“Very well, please call me Guy. I really appreciate your meeting with us. When Irene told me her friend was with the police, I knew it must be someone trustworthy, so I asked her to invite you to join us.
“Irene, you have told Frank about the safe-deposit boxes and so on?”
I nodded.
“I’ve heard that name somewhere before,” I said, sitting upright. “And his initials are on the list on O’Connor’s computer notes. There were four sets of initials: AH, which I figured was Hollingsworth, RM, which might be this Robert Markham, and then EN and RL. RL for Richard Longren, but who is EN?”
“I believe I know. Robert Markham has entered the safe-deposit area on several different occasions. Each time, three days later, someone named Elizabeth Nickerson came in. They share the same deposit box.”
“Elizabeth Nickerson?” said Lydia. “Mayor Longren’s administrative assistant?”
“The same.”
“So who is Markham?” Frank asked.
“He works for Andrew Hollingsworth,” Guy explained. “He performs a number of duties: chauffeur, guard; whatever is needed, I suppose.”
“He was the guard at the gate when we were there,” I said.
“Yes,” Guy said. “We found the pattern by looking at the signature card and activity records for a safe-deposit box he rented; Miss Nickerson is authorized to use the same box. He comes into the bank on the morning after a fund-raiser for Hollingsworth. I believe he is putting some cash into the safe-deposit box, and Miss Nickerson is removing it. That way, nothing is reported to the Fair Political Practices Commission.”
Our food arrived and we ate in silence, thinking over all Guy had told us.
“I’ll have to report this to the U.S. Treasury Department and to my superiors at the bank,” Guy said. “They will not be pleased, I am afraid. The Hollingsworths have several very healthy accounts with us.”
“Is there anyone you can trust there?” I asked.
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. They can be trusted. They know what the penalties for withholding the information can be, and when I tell them that the police and the newspaper have already been in contact with me on the matter, they will not really have a choice.”
“It still takes guts,” Frank said. “What can I do for you?”
I was happy to see he had warmed up a little.
“Can you contact the state attorney general’s office?” Guy asked. “I believe they are the ones to talk to about getting subpoenas and warrants if need be — since we can hardly contact our own district attorney. If Mr. Markham has left the cash, we will need to enter the box before Miss Nickerson cleans it out.
“I am also worried that this is somehow connected to the attempt on Irene’s life, since she was coming out of the bank when a car tried to run her down. And because her friend was killed and he was also investigating this same matter, I am quite concerned.”
“I am too,” Frank said, looking at me meaningfully. “As soon as I get back to the office I’ll try to get a subpoena for the contents of the box and see what I can do about Markham and Nickerson as well. I’m not sure the attorney general will go for it unless you can provide me with the records of their movements.”
Guy reached into his pocket and removed a set of neatly folded papers. “Will these do?”
It was a copy of the signature card, with both names on it, and copies of each time they signed in to use the box.
“Thanks,” Frank said, “this should do it.”
Guy paid for our lunches over our protests and we thanked Sam and left the restaurant. On the sidewalk outside, I stayed close to Frank, letting Guy and Lydia have a moment or two together. Just in case.
Frank turned to me when we reached Pete’s car. “He’s a nice guy. I can see why you like him.”
“Sorry. I’m busy trying to win someone else’s affections.”
“Oh yeah? Maybe you’ve already won them.”
I looked up at him. I felt the same reticence I had noticed the night before. “Still mad at me?”
“I haven’t been angry, really. Just worried about you. Anyway, I’d better run.”
I waved good-bye to him as he pulled away from the curb and turned around to see Lydia doing the same with Guy.
“Well?” I said, as I walked over to Lydia.
“We will be best friends for another twenty-five years, Irene.”
“So you like him.”
“I like him. We’re going out to dinner tonight.”
“Boy, not wasting any time, are you? Good thing I made you watch all those hockey games with me.”
“No kidding. He’s pretty easy to talk to anyway. But we better get back to the paper before John bursts a blood vessel.”
We drove back, each of us with our own thoughts and distractions.
43
I WORKED ON pretty dull stuff the rest
