Conflicting Contradictions

By Dr T William Hefferan

Just over a decade before Dr. Will Ryan found himself leading a covert US government agency Congress is unaware of, he was a farm boy in the Midwest. A burning question continued to haunt Dr. Ryan. How did he evolve into his current job given his farm roots? Dr. Ryan reveals his transition into a world he never knew he was destined to enter.

The 21 year old farm boy never could have imagined how, during his time in the U.S. Army, he would lead an organization that butts heads with the Italian Mafia. Dr. Ryan has long since concluded his path to who he is today was pre-ordained all the way back to President Lincoln’s presidency. His Army tour must surely have been an integral part of his intricately planned destiny.

In order to uncover more about why his destiny began so long ago, this adventure-thriller Prequel looks back to the day Will Ryan receives his draft notice in 1971. Will knows he’s heading for the dangerous rice paddies of Vietnam. However, mysteriously he is sent to Europe where he lives in what he calls his own personal grey area.

Will Ryan’s evolution includes a dream world he created – a dream world in which reality is far stranger than fiction. Will’s incredible transformation comes alive through exciting adventures and sequences of events. He learns how insidiously power corrupts with the unstoppable casualness of reversed enlightenment better known as obfuscation and denial.

Will begins small with his creation of a restaurant, followed by a nightclub with live entertainment. Together with the Sergeant Major, his European empire grows to 17 restaurants, 13 nightclubs, 16 Brothels, a Champagne and wine distributorship, a flying service, to name just a few.

Even though Will focuses entirely on working for the greater good and the success of his fellow soldiers, his process leads to self-interest and self-destruction. Will Ryan’s moral compass slowly becomes far from what he wants it to be -- some days his farm boy compass is missing altogether. Daily, he struggles, hoping he can find it again. But his new-found morality – steeped in the drug called power -- pleases him. Power corrupts inch by inch, step by step by step.
Will is against carrying a gun or killing someone himself. Yet it’s second nature for him to order others to, “Kill them all!” Money is no longer his driver when he determines he can simply take what he wants. Driven by conflicting personal rules and goals, Will capitalizes on Army networking that ensures excessive force will maximize his own effectiveness.

We experience what happens when one person controls his very own personal Army – 175 soldiers trained and fully equipped to take over an entire country if it is ordered to do so.

We all have hope that love will conquer all. Yet some connected lovers face unintended consequences that destroy those things that brought them together. Will learns how our hidden social narrative reveals contemporary misgivings that affect romance whether he likes it or not.

Denial and self-delusion mean one thing for Will Ryan: he knows he is fooling himself in his make-believe world filled with conflicting contradictions, yet they occasionally imbue his soul with hope. His reality reaches in and out of the grey area where he exists. Will Ryan is denying the inevitable reality of the abrupt end to his self-fabricated world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr T William Hefferan
• Release date: Dec 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311265920

