expenses with clients and our mileage has been limited as well. I think the rich bastard partners are trying to get a bigger slice of the pie and us peons who do the real work are going to get pissed on.” I doubt John has seen the inside of a courtroom for 10 years and he is always gone long before I leave. ““By the way, they are only sending 3 junior partners to the conference in Dallas next February so there is a chance I am not going.” “If I don’t get selected I will be expected to carry some the load for the ones that go. That means not only will I miss out but I will end up with overtime and at least 1 more case.” “I guess I have to do some serious ass kissing between now and the time they make their decision.”

Sarah feigns exasperation “you know you are the best Junior partner on staff, have the best close rate for mergers and have settled or won outright almost every lawsuit in the last 3 years. They would be idiots to leave you out!” Max replies, “they would be idiots to let me go, if they do, someone else will have to handle my case while I am gone and what happens if they screw something up? Thinking about it now, I doubt I am actually going.” “change subject, I don’t want to even think about it anymore, talk about being screwed for doing a good job.” “How’s things at the store, did you hire that new assistant manager you interviewed today?”

Sarah turns the stove off and walks into the living room to turn down the TV, not noticing that the money markets just announced another quarter point increase in the prime rate with another expected in late march. She returns to the kitchen, ‘I might, she seems really bright, has great references, lots of experience but no management experience plus she has the weirdest college schedule I have ever seen. Straight a’s and full ride academic scholarship though.” Sarah jokingly adds, “If I hire her I I could be working for her within 5 years, kind of scary.”

Max looks up from the flyers and says, “wouldn’t be so bad, Jason got the partnership I wanted, he tosses me all the best cases and he made sure I got his office when he moved up. What does she study anyways, basket weaving?”

“I wish” says Sarah. She is an economics major, I have no idea what she minors in.”

Max responds, “then why retail? Wouldn’t accounting or some other money cruncher job be more to her skills.”

“she says it is to learn how money is spent and earned and that she likes retail. She will need to learn about fashion though. She could be really pretty but she came to the interview in a discount store outfit and no makeup. Thinking about it now, I doubt she would be a good fit, all the sales staff would hate her.” With a frown Max turns away from Sarah and heads into the living room. Max himself came from a Midwest farm and was lucky his law firm looked beyond the discount store suit and community college degree to give him his first chance.







February 2nd 2018



Max is home early today. He was prepared to present a client’s case in court today against a Computer software developer who, his client claimed had stolen their code for a new financial accounting upgrade. Their claim was that he had participated in and developed it when he was employed by them and because he used their system it was technically theirs. The software was sold for millions to a competing firm and his client wanted their due. It was a pretty solid case but in the last 2 days the defendant had disappeared and just this morning they fished his body out of the river. Early signs are suicide but for Max it really doesn’t matter, he was married and now all the money would be tied up for years. Max could not win now as any compensation would not be paid for years and so his firm will withdraw from the case, hundreds of hours up in smoke. Max hated to lose.

Idly max pulls the mail from the holder and begins leafing through it. Three unopened items from LSG financial, “what the hell thought max”. As he hurriedly opens one he recalls transferring money from the mortgage account. Yep, “just as I thought, 2 missed payments and a third due next week.” Quickly he hops on the computer, pulls up their account and transfers several thousand dollars into the mortgage account. He then pulls his phone out and makes a quick call to his mortgage company and lets them know the money is there. Now he has to get back on his back account and take money from his tax free account and put it in other accounts. Paying the minimum balance on all the cards he closes the page and pulls up a news site he has been following lately. Sarah gets home later with some news, and she isn’t pleased about it. Max listens but doesn’t mention the mortgage faux pas.

As she starts she gets a glass of red wine. “guess who got the assistant manager job at the Willoughby store.” She seems a little upset and max knows that going from manager in a small store to assistant manager in the head office store would be a major stepping stone to district manager and that is the job Sarah really coveted.

“who, is it Karla from the Seattle center store.?

Snapping back Sarah says “no Jessica got it.”

Confused, Max replies, “who’s Jessica?”

Sarah pours herself another glass of wine, fuller this time. “The girl I interviewed for the assistant manager job last month.” When personal sent me, her resume they also sent it to all the other stores as well, I never thought about that.” “I told her she was too plain to be a good fit and wished her luck in her job search, now she has my job, what a bitch.”

The conversation is broken by a buzz from the foyer. She snaps “what” and Doorman replies that there is a man in the lobby to see her. “Who is he?”.

Gave his id, says he doesn’t know you but he has a delivery for you and you need to sign for it, His name is Brad Collins.”

“Keep him there, I will be down to talk to him.”

On the way down, she wonders what it could be, a delivery, a surprise or maybe an invitation. As she steps out of the elevator she sees the jeans and plaid shirt and instantly feels superior to this redneck bumpkin. Brad hands her the envelope and askes her to sign his log. She does and without another word spins on her heels and marches back to the elevator. How rude thinks Brad but oh well, he knows full well most of the envelopes he hands out are not good news so he makes a quick exit before she finds out what’s inside.

Fuming she stomps into the condo loudly proclaiming her innocence. “that fat pig, she was trying to take the TV from me, I had it first, all I did was push her. If she wasn’t so fat she wouldn’t have fallen. This is not my fault.” Max waits and picks up the summons she is holding. It says on the summons she has received previous notices so he walks over to the mail, nothing. In the summons it says she must attend the police precinct within 48 hours of signing to turn herself in. She will be charged with assault causing bodily harm, processed and released with a promise to appear. Failing to do so would result in a warrant for her arrest and she could be arrested anywhere police can find her, even if that is at work. Max decides to let her cool down and get her to the station tomorrow. Even with his corporate legal experience he knows that ignoring a summons is contempt of court and she could end up in jail.

[papaof2]

Never assign too much importance to appearances.

Our house is 40+ years old (the second one we've paid for in 50 years). My truck is 10 years old (paid for) My wife's vehicle is 6 years old and almost paid for (bought used 3 years ago when her 20-year-old Camry needed repairs greater than it was worth). If you see me working outside in my worn Dickies jeans from the Goodwill store ($20-$30 new, $9 at Goodwill and I'm by that location a couple of times a month), we don't appear to have more than others along this stretch of road - perhaps less when I'm the one out cutting the limbs downed by the recent snow (instead of hiring someone).

The financial advisers I shopped through when I retired nearly all had one thing in common - very nice corporate offices that they wanted you to come to for two reasons:
1) so they could impress you with their offices
2) so talking with a potential client didn't inconvenience them.

The adviser I've had for almost 20 years was the one who said "Where can I meet you?" and came to where I was working during my lunch hour. That outlook has stayed with him, as he has changed companies several times over corporate "You will put THIS stock in everyone's portfolio" directives and his push back of "Most of my clients are looking for retirement income not speculation". He arranges a personal visit to tell his clients about the change at each client's choice of location - even if the client is out-of-state.

I think he likes coming to see us as my wife is a good cook and we usually have some kind of home made "goodies" (banana nut bread, pumpkin bread, red velvet cake, etc) available.

[forthteller]

Chapter 4

Jessica



December 26th 2018



     Boxing day sales over and Jessica is done for the day. Its early and she has nothing planned so she decides to catch a movie by herself. Sometimes there are so many people she never gets a moment to think. Star Wars is currently running and there are long lines for it but the other theaters are running less popular movies so she chooses one of them. Some popcorn, a drink and a good choice of seats. What more could she ask for. As she is sitting there she considers her life. School is a constant but it is hard to find a job that is flexible enough around school. maybe it is time to work in a higher end store. Less volume, slower pace and she will get to experience the spending habits of a wealthier class.



