“You know, the person you should talk to is my grandmother. She has many more connections than I do. I suspect that if I ever run for office, she already has a list of potential donors and contacts. They would be ideal candidates for what you plan to offer.”
“That’s an excellent idea for phase two. We want to control the growth in the beginning while we work out any surprises. The next phase will be to expand quickly,” Ava shared.
“Have you contacted your family?” I asked to see their commitment level.
“Already done, and they all signed up,” Grace assured me.
“I can see I made the right decision in selling the business. I’ll do whatever you need, within reason,” I said with the added qualifier.
Right now, I still didn’t see myself getting involved in a business venture.
“Can I ask you something off topic?” I asked.
“Sure,” Grace said.
“A friend of mine might be onto an invention. He’s modifying a drone to be super-quiet so it can be used as part of my security. I don’t want anyone to steal his idea, and I’d like to help him make some money off it. Do you know who I should have him contact and how he should go about it?” I asked.
“I don’t, off the top of my head, but I have people who would. Did you want to make money on this too?” Grace asked.
“Not really. I would like to get my investment back, though, and perhaps have access to purchase his inventions at cost. I could see buying several drones to help act as automated watchdogs for my properties. He programmed my old drone to follow me around. My security people love it,” I said to give them a little background.
She called in the security guy I’d met the first night who’d taken the keys to Brook’s car. Grace had me tell him what the drone could do and how we used it. From his reaction, it sounded like Dare might be onto something. With his endorsement, Grace said she would start making inquiries on Monday.
◊◊◊
Brook took us back to the airport. I was back in her good graces, and she allowed me to drive her new car. This time, without the state trooper following us, I was able to have some fun. Her Porsche was a sweet little sports car.
We’d just entered the lobby of the Cincinnati Jet Center when I spotted Lila Chamberlin. Cassidy saw her coming and gave me some privacy.
“Hey,” I said in greeting.
“David, I promise I’m not stalking you. I’ve booked a private flight back to school,” she explained.
“I just got my pilot’s license, and we rented a plane to come visit my friend Brook Davis,” I said.
“Last night was out of character for me,” Lila said, acting a little nervous.
“You’ll have to keep me up to date on your quest to snare McSkatey. If you need any advice or want to practice …” I offered.
“Okay, thanks, oh wise one. There’s just one flaw in that.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Only one?”
“I don’t care how much my little sister wants you, I couldn’t in good conscience let her have you. She needs to grow up before she has to deal with the likes of you,” Lila said.
“Does that mean you want to keep me for yourself?” I asked and did an excited little hop.
“I better leave before I kidnap you and drag you back to school with me,” she said.
“Seriously, Lila, call me. I’m not looking for more than friends right now, but I can tell that I’d like you to be one.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Lila said.
I hugged her and then had to go. I hoped I’d see her again.
◊◊◊ Monday January 23
Cassidy and I had started our instrument training at the flight school. When I got home, my mom ambushed me.
“I need your help. Darius and I used the drone on Sunday to video the farm I just listed over on Clark Road. Can you do your magic and turn it into a visual tour?” she asked.
“Why don’t I show you some tricks so you don’t have to get me to do it all the time?” I suggested.
“Someone’s cranky,” Dad said, coming in from the living room. “Did you forget to feed him?”
“Melanie left you some food in the oven, and there’s a salad in the fridge,” Mom said.
I grabbed the food and followed my mom to her office. I made her handle the keyboard because I knew that she would never learn if I didn’t. Mom absorbed information best by doing.
She and Dare had done well in capturing everything. The problem was, it was almost thirty-minutes’ worth of video.
“Let me see the photos you took,” I said.
Mom ran through them for me. Again, she had way too many.
“We need to cut this down, probably more than you’re thinking. You always told me that you need to give them just enough information to contact you,” I said. “What if you created something like a trailer for a movie? Maybe two minutes max, and offer to give them a link to a longer video if they give you their contact information.”
Mom agreed to my suggestion, so I left her to figure out what pictures and portions of the video would have the most impact on buyers. I found my dad watching a reality show.
“Where are Peggy and the boys?” I asked.
“She took them to Pam’s to go swimming. She mentioned something about them planning your demise.”
