Friendly Business

Ben Wade & Richie Roberts

by Atonia & Layne

Parking his black Range Rover, Ben entered Richie Roberts' office. He looked forward to this. Hadn't seen Richie in awhile and Wade liked the lawyer from New Jersey. Considered the man a friend.

Having heard about Roberts' problems with his wife and pending divorce, Ben had brought a bottle of brandy along as a gift. Sometimes a man needed a good drink, and this sounded like one of those times, in Ben's estimation. He'd deliberately waited for a day when Miss Peeg wouldn't be there. Some man talk, that's what Roberts needed.

Ben entered the outer office, and made his way back to Richie's door. "Afternoon, Roberts," he greeted Richie heartily.

Richie looked up from his computer screen, “Wade, how ya doin’ haven’t seen you in a while, have a seat.” He was glad to see Ben Wade he liked him despite knowing somewhere inside himself he wasn’t completely clean. He’d surmised early on he’d be a good friend to have if your back was against the wall.

"Yeah, well," Ben gave him a grin, as they shook hands over the desk. "Dan's too good a business manager. Gets everythin' done ahead of me, so I rarely get the chance to come in. He's in Sydney right now, though, so I managed to make it myself."

Lowering himself into a chair, Ben laid the gift box with the brandy on Richie's desk. "So, how've you been?" He thought he knew the answer to that, but it was a polite question and Ben Wade was nothing if not polite.

“I, uh, I’ve been better Wade, I guess you’ve heard Toni & I have split. But you know ya pull it together and get on with it, what’s this fancy box here?”

"That? That's just a little gift between friends." Ben smiled at him.

"Yeah. I'd heard about you and the missus. Thought you might be able to use a little...comfort." He nodded toward the box.

Richie grinned, “Mind if we share a little comfort,” he stepped out and found two glasses back in the sink area and brought them back in. Ben had opened the bottle and he poured out a shot for them, “To better times,” he turned his glass up. “So what brings you into town Wade, surely you didn’t come in just to comfort me a little?”

"Why not?" Ben grinned as he emptied his glass, then set it on the desk. "Man's gotta have friends to talk to sometimes."

Then he reached into his inside pocket. "As a matter of fact, though, I did have somethin' I wanted you to look into for me." He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Richie.

"I'm thinkin' of openin' a club. A gamblin' club." He looked Richie in the eye, not sure how the man felt about gambling. "Not one of these little dives, you understand. I'd want it to be more of a- a gentleman's club. Exclusive. Classy. The kinda place a man don' walk into unless he's got a roll of cash in his pocket, and a big bank account to back it up. Wanted to have you look into the legal side of things for me."

Richie smiled opening the envelope, “Not one of your back to back quarters place, eh? Yeah I’ll look into it. Not sure what the local restrictions are on this sort of thing. Should be a first of its kind around here. Where are you thinkin’ about openin’ up? Somehow I think the Glen matriarchs would frown on this sort of thing in The Glen.”

"I was thinkin' the same thing," Ben chuckled. "Don' know why, though. It won't be the kinda place where drunks are gettin' thrown out every night! I'm thinkin' 'bout just outside of Coffs, though. Seen a nice piece of property for sale there. Be handy to there and the Glen and several other towns in the area."

He looked questioningly at Richie. "You think there's enough people around the area with money to support somethin' like that?"

“From what I’ve seen Ben, money would not be a problem for you and you think, too, Coffs Harbor is a resort, a tourist area. You got a good idea here Wade, let me check it out for ya.”

Richie poured another shot out for them, “So you got business in Sydney now branching out?”

"Glad to hear you like the idea. You interested in gettin' in on it?" He wouldn't have made an offer like that to just anyone, but Ben liked Richie Roberts.

Richie swirled his drink around a moment, “Let me check it out for you first and I might be interested in a piece of it.” He looked up and met Ben’s eyes, “I’d wanna look it over real close ya know?” Relaxing a little, “I could probably use a little extra money. Looks like I gotta build me a house.”

"Yeah. Divorce'll do that to a man." Ben sat back in his chair. "Be glad to have you aboard Roberts, if you decide to come in."

"As far as Sydney- Well, I've gotten in a on a few real estate deals there. Not a lot so far. I'm pickin' and choosin'" He grinned at Richie again. "A man's gotta make sure of the kinda people he's associatin' with, you know?"

"Dan's been goin' back and forth, handlin' most of that for me."

“You seem to have a good man in Dan Evans, I know my dealings with him have been all good. He knows his business, exact and to the point.” Richie leaned back in his chair noticing it had developed a squeak and shifted it a little.

"Oh, Dan's the best. I'm lucky to have him." Ben was ready to change the subject.

"Got any solid plans for yourself, after the divorce?"

“Ah…no I don’t. It will be a year before its final that’s the law here downunder.” He looked up and grinned, “I ain’t planning on getting’ married again I can tell you that.”

