earth is this all about?'
'We only just discovered that Mr. Frye was killed last Thursday,' Preston said.
'So?'
'It is the opinion of our attorneys that the bank can in no way be held responsible.'
'For what?' Joshua asked impatiently.
'As executor of the estate, it was your duty to inform us that our depositor had died. Until we received that notice--or learned of it third-hand, as we did--we had absolutely no reason to consider the account frozen.'
'I'm aware of that.' Slumped in his chair, staring wistfully at the glass of whiskey on his desk, afraid that Preston was to tell him something that would disturb his rosy complacency, Joshua decided that a bit of curmudgeonly gruffness might speed the conversation along. He said, 'Mr. Preston, I know that business is conducted slowly and carefully in a bank, which is fitting for an institution handling other people's hard-earned money. But I wish you could find your way clear to get to the point quickly.'
'Last Thursday, half an hour before our closing time, a few hours after Mr. Frye was killed in Los Angeles, a man who resembled Mr. Frye entered our main branch. He had Mr. Frye's personalized checks. He wrote a check to cash, reducing that account to one hundred dollars.'
Joshua sat up straight. 'How much did he get?'
'Six thousand from checking.'
'Ouch.'
'Then he presented his passbook and withdrew all but five hundred from the savings account.'
'And how much was that?'
'Another twelve thousand.'
'Eighteen thousand dollars altogether?'
'Yes. Plus whatever he might have taken from the safe-deposit box.'
'He hit that, too?'
'Yes. But of course, we don't know what he might have gotten out of it,' Preston said. Then he added hopefully: 'Perhaps nothing.'
Joshua was amazed. 'How could your bank release such a substantial sum in cash without requiring identification?'
'We did require it,' Preston said. 'And you've got to understand that he looked like Mr. Frye. For the past five years, Mr. Frye has come in two or three times every month; each time he has deposited a couple of thousand dollars in his checking. That made him noticeable. People remembered him. Last Thursday, our teller recognized him and had no reason to be suspicious, especially since he had those personalized checks and his passbook and--'
'That's not identification,' Joshua said.
'The teller asked for ID, even though she recognized him. That's our policy on large withdrawals, and she handled it all according to policy. The man showed her a valid California driver's license, complete with photograph, in the name of Bruno Frye. I assure you, Mr. Rhinehart, First Pacific United has not acted irresponsibly in this matter.'
'Do you intend to investigate the teller?' Joshua asked.
'An investigation has already begun.'
'I'm pleased to hear it.'
'But I'm quite sure it won't lead anywhere,' Preston said. 'She's been with us for more than sixteen years.'
'Is she the same woman who let him get to the safe deposit box?' Joshua asked.
'No. That's another employee. We're investigating her as well.'
'This is a damned serious matter.'
'You don't have to tell me,' Preston said miserably. 'In all my years in banking, I've never had it happen to me. Before I phoned you, I notified the authorities, the state and federal banking officials, and First Pacific United's attorneys.'
'I believe I should come down there tomorrow and have a chat with your people.'
'I wish you would.'
'Shall we say ten o'clock?'
'Whenever it's convenient for you,' Preston said. 'I'll be at your disposal all day.'
'Then let's make it ten o'clock.'
'I'm terribly sorry about this. But of course, the loss is covered by federal insurance.'
'Except for the contents of the safe deposit box,' Joshua said. 'No insurance covers that loss.' That was the part of it that was giving Preston a bad case of the jitters, and they both knew it. 'The box might have held more of value than the savings and checking accounts combined.'
'Or it might very well have been empty before he got to it,' Preston said quickly.
'I'll see you in the morning, Mr. Preston.'