January 2nd



     School doesn’t start until January 8th but Jessica wants to turn in an assignment she has been working on and pick up some books from her locker. On the way back, she was planning on dropping off some resumes at a few of the higher end fashion outlets. She had heard they get better pay and there were several in the vicinity of Washington state.

Walking around her makeshift basement apartment she can hear her mother in the kitchen above her living room. Her only cooking appliance dings as it has completed warming some leftover stew so she takes it out and sits at her little table. As she is eating her cell rings so she picks it up and without looking at the call display answers it. Brad is calling and he is wanting to know when she needs him to bring his year end tax stuff over. “you mean your two shoe boxes of scrambled papers, it took me an hour just to sort out your invoices from your receipts?” Brad responds, “three boxes this year, one for repos now. Anyways, when can I drop them off?” Jessica says, Anytime before the end of month will be good. My mom is home most days, drop them off with her, I will get them.” Brad ends the conversation with an, ok, probably this week then and says see ya.”

     Tucking her phone away She grabs her coat and heads out the back door to her Honda parked in the back drive, addresses in hand. Along with her mathematical mind, Jessica was so good with maps that all she has to do is google the address, take one look at it and without thinking find her way there. For numerical streets she doesn’t even need a map. All her friends consider her a walking talking calculator and map. Jessica takes it is a compliment but to most of her peers, “here come the calculator” is intended as a slight.

     Out on the highway she reaches over and flips on the radio. Talk radio is on and right now they are talking about an earlier then planned interest rate increase contemplated by the Fed. Stop borrowing money she shouts at the radio as she switches it to FM. First stop is at the HR dept. of a large Ladies fashion chain. Thinking she is just applying for a sales job she doesn’t even think to specify what position she is seeking. Next stop a Hr dept. for a national sporting apparel store. After a few more stops she heads to the college that is usually bustling with students but today she is the only student on the Macro economics floor. Knocking at her professor’s door she is bid “enter.” She opens the door and steps in.         Leaving the door ajar she approaches the desk and responds when she is offered a seat. “got my assignment ready so I am handing it in now in case I am not able to get in next week.” Perplexed, Sam Rodgers asks” why,” Are you going away?” She replies, “No but the weather forecast has a big front coming in so the roads may be socked in by Monday.” Sam looks at his student and responds, “Jessica, you are one of my best students, I would have no problem at all giving you an extension if that were the case.” “I know but I would rather have it in on time so here you go.”

    Jessica asks, “do you think they will increase the FED rate this month? I heard they were considering it on the radio today.” He opens his browser and as he searches the news feed responds, “not likely, going to be big deficit in this year’s budget so they need to keep rate low until it blows over. My opinion is that ¼ point is not nearly enough, I think more like a full percent now and another by the end of summer. We would suffer big pain now or by next Christmas it will be too late.”

    “too late?”

    “this is my opinion only, but I think we are on the brink of another recession, could be a really bad one too. Even now it could be too late to cut spending and reduce the deficit. Public spending is out of control as well, we now have more debt per person than we had in 2008 and it is growing at a rate of almost 5%.” Sam says as he turns the screen to show her. In this department only numbers count and the numbers do not look good. He flips through several other pages and traces the graphs as he explains to her what he thinks.           Wow, thinks Jessica, I wonder why he hasn't covered it like this this in class, so she innocently asks him. "Why the difference in lectures? I have never seen the graph you just showed me and how is it nobody ever talks about how supply/demand affects interest rates? I thought the fed controlled it based on policy."
    "it does but that only works if the GDP is high enough to support the debt. At the currant rate, debt is growing faster than the GDP and when the inevitable downturn happens GDP growth will slow and the government will need to spend more to stimulate the economy while revenues decline. At some point lenders will begin to increase interest rates because they can, banks will make it harder to get loans and blame it on rising defaults. The finance companies they own and private lenders will step in to pick up the all the rejected loans at higher interest rates. Because supply of money will be outstripped by demand mortgage and finance rates will increase. As a result demand for these things will diminish and prices will begin to fall. In the midst of all this the government could get reassessed by the bond rating agencies and a drop to an AA would be catastrophic because the bond ratings are based on supply/demand. Can you see how fast the collapse could happen?'
    I do see and I have a good friend who is a repossession agent, he share with me sometimes how busy he is. I think it is already happening. Why not share this in class?
    I can't. The school policy dictates we teach in accordance within generally accepted economic theories. If I shared this with the class I would be branded a conspiracy theorist and could lose my tenure in disgrace. You may think this is a free thinking institution of higher learning encouraging critical thinking but, you didn't hear it from me, it is not. Enough politics for now, I get too worked up when I talk about this. I will see you next week?
    You sure will, you just gave me a lot to think about, can I include some of this in my next assignment? 
    With a suddenly worried look on his face sam says "Better not. My department head looks at all my students work and if you head off on a tangent like this she will be wondering where you got the ideas."
    With a "bye" and a wave she is off to her locker. After she grabs the books she needs she heads off to the coffee shop to do some reading. At the counter is one of her classmates from accounting who greets her with “so how was Christmas?” She thinks for a moment and says, “pretty good, my brother came home from Pendleton and my aunt and cousin were here from Montana. Do you remember Nick?” “your cousin who dropped out last year?” “The same, he just enlisted, leaves for basic next month, marines I think. My aunt is going to move back to Skagit. I may ask to live with her, it is a little closer to school. How was your Christmas?” Rebecca looks away and says “eventful.” “sorry” says Jessica, “if you want to talk about it I am going to be right over there.”

Jessica sits down with her tea and begins reading some loose leaflets she found on the table. There is a group at the college promoting a movement calling for a common world currency supported by the United Nations. She has several members of her class who spout this drivel and much to her dismay they refuse to look at any economic models that show how this could not possibly work. As she tosses it aside Rebecca approaches. Since Jessica is the only customer in the shop she uses this opportunity to talk with her friend. While Jessica still lives at home, Rebecca live further away and has to live in residence. They are frequently the only females in class and have bonded over the last three years. Rebecca recounts the holidays and how they need to move because her mother got laid off at the aircraft plant. Dad doesn’t make enough money and the only jobs her mom can get pay minimum wage. It also means that they cannot afford to pay for school anymore and she will have to get student loans to pay for next year. Jessica listens and consoles her friend. Promises to help in any way possible but in reality there is absolutely nothing she can do except be a good friend and a listening ear. A group of customers come in and Rebecca dashes to the checkout to take their order as Jessica rounds up he books and prepares to leave. She passes the counter as Rebecca is just handing coffees to the customers and says, “call me”, knowing that it is very unlikely Rebecca will. With that she is off to her car and the long trip home.



February 2nd 2017



     Working on Brads taxes is always an experience. She has to sort out all his cases and match the appropriate expenses with them. As she came to what is most likely a court summons he had served to Sarah Davis-Jones she sat back and thought a little about how small the world really is. She had been interviewed by her only last week and had been told that she was not a good fit, rudely at that. And then someone form head office called the next day to book her for an appointment for a position there. Not knowing what the court summons was for she never thought any more of it.

     Finishing up she prepared a report for brad, including recommendations for how he should cut expenses plus some investment tips for the sizeable refund he was going to get. Knowing Brad she sighed, “that money will all end up making his stupid truck look even more ridicules.” That truck was her main competition before he even got his license and it is still he first love 3 years later. She doubts that he even has a regular girlfriend though she has seen him with girls they both know a few times.

As she heads upstairs to see what leftovers she can pillage she almost bumps into her stepdad. Pedro Martine had married her mom when she was only 4. Her real father only bothers to contact her on birthdays and Christmas so Pedro is in action her dad. “what’s up” he says?

     Rubbing her stomach, she replies, “sustenance” as she heads towards the kitchen.

     “Made some awesome enchiladas last night, should be enough to have some now and take some for later.”

