She parked and looked toward the entranceway, taking in the very light beige building with its massive tinted windows. A dark shake roof with overhanging eaves added to majestic setting in the late afternoon sun, giving the combination of colors and architectural design an understated elegance.
She sat for several minutes trying to work up the courage to go in. Finally, touching her hair lightly and checking her makeup in the mirror she got out. Entering the office, she couldn’t help being impressed with the finery of the surroundings. Pale walls with interesting works of art, beautiful landscapes and picturesque scenes from all over the world in dark wood and antique gold frames added to the rich appearance. She approached the slim, gray-haired receptionist seated at a shiny dark wood L-shaped desk and told her that she was Mrs. Rabin to see Mr.Brown.
The woman glanced at an appointment calendar and looked up. “I’m sorry, but I don’t see you on our list.”
“Just tell him I want to see him. My husband works for one of your companies.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Brown only sees people by appointment; you’ll have to leave. And besides, he’s already left for the day.” She nodded in dismissal and then turned back to her typewriter.
Shirley scowled and then moved to her left so that she was standing in front of the typewriter. When the woman looked up, Shirley glared at her, saying in a stern voice, “Look, I know he’s here; there’s a black Mercedes in the parking space with his name on it and I want to see him.”
“Please, madam, if you don’t leave, I will have to call security,” the gray-haired receptionist answered, raising her voice so that the women in the office behind her looked up to see what was causing the disturbance.
To the right, the door to a private office opened and Shirley saw a broad-shouldered man of medium height with dark wavy hair and a trace of white in his sideburns, wearing a well tailored black blazer and charcoal slacks. He was escorting a tall man with a briefcase out, Shirley recognized him from the Jai Alai Stadium.
“Mr. Brown,” she called out, waving so he could see her.
“Don’t pay any attention to her, Mr. Brown,” the receptionist said, standing up and moving between him and Shirley. “She doesn’t have an appointment and I already told her you wouldn’t see her.”
Stepping into the outer office he smiled at Shirley and then turned to the receptionist, saying, “It’s alright Sandra.”
“What can I do for you?” he said, walking toward her and taking her hand as his visitor continued toward the exit.
“I’m Shirley Rabin, Howie’s wife, she said softly.
“Jack Brown,” he answered and led her to the office he had just exited. The office was large with a big rectangular desk of dark wood that was clear except for in and out trays, a silver pen stand and a desk pad. Behind it was a low matching cabinet with two photographs; one of two young girls and another of an attractive blonde woman. On the wall behind his desk was a large photo of the exterior of the building they were in. Long cream colored silk drapes framed the windows off to the side.
He turned to face her. “Howie Rabin, the name is familiar and I seem to remember seeing you somewhere before.”
“We’ve never met, but I was with my husband one night a few years back at the Dania Jai Alai when you had a meeting with Howie and Sal Farina. I saw you there.”
“Oh, I do remember you now, and yes, I remember your husband, too,” he said, smiling. Almost as an afterthought, he added, “I always remember ladies when they’re as attractive as you.”
Shirley smiled looking down at the plush beige carpet.
“Don’t be embarrassed, I meant it as a compliment and I’m sure no lady minds a compliment,” he said, seating her on a cream colored linen sofa across from the desk and settling in a matching chair to the left of a coffee table in front of the couch.
“Now, what can I do for you?”
“Mr.Brown,” Shirley began speaking softly, hesitating and then looking straight at him, finding a more even tone. “I’m reluctant to discuss my problems with my family, much less a stranger, but I’m asking you for help because my husband works for your company and was arrested last night. I’ve just returned from talking with him and he claims it is all a mistake. Something about a Hispanic man needing money, setting him up with the police to be arrested for a drug deal to avoid being arrested himself. I’ve also talked with the man Howie works with and his lawyer Sam Petrillo and they don’t seem anxious to help.”
Brown made a slight negative move with his chin, without saying anything.
Running her tongue over her teeth, she waited and then continued.
“My husband has told me that you are an important business man, who knows how to get things done. I hope I’m doing the right thing by coming here. We need help. Howie won’t like that I’m here, but I don’t know where to turn and I’m worried. I don’t want him to go to jail. He owes a lot of money and I’ve been threatened if he doesn’t pay up.”
Looking up, she watched Jack Brown as he listened patiently but showed no emotion. She could hardly believe that this very impressive looking man was an associate of her husband’s, especially after her encounter with Sal Farina. He was like no other friend of Howie she had ever met. Everything about him looked like elegance and class.
Seeing she was finished, he said in a soft business like voice looking directly into her eyes, “Mrs. Rabin, I don’t really know your husband, nor do I know the details of his arrest. From what you tell me, it seems that he works with one of the groups in which we have an investment.”
He stopped and waited to make sure she understood him and then continued. “As long as you’re here, however, maybe I can be of some assistance.”
“Why don’t you start by telling me what you know about what happened and about his past, has he ever been arrested before?”
