Chapter 2

I dialed Dad' s number, my hand shaking a little.

He picked up on the third ring, his voice sounding tired, like always.

"Mike? Everything okay, son?"

"Dad, do you know anything about a 'Thompson Family Ventures LLC'?"

Silence on the other end. A long, telling silence.

"Dad?"

"Oh, that," he finally said, his voice too casual. "That's just a little something Rick set up."

"Rick? Uncle Rick?" My voice was rising. "And why am I listed as an officer?"

"Well, you know Rick," Dad mumbled. "He needed a name for some paperwork. For a small side business. He said it was no big deal, just a formality."

A formality. My credit was flagged, my apartment application was on hold, and it was a formality.

"Dad, it is a big deal! There's an unpaid tax bill and a delinquent loan in my name!"

"Now, Mike, don't get worked up," he said, his tone shifting to placating. "I'm sure Rick can explain it. It's probably just a misunderstanding."

A misunderstanding I was now legally tied to.

"He used my name, my information, without my permission, Dad. That's not a misunderstanding."

"He said he talked to you about needing some help," Dad said, his voice weak.

"He never talked to me about any LLC, or making me an officer of anything."

I knew Uncle Rick. He twisted words, omitted details. He probably told Dad some half-truth, and Dad, wanting to believe the best or just avoid conflict, went along.

"I need this fixed, Dad. My new job, my apartment, it all depends on this."

"Alright, alright, son. The Labor Day BBQ is next week. Rick will be there. We can talk to him then. Smooth it all out."

Smooth it out. Like always.

I had a bad feeling this wouldn't be smooth at all.