     Collecting the enchiladas, she thinks how great it is to have a father who conveniently makes way more dinner for the family than they actually need and acts like she is doing them a favor by taking the leftovers off their hands. Giving him a hip check as she passes she heads downstairs to enjoy her bounty. Once settled back at her desk she takes the next tax return out and begins reviewing it.

     As she is looking at the return her cell rings, idly she picks it up and says hello. The caller identifies himself as Mr. Wilson, Western division manager for Vogue West botiques, “I would like you to come in this week so we can discuss bringing you on board as an assistant Manager for our Spokane store.”

[9idrr]

I like this but am havin' a little trouble followin' it, due to some spelling and punctuation issues. Hope I can keep up.

[forthteller]

Thanks. This is my first ever attempt at fiction. First person and dialogue is new for me, I am just learning. Any tips would be appreciated.

[papaof2]

Proofreaders help (more than one if you can find them). They spot the things like "the the" that the author doesn't notice because the author knows what's "supposed" to be there ;-) My wife is a retired school teacher and an avid reader so very little gets past her. I only have her proof things that 1) are completed and 2) are headed for ebook publication. She wouldn't be happy if I woke her at 2AM with the next chapter...

[9idrr]

Dec 27, 2017 19:20:53 GMT -6 forthteller said:

Thanks. This is my first ever attempt at fiction. First person and dialogue is new for me, I am just learning. Any tips would be appreciated.

Don't let me stop your story. It's my problem for gettin' hung up on stuff. I sure ain't askin' for my money back. :^)

[forthteller]

Chapter 5


Brad



December 18, 2017



8:00 AM and Brad is sitting with his coworkers around a board room table which in reality is two folding tables pushed together and the boardroom is actually the lunchroom with several desks, filing cabinets and some computer equipment on the south half. Downstairs is a large garage where newly impounded vehicles and other seized property is kept for a short period of time.

He rarely comes into the office but Monday morning is mandatory for the 40 or so process servers and repossession agents working for the company. Brad prefers serving because he only needs to locate the recipient, hand them the document and get them to sign his log, easy peasy. On the rare occasion a recipient refuses to sign he leaves the item and he then fills out an affidavit which he gets signed after swearing to its content. The money is much better repossessing but he needs to locate the person and the item to be repossessed and there is always risk. You are taking someone’s property and they are never happy about it.

Wilson Sanchez, the owner, walks in the door, “alright everyone, take a seat and lets get this thing going.” Quickly the entire group shuffles and scuffs all the chairs into position and within minutes 40 pairs of eyes are expectantly waiting for the weeks assignments. Wilson starts with a report on a few issues from the previous week; a vehicle owner who chased the repo agent off his property with a shotgun, a couple of rejected summons and a person who tried to drive their vehicle away with the boot on. In addition, the police are reluctant to attend every repo as they are very short staffed.

After this he launched into this weeks assignments and in the middle of doing so he acknowledges the increase in repossessions for those who are currently qualified.

“in order to make it more efficient for us all we are going to break repossessions into two distinct tasks. One is all motor vehicles, licensed and traceable though our link with the license issuing office. The second will be for everything else; trailers, boats, off road recreational vehicles, construction equipment and anything else a lender has a lean on and wants to recover. Because we have so many on the dockets I am willing to send some of you to a 5-day course dealing with repossession of non-vehicular assets. You will be paid base pay for the week and the course costs will be covered by the company,” “anyone interested?” Several hands shot up at the offer and he took all the names and asked them to remain after the main meeting.

He then opened another topic, “we have been asked by a local mortgage brokerage to help them serving Notices of default, foreclosure notices and eviction notices. This is a lot riskier as most of these people have received several notices already and know you are coming. You will be handing these notices to people who are at risk of losing their homes and for some of you I don’t know if that is something you want to do. If you deliver the initial notice, the recipient will become your case and you will be the only one to deliver and administer any successive actions. While very unlikely that could mean you may be the one who has to contact sheriff to have the residents forcibly removed if it comes to that. I will not fault anyone here who don’t want to accept these assignments.” “Nonetheless there will be a good premium for successful delivery and most clients will work out the bill with the lender after service. Sign up list is on the wall, put your name there if you’re willing to do them.

“That’s all for today, have a good week.” With that he handed out the weeks assignments.

Brad looks at his list quickly determining how long it would be to trace the recipients and noted that he had 2 vehicle repos this week. As he flipped through the summons and notices he put them all in geographic order with the exception of two that would require some skip tracing. Easy week as most of the recipients don’t appear to be skips and the 2 vehicles were both local. Walking over to the board he put his name on the list, knowing that he could do even more each week without pushing himself too hard.

Heading over to the board table he pulls his laptop out of its case and plops it open in front of him. Logging in he pulls up his personal search engine and quickly types in the name on the first skip. Last known address, last known job, known friends and affiliation. Member of a local Legion and a gym. May find information about where to find him there. Clicking print he quickly types up the second name. This is a family court summons and this person has been off the radar for over a year. He prints everything he can find about this guy but doesn’t feel confident about finding him.





February 5th, 2018



Brad heads over to Jessica’s house to pick up his books and prepared taxes. She has already told him that he will be getting a substantial return. Contrary to Jessica’s misplaced evaluation of his monetary values he has decided to put the money into a savings plan of some sort so he will need to ask her for advice. She isn’t home when he picked them up from her house but her father is.

“Do you have time for a java”, asked Mr. Martine.

“yours? anytime!”

“Great, come on in, have to admit, I thought retirement was going to be great but wow, it can be boring some days.” How is the business going, Jessica is pretty tight lipped but I know she does your books and most of your administration? She seems pretty impressed.”

“I doubt she is going to be too impressed with what I will be doing this year.”

“Why?” are you going to quit.

“No but I am going to start repossessing houses by the spring.”

“Wow. Tough gig, same company?”

“It is but they are only give these assignments to agents who want them. Apparently, mortgage defaults are on the rise, I don’t see how, prices are still going up.”

Mr. Martine gets up and grabs the coffee pot. Refilling both cups then replacing the pot he grabs the newspaper beside it. Opening it to the financial section he shows it to Brad. “not really, only the single-family homes in the city and commercial properties. Everything else is showing a decrease in sales numbers and steady prices.” Only the people who got in over their heads or those who used equity to support their lifestyle will be in trouble though. Everyone else just needs to sit tight.”

“I don’t know about that, Boeing just laid off another 1200 people effective end of February. How do you pay your mortgage when you lose a paycheck?” “My dad says that running away from debt only makes it worse. He told me that most people have enough equity to refinance if they do it before they miss payments but once they miss a few payments not many lenders are willing to carry a mortgage. Unless they can get a way above prime rate.

“Jessica Graduates this May, what is she doing then, going back for a Masters?” “She could be working for me, I could pay her more money and she wouldn’t be selling junk to people who can’t afford it anyways.”

“She will be making a lot more soon,”, “she was just offered an assistant manager position at some exclusive high fashion store in Seattle. I think she is going to take it.” “they are going to bring her on part time until the school year is finished and then ull time after that. She hasn’t decided when to go for her masters yet. She may go next September, wait a year or 2 and maybe not go at all, depends on how things work out.”

“Good for her. There are lots of jobs out there but most of them are heading nowhere, starting as assistant manager is a pretty good beginning. What is the name of the company?”

“She told me but I never heard of them before and cannot remember the name now. They have several stores in the state and stores all the way up the coast to San Diego. Lots of opportunity there. “what else is new.”

I am going in to get a carry permit this week. The state police recommend it for all repossession agents now. Sometimes the police can’t even attend now we do so many actions. It seems people are even more pissed than they used to be too. I have had a few scary actions but nothing too bad. We did have one guy hospitalized when he was hit by a car while he was recovering a vehicle and someone pointed a shotgun at another guy. It feels like people are getting desperate.

