Chương 35: Rising Horizons V

Thursday, February 26, 1971 The morning passed quietly at Public School 87. James sat near the classroom window as Mrs. Eleanor Parker explained a reading assignment to the class. Outside, the February sky remained overcast, and patches of dirty snow still clung to the sidewalks of Manhattan. He tried to focus on the lesson. Tried. His mind kept wandering west. By now... Thomas Reynolds should already be somewhere over the Midwest on his return flight from Nevada.

Several hundred miles away... An Atlantic Continental Airways aircraft descended toward Manhattan Metropolitan Airport. Thomas looked out the window as New York slowly appeared beneath the clouds. The skyline. The East River. The endless rows of buildings. Home. He rested one hand on the leather briefcase sitting beside him. Inside... A rigid document folder protected the crossed corporate check. He had checked the brass locks at least a dozen times during the flight. Not because he feared someone would steal it.

Because he understood its importance. It represented weeks of planning... And another step toward whatever future Enzo Lombardi was trying to build.

The aircraft rolled to a stop. Passengers began leaving one by one. Thomas waited patiently before stepping into the terminal. After collecting his suitcase, he hailed a taxi.

"Brooklyn."

"Thompson Manufacturing." The driver nodded.

"You got it."

Just before two o'clock that afternoon... The taxi stopped outside Thompson Manufacturing. The familiar brick building stood as proudly as ever. Workers moved pallets across the loading dock. Another truck was already being loaded with wooden crates stamped with the mountain logo. THOMPSON BUILT TO WORK. BUILT TO LAST. Thomas paid the driver before walking toward the entrance. Frank, the security guard, immediately recognized him.

"Mr. Reynolds!" Thomas smiled.

"Afternoon, Frank."

"Good trip?"

"It was productive." Frank grinned. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I'll let Mr. Lombardi, know you're here."

A few minutes later... Thomas stood inside Enzo Lombardi's office. Enzo rose from behind his desk.

"It's good to have you back." Thomas shook his hand.

"It's good to be back, sir." Anthony Russo closed the legal folder, resting on his lap before standing as well.

"Welcome home."

"Thank you, Mr. Russo."

No one mentioned Nevada. No one mentioned betting. No one mentioned racing. Those subjects remained unspoken. Instead... Thomas placed his leather briefcase on one of the chairs. He unlocked both brass clasps. Removed a thick document envelope. And handed it directly to Enzo.

"I believe this belongs in your care." Enzo accepted it with a simple nod. He opened the envelope just enough to verify its contents. There it was. A crossed corporate check. Issued exactly as expected. Payable to Thomas Reynolds. Amount: $240, 000. 00 Enzo returned it to the envelope immediately. He had handled corporate checks worth millions during Thompson Manufacturing's military contract years. The amount itself wasn't extraordinary. What mattered...

Was that another one of James's predictions had become reality.

Anthony finally spoke.

"Any difficulties during your trip?" Thomas shook his head.

"None."

"My business in California concluded successfully."

"I then made the additional stop exactly as instructed."

"Everything proceeded normally." Anthony nodded once.

"Good." That was enough. No further questions. Anything more could wait until the paperwork was finished.

Enzo walked around his desk.

"Tomorrow morning."

"We'll go to Empire National Bank together." Thomas nodded.

"I'll be there." Anthony closed his folder.

"I'll prepare the remaining documents tonight."

"There shouldn't be any delays."

Enzo smiled warmly.

"And Thomas..."

"You've earned a quiet evening."

"Go home."

"Rest."

"We'll finish everything tomorrow." Thomas couldn't help smiling.

"Thank you, Mr. Lombardi." After shaking both men's hands once more... He quietly left the office.

The room fell silent. Anthony looked toward the envelope resting on Enzo's desk.

"The difficult part is over." Enzo nodded.

"Tomorrow..."

"We make it official."

Friday, February 27, 1971 A cold wind swept through Manhattan as Enzo parked his Maranello Cavallo V12 outside the imposing granite headquarters of Empire National Bank. Anthony and Thomas arrived only moments later in one of the Sedan corporate Thompson Manufacturing cars. The three men entered together.

The marble lobby gleamed beneath enormous brass chandeliers. Polished floors reflected the morning sunlight pouring through the tall front windows. Customers waited quietly in orderly lines. Clerks stamped documents behind polished wooden counters. The familiar scent of paper and polished wood filled the building. Behind one of the teller stations... Margaret immediately looked up. A smile appeared across her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Lombardi."

"Good morning, Margaret." She stepped away from her station.

