Going For Broke (5 page)

             
They had stayed close over the years, even though they could go months without talking to each other.  With Andrea’s filming schedule, and Victoria’s travel plans, it was rare that they were both in town at the same time.  Luckily for Victoria, Andrea was between projects when Victoria’s world began to unravel.

             
Because of her celebrity, Andrea rarely went out, so when she did it was a big deal.  When Victoria arrived with Andrea Howard, no one even thought to ask about Trip.  Which was just the effect Victoria had intended.  Andrea was the ultimate distraction.  She hadn’t been very excited about going out, but she knew that Victoria would not have asked if she didn’t need the favor.  Trip’s mysterious absence wasn’t lost of Andrea. 

             
             
             
             
             
             
###

             
As they were leaving the Guggenheim on a Tuesday night after a particularly tedious event, Andrea asked Victoria about it.  She was as straightforward as a shot of whiskey. 

             
“So what’s up with Trip?  Did he finally leave you for that pool boy?” Andrea had always maintained that Trip was gay.  When Victoria didn’t respond with a joke,  Andrea changed her tone.  “Seriously, is everything okay?”

             
Victoria faltered, if only for a moment.  If she was going to confide in anyone, Andrea was the girl.  Not yet.  She thought she could still control the situation. 

             
“Sure.  It’s just that Trip’s working this big deal...” Victoria faded off.

             
“Of course,” Andrea said.  “I know how it is.” Andrea didn’t believe a word she said.  And Victoria knew it. 

             
             
             
             
             
             
###

             
Although her major cards had been cancelled, Victoria was still able to shop.  She used her Bendel’s and Barney's cards, as they hadn’t cut off her credit yet.  Bloomingdales and Bergdorf’s too.    She sent her kids to school, lunched with friends and really started to believe that Trip would be back after he had a chance to sort things out.  She did have to reschedule the house party in Hobe Sound, she just rescheduled, didn’t cancel.  She never considered calling the police, since it wasn’t uncommon for some of the men they knew to take a little “break” from reality.  Trip may need some help, though he wasn’t going to get it from the police.  It wasn’t until she started running into financial roadblocks at every turn that she had to take action.

             
She had been cashing personal checks at her clubs, as she had always done.  Victoria refused to use an ATM.  She found it repulsive that just any kind of person could be using the machine spreading God knows what germs.  Not to mention the risk of getting mugged.  No, she stopped at the front desk at her clubs, and they always cashed her checks. Until she tried to cash a check at the New York Athletic Club.  The girl behind the front desk took her check, then made a furtive phone call, whispering and stealing looks at Victoria. 

             
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Vernon,” she said. “We can’t cash your check.”

             
“You can’t cash my check?” Victoria repeated.

             
“It seems that your last two checks were returned.  The office has put you on the list.” She held up a short piece of paper.  Victoria knew what the list was, though she never imagined that her name would be on it. 

             
“Thank you,” Victoria said.  She may be mortified, though she would never show it.  The bigger problem was where was she going to get money?

             
             
             
             
             
             
###

             
The next morning Victoria stood outside of the Northern Trust Bank on East 55th Street, looked up at the skyscraper and took a deep breath.  She had called their banker, Sheila Wiener, who suggested that Victoria come down to the bank in person to discuss ‘her situation’.  She had always liked Sheila, who knew the complexities of both their accounts here in New York and Trip’s trusts based out of their Milwaukee branch.  He might have taken all the corporate money, he wouldn’t have left her and the children with nothing.  Surely Sheila could walk her through everything.

             
There was something calming about a rich trust bank.  Unlike the corner branch of your First National, the carpets were plush, the bankers all had offices, people moved effortlessly and everyone spoke in hushed tones.  The receptionist walked Victoria to Sheila’s office and left to get her a cup of coffee.  She felt better already.

             
Sheila greeted her with a kiss and a sympathetic little hug, which really bothered Victoria.  Nobody had died.  It brought her edge back, which really wasn’t the best direction for her to go.  She put her hands on the desk and got straight down to business.

             
“Tell me he left me
something
.” 

             
Sheila nervously leafed through the papers on her desk and didn’t look up at Victoria.  “He didn’t touch the family accounts.  Also, it seems that the trusts are intact.”

             
Well, fine then.  Screw Trip, where ever he was, and whoever he was with.  That reminded Victoria, she should check to see if that secretary is still at the office. 

             
“I don’t understand why my credit cards have been declined and my checks have been returned.  I tried to cash a check at the club earlier this week and they refused.  It seemed The Northern
returned
my checks.”  

