Read Online McNally's Folly by Lawrence Sanders, Vincent Lardo - Free Book Online Page B

how long did James wait?” I asked.
    “About six weeks.”
    “It borders on the obscene,” I observed.
    “Some say it crosses the line. The loudest objections came from the Ventura boy, William, and are still coming.”
    “How old is William?”
    “Twenty-one, give or take,” Sofia said, poking about for a space in her ashtray to put out her cigarette.
    “What does Ventura’s exchequer look like?”
    “Loaded. New money via Wall Street. But you’re supposed to ask the age of the new Mrs. Ventura.”
    “I’m asking.”
    “Twenty-one, give or take.”
    “Are you implying that she and young William were an item?” I inquired as Sofia’s smoldering cigarette exposed me to the dangers of secondhand smoke—which I greedily inhaled.
    “It’s said that William had some friends in for a party one night and Hanna was among them. For Papa James, it was love at first sight. How close William and Hanna were before Daddy Dearest entered the picture is not known. What is known is that William now hates her and doesn’t even try to hide his disdain. He was his mother’s pet and poor William feels that he’s been usurped as heir apparent.”
    “Does the boy live at home?”
    “Oh, yes,” Sofia nodded. “In fact there were those who believed William had swiped Hanna’s diamond clip for pin money. The boy is usually in debt and begrudges the money his father lavishes on her.”
    “The enfante terrible ,” I said.
    “If you like the expression. I think pain in the butt is more descriptive.”
    As I said, Sofia knows how to turn a phrase. She also knows more dish than anyone in Palm Beach. I refrained from asking her if the Ventura men wore briefs or boxers for fear that she would tell me. Instead I thanked her for her time, reminded her to forget everything we discussed, took a final grateful sniff of the polluted library air and fled.
    Another resource of McNally & Son is Mrs. Evelyn Sharif, the chief of our real estate department. Mrs. Sharif is married to a Lebanese gentleman who operates a haberdashery on elegant Worth Avenue. To be sure, McNally & Son does not sell homes or condos but represents our clients at closings, advises on leases and also recommends investments in lots and commercial property.
    Without even consulting the Palm Beach telephone directory I knew that the Venturas would be ex-directory. The only people listed in the Palm Beach directory are those who call people who are listed in the Palm Beach directory. Mrs. Sharif possessed a big black book that not only identified the residents of Palm Beach along with their addresses and phone numbers, but also cited an estimate of the value of their property and its potential rental income, in and off season.
    “Archy,” Mrs. Sharif exclaimed as I entered, “what a surprise. You must want something from me.”
    “A kiss,” I answered.
    “I’m a married woman, Archy.”
    “The British Princes of Wales only courted married women,” I reminded her.
    “You are not any of the Princes of Wales, Archy. So what do you want to know that I probably shouldn’t tell you?”
    “The address and phone number of James Ventura.”
    “Why?”
    “Discreet Inquiries’ business, Mrs. Sharif. Very cloak-and-dagger. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”
    Mrs. Sharif mulled this over before stating, “Isn’t Mrs. Ventura the woman who located a lost piece of jewelry with the help of a psychic?”
    “One and the same.”
    “One and the same psychic that raised your grandfather from the dead last night?”
    I took a deep breath and counted to ten backward. “You’ve been talking to Binky Watrous, Mrs. Sharif.”
    “In fact, I have.”
    “Well, be assured that you will never hear from him again.”
    “Why not, Archy?”
    “Because I am going to kill him before the sun sets on this accursed day. Did he also inquire after the health of Joe Anderson?”
    “It’s the only reason he calls, Archy. But be kind. Binky is a good boy.”
    I wondered if