We now get flagged assignments and we have to do the recovery in pairs. I think our dispatch gets reports on the clients and determines which ones are likely to be violent. The police used to respond with us in these cases but now they want us to take a partner instead. You are retired and already have a permit, would you be interested?”

“How often?”

“I doubt more than 2 or 3 times a week, sometimes not at all.” “I never know until Monday what I get for the week.”

“Give my name to your boss, see if he is interested. My 30 years as a weapons specialist did not really prepare me for civy street but to be honest, I could stand a day or two out of the house now and then.”

“I know he would take you on in an instant, we are so busy they pretty well take on anyone who walks in the door.” “They are trying to get all the experienced people to take a newbie and train them on the road but I haven’t been asked yet. Plus, he is also ex-military, Navy I think. You would really like him.’



Wednesday April 21st 2018



Brad and Pedro sit in Brads truck discussing the recovery of brand new pickup. It has never been registered and the owner has never made a payment on it. They know is inside a garage on front street because he left his truck on the street overnight with his dash cam turned towards the house. The door was open and you could see the truck in there and it had not been opened since. Since this is an involuntary and extremely dicey repo they will get the maximum for it. The question is, how do they get it out of the garage without committing a Break and enter which is illegal and if caught would cost both of them their job, license and possibly land them in jail.

Pedro had a great idea, he was going to pose as a cash buyer and try to get the owner to take it out of the garage. He was then going to try to distract the owner while Brad put the boot on so he could not drive it back into the garage. The boot has to go on the rear tire so the owner cannot drag it back in with the boot on, and if possible, Brad was going to put one on the front too.

Pedro walks up to the house and rings the bell. There is a stereo blasting inside so he rings it again, “I’m coming, hold your fuckin horses,” he hears over the music. The music turns down and in a few moments the door opens. “whadya want, I’m fuckin busy.”

Pedro hold up a roll of cash, “I am here to see the truck.”

“Fine. I said 25 thousand, that is not 25 thou.”

“Rest is in the truck” says Pedro, pointing at Brads truck.

“That piece of crap was there all night, what is this a setup?”

Thinking quickly, Pedro says, “I don’t know you, I needed to know you aren’t setting me up, this truck has to be clean.” “My camera shows nothing to be worried about so lets get this done. I can’t afford to be seen here.”

Stalking out to the roll up doors the owner inserts a key and pulls it open. Inside is a brand new Black F350 pickup. Duellies, Harley Davidson decals, all the options. Pedro walks up to it but the owner shouts, “Hold it there asshole, where do you think you’re going?”

“Not handing out cash without knowing what I am getting. Keys?”

“No keys. You buying or not?”

“I am not giving you anything until I know it isn’t stolen. No keys, not deal. ” Pedro says as he waves a wad of cash in front of the owner’s face as he is heading out the door.”

“Fine start it up but you aint driving it anywhere unless I got 25 grand in my hand.”

Pedro gets in and starts it up, pretending to check out the windows and radio he waits until the owner walks up beside the drivers’ window.

“seen enough? We are done unless you want to deal.” Shouts the now agitated owner. Pedro realizes he is not so much agitated but strung out. At this Pedro drops the truck into reverse and squeels out into the driveway, he jumps out and runs off with the keys. Confused the owner shouts obscenities at him and chases him down the street.”

Brad standing around the other corner with two boots inwardly laughs as he quickly runs to the truck and snaps a boot on the rear tire of the truck. As he is just heading to the front he hears gunshots and steps back and draws his own gun. Looking over the box he sees the owner firing wildly into some bushes, as soon as he has emptied his gun he runs back to the truck. Brad snaps the other boot on, locks it and runs in the opposite direction hearing click, click, click behind him. The owner, panting and screaming runs into the house as 2 more men exit. Brad rounds the corner, cellphone in hand, 911 autodialed. He puts the ringing phone into his pocket and as soon as a voice answers he shouts, “Shots fired, front street. 2 armed men chasing me, I am also armed. Men chasing are Caucasian 30’s, I am now heading west on 21st.

Brad runs across a park and behind a play structure. The two men have stopped and are now conversing. They turn as a distant siren sounds. As it is obviously getting closer they split up, one coming towards Brad, the other east on 21st. Brad, hoping the phone is still connected yells that they have split up and one is heading east on 21st and the other is chasing him out the west side of Burnside park. A police cruiser come to a screeching halt as brad exits the walkway, he raises his hands, handgun in hand and slows as he trots towards the cruiser.

The officer shouts “drop it”, and Brad lets go. As the gun drops to the ground a shot rings out, a thud and Brad realizes the shot came from the police officer. Looking behind him, he sees the prone figure of the man he presumes was chasing him. “Face down on the ground,” shouts the Officer. Brad responds by kneeling and then lying face down. “hands behind your back”. Brad does.

As the officer is about to cuff him Brad tells him who he is and before he has another word out the officer is asking for ID. Brad tells him, “in wallet, back pocket. I have a partner north of the house who may be injured. He was in the bushes last I saw him.” “Latino, names Pedro.”

The officer gets on the radio as he helps Brad to his feet. “One perp down, guy here says there are at least 2 more and his partner hiding in bushes, names Pedro. ID says they are licensed Repossession agents and this guy has carry permit. I am going to put him in back of cruiser and sweep your way through park.”

With that Brad finds himself in the back of the police cruiser as another unit squeals to a stop.

20 minutes later the door opens and Pedro, holding his right arm laughs, “you missed all the action. They got the other two and a woman in the house. Lot of guns, another brand-new truck in the garage and lots of drugs in there as well. At least that is what I gleaned from the radio calls I overheard. Crackhead got me in the upper arm but I was lucky the guy was so stoned he couldn’t hit the side door of a barn door. I stayed in the bushes until the police called me out by name.

The officer hands Brad his wallet back and asks him to go take the boots off and to take Pedro to the hospital after the ambulance takes a look at his arm. “then I need you to come to the precinct and file a report.”

What about the truck, it’s not stolen, we were repossessing it.

I will let the precinct captain decide that. We have been seeing a lot of this lately, cars and trucks bought no money down and they use them for crime or ship them out before the first payment is due. Easier than stealing and way better return. The dealerships don’t give a crap, everyone who walks in can drive out with a brand-new vehicle. Doesn’t make sense. Somebody has to be losing money somewhere?”



















The Notice of Default starts the official foreclosure process. This notice is issued 30 days after the fourth missed monthly payment. From this point onwards, the borrower will have 2 to 3 months, depending on state law, to reinstate the loan and stop the foreclosure process.

[9idrr]

Thanks. I'm havin' an easier time following this.

[forthteller]

Dec 30, 2017 19:42:15 GMT -6 9idrr said:

Thanks. I'm havin' an easier time following this.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are as shocked how this story evolves as I am sure I will be and as I believe it is going to end in the real world.

I think I am starting to get the hang of writing fiction. I was taught how to write a thesis and technical manuals but never fiction. My biggest challenge is dialogue. 


                                                     Forthteller

[pbbrown0]

We have been seeing a lot of this lately, cars and trucks bought no money down and they use them for crime or ship them out before the first payment is due. Easier than stealing and way better return. The dealerships don’t give a crap, everyone who walks in can drive out with a brand-new vehicle. Doesn’t make sense. Somebody has to be losing money somewhere?”

Forthteller,

This is both profound and disturbing.  This is the same thing (the hidden root cause in the housing loan industry) that led to both the crash of 1929 and the crash of 2007. Contrary to decades and even centuries of prior banking practices, in the year preceding each of these crashes the most frequent type of home purchase loan issued in this country was one in which the borrower was not required to show evidence of their ability to service (make the required payments on) the loan. Those were the only two years on record in which that type of loan was the most frequently approved type of home loan. 

