Chapter 1

 

Mike Hollis sat at the kitchen table and watched his wife, Brandi, fix the meal while he sipped his after work beer. At thirty-five she looked better than a lot of teenage girls, he thought. Brandi had changed from her work togs into a pair of cut-off jeans and a white sleeveless tee-shirt. She was barefooted he noticed. He also noted that she was braless. After fifteen years of marriage he still lusted after her just as he had the first time he saw her. She was hot then and even hotter now. The fact that she couldn't conceive a child did nothing to diminish from her beauty. She could still get him excited just like the previous night when they had had a long and very hot sex session.

"How was work?" he inquired. Brandi was the office manager for a construction company. Manager and general flunky. Brandi had her degree in business management and she often lamented that she wasn't using her education to its fullest extent nor would she ever be able to do so at that company.

"Work sucked," she answered without looking around at him. "As usual. How was your day?"

"Sucked, too," he answered with a laugh. "As usual. I'm beginning to see a pattern here, don't you?"

"I do indeed," she laughed with him.

"Sometimes I think we should have taken Jimmy's offer to go into business with him, instead of opening my own business." Mike had struggled for several years to make his landscaping business pay.

"Your brother is a sleaze," Brandi snapped.

"Yes, maybe so," Mike said. "But he's a successful sleaze. Made a pile of money over the past few years.

"So he says. Owning a night club that is hardly better than a whorehouse isn't my idea of success. By the way, there is a message from some lawyer on the machine. I didn't listen to all of it when I realized it was for you."

"Lawyer? Now what kind of trouble am I in?" Mike grumbled getting up from the table. He was back in a few minutes, his face pale. "I don't believe it," he said slumping down at the table. "Jimmy is dead."

"What? What do you mean?" she asked astonished.

'That was a lawyer. Jimmy's lawyer," Mike said. "Apparently Jimmy was found dead yesterday sometime. He said Jimmy died of a heart attack. God, I can't believe it! I just talked to him a couple of weeks ago and he seemed fine."

"I'm so sorry, Mike," Brandi said coming over to him and laying her hand on his shoulder. "I didn't care for him that much, but I certainly wouldn't have wished him dead. What did the lawyer say?"

"I have to go down there and settle his affairs. Jimmy left everything to me according to Mister Law."

"The lawyer is named Law? That's...odd."

"Yeah, I guess it is," Mike agreed absently. "Poor Jimmy. We weren't all that close, but I loved him." He looked up at his wife, tears filling his eyes. "I wished I had liked him more."

"Yeah, I know," she said softly . "Jimmy wasn't all that likeable, I'm afraid. When do you have to go? I mean funeral and whatever."

" I'm the only family left," Mike answered. "I guess it will be up to me. And of course you, too. Can you get off a few days to go with me?"

"I'm sure they will let me off for that," Brandi said. "Jimmy always bragged about how well he was doing, but I have to wonder if he was doing as well as he claimed."

***

"Mister Hollis," Able Law said leaning back in his chair. He was an imposing black man with just a few sprinkles of grey in his hair and beard. "I have been your brother's attorney for over five years. In fact I tried to talk him out of buying that so called club. He didn't listen to me." The older lawyer laughed softly. "Apparently it was a good thing he didn't, because Jim left a good sized estate to you. I prepared his will so I'm well versed with his last wishes. I have handed you a copy of the will so you can read it for yourself. Basically you get everything. Since you were a partner in his business there won't be any problems with making the transfer. I..."

"Wait a minute, Mister Law," Mike said. "What do you mean partner?"

"Exactly that," the old gentleman said. "Jim had me fix up the papers over two years ago." He handed some legal papers across the desk to Mike. "This is your signature isn't it?"

Mike studied the papers. It wasn't his signature. Apparently Jimmy had forged his signature to the documents. He was about to say so when the lawyer spoke again.

"This simplifies the matter considerably." Able Law said. "The business and its assets will not have to be in probate and of course no inheritance taxes because the partnership agreement states that in the event of death by either partner the other assumes total ownership. But of course you knew that, didn't you?" Mike nodded and handed the papers back to the lawyer. He didn't know any such thing, but it seemed that keeping quiet about it might be wise.

"The Banger Club has remained open," the lawyer continued. "Your brother had a lot of confidence in his manager. A gentleman by the name of Striker. I recall Mister Striker is called Big Tom, a name that suits him well, I think. He's rather large. You will need to go to the bank and sign the necessary papers to access the accounts your brother had. I've spoken with the bank president, and he's expecting you this afternoon." He handed Mike some papers. "You will need to give these to John Greene at the bank. I don't anticipate any problems there." He gave both Mike and Brandi a piercing look. "I don't know what you intend on doing with the club, but I would suggest that you do nothing in a hurry. You should take some time to get the feel of things. You will have several offers from people wanting to buy you out, but I council taking it very slow. Jim...well now you, Mister Hollis, own the building and other assets of the club. I would estimate the value to be in excess of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. The business is worth considerably more. Take your time and study the situation before you jump into a sale. Of course I will do whatever I can to help you."

At the mention of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, both Mike and Brandi sat up straighter in their chairs. Mike had no idea that the property was worth that. He had always assumed Jimmy rented the building.

"How much do you figure the business is worth?" Brandi managed to ask.

"I don't really have any way to determine that," Able Law said. "You'll have to spend some time with the books to get a good idea of the value. As to the funeral arrangements, your brother wished that there be no public funeral. He wanted his remains to the cremated and the ashes spread on the parking lot of his club. Would you like for me to make the arrangements, Mister Hollis?"

"Yes, please," Mike said still dazed by the revelation of his brother's estate. "And please call me Mike."

