[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Gopherville: Chapter Nine

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Gopherville: Chapter Nine
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1212465495.shtml


   Previously: [1]1 [2]2 [3]3 [4]4 [5]5 [6]6 [7]7 [8]8
   George Babbitt looked down at his drink, nearly empty, wondering if he
   wanted another before walking home.
   "Made up your mind, George?" asked the bartender, actually the owner,
   Donovan "Don" Shaw.
   "The drink, you mean?"
   "More than one decision to make tonight it sounds like. I can help you
   with this one, friend. On the house," said Don, raising the bottle of
   Maker's Mark bourbon. Babbitt smiled and nodded. Shaw poured, then
   poured a diet Seven-Up for himself. "Any other questions I can help
   you with?"
   "More like an enigma. Heard about Paul Reisling, no doubt."
   "Sure, the talk of the town, big man on campus. Santa Claus."
   "I know he's loaded, but I still want to know why. Why here? Why now?"
   "Why not?"
   "Because as far as I can tell, he's never gotten involved in any
   public area. Government, non-profits, not even charities. Suddenly,
   like you say, he's Santa Claus. Suddenly he throws down 200 large on
   the table." Shaw suddenly remembered the earlier night when Reisling
   had joined the ladies in the corner booth, that Fran Dodsworth had
   shown mild surprise when Reisling had announced that he had upped his
   offer to $250 thousand. Now it made sense.
   "Tell me, George," began Shaw. "How would someone, an outsider, a
   relative newcomer to Gopherville, come up with the figure of $200
   thousand? Why not 100 or 300? He must have got an estimate from
   somewhere."
   "First, he's not exactly a newcomer. He was raised here, remember. And
   now he's retired here, or semi-retired I guess. As for the estimate,
   he's an accountant. The documents are public and it wouldn't take a
   whiz like him to boil it down. Quicker than Arrowsmith even, I'd bet."
   "But he raised it at the meeting, didn't he?"
   "Yes, to $250 thousand." Babbitt straightened up. "Wait a minute,
   you're right, he did at that. That's quite a delta for an expert like
   him." Babbitt took a big sip of the bourbon. "Don, I had no idea you
   followed this stuff this closely."
   "I don't, really." Babbitt knew that was a doorway into a
   conversation, one he may or may not want to have. Shaw must have seen
   or heard something, and club owners see and hear plenty, especially
   when the drinks are flowing.
   "OK, Don," said Babbitt slowly. "Is there someone else I should know
   about?" Before Shaw could answer, he continued. "Before you answer, I
   could think of some scenarios I'd rather not know about. If that's
   where you're going, I'll say goodnight now before this stuff has me
   talking too much."
   "Nothing like that. But I don't think he's working alone."
   "Like who?"
   "That's not for me to say. Even bartenders have ethical
   responsibilities. But I will say that someone was surprised to hear
   about the $50k bump."
   "Like who, Don?"
   "Would you like another, George?" deflected Shaw, pointing to the
   again nearly empty glass. "I'll split some appetizers with you if
   you're hungry."
   Senator Babbitt smiled. Here was a friend, one who could provide him
   with more information later perhaps, if he didn't get greedy now. "You
   know what I'd really like? One of your hamburgers. Lots of fried
   onions. Steak fries. And just a Coke this time."
   "Glad to help," said Don Shaw, walking back to the kitchen to put in
   the order.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207374623.shtml
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207774475.shtml
   3. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208057658.shtml
   4. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208671051.shtml
   5. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209093505.shtml
   6. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1209169946.shtml
   7. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1210475250.shtml
   8. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1211337517.shtml