Dr T William Hefferan

My name is Bill Hefferan and I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. I currently reside in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico where I live on the most beautiful ocean in existence. I enjoyed my high school years in sight of D.C., in Alexandria, Virginia. I then attended Grand Valley State University and the University of Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA). I also received two professional degrees: CCIM and CPM. As a life-long learner, I continued on to earn my M.B.A. and later my doctorate (DBA). The focus of my doctorate is Organizational Psychology and Social Science Research.I served in the Army for two years in Heidelberg, Germany in the Office of Public Affairs. I had a wonderful time as a writer for Army in Europe Magazine and traveled extensively into every country in Europe as a result of my various assignments for the magazine. In my spare time, I couldn't resist forging into business in Germany. I developed and operated three German restaurants in two different cities, managing them while maintaining my Army job (my Army boss was an investor in one of my restaurants so I had plenty of leeway!). One of my restaurants included a popular night club in which I had live music. All of my restaurants had the best cuisine in all of Germany! The two years were an incredible experience I will never forget.My hobbies include: small boat building, making furniture, and other wood working ventures. I also enjoy cooking which led me to write and publish a cook book, Cooking as an Event. My other passion is the Triathlon for which Puerto Rico is ideal! I have three children, the youngest having just graduated from college joins the other two with busy professional careers in different parts of the globe, so I don’t see them as much as I would like.I have been in the business of design, development and syndication of commercial investment real estate since my first year in college, a path which began when I started purchasing small apartment buildings when I was 18. I am currently the President/CEO of a commercial investment real estate design and development company based in Michigan. We have averaged about 100 employees. We deal in acquisitions, design, development, management and packaging of all types of commercial real estate projects, from creating new projects, re-hab of existing (primarily historic), or any other concept that will create a substantial return for the investors.These projects range from office buildings, shopping centers, medical centers, apartment complexes, hotels, to any type of project that fits a particular area and/or economic time. We conceptualize the idea, design the project, form the ownership entity, create the debt and equity structures, build the project, and manage it throughout its life cycle. I especially enjoy the many creative opportunities, beginning with the development of an idea, through the concept and design process, creating the marketing and branding strategies, the architectural stage, and the various financial structures that are all intriguing and challenging.WRITING BIO: Dr. T. William Hefferan1) Two years as a writer for Army in Europe Magazine, for which I traveled to virtually every country in Europe covering intriguing human interest stories.2) Wrote and published the book (408 pages, 2012), JOBS, How the U.S. Can Reach Long-Term Full Employment. Learn how everyone can successfully participate in our country’s essential shift into a knowledge worker economy in which everyone connects with meaningful and rewarding jobs. Innovation, entrepreneurship, education and leadership join with other important topics to reveal the contemporary path we will follow to full employment in the U.S. (self-published)3) Wrote and published the book (136 pages, 2001), The Old Colony Building which describes in critical detail the process of designing, developing, constructing and managing commercial investment real estate, including comprehensive financial analyses of each step. (self-published).4) Wrote and published the cook book (138 pages, 2002), Cooking as an Event, based on my travels in Europe and my extensive background of developing high-end restaurants in Europe and the United States. (self-published).5) Updated and published (168 pages 2010), Cooking as an Event Second Edition as a result of my years living and working in the Caribbean.6) Wrote in excess of 250 scholarly research papers during and subsequent to my 5-1/2 years doctoral studies.7) Wrote and published world-wide my peer-reviewed research study (216 pages, 2010), Employers and Job Seekers Pursue Mutual Excellence through Postmodern Communications Strategies. Based on several hundred hours of one-on-one interviews, this comprehensive research study uncovers innovative concepts for job seeker/employees and employers to establish mutually beneficial and rewarding employment relationships (EMBER).8) Twenty-three years as CEO of a commercial investment real estate development company, averaging 80 to 100 employees, I write marketing and promotional materials for each project we create which then forms the basis for the marketing strategy for each project.9) Wrote Perseverance. In this adventure thriller, inspired by real-life events, Dr. Will Ryan and The Five Pillars of the Red Ring -- a covert government Agency even Congress is unaware of -- aim to stop radical terrorists based in the Middle East from their new initiative to plant suitcase nukes in major U.S. cities as hateful revenge and retribution. This is the first in a series of 11 books that detail Dr. Will Ryan and his Seal Team 6-like operatives’ global missions to deploy their strategic covert military operations that focus on pure shock and awe. Join Dr. Will Ryan and The Five Pillars of the Red Ring and experience the life and death challenges that span the globe.10) I am editor of the blog: “The Place for Business” (www.DrHefferan.com) in which I write at least two comprehensive, entertaining and informative articles each week covering important contemporary topics: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Employment Environment, Knowledge Worker Economy, Communication, Education and Social Responsibility. Stop by and join in the conversation – I hope to hear from you soon!

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Just over a decade before Dr. Will Ryan found himself in the role as a covert operative for a U.S. government agency Congress is unaware of, he was a farm boy in the Midwest. A burning question continues to haunt Dr. Ryan. How did he evolve into his current job given his roots? This book explores Dr. Ryan's inevitable transition into a world he never knew he was destined to enter.

The 21 year old farm boy never could have imagined how, during his time in the U.S. Army, he would lead an organization that butts heads with the Italian Mafia. Dr. Ryan has long since concluded his path to who he is today was pre-ordained all the way back to President Lincoln's presidency. His Army tour must surely have been an integral part of his intricately planned destiny.

