Rita Brown - Cat of the Century

I called Billy Bonito, who is president of the Big River Bank, where our account smolders. She smiled.

Billy Bonito who drove fine harness horses?

Still does, although he hasnt the time to compete as he once did. You werent there in 77. Sugarcane collapsed in a workout at the Kentucky State Fair. I was there as the guest of Paul Hamilton.

I miss him. Aunt Tally recalled Joans late father, who had purchased Kalarama Farm after World War II. Frances, too. She mentioned his wife, Frances Paralee who passed in 2005 at age eighty-five.

We were standing at the workout chute that led into the grand arena when she just dropped in the traces. I ran over, as there wasnt time to find Billys regular vet. To make a long story a little shorter, I managed to save her. She retired to become a foundation broodmare for Billy.

Wonder if hes still so handsome?

Spect he is. Anyway, I flatly told him our problem and knew I was asking him to do something improper. He understood. For one thing, if something is amiss in that account, weve got to catch it right away.

And? Aunt Tally was keen on this now.

The account is in good order. However, Mariah did withdraw twenty-five thousand dollars, in cash, which she replaced today at 2:12 P.M. She transferred money from a joint accountpersonalat Big River.

Sitting bolt upright, Aunt Tally whispered, Thats not right.

I know it. I suspect that is why the computer crashed, and I put crash in quotation marks.

Does she have the right to issue checks?

She does, but the twenty-five thousand was cash.

A silence followed. Get rid of her. We cant make a big deal out of it, but this must never happen again. No officer can write a check to herself. Another pause. Mariah doesnt strike me as dumb enough to pull a stunt like this.

Me, neither. Thats what really worries me. The incongruity of it.

Any withdrawal, check or cash, is on a computer file.

Right. Inez paused. She then contributed twenty-five thousand to your fund with a personal check.

Oh, dear.

Inez sighed. This just doesnt compute, forgive the pun.

Still, she has to go.

I know. I know. While I was at it, I did a little snooping around through friends. Her businessFletcher, Maitland, and DAngelois losing money. People arent buying much jewelry these days. Her husbands construction business is down. Hes laid off thirty percent of his workers, but he does have large projects rolling, one of which is the new hospital near Independence, Missouri.

A very long silence followed this. Can you remove her without fanfare? But Im not sure we should right at this moment. It would be easier to get the board to pass an amendment saying all checks need to be countersigned by the secretary. In fact, we should have done that years ago. Aunt Tally nodded. Andrea from Omaha is the secretary, and that one is sharp as a tack.

She is. I need to speak to her first, then build a consensus in a nonthreatening way. Even if I dont specifically mention the twenty-five thousand dollars, if I float this issue it means Flo will take the warpath. Shell sense Mariah has dropped the ball, and shell be relentless until she finds out. Even if she doesnt, shell create more problems. I doubt Mariah will take this calmly, even though shell know I know.

Why?

Ill tell her.

What a pickle.

Exactly.

L

ooking out the window of the classroom, Liz saw Gayle giving Harry, Mrs. Murphy, and Tucker the garden tour of the Bancroft Center, the new Rowland Applied Riding Arena, and fenced areas.

She returned her blue-eyed gaze to the two women standing before her, neither one in good humor this afternoon. It was as though shed overheard Inez and Aunt Tally discussing her lack of leadership. Had she known being chair of the alumnae board would prove so onerous, shed never have accepted. Seeing Inez forcefully maintain order and keep the group on track only underscored her failings. She wanted to get herself back on course, not least because some of the women were her clients. Mostly it was due to ego. Shed resign soon enough, because this was a real pain in the rear end, but she wanted to do it on her own terms and after some small success.

She didnt hustle the board for business any more than any of the other women did. Flo was a broker, as was she. Mariah owned and operated a high-end jewelry store in Kansas City. Andrea, along with her husband, owned a large trucking operation based just west of Omaha. DeeDee, from L.A., was one of the most successful real estate brokers in the vast easy-money citywell, easy one day, hard the next. Another member ran a large paving-stone company; one was a boutique grocer. The range of activities was impressive. A physician and a lawyer

were also on the board. Trudy Sweetwater worked for an irrigation company and Mo Avola bred Red Angus cattle.

Interestingly, no academics served. Liz once asked Inez why, and the thin old lady quipped, They dont know how to make real money.

Liz wondered if John Maynard Keynes qualified as an academic and decided it was best not to counter Inez.

Will you get to the point? Mariah plopped behind a school desk.

Flo also decided to sit.

The classroom, which would be empty for another two hours, proved pleasantly warm. Liz sat between the two, moving her light desk so theyd be in a semicircle.

Well, Id like to iron out some difficulties. I feel guilty that Inez has had to step in for me and its because I cant get you two to cooperate.

Flo, eyes narrowed, said through compressed lips, I will do anything for William Woods. Just what the hell is it you wish me to cooperate about?

Measuring her words, Liz replied, It seems to me that whatever Mariah suggests, you counter, andshe looked at Mariahwhatever Flo says or suggests, you take issue with.

Is it my fault Flos ego is in an ever-expanding stategaseous, you might say. Mariah smiled wickedly through her violet-tinged lipstick.

Ego! Mariah, you still havent forgiven me for stealing, as you put it, Dick Langston.

I confess. When he chose you, I was upset, but as time has passed, Im ever so glad. She waited a beat. Hes aged terribly since losing the Democratic nomination for governor eight years ago. She looked at her nails, looked up again. And, really, darling, couldnt you two find a better plastic surgeon? He looks well, Asian.

You leave my husband out of this, Flo spat.

Look, you two, this is exactly what Im talking about. I dont know all that has transpired in the past. Cant you table it for the good of the school?

Ill be convinced its for the good of the school when she doesnt put forward PeteFlo named Mariahs husbandto construct any new buildings on campus.

I have never, never put forward my husband. He makes a bid like any other contractor in this state.

And youre an important member of the alumnae board. I say that gives Pete the inside track.

It does not. Hes above reproach.

Better than I can say for you. Flo fluffed her streaked hair with her right hand.

Mariah, face flushed, half-rose out of the wooden seat. Just what does that mean? She caught herself, sat down, then calmly switched subjects. Were we to have a dishonesty contest, I do think Id trail you, darling.

Thats enough. Liz slammed her hand on the table.

Flo, coolly assessing the attractive younger woman, spoke in a dark alto, Just who do you think youre talking to?

You, Flo. You you should be above this.

Mariah, arms crossed over her hunter-green sweater and a gold pashmina draped over her shoulders, laughed. You two could win Oscars. What a performance. Im actually impressed.

Flo snapped her head in Mariahs direction. What in the hell are you talking about?