[9idrr]

Dec 31, 2017 12:57:19 GMT -6 forthteller said:

Dec 30, 2017 19:42:15 GMT -6 9idrr said:

Thanks. I'm havin' an easier time following this.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are as shocked how this story evolves as I am sure I will be and as I believe it is going to end in the real world.

I think I am starting to get the hang of writing fiction. I was taught how to write a thesis and technical manuals but never fiction. My biggest challenge is dialogue. 


                                                     Forthteller

Glad to see that you're not lettin' your experiences in the educational asylum get in the way of dealin' with the real world. 8^)

[forthteller]

Dec 31, 2017 14:04:43 GMT -6 pbbrown0 said:

We have been seeing a lot of this lately, cars and trucks bought no money down and they use them for crime or ship them out before the first payment is due. Easier than stealing and way better return. The dealerships don’t give a crap, everyone who walks in can drive out with a brand-new vehicle. Doesn’t make sense. Somebody has to be losing money somewhere?”

Forthteller,

This is both profound and disturbing.  This is the same thing (the hidden root cause in the housing loan industry) that led to both the crash of 1929 and the crash of 2007. Contrary to decades and even centuries of prior banking practices, in the year preceding each of these crashes the most frequent type of home purchase loan issued in this country was one in which the borrower was not required to show evidence of their ability to service (make the required payments on) the loan. Those were the only two years on record in which that type of loan was the most frequently approved type of home loan. 

You caught me! My biggest concern is that the first crash was ended by massive government spending and a world war to stimulate the economy. The 2007 crash was overcome by massive borrowing to invest in infrastructure and a war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today no free world government has the cash or the credit to buy us out of another one, yet we as consumers have not changed one iota. One only has to wonder, what collateral does the Government put up in order to borrow money? The ability to tax. And what could possibly be the antecedent to one world currency? Take what the EU did to Greece, could it happen here?

[papaof2]

The "save and then buy" outlook of our great-grandparents is the only guaranteed solution to not spending more than you have.

While we use credit cards for convenience, they are paid off each month. Our newest vehicle is a 2012, purchased 2 years ago when my wife's 20 year old Camry finally needed work that cost more than it was worth. My vehicle is a pickup purchased in 2008 when my wife refused to ride in the previous 18 year old truck. The 2012 is our only indebtedness. We aren't totally isolated from the problems of another recession (or worse) but we wouldn't be homeless if it happened. Perhaps on shorter rations and with fewer conveniences (off the air TV instead of cable, using the internet only when free access is available - there's a library branch about a mile from us), but we have shelter and space for a few family members if that was needed.

[forthteller]

Dec 31, 2017 17:15:06 GMT -6 papaof2 said:

The "save and then buy" outlook of our great-grandparents is the only guaranteed solution to not spending more than you have.

While we use credit cards for convenience, they are paid off each month. Our newest vehicle is a 2012, purchased 2 years ago when my wife's 20 year old Camry finally needed work that cost more than it was worth. My vehicle is a pickup purchased in 2008 when my wife refused to ride in the previous 18 year old truck. The 2012 is our only indebtedness. We aren't totally isolated from the problems of another recession (or worse) but we wouldn't be homeless if it happened. Perhaps on shorter rations and with fewer conveniences (off the air TV instead of cable, using the internet only when free access is available - there's a library branch about a mile from us), but we have shelter and space for a few family members if that was needed.

Excellent, I wish more were so well prepared. The catastrophe will be the millions, actually hundreds of millions, who are not prepared. Our greatest difficulty will be who do we help and who do we turn away. A time is fast approaching where the government will no longer be able to house the homeless, feed the hungry and employ the many. What do we do then? I am writing this book as fiction but we will be living it in reality, the question is not if, its when.

We do likewise but for a slightly different reason. twice I have gotten myself into debt bad enough to cause us severe economic hardships, and as a result, for over 15 years we never borrow for anything. Cash or we don't get it. We do not have bad credit, we have no credit. I have 2 gifts, prophesy and poverty. My second gift has given me the uncanny ability to find serviceable used vehicles for less than 1,000 and we use them for several years with only routine maintenance. I currently drive a 1993 f150 with 400,000k on it. It starts when I turn the key and moves when I put it in gear, every time. My wife drives a 1996 GMC safari with 350,000 on it and we have expected it to die every day for the last three years but it still soldiers on. I have also been able to use my skills as a carpenter to barter my way into a home on 11 acres for less than half the market rental rate. There is nothing in my home we purchased new and all the construction materials used to build everything from my decks to my chicken house was salvaged from one of my construction projects. Remarkably when we need money, work it shows up. When my stove broke down there was a free one on the side of the road the next day on my way home from work. When the shit hits the fan, and it will, we will only experience it as we try to help our friends and neighbors who were not prepared. 

[forthteller]

Chapter 6 Jason and his kids



December 18th, 2017



Chuc, chuc, chuc. Echoes through the valley. Jason has been digging with his excavator on and off for days. He had waited until December so the frost and cold would prevent the side of the mountain from sloshing down on his work. He would have waited for January but this winter had been so cold, the frost could have been 5 ft. deep by then, the digging even harder. His plan was to dig a hole 20 ft long and 12 ft. deep, as far into the side of the mountain as he dared. He was then going to put a sea can in place, bury the sides to the top and cover it with 18 ft. pressure treated timbers across the top. Once backfilled he was expecting a rock slide would come down the mountain covering the rest of it and camouflaging it naturally for him. Before the spring he wanted to stock it with survival gear, a diesel truck, Firearms and ammunition. Then with food and goods he thinks will store well and be good for barter in the event of a major catastrophe. With proper venting, everything in the sea can would be usable for years, all he had to do was dig up the entrance to gain access. He had until the first mud slides of the year to stock it and he meant to keep it a secret from everyone. Enough digging for the day, he moved the excavator to the treeline, shut it down and climbed off.

After a 5-minute walk he approaches a fenced in yard with 5 or 6 abandoned trucks and 1 recently deposited car in it. Instead of sending vehicles off to be recycled at the end of their life he puts them here and salvages parts for his currant trucks. His son Jack is in there right now removing parts from a truck similar to his own. Jason smiles as he shouts over the wall, “heading up to make some supper. Come up when you get done.” Passing the back yard, he mounts the deck and enters the back door.

Alicia is at the sink finishing up the dishes from earlier today and turns to see who just entered. Once she sees her father she turns back to the sink and continues with what she was doing. Jason opens the freezer and rummages through for a moment. Pulling out some frozen vegetables and some cubed pork he decides to make a quick stir fry. In this house meals are always an afterthought and sometimes little more than a free for all. Same for cleaning, every now and then, he or Alicia decide to do a good cleaning but generally dishes get washed when they are all dirty, the floor gets swept once a week and everyone keeps their own space as tidy as they please.

Starting the propane stove he places a large saucepan over it to heat. As he does so he starts talking to his daughter, “your 16 next week, are you ready to write your driving exam?”

“I am but what do you want me to drive, your truck is way too big and I wouldn’t be caught dead driving Jacks truck.”

“we got a nice Pontiac Sunfire for you. Jack is in the boneyard getting a starter for it. Little newer than I like but we have the parts for it. Red 2 door hatchback. Nice body with hatchback and a 4 cylinder engine. Should get great gas mileage and be quite reliable.”

As he is just finishing his description the back door opens and Jack steps in, stomps his feet to knock the snow off and sits on a nearby bench to pull his boots off. “supper ready?”

“15 minutes, maybe 20.” Did you get the starter off?”

“I did but the thing is under the exhaust manifold. What a stupid place to put it.” “Had to remove the exhaust pipes from underneath and get it from the bottom. I broke one of the bolts off. I am going to use heat to loosen the one on her car in the shop so I should be able to get it off. Has she seen it yet?”