“Well, to be honest, Howie kept me in the dark as much as he could. I do know that he was arrested in Chicago once or twice for gambling and one time for something about prostitution, but the cases were dismissed.”
“Anything else?”
“Here in Florida, I don’t really know. He was arrested once for something to do with prostitution and he paid a fine to get the charges dropped. And he didn’t come home for a few days about a year ago and refused to discuss where he was at the time. I thought he had been arrested then. I remember that his lawyer was with him when he returned and they talked privately for some time before he left. This time, Howie just called and told me to contact Sal Farina and Mr. Petrillo.”
Sitting back in his chair Brown nodded, and pursed his lips before speaking. Shirley anxiously leaned forward, impressed by his quiet, intelligent demeanor.
“Based on what you’ve told me, I personally find it hard to believe that anything he would have told you would make you think to contact me. Financial Enterprises is involved in several businesses. We do not have anything to do with drugs of any type. We are respected business people, primarily in commercial real estate and other investments.”
“He claims he was set up,” Shirley said with a catch in her voice and rummaging in her hand bag for a tissue. “Please, Mr.Brown, tell me you’ll help. I’m sure he wouldn’t do something stupid like dealing drugs. He’s too smart for that.”
“Did he say anything else?”
Looking down she sucked in her lower lip and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I know he didn’t do it. He gambles and he thinks I don’t know about the prostitutes and the juice loans, but not this,” she cried. “Howie is no angel, but I know he didn’t do drugs.”
“Please Mrs. Rabin,” Brown said standing and shaking his head. “Why don’t you let me get more information and come back here tomorrow about the same time. We can talk then. Now” he said offering her his handkerchief, “please dry your eyes. C’mon, I’ll walk you to your car.”
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br /> Walking to the car, neither spoke until he shook her hand, saying, “Get a good night’s sleep, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Returning to the office he picked up the phone and called his assistant Paul Freed into his office.
“What do you know about Howie Rabin and his arrest” he asked as Freed, a paunchy man in his late thirties with thinning hair, appeared in the doorway.
Adjusting his glasses as he came in and not bothering to sit, Freed answered slowly, “Not much, except I know you won’t like it. It seems he got set up by the cops and was caught trying to sell a large amount of cocaine in Miami. They were working with a Colombian informant, who’s a known drug dealer. I just found out this morning.”
Brown’s hand cupped his chin and he slowly shook his head.
Freed nodded, shifting from one leg to the other. “As soon as Rabin took the money and handed over a suitcase containing twenty kilos of coke, they grabbed him. I’m trying to find out how serious it is.”
“What can we do about it?”
“We’ll see if we can get him off easy or at least disassociate him from any connection to us. I’m meeting Sal Farina later at the motel where he has an office to find out more.”
“Paul, whatever happens, I want this thing to go away before the news guys connect him to us,” Brown said, a tense crease appearing in his brow. ”Do you understand?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. B, I’m on top of it. One thing you should know is that he is into Sal for ninety large, mostly from gambling. It seems that he can’t control himself when it comes to any kind of action. Other than that, he’s been a pretty good operator when it comes to juice, or the girls that he runs. I’ll find out more from Sal; he keeps a good tab on his guys.”
“Okay, get back to me by noon tomorrow. And one more thing, what do you know about Rabin’s wife? She decided to contact me here and I’m curious about why.”
“Was that her a little while ago?”
“Yeah, and I’m not happy about that. I wouldn’t have talked to her if I knew why she busted in here the way she did.”
Freed laughed, shaking his head. “Is that what Sandra was so fired up about?”
Brown smiled. “She was ready to tackle her when I came out of my office and I told her it was okay. But Rabin’s wife surprised the hell out of me when she explained what she’d come for,” he said. “And you know how much I like surprises,” he added sarcastically.
“What did she want from you?””
Brown shrugged, frowning.
Freed put his hands in his pockets and cocked his head. “Why didn’t you have her thrown out?”
“Ordinarily I wouldn’t have let her in, but I did remember seeing her before. It turned out it was at Jai Alai a few years ago when I met with her husband and Sal Farina. I think you were there too.”
“I think I remember the meeting but not her.”
“Got to hand it to her, she has a lotta guts, showing up here,” Brown smiled tightly. “She is certainly some kind of woman. Did you see her?”
“No, what about her?”
“She’s a sexy looking blonde, about five three, who looks taller in spike heels, and when she turned to leave, I couldn’t believe that ass,” Brown chuckled. “You gotta wonder what she looks like under that tight slack outfit.”
Paul’s eyebrows shot up, then he just smiled. Backing toward the door, he said, “It’s funny you should mention it. I’ve heard that before from a few guys who’ve met her, that she’s a real knockout. I also heard she threw her husband out a few times. I’ll see what else I can find out and get back to you tomorrow around noon.”
