Big Easy Bonanza

Tubby followed after them.
    “I can’t believe what they did to your office, Tubby,” Reggie said. “What could they have been after?”
    Tubby shook his head.
    “They sure got your office a lot worse than mine.”
    “It’s just devastating,” moaned Cherrylynn.
    “Come look at mine,” Reggie said. They walked down the hall through the litter. The wreckage here was on a smaller scale.
    Reggie lowered his voice. “This is pretty intense, Tubby. What’s going on?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Are you working on anything that could, you know, lead to this?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    “You think it could be connected with Darryl Alvarez?”
    “How do you mean?”
    “I don’t know. You tell me. Drugs? Money? Did he leave anything with you?” Reggie’s eyebrows twitched.
    “No.” Being partners didn’t mean you had to tell each other everything.
    “All of my clients are regular businessmen, Tubby.”
    Sure, thought Tubby. “Does that make them sweethearts?” he asked.
    Reggie blinked rapidly, maybe thinking. “It’s not really their style,” he said. “Plus, whoever heard of busting up a lawyer’s office just because you’re mad at him? This doesn’t look like vandalism to me. You better go over your client list, Tubby.”
    “You can bet I’ll give it some thought.” Tubby meant that. “Guess we better call the insurance company.”
    Cherrylynn came and got them. The policeman wanted an inventory. She also told Tubby that Clifford Banks was on the phone. Banks was the chairman of the Louisiana Bond Counsel Association. He represented municipalities and parish governments wishing to sell tax-free securities. He was known throughout the state. He never called Tubby Dubonnet, and Tubby tried to steer clear of guys like Clifford Banks.
    “I’ll tell him you’ll call him later.”
    “Right. No. I’ll take it at my desk.”
    He had to look for the phone. It was on the floor, underneath a pile of paper, but it was still plugged in. Cherrylynn had been picking up and reshelving books, but she stepped outside to give him some privacy.
    “Hello, Mr. Dubonnet?” It was a quiet, assured voice. A flat, slightly nasal accent. A Republican Garden District voice.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m sorry to call you out of the blue like this. It’s been quite some time since we were introduced at the Federal Bar Association dinner.” Tubby had only the faintest recollection of attending any such dinner. He thought it might have been two or three years ago. He did not recall that Clifford Banks had been in attendance, though you shook so many hands at those affairs that anything was possible.
    “I didn’t think you’d remember that,” Tubby said lamely.
    “Of course I do. Listen, I’ll tell you why I called. I have a client who is interested in the death of Darryl Alvarez.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “He is a potential heir to Mr. Alvarez’s estate, and he is trying to learn more about the circumstances of his death, and what the assets of the estate are, things of that nature.”
    “I wouldn’t know about either, Clifford,” Tubby said, but he was thinking that the other shoe was finally beginning to drop. “I was just representing him on a criminal matter. I don’t even know if he left a will. Who is your client?”
    “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say. I know a statement like that always raises more questions than anything else, and I assure you there is nothing to hide here, but I have to respect my client’s wishes.”
    “I don’t see how I can help you.”
    “You may be able to help me more than you think. I wonder if I might meet with you, this afternoon if possible, and perhaps I can explain a little more fully what I’m trying to find out. Could I drop by your office?”
    “No, I’m sorry, but my office is being remodeled right now.” Tubby righted a trashcan with his foot and tried to collect the wadded-up things that had spilled from it.
    “Then perhaps you could drop by mine,” Banks said. “Or, better still, why not let me buy you a drink after work. We could meet in the bar at the Fairmont.”
    Tubby had no desire to meet with him anytime, but he said, “Okay, what time?”
    “Whatever suits you. How about six o’clock?”
    “All right, I’ll see you there.”
    Tubby hung up and looked around his office. The cabinet safe wasn’t bank-vault quality, but someone had to know what they were doing to get it open. He had no doubt that the safe was the target. The