“I was just describing it to her when you came in, you can take her out to see it while I finish dinner, after all the gift is from you too as you are doing all the mechanical work.” “Did you manage to find a heater core that will work with your truck?”

“I think so, it is a little longer but I can make it work. I got it out of the shortbox. Gotta pressure test it for leaks first though.” Motioning to Alicia he says, “lets go check out your new ride.” And walks towards the garage door. As he opens it a soft plume of cool air wafts in. No heat out here. No wind and no rain either so Jack would never complain. Jack walks over to the hoist and lowers the red sports coupe to the ground and smiles as he hears his sister gasp.

“I knew you two were getting me an old car but this is so awesome. It looks brand new, I love it.” With that she opens the door and drops into the seat, reaches for the shift knob but it is locked in place. Jacks hands her the key and she puts it into the ignition and turns it, nothing.

Jacks holds up the dirty starter, “needs this and a couple of other things. I will have it ready for your birthday.” “We got it from the Johnson’s in Hope, they had it in storage for 15 years, never got around to selling it when Pierce joined the army. By the time he got finished with training he thought it was a girly car and wanted a truck instead. It’s been there since. It will probably leak oil and make funny noises but I promise I will fix everything before you get your N.” Out of the corner of his eye he could see his dad standing at the open door listening in. Satisfied grin on his face.

“Suppers on, can one of you get your brother?” Jason says as he heads back to the kitchen.

Noticing Alicia is now playing with knobs and shifting gears Jacks realizes, “the someone”, is him so he heads into the house and down the hall to get his brother.

As he gets closer he begins to hear the sound of a clarinet. Practicing again, I wish he would play his guitar more thinks Jack, or even his Sax, but no. David likes his clarinet the most. Jack loves his brother but he really wishes he would toughen up. As he enters the room he fights back that thought as he looks around at the trophies his brother has won for everything from chess tournaments to track and field, judo and wrestling and even go Kart racing. Certificates for citizenship, Church service, music and public speaking. OK so he doesn’t play football or work on cars cars, is that so bad? “Hey little bro, suppers ready.”

“K. Be right in, got one last song to practice.”





January 15, 2018



Yesterday Jason finished backfilling his sea can and the only thing you can see is the front doors. It is still pretty obvious what is there as the two front doors are swung open and you can see inside. Sticking out the 2 sides are 4-inch pvc pipes angled down for vents, he is going to cover the exits with filter cloth and then with a lot of clear crushed and then more filter cloth. 2 holes in the floor near the front door have 6 inch PVC elbows but the drains aren’t visible because Jason has already covered them. Inside, almost tight to the left side is an 83 Chevy short box, sitting on blocks, tires still on, In the back of the truck is a 100-gallon propane tank. On the floor beside it at the rear are 2 more tanks, also full of propane. The container is 10 ft. wide and the truck is a little more than 5 ft. x 16 ft. so there is some space left for other things.” Good start but I need to figure a better way to camouflage the doors and still make them accessible for when I need to get in. If it doesn’t happen naturally with the spring thaw Jason knows he can trigger a slide and cover it but then how would he get back in.?” To nobody he shrugs, “dig I guess.”

Glancing at his watch he sees that it is nearly 4:00. The boys should be home so he heads up to the house. When he gets inside he is surprised to find Alicia at the sink doing dishes. “How did you get home so soon”, asks Jason.

“I got a ride with Jack and David.”

“Wont that hurt your rep?” says Jason teasingly. “Pretty hard to get into that truck without everyone noticing. “

“Its not really that bad. Half my friends would happily trade places with me. Its just that he is my brother and you know, embarrassing.” “The bus is so creepy anyways. It is almost dark when I get home and the walk form the stop creeps me out.”

Jessica adds, “Would you mind if I volunteered to help with the drama program.? They need people to help with sets and props. I may be able to get a part as well. Usually only the drama students get a chance, volunteers sometimes get a part as well.?”

“Ok with me, will you be finished in time to get a ride with Jack?”

“Jack and David have after class stuff every day, they rarely leave before 4:00. I bet today is the first time this year. He says he will wait for me and even help me if I need a hand. I have to sit in the back seat though, David won’t give up shotgun.”

“Sounds good to me.” Says Jason as he heads down the hall to David’s room. He can hear the sounds of shooting and raps on the door and then opens it. David is playing some shooting game on an old PS3 someone gave him after they got a new PS4 for Christmas. Jason never even knew he wanted one. Want a partner Jason says as he grabs a controller.

“Can’t do partners with this game, I can put in one that does. We can play Black ops 2.” David says as he slides the currant disk out and a new one in. Rapidly he takes the dangling wire from Jason’s controller and hooks it up. Never would he pass up an opportunity to play with his dad.

Once playing, David takes the lead, showing his father where to hide, travel and investigate. He shows him who the enemy is and who the non-combatants are. As Jason follows his son’s lead from mission to mission he can’t help being impressed with how much strategy his son has learned in only a few days. Might be only a game but he has learned in days a game that many people play for hundreds of hours. After several missions Jason realizes how consuming these game systems are and that he has spent more than an hour on it. “okay son, I have to get dinner ready, we will do this again, it was fun.

Back in the kitchen he pulls out ingredients for dinner. Puts pasta on to boil, canned spaghetti sauce in a pan and some ground beef in the frypan. Quickly he gets supper made and puts the concoction on the middle of the table. He steps into the living room, Alicia is reading, jack is watching hockey. “suppers ready”. Your turn to do dishes after supper today, jack.

They both get to their feet and walk into the kitchen, Jason circles over to David’s room to get him. “Come on kido, dinners ready.”

As he gets to the table Jack is already heaping his plate with food. Kid can eat thinks Jason. Once everyone has food and is eating Jason starts a conversation with, “when does rugby practice start.”

“Not till early February. First game is not until early March.”” I am actually thinking of not playing this year.”

“really, why, you love rugby?”

“I got the scholarship at Washington state and I don’t want to take a chance of getting hurt. As much as I joke about being the backup to the backup, I really want to impress at camp this summer.” “plus, I really need to get a better job. I can take my NLS and 1 more course and I can get on at the pool lifegaurding. Kind of boring job but they pay really good.”

“I can’t fault you on you reasoning, just a little surprised.” “have you decided what major you are going to do yet.”

“Probably Chemistry, but I won’t know until my Sat scores get reviewed.” “They already have the results or they wouldn’t have accepted me but I need to have scored high enough in the sciences to take Chemistry. I go in for academic counselling in March. I hope you can get Aunt Isobel to let me stay there for a day or two. She is about an hour from the campus.”

“it might be better if you stayed with my other sister, Alana, she lives in Skagit I think. She moved there sometime before Christmas. She had a small house there for years so she likely moved back into it. Since Nick joined the marines she is all alone but I doubt she needs any help with anything. I will talk to her tonight.”



March 12, 2018



Sitting in traffic at the Vedder crossing, Jason wonders why he even works way out here. He left Vancouver at 4:00, it’s now 6 and it looks like he still has at least another hour to go. He has his trailer with his small excavator on it but almost all the other motorists he can see could easily have taken transit. They can’t because the powers that be never bothered extend the train out to Chilliwack and the inter urban train that did run was shut down long before he even finished high school. Short sighted planning is why the world is on the precipice.

Since he started making and installing survival shelters he has had a steady increase in business. 2 years ago, it was 1 or 2 a month and now he could do one every day if he had the manpower. He did have a camper on the truck and slept in it when he worked out of town but when he upgraded to a larger excavator the truck could no longer handle the increased weight. He may get one of Jacks friends to help him after school is out but he tries to keep his prices in a range where average homeowners can afford to put one in so it means doing most of the work on his own. As a survivalist he not only believes something is coming but that he should be helping anyone who wants to be prepared to be able to do so. By himself he could do 2 a week with only minimal help. He used to get his workers from the local temporary labor services. Now two years in he had several names he could contact and could almost always get someone with a little experience to help him out.

