Kiss and Tell by Fern Michaels Page A

on. We’ll just walk out, get in our car, and go abroad. We know how to get lost. Our money and the company are safe, at least for now. As I understand it, these last seven years or so, Billy, or Manny, has been signing up middle-income and low-income investors, people who can’t afford to lose what little they have. He uses their money to fund the returns to his wealthy clients and pay off any withdrawals, in order to keep them happy and, most of all, quiet. It’s the little person who is starting to ask questions. Think Bernie Madoff but twenty times worse and much bigger.”
    Dennis West felt his eyes roll back in his head. He could smell a second Pulitzer.
    So could Maggie and Ted. Annie’s eyes sparked, and Myra gripped her pearls in a death grip.
    â€œWell! Aren’t you all going to say something?” the little woman said tartly.
    â€œYou’re absolutely sure about all of this?” Maggie said.
    â€œHoney, do dogs get fleas? I just love that saying. We are sure. Manny Macklin is definitely Billy Bailey. The orphanage is still in Syracuse, but of course new people are running it these days. Tressie and I went there once and donated a hefty amount of money for them to buy books, computers, printers, and the like. Ask to see the orphanage records. There might be something in them that can help you identify Billy. Somewhere, there have to be the yearly pictures from the time we were there. They were taken during the summer months. All the old records used to be kept in the subbasement. I’m sure they’re moldy and might even have some dry rot on them, but you all need to satisfy yourselves.”
    â€œWe could come out here on Thanksgiving on some pretext or other and take pictures of Macklin playing Santa and handing out his tony gifts. You know, his arrival in the carriage. Human-interest stuff,” Ted said.
    Annie started to gather up her belongings. Lady got to her feet and whimpered. “How do we get in touch with you, Ms. Overton?”
    â€œHow about if we just leave it that Kat at Gmail will get in touch with you.”
    â€œNow, you see, that is not going to work for any of us. None of us work that way. The client—you, in this case—must always be available to us. That’s our rule, so take it or leave it. Right, people?” Maggie said forcefully.
    Everyone agreed.
    â€œAll right.” Ms. Overton rattled off two cell-phone numbers. Maggie inputted them into her phone, then sent them to Myra’s, Annie’s, Ted’s, and Dennis’s phones. Espinosa said he didn’t need it since he was just a photographer and not a reporter.
    â€œWhen do you plan on leaving here?” Myra asked as she slipped into her jacket.
    â€œRight after you. We have a few things to take care of first. I’ll be in touch. Tressie and I want to thank you for tracking us down.”
    â€œIt would have been a lot easier and quicker if you had given us a way to get in touch with you,” Annie grumbled.
    â€œYou got here, and that’s all that matters,” the little woman said tartly.
    Tressie spoke for the first time. She had a gentle, musical-sounding voice that surprised everyone. “Security at the gate keeps a record of everyone who drives through the gates. It might not seem like it to an outsider, but everyone who lives here is watched.”
    â€œThat’s why I wanted you to come on therapy day,” Ms. Overton said. “You’ve been coming here for months and months, so no one will think twice about your visit or if you come back on Thanksgiving. Your people from the Post are legitimate, so be sure you really do print something in the paper to back up this visit as soon as you can to give legitimacy to the visit. I don’t mean to sound like an alarmist, but one can’t be too careful. Manny Macklin has billions of dollars’ worth of incentives to make sure that nothing gets in the way of his scheme. He