The Merger – 22

 

"Mike," Rosie said from the doorway to his office. It was almost one, Tuesday afternoon and he'd just returned from lunch. "You have a call on line one. A Mr. Osborne."

"Did he say what he wanted?"

"No. Just that it was urgent."

"Okay. Thanks." He picked up the office phone, saying, "Michael Harte here. How may I help you?"

"Mr. Harte. My name is Rupert Osborne. I don't know if you've heard of me."

Mike thought for a moment then replied, "Unless I'm mistaken, you are the president and CEO of Osborne Bank and Trust."

"I am." Osborne went silent, then said rather stiffly, as if it pained him, "I need your help."

"With what?"

"I'd rather not say over the phone."

"I can have my secretary make an appointment for you, Mr. Osborne."

"I'd prefer not to come to your offices. Would it be possible for you to come to the bank?"

His interest piqued, Mike replied, "I'd be willing to do that. I can be there by one thirty, if that works for you."

"It does. I'll tell my secretary to let me know the moment you arrive. The address is twenty-three Wilcox."

"All right. I'll see you soon." Mike hung up and immediately ran a search on Rupert Osborne. The man was in his mid-forties and had married his wife Linda ten years previously. They had one child, a seven-year-old daughter named Bethany. He came from money, his father having owned a prestigious manufacturing firm prior to his untimely death from cancer. Rupert had inherited the firm and immediately sold it, adding to his already-large fortune. From all accounts—and there were more than a few news stories about him—Osborne was a loving husband and father and a supporter of several charities, with no breath of scandal attached to his name.

So what's going on that he needs my help? I'm hardly in his class, socially or in terms of the agency. God only knows there are several large, well-staffed ones he could have called to help solve whatever his problem is.

Mike checked the time then put his computer to sleep before going into the waiting room to tell Rosie he'd be back. "Hopefully by three, since I've got an appointment with Mr. Daniels at three fifteen. If I'm not here, Josh should have returned from the job he's doing. Ask him to handle it, please."