Interestingly, most municipalities do not even require a permit and those that do only need hoarding permits so he can get his equipment in and out. Because of this the government has no idea where all the shelters are but Jack does and has a map at home with hundreds of them on it and keeps it in his own shelter.

Listening to the radio Jason hears that North Korea has sent another missile out over the Japan sea but this one travelled further than any of their previous missiles. The UN issued another weak-kneed response of condemnation but the US was quick to contact China to negotiate for even more sanctions and a possible blockade. This Trump guy might be unpopular but he is quick to respond and Jason thinks he isn’t someone who makes idle threats. Jason figures the phone will ring off the hook now. Things had been slowing down a bit as several other companies had gotten into the business and some of the people who were waiting on him went over to the new companies even though they are more expensive. If he is lucky he may get enough business from Langley and east. Then the bigger cities can be taken care of by someone else.

Today Jason will be putting the last of his survival gear and firearms into his own sea can. He is then going to close and lock the doors and backfill the front. He is pretty sure nobody knows it is there but not absolutely certain. Spring rains are coming and nature will take care of the rest for sure this year. Snow pack is huge, his only concern is that it will be so buried he will never get back in.

Traffic starts moving so he gets going. After about 10 minutes he basses by the Lickmen overpass and sees 2 transports and several vehicles in the center median with the inside lane still blocked and several recovery vehicles all working on extracting cars from the ditch. Glad I wasn’t involved in that he thought. Timing is everything.

David and his friend Jimmy from down the road are in the woods to the east below the mountain. They carefully sneak over to the sea can taking care to not leave fresh footprints. Locked again! They have never seen what is inside and David has never asked his father about it, but he knows it must be important or his dad would not have locked it. Dad said on this property nothing is locked and has told him that he would never want to live in a world where he had to lock his house. The gun cabinet is locked but his dad told him that is because it is against the law to leave it unlocked. All the equipment and trucks and even the tractor need a key to start and now a locked sea can. It must be about value then. so what could possibly be so valuable in the sea can?

[jpr9954]

You wrote: “it might be better if you stayed with my other sister, Alana, she lives in Skagit I think." If Jack is going to Washington State, Skagit would be clear across the state from Pullman where the school is located. The University of Washington, however, is in Seattle which is just south of Skagit County.

[forthteller]

Jan 2, 2018 16:05:25 GMT -6 jpr9954 said:

You wrote: “it might be better if you stayed with my other sister, Alana, she lives in Skagit I think." If Jack is going to Washington State, Skagit would be clear across the state from Pullman where the school is located. The University of Washington, however, is in Seattle which is just south of Skagit County.

I appreciate the comment. I am unfamiliar with how US university system works. I know that WSU has many satellite campuses and for us you can do any administrative things like testing and counselling at all the campuses connected with a particular university.  Another difference I think is that for us commuting 50 - 75 miles to and from work or school is not uncommon. My own daughter commutes to Capilano university from Langley. Thanks for your input.

                                                                                                                                              Forthteller

[solo]

Totally loving this story... I did notice in Chapter 6, that it started in 2016 and jumps to 2018.... Is this true? It seems to pick up a week or two between the dates and not a year. Keep it coming!

[forthteller]

Jan 3, 2018 11:26:07 GMT -6 solo said:

Totally loving this story... I did notice in Chapter 6, that it started in 2016 and jumps to 2018.... Is this true? It seems to pick up a week or two between the dates and not a year. Keep it coming!

Thanks for reading and for the input. It is supposed to start in 2017 and the rest will be future fiction. This book will take us until the start of the coming apocalypse and I am right now developing the characters of the stars of the resistance. You get to determine what they look like but I want to paint a picture of the character and skillset of each individual. Stay tuned. I will be adding another chapter every 2 or three days till completion. I am going to go and fix that date issue right now. if you come across any other inconsistencies let me know as I am very inexperienced in writing fiction. 

                                                                      Forthteller

[forthteller]

Chapter 7



Alana



January 13thth 2018



Turning over to the right merge lane, she can hear the w900 Kenworth rumble as she shifts down slowing it without using the brakes. Alana smiles as she sees the outskirts of Mt Vernon from the off ramp of the I 5. She comes to a stop at Mt Vernon road and wheels the big truck to the right, swinging wide as she has to clear the inside of the 53-ft. trailer she was pulling. One more easy right and another mile would bring her to the house she had purchased after her husband had died. She had never lived here and had rented it out through a local real estate firm for 15 years. She had intended to move here sooner but ageing parents and a son who wanted to stay with his friends had kept her in Helena until Nick had shipped out for Basic and was starting on his own life. Shifting down she slowed to a crawl, waited until the other lane was clear and took a wide right into the recently enlarged driveway. With 15 acres and a large workshop, she had plenty of room to park her new truck and starting next week she would be back on the road. Now she would be long haul trucking, not local and her rig was not only bigger but equipped to allow her to comfortably sleep overnight along the way. Pulling to a stop she wondered why the lights were on, as she stepped down the lights went off.

What the hell, she thought as she climbed back up, grabbed a 12 gauge, inserted 5 shells and stepped back down. Slowly she crept towards the house and circled around the side. Listening at the window she could hear hushed conversation and quickly realized she was not expected and that at least three people were in her house. Slipping into a nearby copse of bushes she took out her cell and quietly dialed 911.

As she peered from the bush, a figure slunk from the house and snuck up to the parked, idling truck. She could see the figure plainly as he passed across the headlights to get to the drivers’ side.

“Mt. Vernon Sheriffs dept.” said the dispatcher.

Quietly she explains, “I own a house on Cedarville road and I just drove into my driveway but some people are in my house. The lights went out as I was getting out of my truck. I took a shotgun and am hiding in the bushes to the south. Someone is checking out my truck now.”

“I have dispatched a unit, it is 5 minutes out. Are the intruders armed?”

“I can’t tell. Wait, yes, it is a white male, just crossed the front of the truck. He has some sort of an assault weapon.”

“stay hidden, I am dispatching additional units. You should hear sirens any moment.”

At that moment the garage doors burst open as a pickup truck blasts from the house, it stops momentarily to pick up the lone male. As the truck races to the entrance a police cruiser blocks the exit. Officers jump from the vehicle as the truck slams into reverse. Both officers take cover behind the cruiser as the truck does a 180 and races towards the back exit. Alana steps from the bushes as the truck races forward, takes aim and discharges two quick rounds directly into the grill of the truck. The truck heals to the right, catching its left wheels and rolls over. By the time it comes to rest, a passenger is attempting to extricate himself. Quickly both officers and Alana have their weapons trained on the truck.

The closest officer shouts at Alana to stand down and step back into cover. “We got this mam”, he says.

The second officer shouts at the passengers in the disabled truck, “throw out your weapons and come out with your hands up.” The first passenger to exit holds his obviously empty hands in front of him begins to slide out the window as a hail of bullets envelope the officer from the opposite side of the truck. By now several other officers are running from the road to the scene, all with weapons drawn and one with a high-powered rifle.

Alana is now flat on the ground, still clutching her shotgun with its remaining three rounds. The man with the assault rifle comes around the front of the truck and looks to have the officer who spoke to Alana in his sights. Without thinking she fires center mass at the intruder. He falls to the ground, gun clattering away.

“Another clattering noise as a weapon is tossed from the vehicle, “Don’t shoot, I’m coming out, exclaims the third man in the truck.”

