Part 73 (1/2)

”It's nothing for you to be worried about,” said Thomas.

”It affects a client of mine.”

”Oh” said Grover, shaking his head weakly and speaking louder, 'but I do worry. I worry about everything. You know, under normal circ.u.mstances I'd tell you absolutely nothing. I'd want you to prove who you are ' ”I could if you wish.”

Grover held up a hand.

”No need. You wear your identification.

I can see your father all through you.”

”I understood you were pretty good” said Thomas.

”Good?”

”As a forger.”

The rotund man's eyes twinkled.

”A man takes a certain pride in his work he allowed.

”No matter what that line of work is.”

”I understand you were very good ' A smile crossed Grover's face.

”Want to know the truth, Tom, if I can call you that? I was excellent.”

”Would unsurpa.s.sed' be the proper word?”

”Maybe,” he conceded. His deft fingers drummed on the wooden table in front of him. He paused and Thomas remained silent, sensing that Grover, out of pride or nostalgia or both, would say more.

”I'll tell you how good I was” he added, his eyes twinkling.

”I.

would forge a man's signature to a check, then take the check to the bank it was drawn on. I'd present it to the teller for payment, but I'd say to the teller,

”Please. Take a close look at the signature. I don't know the man who signed it. I want to be sure it's genuine.”” ”And?”

”The teller would compare my forgery against the real thing.

Then I'd be informed that the check was fine. No problem.”

”And that always worked?”

”Never failed. Look, would I try to sell a product that wasn't perfect? I told you, I have my pride.”

”You also had your legal problems ”For that I had your father,” Grove recalled fondly.

”One way or another, when push came to shove, Bill Daniels would get me off.”