spotted Billy as an ex-con. It takes one to know one ran through my mind.
At the driveway to the Fleet mansion, the big iron gate magically opened. The drive was long and gently winding between well-placed trees that hid the big house from the road. It was early October and the leaves were beginning to change color. When the leaves were gone I suspected the house might be seen from the road. The house was splendid in a facsimile of the old Southern tradition. Four giant white columns framed the double-door front of a three-story center section flanked by two-story side sections. I looked for a Marriott sign but didn’t see any.
Roy turned back toward me and said, “Stay in the car. I’ll let you out.”
I’m not too fond of taking orders of any kind, but I let it pass and waited until Roy opened the door. After all, opening doors was part of a chauffeur’s job. He led me up the steps and into a large tiled oval foyer. To the right were double doors that were shut. Just to the left of those doors was a circular staircase to the second floor. To my immediate left was another set of double doors, also closed.
“Wait here,” Roy said as he walked down a wide hall in front of me and just to the left.
More orders. I obeyed. Roy’s job description was becoming increasingly clear. Part chauffeur, part butler, and part bodyguard. I wondered if he cooked.
Roy returned.
“Mr. Fleet will be with you in a moment. You can wait in the study. Come,” he said as he turned and walked back down the hall.
I followed.
Roy nodded toward a doorway to the right and waited until I was inside the study and then shut the door behind me. I smiled to myself and wondered if he locked it to be sure I stayed put.
The room was a typical rich man’s study. Bookshelves were everywhere and full of books. Leather-bound classics, books on politics, novels, and reference books. Facing away from a picture window obscured by sheers was a large leather-topped desk with a big overstuffed black leather chair behind it. The chair was showing some wear. Evidently Joseph Fleet spent a good deal of time at his desk. A computer desk was on the right within swivel distance of the main desk. Fleet had basically the same setup as I did: monitor, hard drive, modem, CD player, and printer. A fax machine and answering machine were within reach on a small table to the left. There was a large leather couch, a large coffee table, two leather chairs, two end tables with matching lamps, and a floor lamp that serviced both chairs, all set strategically around an ample fireplace. In one corner was the obligatory freestanding globe. I gave it a spin. It seemed to be current.
“I cannot resist doing that from time to time myself,” said a large man entering the room.
Caught in the act.
“Joseph Fleet,” he smiled, extending his hand. It was a solid, firm handshake. “Thanks for coming. I hope Roy wasn’t too enthusiastic with his invitation.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Fleet,” I said. “If I hadn’t wanted to come, I wouldn’t be here. What can I do for you?”
“I heard you were to the point. Would you like a drink?”
I looked at my watch to see it was a little past five o’clock. It’s a personal discipline never to drink before five.
“A beer would be fine,” I replied.
Fleet pressed an intercom at his desk and ordered two beers. He turned back to me and leveled an impressive stare. “I need to find somebody. Or rather two somebodies,” he said.
He paused as if wondering exactly how to proceed.
“Anything you say to me is confidential,” I said. “And I only share confidentialities with my staff on a need-to-know basis.”
Fleet looked forlorn. “My daughter Sarah Ann and my son-in-law are missing. And a lot of money.”
I noticed he didn’t refer to his son-in-law by name or as Sarah Ann’s husband.
“How much money?”
“Nearly three million dollars.” He sat down on the couch and took a deep breath.
“How could they get their hands on that much money?”
Fleet looked me right in the eye and began to lay it out.
“Sarah Ann met Ronnie on a cruise—Ronald Fitzgerald Fairchild, of Greenwich, Connecticut. I didn’t like him when I heard the name, but she was in love and they had this whirlwind courtship and ran off and got married. I thought he was a fortune hunter so I had him checked out. Plenty of money in the family and he always seemed to have plenty of money, so I didn’t think it was money he was after. Maybe he loved her, but they just didn’t seem to fit as a couple. Ronnie is a real handsome devil, I have to admit, and glib. Could charm the spots off a leopard. Sarah Ann is attractive enough but not in his league in the looks department. There was just something about him I didn’t trust, but after a year or so the marriage seemed to be working so I offered to bring him into the business and he accepted.” Fleet was rambling a bit and I just let him ramble.
Roy arrived with two beers in large pilsner glasses and set them on the coffee table. Fleet nodded. Roy left without a word.
“They have been married almost five years and Ronnie has done a good job in the business. With his charm and looks, he is a natural-born salesman. I was beginning to think I was wrong about him.”
“Did you ever meet his family?”
“No. Ronnie said they weren’t speaking. According to him, he was the black sheep of the family. I didn’t have much desire to meet some snobs from Greenwich, Connecticut, anyway.”
I smiled inwardly. Fleet was good-ole-boy rich. A son of a bootlegger, he had gone to college, taken the family spoils, and built an empire. Fleet had polished his act, but the rough edges were still there. Hiring Roy Husky certainly fit. He would have little use for the Fairchilds of the world.
“Could anyone else have taken the money?” I asked.
“No way,” Fleet said raising his voice slightly. “Only Sarah and myself had that kind of access.”
“Not Ronnie?”
“No. Him I trusted only so far.”
“When is the last time you saw them?”
“Thursday night. They were going to our condo in Destin, Florida, on Friday morning for a two-week vacation. They never showed up. I haven’t heard anything. No call, nothing.”
Today was Monday. “When did you discover the money missing?” I asked, though I already guessed it was today. That’s why he was panicked.
“This morning. I noticed a large withdrawal from one of our business accounts. I started checking other accounts. Sarah Ann had secretly cashed in stocks and securities and made withdrawals early in the week. Then I got really concerned, so I made a few phone calls and came up with your name.”
“Anything else missing? Items that you would not expect them to take on a vacation?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to tell. I haven’t had the chance to do an inventory.”