“The officer is now shouting into his mike, officer down, officer down, and then yells to the two men on the ground, face down, hands out.” He cautiously approaches as the other officers set up a perimeter. Clapping handcuffs on the first he says, anyone else in the house.

Sensing hesitation in the face down man he yells, “house isn’t clear, repeat, house isn’t clear. “

The officers now take cover from the house as more units arrive. The officer nearest Alana claps cuffs on the second man and tosses their weapons far out of reach. He goes to the downed officer and begins putting pressure on his chest wound. He turns to Alana and says “thanks, I owe you but let us take it from here. You need to get back and take cover.”

“An officer with a bullhorn steps behind the hood of Alana’s truck and shouts, house is surrounded, throw out your weapons and come out with your hands up.”

“We are unarmed comes a voice from inside. We are coming out.”

After the third man exits, a woman exits. The officers relax a moment before she lifts her hand with a short stubby looking thing. It takes only moments before the officers realize it is a sub machine gun, but she is still able to fire off a 10 round blast before being shot by return fire. The other men fall to the ground, either intentionally or because they were also hit by return fire.

All quiet now. The officer with the bullhorn is unharmed, he shouts over his bullhorn, “anyone else in the house. Come out 1 at a time with your hands up. To the 4 people on the grass he shouts, stay where you are, facedown.” Only 2 are moving. No sound comes from the house.

With this the officer with the bullhorn who appears to be the senior man gets on the radio, “anyone else hit.”

Someone else replies, “everyone accounted for. Swat is 10 ETA. Ambulance is here, Simpson and Jones just took marshal to the road, doesn’t look good.”

8 minutes pass, no noise from the house, an officer has collected Alana and taken her around to the gate of the house, the truck and trailer providing cover.

“Could you tell us if there are any other exits from the house.” Asks a senior appearing Sherriff.

“Back door, side door into garage, another back door from the garage.” Pausing she then continues, 2 bedrooms, 1 each side of hallway upstairs, bathroom end of hall. All windows would provide pretty good vantage over all of your men.

With this the officer gets on the radio, “snipers, cover all the upper windows, fire on any threats.” Looking at Alana he says, anything else you can tell me about the house that I may need to know.

“Full basement, all the outside walls are concrete stucco. Nothing else that I can think of.”

“That’s plenty, thanks for your help mam, I’d like you go out past the outer perimeter, someone there can help you. Where is your shotgun?”

“The officer who brought me to you has it, I don’t know where it is now.”

With that Alana crouches as she sprints to the outer perimeter, as she gets there swat arrives, disgorging several heavily armed, body armor clad troopers. As she watches they fan out and replace officers who fall back to the outer perimeter.

On the bullhorn the senior officer once again demands they come out one at a time, hands up. No response. He nods at the swat commander as they quickly and silently breach the house. From the house, Alana hears, “clear, clear, clear, next.” Other voices, “Clear, clear, clear, heading upstairs.” “ More clear, clear,” until, “got something.” Shouting she can’t make out and finally an “all clear.” One of the swat members comes out. He walks over to the senior officer, his weapon safely pointed to the sky and states “all clear sir. You need to come see this.”

After several hours of being questioned and filing a statement Alana was feeling like a criminal herself. They had even fingerprinted her. Makes sense thinks Alana, after all I did kill a man tonight. The captain and the chief walk in and close the door. First thing the chief says is, “don’t get up, I want to shake your hand. You saved a deputy’s life today and it looks like the other deputy is going to pull through as well. All the questions and the fingerprints are routine in every fatal shooting but you will not be charged on my watch. To this town you are a hero.” As he speaks he hands her a coffee and some creamers.

Alana sighs in relief. “why were they in my house?”

The Captain looks at the chief who nods and responds, “Meth lab, I don’t think they expected you were coming home so soon. We have already arrested your real estate agent. I can’t tell you any more at this point.”

At this moment your house is a crime scene so we can’t let your go back for at least a few days, probably more. You can have your shotgun back right away, no ballistics to be had. You also have some fresh holes in your truck. Ballistics’ is already done, its in the police yard, you can have it back whenever you want.”

“Can I park it in my yard while your investigators are there?”

The captain thinks about it a moment and replies, “I will talk with the state police investigator, they have taken over the case, we don’t have the resources in this department.”



From her motel room, Alana reflects on her experience of three days ago. She stands at the window and looking out at her rental car she thinks that timing is everything. Had she driven in 2 hours later the lights would have been all off and she would have walked into her house with no preparation and right into a bunch of murderous thugs. Things would have turned out very differently.

As she looks at the police report she sighs at the loss of three lives, two seriously wounded and 4 more locked up in the state remand awaiting arraignment. They will all be charged with the attempted murder of the injured police officer and they will all be charged with felony-murder for the deaths of their co-conspirators. Plus, multiple drug and weapons offences. None of these people will ever contribute to society and likely never had. Plus all the pain and suffering their poison had wrecked upon the community.

Taking her keys off the desk she heads out the door, unlocking it remotely she walks ro her rental car and gets in. A quick trip and she parks in front of her insurance agents’ office and exits the car. Inside she takes a seat in the reception area, a sign reads, NO RECPTION on duty. Idly she wonders how they would know she was here. An office door opens and a 30ish portly man stands at the door, “are you Alana Watts.”

“I am and You are?” She says as she holds out her hand.

He shakes it and says “I am Mark Fulton, one of the partners here. Come on in, can I get you anything,” as he gestures to a seat in front of an aged but well built desk.

“I am fine, I just want to get this going so I can get back into my house.”

“The problem is Mrs. Watts is that our adjusters cannot even get into the house to see what is damaged, the police are still in there.”

“Please, call me Alana.”

“ok. But like I am saying, until we can get in and access the damage I cannot even venture to guess how long it will take to get you back in. I have seen houses condemned because they had operations like this for a long time and the damage can be dramatic. Then there the issue of liability.”

“liability, you think it is my fault?”

“No but you are an absentee owner and from what I understand you had an arrangement with a local real estate firm to administer the rental. I have been in contact with their insurance company as well but they are reluctant to make any commitment because of the criminal charges laid against the agent.”

Standing up, Alana reiterates what she just heard. “you are telling me that I may not be covered by my home insurance because my tenant broke the law and that the rental agent who administered it broke the law as well.”

“I don’t make the rules, Alana, if you check the policy it does not cover damage in the event of illegal drug manufacturing and other specified criminal activities.” Mark went on to add, “But I will argue that you were unaware of the activities and had a licensed real estate broker representing you.”

“they will attempt to force the real estate agency to share in the costs at the very least. They in turn will turn to their insurance who has already indicated they will not pay any claims as a result of fraud by knowingly allowing illegal activities to be conducted at your property. Let me remind, I do not work for either insurance company, I work for my clients, you.”



January 24th



Alana, sitting in her kitchen can’t help but smell the drugs that were recently produced in her house. Even though she had cleaned the whole house with bleach and with every other chemical she could buy she doubts the smell will ever leave, at least in her mind. The adjuster was in. Broken glass, flooring, wall and trim repairs and full paint is what they believe is needed. The insurance companies are still fighting about who is going to pay.

Her cell rings, glancing at the display she recognizes a familiar Canadian number. Jason, her younger brother. “hi brother, how’s things in the great white north?’

“White, and cold. How is the move.”

“Haven’t unpacked yet. Truck is still full of everything I own. I am going to start tomorrow.”

“Did you stay in Helena longer than you planned?”

“Had a delay on this end, I will give you’re the whole story when I see you next.”

“Speaking of that, Jack has two days of interviews and exams for placement at the university. Is there any chance he can stay at your place for a few days in March?”

“shouldn’t be a problem, its quite a drive though. I am hoping to be on the road by then so there is a good chance I won’t even see him here.”

“Thanks, I’ll let you know the actual date when he gets it confirmed.”