Paul’s report wasn’t good. “Rabin’s been stalling Sal for weeks and missed several payments. He’s also disappeared once or twice for a few days and Sal heard he was nosing around in Miami for some kind of deal. The other thing is that the Colombian who set him up is bad a bad actor who is being investigated for the murder of another drug dealer.
Brown nodded without saying anything when Freed finished. He did, however, show more than a little interest when he got to the part about Shirley and told him that he thought both Howie and his lawyer had advised her against coming to see him. The speculation that her marriage to Howie was somewhat rocky and that the police had been to the house on more than one occasion when he had knocked her around; also interested him as did the information that their only son was away at a fancy college. Brown merely nodded, thinking she had a lot of nerve showing up at his office in person after being warned not to. He liked that. ,
By the time Shirley arrived later the next day, he found that he could think of little else than seeing her. Once again, she came in looking like she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine in a light gray business suit with a tight skirt ending mid-knee and high heels, which immediately caught his attention. He liked that. Most women in Florida were more casual, wearing slacks and neat looking tops. Nothing about her was flashy, everything, including her simple jewelry and makeup, were high class. This time she sat across from him at his desk and when she talked, she looked directly at him, speaking with a confidence that he seldom had seen in women.
He couldn’t believe that she could be married to someone like Rabin. Even though Brown didn’t really know him, he knew the type of guys that ran operations for Sal Farina. They did not have wives as sharp as Shirley Rabin.
Before he could say anything, she swallowed deeply, clutching her purse tightly in front of her and said “Mr. Brown, I know I barged in here yesterday. And I apologize.”
He held up his hand, smiling. “Forget it, I know you were upset.”
“Thank you,” she said, and sighed. With a sheepish grin, she tilted her head. “There’s something I need to confess. I told the old sergeant at the lock-up in Miami that you said I should go there to talk to Howie.”
His grin widened. “You did what? Who was it, a thin bald guy by the name of Ogilvey?”
“Yeah, he was very nice,” she said with a small giggle as she felt herself relax.
“You’re pretty determined, aren’t you?” he laughed.
“Let’s say I’m desperate and don’t believe my husband is involved in something this stupid. He’s no angel, but he’s always made a living and managed to stay out of serious trouble,” she said; a hint of a smile starting as she watched the way he listened quietly while looking directly at her.
Leaning forward, Brown suddenly became serious. “I think he’s in more trouble this time,” he replied. “It seems he went off on his own and got mixed up with the wrong people which led to an arrest when he got caught red handed in a drug deal.”
Shirley looked away and then turned to face him, starting to respond.
Jack held up his hand. “I told you we have nothing to do with drugs and have cautioned everyone associated with our organization that we will not help them if they do not respect our wishes.”
Taking a deep breath, Shirley responded quietly, “I’m sure it’s a mistake. I understand about the loans and the gambling, even the prostitution, but Howie would never mess with drugs.”
“Look Mrs. Rabin, I’d like to help you.”
“There’s a but coming right now, isn’t there?” she interrupted.
“Yeah,” he said with a small nod. “We can’t be involved, but I know Sam Petrillo. He’s a good lawyer and if anyone can help him, I’m sure he can.”
Shirley lowered her eyes and looked away.
He leaned back, “You know I was upset with you yesterday, for barging in here. I can’t allow you to contact me about your husband’s arrest anymore, or at least until the dust settles in his case and we know more, but and yes, this is another but, I like you and admire your guts.”
Holding back a smile, Shirley looked at him again. “I apologized for that. I know it was wrong, but somehow I have to help hi
m. I’ve also got find some way to pay off ninety thousand dollars.”
He nodded in agreement.
“Hey you’re a big business guy, maybe you can help me in the real estate business. I’m good and work hard. I know I can make money for you.”
He grinned. “I don’t think so, my people handle that. Let me think though, maybe I can figure something out.”
With her hands knotted into tight fists in her lap, she looked down. “Talking about real estate, I’m worried people will steer clear of me because of my husband’s problems.”
They sat quietly for a few moments, she tensely searching her purse for car keys, wondering what happens now.
He leaned back seeing how distraught she was and wanting to sooth her.
Standing she reached for his hand, “I have to go now. Thank you for listening. This is very hard for me. I’ve got a lot to think about.
“How about joining me for dinner, “he asked impulsively with a small smile.
“Mr Brown….uh, I don’t know,” she said, her mouth remaining slightly open as she hesitated..
“Come on, it will take your mind off your troubles. I know a great place not far from here.”
When they arrived, Luigi, the owner of the small Italian restaurant bearing his name, greeted Jack Brown warmly. The waiters, the busboys and the bartender all knew him by name too, and Shirley watched as he addressed them each with a personal greeting, making inquiries about their families. When he politely introduced her, it made her feel special in a way that she hadn’t experienced since her early days with Howie in Fort Lauderdale.
Luigi escorted them to a table and helped Shirley with her chair, asking, “the usual Mr. B.? And how about you Mrs. Rabin, what can I get for you to drink?”
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