In order to uncover more about why his destiny began so long ago, this adventure-thriller Prequel looks back prior to our first look at Dr. Will Ryan – back to the day he receives his draft notice in1971. Will knows he's heading for the dangerous rice paddies of Vietnam. However, his time in the Army focusses on his 28 months in Europe where he lives in what he calls his own personal grey area.

Will Ryan's evolution includes a dream world he created – a dream world in which reality is far stranger than fiction. We see Will's incredible transformation through exciting adventures and sequences of events, some even humorous. He learns how insidiously power corrupts with the unstoppable casualness of reversed enlightenment better known as obfuscation and denial.

Will begins small with his creation of a restaurant, followed by a nightclub with live entertainment. Together with the Sergeant Major, his European empire grows to 17 restaurants, 13 nightclubs, 16 Brothels, a Champagne and wine distributorship, a flying service, to name just a few.

Even though Will focusses entirely on working for the greater good and the success of his fellow soldiers, his process leads to self-interest and self-destruction. Will Ryan's moral compass slowly becomes far from what he wants it to be -- some days his farm boy compass is missing altogether. Daily, he struggles, hoping he can find it again. But his new-found morality – steeped in the drug called power -- pleases him. Power corrupts inch by inch, step by step by step.

With the help of Will's mentor, Sergeant Major Paul Johnathon McKirby, he learns how the real Army works -- the behind the scenes world that greases the skids of those who are dedicated to make fellow soldiers' lives the best that they can be.

Ted Potter, Will's best friend and business partner, unites with Will to create an organization -- spread across Europe -- operating fully inside Will's very own, ever-expanding grey area. Will learns how our military isn't what he thought it was. With the help of the Sergeant Major, the organization capitalizes on the impressive Army networking system that has no bounds.

Will is against carrying a gun or killing someone himself. Yet it's second nature for him to order others to, Kill them all! Money is no longer his driver when he determines he can simply take what he wants. Driven by conflicting personal rules and goals, Will capitalizes on Army networking that ensures excessive force will maximize his own effectiveness.

We experience what happens when one person controls his very own personal Army – 175 soldiers trained and fully equipped to take over an entire country if it is ordered to do so. Because of his adversary's relentless pursuit, Will's required transformation into a mob boss himself becomes easy because the leader of his militia is a mad-man called PUSHER.

We all have hope that love will conquer all. Yet some connected lovers face unintended consequences that destroy those things that brought them together. Will learns how our hidden social narrative reveals contemporary misgivings that affect romance whether he likes it or not.

Denial and self-delusion mean one thing for Will Ryan: he knows he is fooling himself in his make-believe world with conflicting contradictions, yet they occasionally imbue his soul with hope. His reality reaches in and out of the grey area where he exists. Will Ryan is denying the inevitable reality of the abrupt end to his self-fabricated world.

The stories and events in this book are inspired by real-life events except those not covered by relevant statute of limitations laws or effective 'plausible deniability' strategies.

CHARACTERS

Alejandro Battaglia: Mafia Don whose organization is principally located in and around Alassio, Italy.

Corky Brocker: Spec-4 administrative assistant for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Manager of the Club Cyclops, oversees starting new nightclubs for Ryan's organization, and the son of Ambassador Brocker.

Ambassador Thomas Brocker: U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Ryan's associate.

Jeff McCallum: Spec-4 administrative assistant for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. General Manager of all food service operations for Ryan's organization.

Akiva Cohen: Spec-5 assistant accounting manager for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Accountant and business planner for Ryan's organization.

Mousier Pierre DuPont: Owner of the largest Champagne producer in the Champagne Region in France. One of Ryan's partners.

Colonel Frank Gibbons: Top ranking military officer in the Public Affairs Office for the Headquarters of the Army in Europe and Northern Africa, located in Heidelberg, Germany.

Manny Gomez: PFC, Photographer for the Army in Europe Magazine -- Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Associate in Ryan's organization.

Captain Marvin Gonzalez: Operations Officer for Publications, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Carol Hubner: Secretary and Tours Chief for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany.

Mike Lowry: Spec-4 food services manager for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Head Chef, manager of food preparation and procuring for 17 restaurants throughout Europe -- owned by Ryan's organization.

