Part 23 (1/2)
”What does he do? Something financial, right?”
Mike hesitated. ”Yeah, but you didn't hear it from me. I shouldn't have said what I did. Keep it to yourself, okay? I need this job.”
”Sure.”
”Mr. Straub is a nice guy, and rules are rules. The board takes them very serious.”
”The board?”
”The co-op board. They run the place.” Mike handed her back the photos, but the bottom one fluttered to the desk. It was the one of Neil and William in sungla.s.ses, on the golf course in Pebble Beach. Mike picked it up. ”Oh, there's Mr. Straub. Musta been younger then.”
”Yes, by a few years, I think.”
”Looks that way.” Mike chuckled, handing her back the photo. ”But he's gotta lose that s.h.i.+rt. I mean, pink?”
Jill didn't get it. In the picture, Neil was wearing a navy blue polo s.h.i.+rt, and William had on a pale pink one. ”What do you mean? Neil's not wearing pink.”
”Sure he is.” Mike pointed to William. ”I'm not colorblind, and this is pink.”
”Yes, the s.h.i.+rt is pink, but that's not Neil.”
”Yes, it is.” Mike tapped William's face with a bitten-off fingernail. ”This here is Mr. Straub.”
Jill didn't understand. Mike was pointing at William's face. ”That's not Neil Straub. The other guy is.”
”I know Mr. Straub when I see him, and the guy in pink is Mr. Straub.”
Jill put it together, hiding her astonishment. ”You mean Neil Straub is William Skyler?”
”I don't know what you're talking about.” Mike handed the photo back. ”All I know is, the man in the pink s.h.i.+rt is Neil Straub. I know the man, I talk to him all the time. He's lived here, like, three years, in 4-D.”
”Thanks.” Jill put the photo in her purse, struggling to get her bearings. So William had another ident.i.ty, a double life as Neil Straub. She wouldn't have guessed as much in a million years. William was a con artist, but this had to be his sickest scam ever, because he'd deceived his own children. Abby couldn't have known or she would have told Jill. Jill's next thought was that William's double life could be connected to Abby's disappearance.
”Excuse me, hold on.” Mike's attention s.h.i.+fted to the elevator as it pinged, and its doors opened, revealing an attractive woman, well-dressed in a white pantsuit, carrying a purse, a cell phone, and a large cardboard box.
”Mike, honey,” the woman called. ”Can you give me a hand, please?”
”Sure thing, Belle,” Mike called back, coming around the desk and taking the box.
”Wait, Mike, please.” Jill followed him. ”Who's the other guy in the photo, wearing the navy s.h.i.+rt?”
”I have no idea,” Mike answered, over his shoulder. ”Belle, where do you want the box?”
”On the desk, temporarily.” The woman eyed the lobby, annoyed. ”My client isn't here yet? Shees.h.!.+ I hate it when people are late.”
Jill couldn't let it go. ”Mike, please, just one last question.”
Mike walked back and set the box on the desk, then turned to Jill with a frown. ”What?”
”Is there anyone who runs the building, like a super I could speak with?”
”Only residents speak with the super,” Mike answered, his tone newly official, but the woman lifted a perfectly-penciled eyebrow.
”Why, dear? Are you interested in a unit? It's wonderful building, and I used to live here myself. I can show you an apartment that's very special. In this market, it's a steal.” The woman thrust out a manicured hand. ”I'm Belle Kahan, with Prudential.”
Jill had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. ”You know, I am looking for an apartment in this building.”
Mike turned, pursing his lips tight. But he said nothing.
Chapter Thirty-five.
Jill walked into a large, empty apartment, with two tall windows that overlooked the Hudson River. She scanned the view, her thoughts in tumult. It boggled her mind to think that William had lived in this very building, as Neil Straub. She had a zillion questions, but the only one that mattered was Abby.
”Quite a view, eh?” Belle asked, gesturing at the windows. ”It doesn't get better than this.”
”It's great.” Jill managed a smile. ”What can you tell me about the building?”
”It's a co-op, very exclusive, very fiscally responsible. It's well-run, and smaller than others on the street, only forty units. Are you working with a Realtor?”
”Not yet.”
”I'd be happy to work with you. I know this building and the entire West Village, like the back of my hand. I live on Horatio now.”
”I like this building.” Jill remembered the doorman saying that William's apartment was 4-D. ”Have you sold other apartments in it?”
”Tons. What do you do?”
”I'm a doctor,” Jill answered, and Belle's eyes lit up.
”Wow! Who doesn't want a doctor in the house? You'll pa.s.s the board with flying colors.”
Jill was wondering how William had pa.s.sed a co-op board, with a false ident.i.ty. ”I've never applied to a co-op building before. What information do you have to show them?”
”Everything and then some. Tax returns and bank statements, and you need to get two recommendations and references, besides a letter from your landlord saying you're paid up. Are you currently renting in the city?”
”No.” Jill still didn't get it. If William had to show that much information to the board, he'd have a whole separate ident.i.ty set up with a bank. ”How careful is the board? Not just anybody can get in here, can they?”
”No, but you'll do fine. This board isn't as power-crazy as the ones on the Upper East. It's much more laid back, downtown.” Belle flashed a lipsticked smile. ”You're engaged, I see. Nice ring. Are you scouting for both of you?”
”Yes.” Jill managed a smile.
”Good for you. This building has a really nice group of residents. Very chummy, because it's so small. They have parties on the roof deck every Fourth of July, to watch the fireworks.”
Jill got an idea. ”Funny, I saw someone in the lobby the other day, whom I think I know from college. Neil Straub. Tall, good-looking. I think he lives in 4-D.”