             
Sheila nodded her head, and gave Victoria an annoying look of - pity!  “Mrs. Vernon, I’m so sorry.  The FBI has frozen all of your assets.”

             
“Can they do that?” Victoria was incredulous.

             
“They can.  And they do.  It’s not that uncommon,” Sheila explained.  It’s supposed to make me feel better that I’m in the same boat as deadbeats and murderers, Victoria thought.

             
“I can’t access
any
of it?”  She dug into her large Balenciaga bag and pulled out an overstuffed Bottega Veneta wallet.  She quickly counted a pile of cash that would make a drug dealer blush.  “I only have about twenty-two hundred cash.  That’s supposed to float me?”
             

             
“I’m so sorry.  Our hands are tied.   I’m sure once Mr. Vernon returns, this will all be straightened out,” she said. 

             
Sure.  Once Mr. Vernon returns everything will be perfect.

CHAPTER 4

             
Victoria stood in front of the wall safe in Trip’s library.  She kept her really good jewelry at the bank in a safe deposit box, although her mid-level jewelry she kept at home in the safe.  The expendable stuff, like a David Yerman bracelet or a Judith Ripka ring, she kept in her closet.  If she lost something like that, or one of the staff stole it, no big deal.  Her everyday “good” jewelry she kept behind a little Miro lithograph that fit perfectly over the safe door.  She punched in the code - Trip’s mother’s birthday - and let the door pop open.

             
She picked up a stunning 1930’s art deco diamond and emerald tennis bracelet and draped it over her wrist.  She’d miss this one.  She and Trip bought it on a vacation in Paris soon after they were married.  Back then, they stayed on the Left Bank, and spent mornings hunting through dusty old stores and afternoons back in the hotel making love for hours.  They’d eat at bistros and walk hand in hand back to the hotel to for another round of lovemaking.  It was a magical trip, a magical time in her marriage.   She shook off the memory.  A different time, they were different people.  She knew she had to sell some of this jewelry to get by until - well, she wasn’t quite sure when anything would be resolved.  No time for nostalgia. 

             
Lumi knocked at the side of the doorway.  “Mrs.?  I’m so sorry, but it’s Friday.”

             
Victoria looked at her, annoyed.  “And?”

             
“And Santiago and me have not gotten the paycheck,”  Her voice was almost a whisper.  “Last week, too.”

             
Victoria thought about this for a minute.  Her mind really did work like a small computer, so a minute was really all she needed to make a decision.  Without hesitation she handed the bracelet in her hands to Lumi.  “I’m sorry Lumi.  I can’t pay you.  Or Santiago.  The men with guns took all my money.”  Which, technically wasn’t true.  They
froze
all her money.  Still, blame it on them. 

             
“It looks like I’m going to have to let you go,” she nearly choked the words out.  How was she going to survive without her help?  Santiago, she could live without.   But Lumi?  That hurt.  She should have seen it coming.  She knew that when word got out that the vultures like Lucy Pearson would be circling.  It was a well-known fact that Victoria had the best help on the island, and they’d be dying to snap them up.   Over my dead body, Victoria thought.  Lumi was mine, and she wasn’t going to just give her away.  She preferred to think of it as a loan -- a short-term one if she had her way.

             
“Don’t worry, Lumi.  I’ll make the arrangements for both of you.  Let me handle it,” she said.  She then poked her nose back into the safe.  She might as well find something to tide Santiago over too.

             
             
             
             
             
             
###

             
Victoria and Andrea sat in the back booth of the 21 Club, with Andrea’s back to the door.  The last thing Victoria wanted at this point was to be featured in a background photo of Andrea in the latest
Hello!
magazine.  They both had worn large sunglasses and scarves, and looked like they were going to a Grace Kelly convention.  It worked, and they got in and seated at Andrea’s favorite table unnoticed.  Andrea ordered two Grey Goose martinis and stopped Victoria when she tried to protest.

             
“I have a feeling we’re going to need them,” she said.  “What the hell is going on with you?  It’s Trip, isn’t it.” Victoria nodded.   “I knew it!” Andrea was a bit too excited with her correct guess.

             
“It’s not what you think Andi,” Victoria tried to calm her down.

             
“Oooh!  He came out, didn’t he?”  

             
“No!” Victoria gasped.  She took a gulp of her martini before continuing.  “It’s not good, though.  Maybe coming out would be better.”

             
“Oh my God, is he okay?”

             
“Who knows.  He’s skipped town,” Victoria took a tiny bite of her olive, and put it back in her drink.  “From what I’ve been able to piece together, he’s cooked the books at the firm and took off.  The FBI is looking for him and has successfully frozen all my accounts.  I guess they think if they hurt me they can get to him.”