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.As the dishes were being cleared away, and Connor was sipping his coffee, Samuel spoke up for the first time since he gave Connor his name.“How did you two ever get together Sir?” he asked Nate.“You mean how did I ever get stuck with this arrogant, bone breaking, honky prick?” Nate asked.After the laughter died down, Nate resumed his answer.“We were partnered up overseas.He carried me three miles through Beirut, Lebanon after a sniper put this furrow on the side of my head.” Nate pointed at the long, scarred line above his left ear.“He got me to a landing zone safe enough for them to pluck my big ass out.”“Man,” Samuel exclaimed.“Where is Lebanon, and how long ago was it? You guys must be ancient.”“Lebanon’s in the Middle East, and shares borders with Israel and Syria,” Connor laughed, “and we are ancient.We will have to take up your education on geography, and world affairs a little later.You guys will need it.The distance I carried him has gotten longer every time Nate told the story, I would wager.Now, did you guys get a chance to check out any potential places before Beavis and Butthead rounded you all up?”“I found a warehouse which deals with comics, cards, and collectibles,” Jeremiah spoke up.“They will need a resale number, and an application filled out.We will have to pay in advance with our orders until they get to know us.I have their card and an application.”“Outstanding,” Connor nodded.“Anything else?”“There are a lot of limousine services around Mr.Connor,” Joseph informed him.“Are you sure you want to get something going here?”“Absolutely,” Connor answered.“The reason I want to take on selling comics, antiques, and do vehicle repairs along with the limousine service, will become apparent when you watch one or another of the businesses we do slow down at odd times.If you only know one thing and it goes through a down time, things get pretty tight real quick.”“That’s why you want us to learn and work all of them,” Henry added.“Exactly my friend,” Connor agreed.“I will teach you about saving your money legitimately.You will each have a 401K retirement fund, and maintain your own cash savings.Each of you will have an expense account, and know how to answer for it.”“What’s in this for you Sir?” Luke asked.“You will soon learn,” Connor answered, “we define ourselves by what we accomplish and work at in our lives.I have an opportunity to accomplish ten times what I ever dreamed of, and I plan to take advantage of it.How about the potential businesses?”“Jeff and Sammy found a great place Mr.Connor,” Luke put in excitedly.“Jeff found a classified ad on the computer at the library.”“This place really fits what you said Mr.Connor,” Jeffrey confirmed.“They have a huge place, all new.A group of investors came up with an idea of storing and servicing their own limousine service.They have their own office area right in between the service bays, and their storage bays.The office would work for all of the other things you want.”“Sounds too good to be true,” Connor replied.“You say they want to sell it?”“Yes Sir,” Samuel answered.“We talked to a couple of their guys, who thought we were joking around with them.They never took us seriously, so they explained a couple of things, when Jeff and I were wondering about why they wanted to sell.As we told you, the competition for the tourist and airport traffic is brutal.They underestimated the competition, and could not keep good drivers long enough to develop a clientele.The maintenance techs are almost all gone, because they could not keep up with the expense without the customers.The one guy said it was just a vicious circle.You have breakdowns, and missed appointments, because you have to cut back on the maintenance.Then you have to cut further back on the maintenance, because you had to lay off the guys servicing them.”“You guys received a first class education in what kills a business,” Connor said approvingly.“Did you get a close look at their fleet?”“They don’t have anything older than three years old Mr.Connor,” Jeffrey continued.“They have five stretch limos, and seven of the sedan type.They have ten service bays, with entry from their parking lot, and five storage bays on the other side in a swank type showroom setting.It’s right over on Massachusetts Avenue near Wisconsin.”“So they have a residential area near the place too,” Connor mused.“I don’t know about you Thomas,” Nate broke in, “but I would love to see this place.”“You sound like you may be getting up for this Nate, old boy,” Connor replied smiling.“I have to admit, I was skeptical about all this to say the least.How in the hell could you get six young car-jackers going like you did, when forty years of welfare agents would have killed just to get them to speak in whole sentences.”“You answered your own question Nate.This is not welfare.I am giving them nothing.They will work like dogs to make this successful, because they have a stake in it.”“In an ideal world,” Nate countered.“No Nate,” Connor stated.“In a world where you work, and live with honor, or you get your ass kicked out into the street, with nothing but the clothes on your back
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