"Can't say I blame you there." Ben chuckled. " 'Course, I was never plannin' on it when I met Liana either."

Ben had heard the talk about Richie and Libby. Dan had been quieter and more reserved than ever lately. He decided to feel Richie out a little on Libby.

"I know this is non 'a my business, Roberts, but I heard you been seein' that pretty little blonde down at the Times, Libby Tyler."

“Libby? Yeah, poor kid, she’s been upset lately. Seems somebody dumped on her too. She’s just a friend Wade, nothing more than that. I know rumors are flying about us being a couple but that ain’t so. My interest lies somewhere else but I ain’t sayin’ where. I got enough problems right now.”

Well, Ben thought to himself. He says his interest is somewhere else, but... What had Dan done to her, and was there still a chance? He'd find out.

"If you don't mind my sayin' so-" Ben said casually. "You might jus' be on the right track there with Miss Libby." He focused his gaze on Richie.

"She and Liana are close in age, and I gotta tell you, Roberts, Liana's the best thing that's ever happened to me." He saw Richie's look.

"Oh, I ain't sayin' I believe that old nonsense about catchin' 'em young and trainin' 'em well. That's not it. But Liana's got herself a way of lookin' at the world... It's like seein' it through new eyes, Roberts, if you know what I mean." Ben smiled, thinking of the way Liana saw things that he didn't.

"A man gets to be jaded at some point in life and, ever since I met Liana- Well, it's like seein' the world all over again." He paused a moment, looking at Richie.

"I just imagine it might be a little bit like that with Libby Tyler too." At least, Dan seemed to think it was like that, Ben thought.

“Well, like I said Wade I’m not looking to hook up with anybody right now, you have got a treasure in Liana no doubt about that. I’ve struck out twice you know and I ain’t looking to go to bat again at least not for a long, long time if ever. Libby’s young and fun you know but nothing serious goin’ on there.” Richie hesitated and then, “she needed a little comforting if you know what I mean, a guy that’d dump on a girl like that ought to have his ass kicked.”

So Dan had done something, Ben thought to himself, although he could hardly believe that Dan would do anything like just dump a woman. Wasn't in his character. Dan had too much conscience. Ben had once told Dan that his sensitive conscience was not Ben's favorite part of him.

Out loud, Ben said to Richie, "No doubt about that. Oughta be some ass kicked somewhere." Was he going to have to do that to Dan himself?

His grin at Richie was sly this time. "On the other hand, bein' the one gettin' to do the comfortin' ain't bad either."

"Hope I didn't stick my nose too far in where it wasn't wanted."

“Ah Wade I’d like to think we’re good enough friends we could talk about most anything,” he stretched his arms over his shoulders and brought them back down, “but if you think I’m gonna tell you how the comforting went?” He tilted his head and smiled.

"Not gonna share any 'a your good stories with a poor, married man, huh?" Wade's grin had widened. "Fine. Guess I won't be lettin' you oversee the hirin' of the cocktail waitresses at the club, when it's time." Ben's voice was teasing.

He rose from his chair. "Guess I need to be gettin' home. Liana's makin' homemade apple pie and if I don' get there I might not get any. Pregnancy sure does make her hungry!" His eyes twinkled. He was as excited by the coming baby as she was.

"You need to come out to the house for supper one evenin'. Been a long time. Bring Libby with you if you want. I'm sure she and Liana'd find lots to talk about." He leaned against the doorway of Richie's office.

Richie thought he’d like to do that but, “Thanks for the invite Ben but there’s enough talk about us as it is I don’t need to be taking her around. I’ll mention it to her though, you never know. Hey I appreciate the bottle and it was good to see you, I mean that. Tell Liana I said hello.”

"I'll do that. Be waitin' to hear from you about the club. An' it'd be good to have you a part of it, if you wanna be. I've got a good man in mind to run it. Known him for years. He's the best.

Ben had made it to the outside door while they were talking. "Oh, one more thing. With you runnin' for town solicitor, I'd be interested in makin' a contribution to your campaign."

“You’ll have to see Miss Peeg, she’s handling that, not that there’s much to handle, so far no competition.” He suddenly remembered Ben’s contribution to the park fund, “Uh, there’s a limit Ben,” he grinned, “I can be had but I can’t bought that’s my slogan.”

"An' a damned good one too. A man that can be bought is in it for himself, not the town. Either Dan or I'll talk to Miss Peeg about that then." Ben's curiosity was not yet fully satisfied, but he knew when it was time to quit. He opened the front door.

"Good to see you again, Roberts, an' I meant what I said about comin' out to the house. If you don' wanna bring Libby, you're welcome to come alone too." He gave Richie a hearty smile. "Liana's a good cook an' you might jus' be missin' some home cookin'.

Richie thought about home cooking, Toni was a good cook too, “Yeah, well thanks Wade, I’ll see ya.”

"Yep. See you around, Roberts."