Gretta McKirby: Wife of Sergeant Major McKirby.

Sergeant Major Paul Johnathon McKirby: Ranking enlisted soldier in charge of all operations in the Public Affairs Office for the Headquarters of the Army in Europe and Northern Africa, located in Heidelberg, Germany. Partner and mentor to Ryan.

Captain Edison Morgan: Operations Officer for Publications, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Thomas 'Nookie' Nunn: Spec-4 administrative assistant for the Public Affairs Office, Heidelberg, Germany. General Manager of 16 Brothels throughout Europe -- owned by Ryan's organization.

Shannon Olsen: Spec-5 psychologist for the Public Affairs Office, Heidelberg, Germany. Associate and psychologist for Ryan's organization.

Betty Potter: Ted Potter's x-wife.

Ted Potter: Spec-4 administrative assistant for the Public Affairs Office, Heidelberg, Germany. Second in command of Ryan's organization

Benny 'Pusher' Rankin: PFC motor pool mechanic Heidelberg, Germany. Leader of the 175 man militia that serves Ryan's organization.

Buck Sergeant Will Ryan: E-5 Buck Sergeant writer for the Army in Europe Magazine. Head of the organization.

Hildegard Spencer: Warren Spencer's wife.

GS-15 Warren Spencer: U.S. Government Diplomat from Washington, D.C. currently assigned to the Public Affairs Office, Heidelberg, Germany. Primary investor in Ryan's 13 nightclubs.

Pete Walker: Spec-4 clerk for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Nightclub manager for Ryan's organization.

Bucky Williams: Master Sergeant in charge of the motor pool for the Public Affairs Office, Heidelberg, Germany.

Richard 'Race-car Richie' Wright: Spec-4 motor pool mechanic for the Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany. Chief mechanic and driver for Ryan's organization.

Conflicting Contradictions

Dr. T. William Hefferan

CHAPTER ONE

Skirmish at the Cyclops

And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -- T. S. Eliot

What the Hell's wrong with Black Orchid tonight? Was there a sale on extra loud amps? Wilson must be on crack again – looks like he's trying to break his drums -- not play them! I leave this place for one day and all hell breaks out!

Club Cyclops has been in business for about seven months and is more popular than we ever could have imagined. I'm Buck Sergeant Will Ryan, owner-manager of the nightclub, along with my best friend and second in command, Spec-4 Ted Potter. Ted shares management duties with me – skills not evident tonight by our new on site manager, Nookie-Nunn. Both Ted and I are US Army draftees with 14 whole months under our military belts defending the United States of America. Somehow, what we're doing tonight is how we decided to defend our Motherland.

The band, Black Orchid, is from South Africa with a tremendous following here in Heidelberg, Germany. We are packed to the hilt tonight -- mostly students from the University of Heidelberg. They love this place.

Club Cyclops is the first club we opened soon after we landed in Germany. Because of its success, it was quickly followed by 12 others throughout Europe. Among many other enterprises. Who says they should eliminate the draft?

I've never heard Eto sing falsetto before. He's off the frickin' scale! Ted, help me here. What is this? Are we in the right club?

A couple of other problems hit me square in the face.

Will, I see it this way, Problem one, the band is screwed up on something. Problem two, Warren is here with his friends – I'm sure we'll get an earful from our major investor in a few minutes. Problem three, there's smoke billowing from the rows of tables in front of the stage and covering everything a couple of rows back. And, last but not least, Problem four, our nightclub may be burning to the ground – especially note-worthy since we are on the seventh floor. Ted knows how to put things in perspective without all the emotion I bring to the table when I see billowing smoke in my club.

Absolutely wonderful assessment, Ted. But you forgot Problem five. Where the hell is Nookie-Nunn?! Screaming at this point so I'm heard above the drugged-out band. Nookie-Nunn is supposed to at least keep a lid on things, or more preferably, manage this fucking place!

Exhibiting his honed skills to calm me down, Ted offers some relaxing words, We both know he's in the back banging one of the waitresses. I know he's one of our best friends, but you know about his problems. I told you he is incapable of changing. Ted employs his 'I told you so' attitude.

