he said, “I’m a homebody, a city slicker with no outdoorsy inclinations whatsoever, highly allergic to poison ivy and immune to all of Nature’s other charms. I never had any interest in straying far from New York; I never even owned a car. Everything I want is located right here.”
“They say travel broadens the mind.”
He nodded. “So do vodka martinis, Claire, after downing three of them I have a definite mind-broadening experience. And I don’t have to be worried about bad weather delaying my flight, or being strip-searched at airports, or being stuffed into economy seats designed for anorexics.”
“Well, I’m made differently, I’ve definitely got a gypsy in my soul.”
“My wife was of German descent; over there they call the travel bug wanderlust. Mary also had the urge to see faraway, exotic places.”
“It seems to me, Frank, you’re stuck in a rut; you’re don’t seem to be enjoying your golden years.”
“I detest retirement!”
“Hmm.”
“Work prevents us from getting older than we are. Having nothing to do from morning to night is debilitating, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
“My late grandmother, a former nurse, used to say that in order to have a successful old age a person must keep a positive attitude and find a way to stay busy. She, for example, became an expert knitter as a retiree.”
“It’s different for men, Claire, men are defined by their jobs; we are what we do. When we’re put out to pasture we lose our reason for being, it’s all downhill from then on out for us.”
“Don’t you have any hobbies, Frank?”
“Not anymore, exploring the city with my wife was my sole hobby.”
“I realize you miss her.” She clutched his arm affectionately.
“Mary and I got married and we lived happily-ever-after, Claire, just like it says in the fairy tale books. Only now in the real world, it’s after happily-ever-after time and I’m stranded here alone without her.”
“Hmm.”
“Congress needs to pass a law; when you’ve been married to someone for fifty years, you ought to have the right to die together with that person in the same hospital bed. The doctors should be allowed to give you a lethal injection if you demand one.”
“Life can have a Second Act, Frank.”
He shrugged dismissively as if it wasn’t even a remote possibility.
“Did you ever consider writing your memoirs?”
“Nobody would be interested.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve not a marquee name, Claire, there’s no drama or spicy scandal to titillate a reader into buying my book.”
“You could write a fictionalized memoir and make up a little drama and scandal.”
“Phooey!”
“Well, at least you’ve got friends, Frank, I’ve seen you with them at the Bull & Bear.”
“Yes, I stop by there most nights for a couple of drinks and to listen to the war stories.”
“That’s healthy, you can’t be alone all the time; you’ve got to interact with other people.”
He noticed her fingers fidgeting with the clasp on her purse, compulsively opening and closing it. “Claire, you and I do have one thing in common.”
“Oh, what?”
“Neither of us is a chatterbox and given to idle chit-chat. So tell me, why are you here now instead of slaving away back in your office like the workaholic you are, ferreting out stock market cheats?”
“You’re not as dumb as you look, old man.”
He tapped his temple. “I’ll be 80 next March and I’ve only got a few active brain cells left, but enough to know when I’m being flimflammed.”
She nodded. “Ok, let me ask you a direct question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you ever in your banking career have any dealings with law enforcement?”
“The NYPD?”
“No, Frank, I was thinking more along the lines of Federal Agencies.”
He sat forward on the bench. “A bunch of years ago a customer of mine in the freight-forwarding business got into financial difficulties. The owners tried to solve their cash flow problem by doing a little money laundering and currency smuggling on the side.”
“And you got wise to them?”
“I grew suspicious over wire transfers and foreign exchange transactions with companies in countries they didn’t do business with.”
“I see.”
“I alerted my bank’s Senior Credit Officer and he notified Treasury and Customs.”
“What happened?”
He frowned. “It ended badly for all concerned. My bank wrote-off a sizable loan when the company filed bankruptcy and the owners ended up in Federal prison for a long stretch.”
“That was very astute of you.”
“It just didn’t smell kosher,” he said, touching his nose.
“I may be able to use your nose on a new case I’m working on.
His mouth fell open. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
“No, Frank, I’m serious. It involves insider-trading and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.”
He sat up ramrod straight and sucked in his chin as soldiers do when at attention. “If my country needs me, Claire, I can’t refuse the call.”
She rolled her eyes. “If I had only remembered to bring an American flag with me, Frank, you could wrap yourself up in it and sing The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“There’s no denying that Frank Mills is a patriot.”
“So was Benedict Arnold, for a time.”
“Do I get to wear a badge?”
“No!”
“Can I carry a gun?”
“Certainly not!”
“When do I spring into action?”
“I’m bringing someone along with me to the Bull & Bear tomorrow night, Frank, perhaps you can have a drink
