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“Linda, do you have any idea where signature cards or copies of bank accounts would be?” I asked her when I reached her desk.
“Like account numbers and things?” she confirmed.
“Yes. Anything that you may get when an account is opened.”
“Tell Mr. Allen to check his bottom right drawer that’s locked. He’s the only one with a key to it.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” Going back inside, I was more composed. “Bottom right drawer. You’ll need your keys.”
Dante nodded and went right to it. He pulled out the files, and just like he thought, his brother’s name was on three of the six accounts. However, if he was smart, he could gain access to additional accounts because we had registered them to Jeremy Allen. No “Sr.” or “Jr.” added.
“This is just fucking great,” Dante swore.
“That would explain this…” I pulled out the number on the Post-it I’d written. “Only the last five of the account number is here, but it matches this one.”
“This is my father’s business savings account. He used it to put profits over the previous year so we can afford upgrades. He was a stickler about having money saved. That’s why I couldn’t understand how any of this happened. We never touched that account, that's why I never thought to check it. Nobody ever had access to it but the two of us.”
He leaned back in his chair, and I could see how defeated he felt right now. It was in the slump of his body and the wrinkles in his forehead.
“Dante, you need to plug these holes. You can’t keep going with unknown things floating around you.”
“Trust me, I know.” He sighed.
“I hate to say this…” I started.
“Go ahead. I probably need to hear it.”
“Your father is gone, Dante. I’m really sorry about that, and I couldn’t imagine not having my father at all. However, Allen’s Hooves is now yours. You need to treat it like it is. Know things. Change stuff up. Make things make sense for you and not for him. He doesn’t have this problem anymore. It’s yours and yours alone to care for and nurture. What’s something that you’ve never understood that he did?”
With no hesitation, he responded, “I’ve never understood why this office is halfway across town while the farm is over there.”
“So, change it. Is there a place for the office to be over there?” I asked.
“Technically, yes. Tim lives out of the farmhouse attached, but there’s a second dwelling that could easily be modernized and transformed into an office.”
“And it would make it easier for you to be at both places at once if it’s there,” I added.
“Yes.”
“When is the lease up?” I asked.
“We pay them monthly with no obligation to stay. My father was friends with the building owner. Knowing my dad, he probably rented the space to help. But there are a few other businesses in this building now, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“And it’s going to save you how much a month?”
“About… $3500-ish a month.”
“Whoa! How long would it take you to fix up that other dwelling?” I asked.
“I’ll have to hire somebody. It’ll probably take them a month to remodel it. And I’ll need to add a conference room.”
“Can Tim function with shit being in the other house for a month?” If he could, he could move the rent money to help with costs.
“Probably. I could probably get the guys working the farm to pitch in, too.”
“See! Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
“Okay, I’ll get with them and start making plans.” He exhaled, but this time, it seemed in relief, not frustration.