"Mr. Bennett is expecting you."

"If you'll follow me." Enzo smiled.

"Thank you."

Margaret escorted the three men upstairs. At the end of the corridor... A secretary opened a large oak door. Richard Bennett stood as they entered. Tall. Neatly dressed. Gray suit. Silver tie. His calm expression immediately brightened.

"Mr. Lombardi."

"It's always a pleasure." The two men shook hands firmly.

"Good morning, Richard." Richard turned toward Anthony.

"Mr. Russo."

"Good morning." Then his eyes settled on Thomas.

"And you must be Mr. Reynolds." Thomas nodded.

"Yes, sir." Richard extended his hand.

"Richard Bennett."

"Senior Commercial Accounts Manager."

"Please, have a seat."

Coffee was served. Only after everyone had settled did Richard begin.

"What can Empire National Bank do for you this morning?" Enzo reached into the leather document envelope. He carefully removed the crossed corporate check. Richard accepted it. He adjusted his glasses. Read every line. Then read it again. His expression never changed. Instead... He calmly placed the check on his desk.

"This is payable to Mr. Thomas Reynolds."

"Correct." Enzo replied. Richard nodded thoughtfully.

"In that case..."

"The appropriate procedure is straightforward." He looked toward Thomas.

"Mr. Reynolds..."

"We'll establish a preferred personal checking account in your name."

"The check will be deposited there."

"Once collection is completed..."

"You may authorize whatever disposition of the proceeds you wish." Anthony smiled faintly.

"That solution works perfectly." Richard nodded.

"I thought it would."

He pressed a small button on his desk. A junior banking officer entered moments later carrying several folders.

"Please prepare a preferred personal checking account for Mr. Thomas Reynolds."

"Immediately."

"Yes, Mr. Bennett." Within minutes... The paperwork arrived. Thomas carefully completed each line. Full name. Home address. Occupation. Employer. Signature. Anthony quietly reviewed each document before sliding it back across the desk. Richard personally countersigned the account-opening forms.

"Welcome to Empire National Bank, Mr. Reynolds." Thomas smiled politely.

"Thank you."

Richard then placed the sportsbook check beside the completed paperwork.

"I'll personally oversee this transaction." He stood.

"If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." He left the office carrying both the check and the account documents.

Enzo looked toward Anthony.

"So far..."

"So good." Anthony nodded.

"Exactly as expected."

Nearly twenty minutes later... Richard returned.

"The deposit has been accepted." He resumed his seat.

"Ordinarily..."

"A transaction of this size would involve a considerably longer collection period." He looked directly at Enzo.

"However..."

"Given Thompson Manufacturing's longstanding relationship with Empire National Bank..."

"And the strength of your commercial accounts..."

"I've authorized expedited collection through our commercial department." Enzo inclined his head.

"I appreciate that." Richard smiled.

"We value loyal clients."

He opened another folder.

"Once the collection is completed..."

"The proceeds will become immediately available in Mr. Reynolds's account." Thomas nodded.

"I understand." Richard continued.

"If your intention remains unchanged..."

"We can also prepare the transfer authorization today."

"That way, the funds may be moved without delay once available." Anthony answered before anyone else.

"That would be ideal."

"I've already prepared the accompanying legal documentation." Richard smiled.

"I suspected you had."

Anthony removed several typed pages from his briefcase.

"Thomas." He slid them across the desk.

"As agreed." Thomas read every page. Once satisfied... He signed each document carefully. Anthony signed next as a witness. Richard accepted the completed authorization package.

"I'll keep these with the transaction file."

The entire process had taken nearly two hours. Every signature. Every form. Every authorization. Completed methodically. Professionally. Exactly the way a bank preferred to conduct business. Before they stood to leave... Anthony told Thomas the following words.

"As promised, out of the $240k of the check, $3000 is yours, and will remain on your account, just remember to pay taxes for that as well." Thomas nodded. His contractual service bonus. He smiled.

"Thank you." Enzo stood and shook his hand once again.

"You represented Thompson Manufacturing exceptionally well."

"It was my pleasure."

As the four men left Richard Bennett's office... The final stage had already begun. Within days... The funds would move from Thomas Reynolds' check account into Thompson Manufacturing's corporate account. From there... Anthony would formally document the transfer of $128, 300 to Vendetta Investments under an Inter-Company Development Loan recorded for corporate market research and future textile asset procurement. Everything would be documented. Everything would be legal. Everything would withstand scrutiny.

Exactly as James had envisioned.