Deadly Game. R. B. Conroy

bank’s faces in the city. Neither of them knew much about the nuts and bolts part of the business; they had always left that up to their controller, Rizzo. Recently, over lunch, Rizzo had warned Louie that the file maintenance Montrose was doing seemed out of the ordinary to him, but Louie thought it was just sour grapes on the part of Rizzo. Like so many times before, today’s visit by Montrose was unexpected. And, as the note indicated, had not been announced to Louie and his staff until after the close of business the day before.

      “I guess there is a lot of new accounting stuff coming down the pike these days,” Ava reassured.

      “Seems like it,” Louie replied. “Wonder why we always get Montrose?” The other managers tell me that they rarely see Jack.”

      Ava smiled at her perplexed boss, “Don’t know, Louie—maybe he just likes us.”

      “Maybe so.” Louie shuffled through Ava’s notes. “Well….uh who’s first on my appointment schedule today?”

      “The United Way Chairman is coming in at 8:30. He wants us to commit a little more per employee this year, says they’re having trouble meeting their goal.”

      “Another important meeting,” Louie murmured.

      “What was that?”

      “Oh nothing. What else is on the agenda?”

      “HR wants to meet with you at 10. The tellers are complaining about the increase in their health insurance premium. They say it’s more than their raise.”

      Louie shook his head, “Tell them to call Indy. Is that it?”

      “You have a two o’clock with Butch Ferinni, says he wants to put a pool in his backyard. Says he tired of ‘sweating his ass off all summer.’”

      “Hope they don’t find any bodies when the dig up his backyard.”

      “Louie!” Ava scolded. “Butch loves you!”

      “I know,” Louie smiled warmly at his old friend. “Thanks, Ava.”

      “For what, Louie?”

      “Oh, just about everything I guess—setting my schedule each day, opening my office in the morning, trying to put a nice spin on everything. You’re a wonderful friend; you make my life here tolerable.”

      The face of the modest secretary turned instantly red.

      “Why don’t you take Friday off? You’ve been putting in a lot of hours lately.”

      A huge smile exploded on Ava’s face. She clasped her hands together, her thin body wiggled in excitement. “Oh thank you! My sister is coming in from Milwaukee, that would be perfect! What a nice surprise, thank you so much Louie!”

      “Thank you, Ava.”

      As an excited Ava exited the room, Louie’s office line lit up. “Yes, what is it?”

      “Mr. Montrose just arrived and would like to go over a few things with you in the board room.”

      “Be right there.”

      Chapter 7

      “Strom?”

      “Yes.”

      “It’s Alex.”

      “Hi Alex.”

      “Can you meet me on the circle for lunch in a few?”

      “Yeah, sure Alex. Usual place?”

      “Yeah.”

      “I’ll be there.”

      “Thanks.”

      Alex hit Erica’s line.

      “Yes Mr. Crane?”

      “Would you call Blue and Gates and see if Ted can meet Strom and me for lunch at the Circle Deli?”

      “Certainly, sir.”

      ………

      Alex walked briskly down Meridian Street toward the thirty story Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. He turned left off Meridian onto the circle drive that bordered the monument and headed for his impromptu luncheon with Strom and his bank’s attorney, Ted Blue.

      Several passers-by nodded as he made his way down the busy sidewalk to the Circle Deli. Alex loved Indianapolis; it was big enough to provide many of the cultural advantages so often identified with the big cities while still maintaining its small town charm. As he maneuvered along the wide sidewalk, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

      “Hey, big guy.”

      Alex turned to see his stylishly dressed attorney, Ted Blue, who was just a step behind.

      “Hi, Ted. Did Erica get ahold of you?”

      “Yeah, I was here at the Title Company finishing up a mortgage closing, so it worked out great. But there is only one thing.”

      “What’s that?”

      “The meeting is over lunch so I can’t bill you.”

      “When did that ever stop you?” Alex grinned at his old high school friend. Ted was a full partner in the largest and most successful law firm in Indianapolis. Graduating with honors from the IU School of Law, he was one of the most sought after legal minds in town. Alex felt fortunate to have him as his lead counsel at Midwest. A man of integrity, he trusted his old friend completely and loved his aggressive, take no prisoners, style.

      The two men walked a short distance and then left the busy sidewalk and entered the Circle Deli. The restaurant’s friendly greeter, Monica, smiled warmly.

      “Hello, Mr. Crane.”

      “Good morning Monica, and how are you?”

      “Just fine. Thank you, Mr. Crane. Mr. Winslow is already here and he’s sitting at your favorite table.”

      “Oh great.”

      “Follow me.”

      “Lead the way.”

      The men fell in behind Monica as she wove her way through the crowded restaurant. Several of the businessmen and women in the room nodded at the well known men. As they approached the table, Strom was busy reading the menu and didn’t notice them.

      “Hello Strom.”

      Strom looked up from the menu, “Oh, hi, Alex.” The two shared a vigorous handshake. The ritual duplicated itself with Ted.

      “You’re early, Strom. You’re getting fast in your old age,” Ted quipped.

      “Old age! Want to arm wrestle smart-ass?” Strom retorted. A broad grin broke out on his wrinkled face.

      “I wouldn’t do it, Ted. You were a punter in high school. Strom was an all-state tackle.”

      “I’ll pass.” Ted smiled at a grinning Strom.

      Alex lifted his menu. “What’s good today?”

      “They have ham and Swiss with a cup of minestrone on special,” Strom offered.

      “Sounds good to me,” Alex replied.

      “Me too,” Ted said as both men tossed their menus on the table.

      Just seconds later, the smiling waitress approached them. “Oh boy, my three favorite dirty old men are here today,” she joked as she banged three sweaty glasses of water on the table.

      “Hey! We’re not all old, Libby!” a smiling Alex exclaimed.

      “You’re old to me, Mr. Crane.” she retorted.

      The powerful men laughed out loud; they loved being brought down to size and the feisty Libby never disappointed.

      “What’ll