“Lemon tea.”
Vesta threw up her hands.“I’m sorry, hon, but I’m starting to think you’re as lousy at coming up with jokes as I am at drawing stuff.”
Scarlett frowned.“It’s so weird. This brainstorming stuff is supposed to work.”
“Well, it’s clearly not working now, unless we want to make a cartoon about tea or sports, which are two topics that aren’t remotely funny in my opinion.”
“We could always ask the cats to come up with something. They’re pretty funny.” Just then, Vesta’s granddaughter walked by, followed by four cats. “I wonder where they’re going.”
“Don’t worry,” said Vesta curtly. “I’ll find out.”
And Scarlett had no doubt in her mind that she would.
Chapter 4
Waldo McLoughlin’s office was as nice and polished as the banker himself: contrary to the olden days, when one expected to find wainscoting and portraits of bearded stern-looking men adorning the walls, his office was actually very modern. Glass walls, polished concrete floor, glass desk, and a clear view of an open-plan office where dozens of worker bees were presumably busying themselves with transferring the moneys entrusted to them by their clients and putting them to good use elsewhere.
Waldo himself, one of the Capital First Bank’s junior executives, was dressed in a crisp gray suit, and was as clean-shaven and clean-cut as any banker could be. On his desk no portraits of the bank’s founder, or even its current director, but of Waldo’s wife and kids. All in all, it provided me with the confidence that here sat a man who would be able to take control of the situation and resolve it to the satisfaction of all concerned.
“And what can I do for you?” he said, spiriting an engaging smile on his face, his able banker hands folded on his desk.
“Well, I was hoping you could shed some light on a situation that has arisen,” Odelia opened the negotiations. “My name is Odelia Kingsley.”
“I know who you are, of course, Mrs. Kingsley,” said the banker, nodding affably. “And a very fine reporter you are, too. I read your column in the Gazette every morning.”
“Thanks,” said Odelia, offering the man a smile of her own.
“And this young lady, if I’m not mistaken, is Miss Ziccardi, and so you must be her grandmother, Mrs. Liffs.”
“Oh, you know who we are?” asked Hester, displaying her astonishment.
The banker’s smile went from winsome to outright avuncular. “I know who you are because I’m in charge of the Baxter Foundation, whose sole purpose it is to support the work of talented young artists such as yourself, Miss Ziccardi.”
“Well, it’s with the foundation that the problem lies,” said Odelia.
“Oh?” said the banker, clearly surprised that this should be possible.
“I don’t understand, Max,” said Dooley.
“What don’t you understand, Dooley?” I asked as I studied the man in whose hands Jayme’s future lay.
“I always thought bankers collected money, but this man has been giving money to Jayme.”
“I think he sees his role as chairman of the Baxter Foundation and his role as banker as two separate things,” I said.
“You mean as a banker he collects money, and as a chairman he gives it away?”
“Something like that. Though the money he dispenses through the foundation is not money that comes from his clients. Only one man funds the foundation and that’s Dave James.”
“I think I understand. As a banker he takes from the many and gives to the few, and as a chairman he takes from the few and gives to the many.”
“I couldn’t have put it better, Dooley.”
“So what seems to be the problem?” asked Waldo, a look of concern having stolen over his pleasant features.
“Veronica James stormed into my class Saturday,” said Jayme, “and accused me of having an affair with her husband.”
“Ah.”
“And then my teacher explained to me that my scholarship, provided by the Baxter Foundation, was actually set up by Veronica’s husband Dave, and how he’s been taking an interest in my progress. And that maybe that was the reason for Veronica’s suspicion.”
“Yes, well, Dave has indeed been following your progress closely,” Waldo said, nodding. “He comes in every month and we talk about the foundation and the scholarship recipients. And it’s true that Dave thinks very highly of you, Miss Ziccardi. But I can assure you that at no point in my dealings with Mr. James have I noticed any impropriety.”
“I’ve never even met the guy!” said Jayme. “So how can I have an affair with him? I mean, until last Saturday when Veronica started throwing those accusations around, I didn’t even know that Dave James was the guy behind the Baxter Foundation.”
“Mr. James is very discreet about his role in the foundation, that is correct.”
“Not discreet enough, if his wife thinks he’s having affairs with the foundation’s recipients,” said Hester. “And also, I don’t know if Dave ever discussed this with you, but he and I have a shared history.”
The banker’s frown deepened, and it was obvious this was news to him. “Oh?”
“Ancient history, but still. Do you think that might be the reason Veronica is acting like this?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” said Waldo, “but I think it’s wise of you to come to me with this.”
“Veronica didn’t talk to you about what happened?” asked Odelia. “Or Dave?”
“No, I can assure you they haven’t discussed this with me, either prior to Veronica’s d?marche or after.” He thought for a moment. “You know what I’ll do? I’ll talk this through with Dave. And I’m sure you’ll find that this can all be resolved very easily.” And to show us he meant what he said, he picked up his phone and moments later was listening to the dial tone. When the person on the other end, presumably Dave, failed to pick up, his reassuring smile faltered to some degree. “He doesn’t seem to be available at this moment. Which is odd, as Dave always picks up the phone when I call him.” He placed his phone back on the desk. “But no worries. I’m sure he’ll call me back without delay, and I can assure you I’ll thresh this thing out with him thoroughly, and get back to you ASAP.”
“Can we count on that, Mr. McLoughlin?” asked Hester.
“Oh, absolutely, Mrs. Liffs. And please call me Waldo.”
“Well, Waldo, I hope you and Dave can work things out,” said Odelia, “because we’d hate for Jayme to lose her scholarship over this business.”
“That scholarship is the only thing that’s put my granddaughter in that class,” said Hester, “and losing it now would be a tragedy. She’s already learned so much.”
“Mr. Cabanes is a great teacher,” Jayme confirmed.
“Fernleigh Cabanes is the best,” Waldo confirmed, “which is exactly why we chose him to run the Gardner Institute of Art and teach this class.”
“Oh, Dave chose him?” asked Jayme, much surprised.
Waldo nodded.“You’ll find that Dave James is very hands-on when it comes to his foundation and the school.”
“So you have no idea why Veronica James would act this way?” asked Odelia.
“None whatsoever, but I’m sure it’s all one big misunderstanding.”
“Well, I certainly hope so,” said Hester. “To threaten a young girl like that really is beyond the pale.”
“And you have my solemn word that I’ll communicate that to Mr. James,” Waldo assured Jayme’s grandmother, who was clearly very protective of her granddaughter.
Waldo rose to his feet, as a clear indication the interview was terminated, and the others all rose, too.“Could you…” Jayme began.
“Yes?” asked Waldo, in that same avuncular tone he’d adopted throughout the conversation.
“Could you please thank Mr. James for me? If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I owe him a big debt of gratitude.”
“I’m sure he’s well aware of the impact he’s had on you, Miss. Ziccardi, and I feel confident in telling you that your accomplishments are all down to you and the amazing talent that you’ve been blessed with. But I will certainly communicate your gratitude to Dave. I’m sure he’ll be very pleased. And who knows, maybe at some point in the future you and he can actually meet and even collaborate.”