ordered.
Chip did, with amazing efficiency, stacking the bills on the rickety shelf in five neat piles. “Five hundred bills,” he intoned at last. “That’s five hundred thousand in cash. Half a million dollars.”
This time AudreyAnn missed the catch. Chip passed out and slid to the floor.
Francesco stepped over him and shouldered his way to the money. “I own the building. That makes everything in it mine. I claim the cash.”
AudreyAnn got down on her knees and massaged Chip’s hands. “Come on, honey, wake up. Come on, honey.”
Honey ? He wouldn’t know who she was talking to. I sniffed. Then my glance fell on one of the bills, and I inhaled a deep breath of the musty air. As every designer knows, the devil’s in the details. And what a detail I’d just spotted!
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a thousand-dollar bill before. May I hold one?” I asked Rossi.
His hand on his cell phone, ready to call 911, he frowned. But I picked up the top bill anyway, and with my thumbnail on the issue date, held it up in front of Rossi. His eyes flared wide.
Before he could dial 911, Chip stirred. All those honeys must have reached him after all. With AudreyAnn’s help, he sat up, a big grin on his face. “I’m fine now,” he said. Obviously, he hadn’t heard Francesco’s pronouncement.
Rossi pocketed his cell and flipped through the bills before turning around to Francesco. “When did you buy this building?”
“Last year, why?”
“It looks like all these bills were issued in nineteen thirty-four. They may have been hidden here for decades.”
“So?” Francesco challenged.
“So they could belong to a previous owner. The police have to be told and the money impounded until a legal owner is determined. If no one can prove a claim, the money will revert to the finder. In my opinion that’s Mr. Salvatore here.”
“Now wait a minute,” Francesco began.
“Yeah,” Donny interjected.
“No, you will wait, Mr. Grandese, for the law to decide. Now I intend to escort Mr. Salvatore to a bank. I’ll ask that each of these bills be copied for police records, and I’ll sign a witness statement testifying to the amount. After that, the money will be held in a safety deposit box until legal ownership is established. In the meantime both of you gentlemen may want to contact your lawyers.”
Rossi stuffed the bills back in the oilskin packet and handed it to me.
“Is that wise?” Francesco asked, nodding at the oilskin.
“Yeah.” Donny again.
“Yes,” Rossi said, “it is.” With AudreyAnn’s help, he lifted Chip off the floor and walked him out to the car. The espresso machine went next, and then the bottle of Dom Perignon.
AudreyAnn and Chip squeezed into Rossi’s cramped back seat and I rode shotgun, the oilskin packet clutched in my lap.
I knew that bottle of Dom Perignon was a good omen.
Chapter Nine
On our way to the nearest bank, a SunTrust branch on Tamiami Trail, I peered through the rearview mirror, fully expecting to see Francesco and Donny in hot pursuit. Nada . I relaxed against the cushions as best I could. Francesco was probably making a beeline for his lawyer’s office.
I snuck a peek at Rossi’s craggy profile. He didn’t look worried, and in the back seat Chip and AudreyAnn were holding hands like teenagers in love. Chip wasn’t even wheezing.
When we reached the bank, Rossi turned around to them. “Let me get Deva inside with the money, then I’ll come back and help you both in.”
AudreyAnn didn’t look happy with that plan, but Chip’s fast “Okay” settled it.
One hand on my elbow, Rossi escorted me into the bank, strode over to a customer service rep and showed her his badge. “We need a conference room. Please ask the bank manager to join us.”
She dropped her pen on the desk and leaped up. “Right this way, Officer.”
Rossi gave me a wink, and we followed the girl into a small windowless room with a conference table and several chairs. She
Chip did, with amazing efficiency, stacking the bills on the rickety shelf in five neat piles. “Five hundred bills,” he intoned at last. “That’s five hundred thousand in cash. Half a million dollars.”
This time AudreyAnn missed the catch. Chip passed out and slid to the floor.
Francesco stepped over him and shouldered his way to the money. “I own the building. That makes everything in it mine. I claim the cash.”
AudreyAnn got down on her knees and massaged Chip’s hands. “Come on, honey, wake up. Come on, honey.”
Honey ? He wouldn’t know who she was talking to. I sniffed. Then my glance fell on one of the bills, and I inhaled a deep breath of the musty air. As every designer knows, the devil’s in the details. And what a detail I’d just spotted!
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a thousand-dollar bill before. May I hold one?” I asked Rossi.
His hand on his cell phone, ready to call 911, he frowned. But I picked up the top bill anyway, and with my thumbnail on the issue date, held it up in front of Rossi. His eyes flared wide.
Before he could dial 911, Chip stirred. All those honeys must have reached him after all. With AudreyAnn’s help, he sat up, a big grin on his face. “I’m fine now,” he said. Obviously, he hadn’t heard Francesco’s pronouncement.
Rossi pocketed his cell and flipped through the bills before turning around to Francesco. “When did you buy this building?”
“Last year, why?”
“It looks like all these bills were issued in nineteen thirty-four. They may have been hidden here for decades.”
“So?” Francesco challenged.
“So they could belong to a previous owner. The police have to be told and the money impounded until a legal owner is determined. If no one can prove a claim, the money will revert to the finder. In my opinion that’s Mr. Salvatore here.”
“Now wait a minute,” Francesco began.
“Yeah,” Donny interjected.
“No, you will wait, Mr. Grandese, for the law to decide. Now I intend to escort Mr. Salvatore to a bank. I’ll ask that each of these bills be copied for police records, and I’ll sign a witness statement testifying to the amount. After that, the money will be held in a safety deposit box until legal ownership is established. In the meantime both of you gentlemen may want to contact your lawyers.”
Rossi stuffed the bills back in the oilskin packet and handed it to me.
“Is that wise?” Francesco asked, nodding at the oilskin.
“Yeah.” Donny again.
“Yes,” Rossi said, “it is.” With AudreyAnn’s help, he lifted Chip off the floor and walked him out to the car. The espresso machine went next, and then the bottle of Dom Perignon.
AudreyAnn and Chip squeezed into Rossi’s cramped back seat and I rode shotgun, the oilskin packet clutched in my lap.
I knew that bottle of Dom Perignon was a good omen.
Chapter Nine
On our way to the nearest bank, a SunTrust branch on Tamiami Trail, I peered through the rearview mirror, fully expecting to see Francesco and Donny in hot pursuit. Nada . I relaxed against the cushions as best I could. Francesco was probably making a beeline for his lawyer’s office.
I snuck a peek at Rossi’s craggy profile. He didn’t look worried, and in the back seat Chip and AudreyAnn were holding hands like teenagers in love. Chip wasn’t even wheezing.
When we reached the bank, Rossi turned around to them. “Let me get Deva inside with the money, then I’ll come back and help you both in.”
AudreyAnn didn’t look happy with that plan, but Chip’s fast “Okay” settled it.
One hand on my elbow, Rossi escorted me into the bank, strode over to a customer service rep and showed her his badge. “We need a conference room. Please ask the bank manager to join us.”
She dropped her pen on the desk and leaped up. “Right this way, Officer.”
Rossi gave me a wink, and we followed the girl into a small windowless room with a conference table and several chairs. She
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