The Evening News (69 page)

"No reason why you should
.”

"Later on at the bank, when we pay those big bills in, sometimes a teller
will write our name on them. I think they're not supposed to, but some do
.”

A pause, then, "I once asked why. The teller said there are so many
counterfeit hundreds, it's a precaution to protect themselves
.”

"Aha! Precisely what I thought, and probably how the bill I'm looking at
got marked
.”

While speaking, Kettering gave Mony a thumbs-up sign
.”
Do you
have any objection, Mrs. Mortell, to telling me the name of your bank
?
”

"I don't see why not. It's Citibank
.”

She named an uptown branch
.”
Thank you! That's all the information I need
.”

"Just a moment, Mr. Kettering. May I ask a question
?
”

"Of course
.”

"Is something about this going to be on the news? And if so, how can I be
sure not to miss it
?
”

"Easy! Mrs. Mortell, you've been so helpful that I promise, the day it goes
on, I'll call you personally and let you know
.”

As Kettering hung up the phone, Jonathan Mony said, "I thought I might
learn something. I just did
.”

"What was that
?
”

"How to make a friend
.”

Kettering smiled. He had already decided that the Mortell woman sounded so
charming, and with a hint of invitation in her voice, that instead of
phoning he would drop in to see her. He made a note of the address; it was
uptown, not far away. He might be disappointed, of course. Voices were
deceptive and she could be older than she sounded and look like the back
of a bus, though instinct told him otherwise. Something else Jonathan would
undoubtedly learn in time was that a fringe benefit of being on television
was frequent romantic opportunities, leading-if one were so inclined-to
pleasant sexual dalliance
.
He selected another hundred-dollar bill
.”
Let's try this one
,”
he told Mony
and motioned to the phone book
.”
The name is Nicolini Brothers
.”

It turned out to be a bakery and pastry store on Third. A man who answered
was suspicious at first and after a question
or two seemed inclined to hang up. But Kettering, politely persistent, persuaded him otherwise. Eventually the name of a bank was obtained where receipts from the store-including large bills-were regularly paid in. It was the American
-Amazonas Bank at Dag Hammarskje
ld Plaza
.
The names on the next two bills which Kettering chose did not appear in
the Manhattan phone book
.
The bill after that produced results in the way of a cooperative manager
of a men's clothing store. The store, he disclosed, had an account at
Bank Leumi, the branch at Third and Sixty
-
seventh
.
Another Dame on a bill was untraceable. The next led to a distrustful and
abusive woman with whom Kettering could make no headway and he gave up
.
The fifth phone call resulted in communication with an
eighty-six-year-old man. living in an East End Avenue apartment. He was
too weak to speak on the phone and a nursing attendant did it for him
,
though clearly there was nothing wrong with tile old mail's mind. He
could be heard whispering cheerfully that his son, who owned several
night clubs, often dropped in and gave his father
h
undred-dollar bills
,
which were subsequently paid into a bank account that, the
eighty-six-year
old declared with a faint chuckle, he was setting aside
for his old age. And, oh yes, the account was at American-Amazonas Bank
,
Dag Hammarskje
ld Plaza
.
The next call, to a seafood restaurant near Grand Central, resulted in
Kettering speaking at length with several people, none of whom would take
the responsibility of telling him anything important. Eventually the
restaurant owner was located and said impatiently, "What the hell! Sure
you can know the name of our bank; in return, I hope you'll give us a
mention on the news. Anyway, the bank's on that damn square I never can
spell-Dag Hammarskje
ld-and is American-Amazonas
,”
When he hung up, Kettering scooped up the hundred-dollar bills and told
Mony, "We hit the jackpot. No more calls needed. We have the answer
.”

In response to a questioning glance he added, "Look at it this way: Three
out of five people naming the same bank is too
much to be coincidence. So those other names, on the bills which went through Citibank and Leumi, had to have been put on earlier and the bills recirculated, probably through American-Amazonas too
.”
So that's where the money came from which Novack-Rodriguez paid Godoy
for the caskets
.”

"Exactly
!”

Kettering's voice hardened
.”
I'll also wager that same bank
is where those fucking kidnappers drew their cash and had-maybe still
have-an account
.”

Mony prompte
d, "So next step--Dag Hammarskje
ld Plaza
.”

Kettering pushed his chair back from the desk and rose
.”
Where the bell
else? Let's go
.”

Don Kettering was recognized immediately on entering the American-Amazonas Bank and had an instinct early on that his presence was not a total surprise
.
When he asked to see the manager, a matronly secretary informed him, "He
has someone with him now, Mr. Kettering, but I'll interrupt and tell him
you're here
.”