"Certainly," the lawyer said. "Besides the club property your brother owned a house. I made arrangements to have it ready for you to stay in. I have started the transfer of deeds already. Your driver will take you to the bank and to the house when you are ready. Your brother's car, I should say cars, are at the house and the keys are on a rack in the kitchen. I want you to feel free to call me if there is any questions or if I may be of any assistance."

"My driver?"

"Yes, a young man, Amos, I think his name is, is waiting for you. He worked for your brother and now I suppose he works for you. The visit to the bank should be first because you'll want to pay your employees Friday. You need to get the banking business done quickly."

Amos was waiting for them beside a nearly new mini limousine. Amos gave both of them a big smile when he introduced himself. Mike noticed that the driver's gaze stayed on Brandi longer than necessary. It didn't bother him all that much because he was used to men looking at his wife.

The bank president, John Greene, also a black man, made them welcome and took them through the process. Mike was surprised to notice that Jimmy had forged his signature on several of the bank documents also. Both Brandi and Mike were shocked at the amount of the account balances. He had Brandi added as an authorized signer to the accounts and withdrew five thousand dollars out of Jimmy's personal checking account for expenses, because they were running short on money. Almost everything Mike made went back into the landscaping business, and they mostly lived on Brandi's salary. While Mike was saddened by Jimmy's death, things were beginning to look up financially. After the quick and rather painless visit to the bank they started to Jimmy's house.

"That cash will come in handy," Brandi whispered to him when they were underway. "I wondered how we were going to eat while we were here."

"Yeah, me too," Mike whispered back. "I had no idea that Jimmy was doing so well. I guess he wasn't lying was he?"

"I guess not. Besides being a strip club, what else is the Banger Club?"

"I sure don't know," Mike said. "But whatever it is it's making money hand over fist. Where are we, Amos?"

"This is where Mister Hillis lived," the black man said, turning into a long sweeping drive.

"You got to be kidding me!" Brandi exclaimed watching the giant iron gate swing open. Beyond the gate was a mansion. A large sprawling house sat on a slight hill. "This is Jimmy's house?"

"Yes ma'am," the young black said. "Mister Hollis bought it nearly two years ago. Some old rock star used to live here. Mister Hollis done a lot of work to it. He added the tennis courts and swimming pool last year. Big-ass pool, too."

Mike was speechless. He studied the yard and grounds with a professional eye. He could see it was professionally landscaped and well maintained. Amos eased the car to a stop in front of the grand place. He turned and handed Mike a ring of keys.

"This is the keys to everything here, Mister Hollis, sir," he said. "I'll bring your luggage right on in. You folks go on in and look around."

The house was magnificent in every manner. Inside the front door was a foyer with marble tile. Beyond that was a large room with two curved stairs leading to the second floor. There were halls leading off of the main floor.

"Would you look at this?" Mike said to Brandi. They both were standing in the great room looking, their mouths slightly open in wonder.

"Yes I would," Brandi said. "I know how the Clampett's felt on their first trip to Beverly Hills. What do you think, Jed?"

"I think we done died and went to heaven," Mike breathed. "If I'm Jed, are you Granny?"

"Watch it, buddy," Brandi said. "I'm not that old yet."

"No, you're not. Elly May then. What the hell was Jimmy in to that made him this much money?"

"I don't know, but it couldn't have been legal. Did that lawyer say that Jimmy owned this place? No mortgage?"

"He said Jimmy...well we, own it free and clear," Mike said. "Well, Elly May, let's go explore the joint."

They split up and began their exploring. One room after another was revealed as nothing short of grand.

"Mike you have to see this kitchen!" Brandi called. "Where are you anyway?"

"I don't know," Mike yelled back. "I'm lost. Come here, Honey, you have to see this room."

"Keep yelling and I'll find you," she called back, laughing. She found him in a hallway standing in front of a closed door.

"What?" she asked.

"You'll see," he said grinning as he opened the door.

"Oh my God!" Brandi said. "What the hell is this? A museum for the perverted?" The walls were filled with giant photographs of people having sex in all manner of positions and combinations. Statues of nudes and explicit sex acts were scattered about the large room. While Mike went along one wall, Brandi went the other way. When they met she looked at him her face flushed. "I don't know if I'm aroused or disgusted," she said breathlessly.

"I don't have that problem," Mike said laughing. "I'm aroused. I'm hard and horny." He put his arm around her and cupped her breast. "From the feel of your nipple, you're hot, too."

"Yeah, I guess I am." Brandy said. "Did you see the room, Amos put our things in? It larger than our whole apartment. Have you seen everything yet?"

"After this room, I think I have seen everything," he answered laughing. "Wow, my brother was a libertine. A certified degenerate, huh?"

"Yes he was," Brandi said hugging her husband. "A raunchy hedonist. I suppose you noticed that the main theme of these photographs are group and interracial sex."

"Yes and I'm still noticing it. I also noticed that all the women are good looking and white. Black lawyer, black banker, and black driver. I think Jimmy had a thing for African-Americans."

"Come on let's get out of here," Brandi said. "Let's look around outside and get some fresh air." Reluctantly, Mike followed her outside. A few minutes later they were standing on a patio admiring the swimming pool.

"Wow," she said. "Would you look at the size of that thing? Double Olympic size?"

"I would guess so," Mike answered. "What the hell are we going to do with this place?"

"Right now, I'm going to swim," she answered, taking off her shirt and slacks. "Skinny dippin' time. Come on in." Brandi was quickly naked and diving into the inviting water.

Mike looked around. He hadn't see a soul since Amos left, so he took off his clothes and dived into the pool.

"Isn't this nice?" Brandi asked swimming up to him pressing her breasts to his chest. He lifted her out of the water and put his mouth to one taut nipple.

"Damned right it's nice." He said releasing the nipple. "The pool and house is pretty nice, too. I love your boobs, Brandi. You have to promise me one thing."