I know, I know. I hate to say it, one of us is going to have to be on-site every night and make some kind of change. Why don't you at least talk to Nookie and see what's up with the smoke and the druggies. Ted, you know how to keep your cool better than I can.

If he's back there with one of the girls and drunk again, should I fire him or just send him home? What do you want me to do? You know how I feel. Ted's looking down at the floor, slowly shaking his head. I told you so.

Unless he's putting out a kitchen fire or stacking boxes or doing something constructive, send him home! I don't want to talk to him right now. In the meantime, I'm going to go up and see what the commotion is upfront. I can't see with all the smoke around here – and the frickin music! I can't hear myself think! My need for shouting is apparent as I storm off.

Ted and I have been best friends since we arrived here in Germany nine months ago. While living in Chicago, he was an import-export salesman before the draft plucked him from real life. Ted's a nuts and bolts kind of a guy. He loves to get involved with my projects -- immediately on board as an idea machine like me. What separates Ted from a lot of people with ideas -- he's also a worker-bee. As an entrepreneur, you need great ideas you're passionate about, but you also need to develop your creation and bring your once budding dream to the marketplace. Ted and I are both on that same wavelength.

Nookie! You should be out there keeping this place from blowing up! We could lose this place in a puff of smoke! Oh, by the way, the club you're currently trying to manage is currently filling with smoke -- fast! Smoke, Nookie, smoke! Will is out there trying to keep a lid on things. We can't come here every night and do your job Nookie!

I know, I know. I'm back here pushing the cook staff to get the food out faster and I got talking with Becky, and . . . well . . . you know. Nookie-Nunn knows . . . that Ted knows . . . the 'you know' of his excuse.

Neither Will or I have the time to come back here and take over management again. If we can't count on our key people to take care of business, we can't continue our expansion efforts. Ted sees he's getting through to Nookie's rational section of his brain as the dopamine slowly fades from another section in his noggin.

Nookie-Nunn is by far the friendliest person I've ever met. He's always happy – a smile almost tattooed across his face. He will do anything for anyone if it's within his power to do so. He is one of my closest friends. I will never forget when I first met him. We became best friends in seconds.

I'm glad Ted's here to handle Nookie right now. Ted's a great partner, not as bullish as I am at quickly solving what's broken. Sometime his way is best. Once in a while a more direct approach puts fires out and clears the smoke more quickly than diplomatic hand holding. Let's face it, yelling and screaming cuts to the chase. Dead ahead of me right now is a major problem I can't solve with either approach. And none of my security guys are anywhere in sight. Pusher's not even here – he's always got my back. Something else has to be going on here beyond the smoke and falsetto.

My Army job is a dream job. I am a writer for Army in Europe Magazine, writing human interest stories. I travel throughout Europe in or on many different kinds of transportation. If the destination is within a day's travel, we take my car or the staff car – depending on the trip and what we need to bring along. Many trips are by military transport, from large cargo planes – horrible way to travel – to Navy boats or commercial trains. This time my very late trip back from Lisbon, Portugal is aboard an air freighter with an overnight lay-over in Frankfort, Germany.

This particular trip back to Heidelberg gives me a bonus opportunity with an overnight stay in a historic residential structure within the military base in Frankfort. I could have planned to drive back to Heidelberg from Frankfort, but the return trip is way too late at night and I really wanted to stay at this place for the night.

One of my new good friends I was lucky enough to spend some time with on the airplane is 'Nookie-Nunn,' AKA: Tom Nunn. Meeting fellow soldiers from around the world is one of the things I love about being in the service. It's almost a given that everyone I meet immediately becomes a great friend. Nookie-Nunn is one of the friendliest of them all. Tom, 'Please call me Nookie-Nunn,' is packed full of southern drawl that tops anyone else's tell-tale accent from Kentucky.

We land sometime in the middle of the night at Rein Mein Air Force Base in Frankfort. We're here for just a super-quick overnight before we'll catch a very early flight tomorrow that will take us the short distance to Heidelberg. Working for the Press, Army travel can be almost like hitch-hiking – hop aboard whatever is available that's going near where you're ultimately hoping to be.

Nookie-Nunn has a hyper-affable personality. It's as though all of life is an amusement park designed just for him. He defines carefree. The 'Nookie' portion of his name comes from his insatiable need – intense requirement that is -- to have sex with a female as often as any human or animal could possibly arrange.

