Revenue Code section dealing with not-for-profit organizations.
Irene Lander did not suffer fools gladly in the investment world, nor in her social dealings. Reuben found her cold and humorless; there was also, he was sure, an angry resentment just below the surface over the extent to which men dominated the business environment in which she operated.
It was known that Irene was older than her husband, though the other wives at Chase & Ward who cared about such things could not gauge exactly how much older. Never a beauty, her sharp features were nonetheless interesting, at least until a disastrous facelift several months earlier, which it was speculated had been undertaken so that the contrast between her aging looks and the youthful appearance of her husband would be less apparent. Reuben had not seen the result, but his sources told him that her face now lacked any character or distinctiveness and was a bland expanse of tightened, wrinkleless skin.
âHer skin is so tight I donât understand why she doesnât squeak,â Cynthia, who usually refrained from such catty remarks, had said to him after a charity lunch where she had encountered Irene. âShe should have had her work done in Brazil.â
Reuben went to Eskillâs office rather than inviting the young lawyer to his own spare quarters. He seated himself in a chair under the Whoâs Who certificate, facing Eskill, who was sitting at his desk in shirtsleeves. Frost got down to business immediately.
âEskill, I have some terrible news to report. News you need to be aware of. Dan Courtlandâs daughter, Marina, has been murdered.â
âJesus, Reuben! When and where?â
âIâm not certain about the whereâshe was found over by the East River but could have been killed any place. When? The police think last Friday.â
Frost went over the details and then asked Lander if he could offer any explanation for the Hallie/Marina confusion.
âAbsolutely none, Reuben. You know, Iâve never met her, though I did meet her half-brother once. Whatâs his name? Facini.â
âGino Facini, I believe,â Reuben said.
âThatâs it. Anyway, as Iâve told you before, Dan insisted on setting up a substantial trust for Marina and this Facini. Both of them are now over twenty-five, so theyâve received what were the first two installments. The only things left are the residual paymentsâbig onesâafter they both reach thirty.â
âAnd thereâs a two-thirds/one-third split between them, correct?â
âYes. ⦠And thatâs what brought about my only contact with Facini. He came to see me a year or so ago and said he thought that the two-thirds/one-third split was unfair and asked if there was anything that could legally be done about it. The answer, of course, was no. I also told him that he was lucky to be cut in for a third, since many stepparents make no provision at all for their stepchildren. He was furious at me and went away angry.
âAs for Marina, as I say, Iâve never met her. Corresponded with herâweâve even been on a âDear Eskill/Dear Marinaâ basisâbut thatâs the extent of it. No personal contact. Just family business.â
âDan got along with her, didnât he?â
âIâve never heard anything to make me think otherwise. Do you know something I donât?â
âNo, no, I was just asking out of curiosity.â
âWhat can I do?â Lander asked.
âWell, Dan is at the St. Regis, and Iâm sure would welcome a call, or a visit. Or maybe you could bring him some veal and spinach.â
âOh no, Reuben, please.â
Frost had one more question. âAny theories as to who might have done this?â
Lander replied that he did not. Then after hesitating, he added: âI do have one thought. I donât want to implicate anybody, but it could have been her
Anne McCaffrey, Margaret Ball