She glanced at Jonathan Mo
d
y
.”
I'm sure he won't keep you
gentlemen long
.”

While waiting, Kettering surveyed the bank. It was located on the main
floor of an elderly brick building near the Plaza's north extremity and
,
viewed from outside, the bank's slate gray entrance was unimposing. The
interior, however, while small for a New York-bank, was attractive and
colorful. Instead of a conventional tiled floor, a patterned carpet in
muted cherry, red and orange shades ran the entire length and width of
the business area; a small, gold-lettered panel noted it was woven in
Amazonas, Brazil
.
While furnishings were conventional-a line of tellers' counters on one
side, three officers' desks on the other-the
woodwork everywhere was of highest quality. Occupying most of one wall, where customers would view it, was a striking mural-a revolutionary scene of panting horses with tousled manes carrying uniformed soldiers
.
Kettering was studying the mural when the secretary advised, "Mr. Armando
is free now. Will you come in, please
.”

As they entered a partially glass-walled office which provided a view of
the operations area outside, the manager came forward with his hand
extended. A desk plaque identified him as Emiliano W. Armando, Jr
.”
Mr. Kettering, a pleasure to meet you. I see you often and admire much of
what you say. But I suppose you hear that all the time
.”

"Even so, I still appreciate it
.”

The business correspondent introduced
Mony. At a gesture from Armando, the three sat down, the visitors facing
a hanging tapestry in bright blues and yellows which continued the bank's
thematic d6cor
.
Kettering watched the manager, a small figure with a wrinkled face showing
signs of tiredness, thinning white hair and bushy eyebrows. Armando moved
with a nervous quickness, his expression worried, the general effect
reminding Kettering of an aging terrier, uneasy with the changing world
around him. Instinctively, though, he found himself liking the man-in
contrast to his recent encounter with Alberto Godoy
.
Leaning back in a swivel chair, the banker sighed
.”
I rather guessed that
you or someone like you would be around soon. It's been an unhappy
,
perplexing time for us here, as I'm sure you understand
.”

Kettering leaned forward. The manager assumed he knew something that he
didn't. He acknowledged cautiously, "Yes, that's all too often true
.”

"As a matter of interest, how did you get to hear
?
”

The business correspondent resisted saying, "Hear what
?
”

and smiled
.”
In
TV news we have sources of information, even though at times we can't
reveal them
.”

He noticed Mony following the conversation with interest
while keeping his face impassive. Well, that ambitious young man was
getting a journalism lesson in spades today.

"I wondered if it was the Post report
,”
Armando said
.”
It left many
unanswered questions
.”

Kettering wrinkled his forehead
.”
I may have read that. Do you happen to
have a copy
?
”

"Of course
.”

Armando opened a desk drawer and produced a news clipping
encased in plastic. The heading read:

UN DIPLOMAT
SLAYS LOVER,
AND
SELF
IN JEALOUS RAGE

Kettering skimmed the report, noting it was from a ten-day
old paper, dated
the Sunday before last. As he observed references to the two who had
died-Helga Efferen of American
Amazonas Bank and
Jose
Antonio Salaverry, a
member of the United Nations Peruvian delegation-the cause of the manager's
distress became clear. What was not clear was whether or not the incident
had any connection to the matter that had brought CBA News here
.
Kettering passed the report to Mony and returned his attention to Armando
,
prompting, "Unanswered questions, I believe you said
.”

The manager
nodded
.”
What the newspaper described is how the police say it
happened. Personally, I don't believe it
.”

Still groping for a possible linkage, Kettering asked, "Would you mind
telling me why
?
”

"The whole business is too complex for that simple explanation.,
,
"Obviously, you knew the woman who was employed here. Did you know the man
,
Salaverry
?
”

:'Unfortunately-as it's since turned out-yes
.”

'Will you explain that
?
”

Armando hesitated before answering
.”
My inclination is to be frank with
you, Mr. Kettering, mostly because I think that what we've learned at this
bank during the past ten days will come out anyway, and I know you to be
fair in your reporting. However, I have an obligation to the bank. We are
a substantial and respected establishment in Latin America, as well as
having this and other toeholds in the United States. Is it possible you could wait a day or two, giving me time to consult with senior management outside this country
?
”

There was a connection! Kettering's instincts again, and he shook his head
decisively
.”
It isn't possible to wait. There's a critical situation
involving safety and lives
.”