I take that back. The Alaskan bull elk does have a slight edge over Nookie-Nunn. Prior to the mating season, the Alaskan bull elk's physiology instinctively puts most of its energy into creating the most impressive horns designed specifically to attract the females. The other requirement for the Alaskan bull elk to prepare for mating season is to eat as much as he can in preparation for this oh-so-special season. Just like many other species, the brain is geared toward procreation. During the mating season, the Alaskan bull elk's brain is 100% geared to procreation -- to create as many offspring as he physically can during this special season.

Each Alaskan bull elk maintains its own herd of female elk. He spends all of his waking hours mating with those females who have elected to dedicate themselves to become members of the Alaskan bull elk's personal herd. The trade-off for the female is the obvious – mating to create offspring. The other lure that drives the female elk to mate is because the Alaskan bull elk is committed to protect all of his females and off-spring from attacks by roving Alaskan bull elks and other marauders like lions, tigers and the like.

The Alaskan bull elk is so committed to creating as many offspring as possible, that he becomes extremely exhausted every day because he focuses so intently on mating. In fact, he no longer eats during the mating season because of his intense focus on the females. Even though he gorged himself at the onset of this glorious season, the added exercise and a lack of calories during the mating season causes the Alaskan bull elk to lose 40% of its body weight during the mating season.

Nookie-Nunn is not quite on par with the Alaskan bull elk. But he's a close second. Nookie-Nunn takes time away from mating to drink massive amounts alcohol for energy so he can mate with as many (human) females as the Alaskan bull elk boasts -- relative to female bull elks that is.

Because of security issues while in Frankfort, we are told that we can't leave the base. Apparently there was a terrorist bombing near Frankfort that day. No unauthorized military personnel can leave the base – no exceptions. However, Nookie-Nunn is physiologically unable to abide by that ruling. Not his fault – just like the Alaskan bull elk who can't follow rules when anything gets in the way of the genetically induced mating need.

As Nookie-Nunn paces the floor like his kin – the Alaskan bull elk – he tries desperately to convince us to climb with him over the brick wall that surrounds the military compound to aid him in his quest. The wall is well fortified with barbwire, Krieg-lights, security guards with M-16s and other things Nookie-Nunn doesn't even consider.

Tom -- I forgo his nick-name because I want to impress upon him the seriousness of what he plans on doing -- you're insane or kidding or all the above. Why would you risk your life just to go downtown to grab a beer? I say to my friend.

Will, you just don't understand. Nothing, not even certain death, deters the Alaskan bull elk from Miss Alaskan bull elk. I need what I need.

Off he goes -- over the wall – awfully similar to a prison escape. From our room, we listen to WW-II sirens blaring away in the midnight darkness – interrupted only by the side-to-side movement of the search lights that help the guards get a clean shot.

You guys, listen for gun shots! If anyone can make it Nookie-Nunn can. I cry out with all the hope in my voice I can muster.

All of us are hopeful he will not be killed as the suspected bomber -- either going over the wall or coming back. The guards shoot to kill first, and ask questions later. That's the drill. They are totally unaware of his physical and mental condition – otherwise they would cheer him on!

When he doesn't show up by sun up the next morning, we're certain he was killed.

You guys, we might as well go to breakfast. He's not coming back. I say to my remaining buddies, all of whom are as deeply saddened as I am at the loss of a comrade. We are in the military and we face this situation day after day.

The mess hall is very large, given the size of the base. We look around for and empty table – trays in hand. One of the guys who's been intently searching more than the rest of us shouts, There are two empty seats over there!

But we need a table for six of us. No . . . just five of us now. I respond as I sadly gaze down at my tray while thinking about my happy new friend whose intense needs cost him his life sometime in the early hours of this very morning.

Then, far off in a corner of the Army sized cafeteria, a voice fills the air.

Hey you guys, over here! I've got a table for all of us. Where have you guys been? I've been here since sun up! There sits Nookie-Nunn with the biggest, most satisfied grin I've ever seen. I never thought I'd love the twang of a Texan drawl more than I do right now.

Hey! Are you dudes trying to out-smoke the bands dry-ice affects? Put that shit out! I scream as loud as I can, hoping to be heard over Black Orchid.

As I get eyeball to eyeball with every one of them at the table, I see someone laying on the floor right next to their table. These jerks are burning something right in front of the band and a guy is flat-out inches from the flames!

I know Warren is here in the members' private area – separated by plate glass – from which he can see everything. Knowing Warren, whenever he's here, he's usually drunk with a bunch of his mucky-muck fellow drinkers not caring much about anything beyond how packed the house is. He likes to see 'his' Club with everyone having all kinds of fun. And spending plenty of money. I can't blame him. Our deal for his investment is a percentage of the net. That's it. I run the place as owner-manager. He cashes his checks. We're both happy.

The smoke thing may come to his attention though. If the guy on the floor is dead, he'll surely talk to me about that tomorrow. I know he can hear through the glass that the band is sounding way weird tonight. I'm sure I'll get a phone call tomorrow about that, too. Warren's a great investor-partner and a close personal friend, but he occasionally trys to backseat manage things. We deal with him and get along just fine, even though he is one of the worst customers as far as customers getting loud and rowdy late at night. I'm gonna have to have a long talk with him. He needs to let me run the show and just have fun in his club. Fun within the limits of the Club -- that's the deal.

Alright you dudes, I know you're having fun and you like the music but you're going to have to settle down a little bit and lay-off setting things on fire! I'm looking at the most obnoxious guy at the table. I'm trying to keep my cool – they are customers spending money, lots of money -- but show him I'm very serious.

Fuck you, prick-face! We'll do whatever the fuck we want to do. Go suck you dog's ass-hole and go howl at the moon! Advises my new crack-head buddy.

Everyone at your table as already too drunk and stoned to even sit in their chairs. If you keep this up I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I thought I'd try to keep my end of the conversation business-like.

Hey mate; don't you know who we are? One phone call and I can have more guns in this place than you care to count. You sure you want to keep fucking with us? You must know who we are. Or are you as stupid as you look?

Even though we're at the front table a few feet from Black Orchid currently on steroids or some damn chemical, I can hear his threats loud and clear. No, I'm sorry I don't know who you are. I would ask you not to bring any guns in here. Please stop the commotion or leave the club like gentlemen. It's getting tougher playing nice guy. I'll have to become the tough guy if they're serious about this gun thing.

Ted and Nookie are right behind me now. Nookie, where the hell are Pusher and his guys? I shout over the band and the hoods shouting slurs at me. Pusher is the head of our security team – militia for short. He is a giant African-American, and I mean giant – six feet seven, 286 pounds. He's strong as an ox, quick as a proverbial rabbit, yet as kind and gentle as anyone could never guess – until he's crossed. He's 22, yet his face makes him look like he is 13, maybe 14 - max. Don't ever refer to him as 'Baby-face!'

There are only two bouncers on tonight, Nookie fires back over the noise, they're out in the parking lot breaking up a fight. What should I do?

Nookie, we've got a fire ablaze in front of a band who has not a clue that they are in danger, a table here full of ass-hole gangsters and they're going to bring car-loads of hoods with guns here to shoot up the place – what the hell do you think we should do, Nookie? Get Pusher on the radio and tell him to get his militia over here now! The trouble in the parking lot is probably related to these jerks. I scream back.

Ted knows I need his thinking cap involved in this dilemma. I don't know if it's a motorcycle gang or who the hell they are. We need help right away Nookie. Just get Pusher to get some more guys here right now.

Nookie jams his radio next to his ear while jogging to toward the door. Pusher, Will says get everyone here now – fully loaded! Will's pissed.

Pusher already knows about the trouble in the lot and is already there. In his signature quiet and reserved fashion, Pusher says, Sure, Okay. Click – click. Ace, get over here to the Cyclops ASAP. Bring everyone on duty tonight with their AKs. Better bring an M-60 and some flash grenades – the big ones. These guys are just sitting here – loaded in seven vans in the lot. I'm sure they're waiting for their jerk-off bosses to come out from the club. Will wants them all dead. We need to disappear immediately when we've done the deed – before the cops hear our noise-makers.

Nookie, here's how you can redeem yourself. I offer as a chance for self-preservation as much as to help Nookie save face. Grab some of the cooks and dishwashers, give them the cattle prods and then have them pop these guys – quietly. When you carry them out, try to make it look like they're just drunk. You won't have to fake it. They're wasted on crack, I'm sure. Just Taser them fast – otherwise we'll have a skirmish on our hands.

You got it, Will. And, thanks.

Don't forget the guy lying on the floor. You'll see him when more of the smoke clears away.

You got, Will.

That's why I like Nookie-Nunn so much. His heart is in the right place – always. I just need to find the right spot for him. I'm seriously thinking about having him take over the Brothels and the Escort service. Ted will have a hernia laughing at my idea. Why not put the rooster in the hen house. I think that's an appropriate analogy – if there is one that covers Nookie-Nunn in charge of several hundred prostitutes in 16 brothels!

Will, I feel a lot better now that Pusher's taking it from here. Ted audibly sighs in relief. You and I better stay up here, far away from the parking lot. Once I hear the shooting, I'll call the police so we're covered. They won't link this to us. Pusher will be out of there in ten to fifteen minutes, I'm guessing. Our story is that we booted a table full of drunks who lit a fire in front of the band. Ted calmly capsulizes the situation and the aftermath – tailored just for the cops. That's why I need him. He's always, 'all-in.'

Every day I wonder why I didn't just stick with restaurants. They are so easy to run, customers are nice, calm and predictable. Profits aren't as good as the nightclubs, but after a night like tonight – who cares. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow – there's always tomorrow. Yes, by tomorrow I'll forget tonight and love this place all over again. I'm stuck in a place where bad is bad until it becomes good again.

I guess I have Warren to thank for this place since he's the one who wanted his own club and waved wads of money in my face to create and manage our Club. When Ted and I were here on alternating nights managing the place, things ran nicely. But Ted and I just can't do this nightly manager stuff anymore and keep up with what we have going on, especially our new stuff.

We both love management – you know, hands on, make it run -- face-to-face management. But our real value is designing, creating, assembling and overseeing everything it takes to build a viable enterprise and work all the bugs out of the operation. Then we place a top manager in to run it once it's up and running smoothly. Then it's our job to keep tabs on him or her. Tonight is certainly an anomaly. But this is how Ted and I earn our keep.

Will, we have a great wait-staff, the best chef in all of Heidelberg and Club Cyclops is very popular. Our only problem is Nookie. We both know that you and I can't go back as onsite managers here again. We just can't. Ted knows we're both on the same wave-length. He wants to make the case in black and white so we'll fix what's broken and do it quickly. I think we should look at promoting Dan or maybe we could look at Corky to take over. I know he's the Ambassador's son, but he's itching for a job like this. I think that will do us some good. Giving Corky a key management job will give us more points with his dad. We depend on Ambassador Brocker to help us out in so many ways.

Yeah, I think Corky would be a better choice than Dan. I think he's primed and ready to take this place over. Let's get him in here tomorrow and talk to him about it. I'm sure he'll jump at the chance. I respond – very relieved we have a positive direction.

Ted adds more details, It won't be that hard for him to take over. The wait-staff and everything else is in place. He'll just have to take over management of what's already in place and fine-tune everything that needs tweaking. We can go over the specifics and the protocols -- he'll pick it up right away, he's a smart guy.

I nod at Ted and add, Alright Ted, let's you and I alternate nights again until were sure Corky is totally in place and feels comfortable going it alone. I'll walk over and talk to Warren, otherwise he'll be ticked off at me for not saying hello. I might as well hear him complain about the table upfront – now better than later. While I'm doing that, why don't you get a handle on things here? You and I will have to stay here tonight till closing. Ted and I do work really well together. We both think alike so getting a handle on problems is easy for us. Many people tend to shy away from problems or sweep them under the carpet. You just can't do that. I couldn't ask for a better friend and partner.

Closing rolls around and we get this place cleared out by 3:00 am. Both Ted and I are bushed.

Alright Ted, let's you and I head straight back to the dorm. I'm completely exhausted. I understand why we pay Nookie-Nunn such a big percentage for running this place.

What are all those black vans still doing out there? I