Going Coastal by Jane DiLucchio

Author:Jane DiLucchio [DiLucchio, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flashpoint Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

My chat with Ted Hill’s office manager was rudely interrupted by a growl in my ear. Human, not animal, but barely.

“Matthews,” the gruff voice said. “It really is you.”

I turned. Boris Popov, investment scam artist extraordinaire, crossed his arms across his broad chest and scowled at me. The face that had appeared on hundreds of advertisements and television reports hawking his get-rich-quick schemes was always open and genial. That, however, wasn’t the expression he had chosen for our reunion. Popov’s snarled lip marred the craggy good looks that had helped sell worthless investments to so many people.

Alicia quietly slipped her arm through mine. I knew she was ready to yank me away if the confrontation went too far.

“Boris. Got tired of playing ping-pong at the state’s expense? I didn’t read anything about your release. You can’t have been out too long. You’ve still got that prison pallor.”

“For your information, I’ve been out for almost a year. Releases don’t get the press wrongful convictions do.” Popov glanced at me from head to foot. “I see that while I was suffering, you got fat and tan. You’re letting your gray show, and those wrinkles in your face are no longer hidden behind makeup. A shame. You used to be at least tolerable looking. The years haven’t been good to you. They rarely are to women.”

I returned the scan. His body was as fit as ever, probably because the country club prison he was sent to had a gym that would be the envy of most exercise fanatics. His outfit was casual, but top quality. Popov had always been a clotheshorse. His desire for expensive clothes, cars, homes, and women had fueled his decision to create a Ponzi scheme.

“It looks like you’ve landed on your feet.”

He raised his chin, enabling him to glare down his nose at me. “Where you have lowered yourself to become a common massage-parlor bimbo, I am part of an international investment company. We help corporations in other countries find venture capital opportunities in the United States.” He gave the little grin that had made many a female heart flutter. “I am very good at what I do. And we employ an ethical law firm that does not turn on its clients.”

Eight years ago, my law firm had been hired by an investment company to explore the possibility of a merger with Popov’s concern. In the course of the investigation of Popov’s company, I uncovered Boris’s financial shell game. With the permission of my client, our firm turned over the findings to the federal government. Popov was arrested and convicted.

I returned his grin. “Blown up any sports cars lately?” Exactly one week before I was set to testify in Popov’s case, my lovely new Jaguar had exploded when I pressed the button on my keychain that remotely started the engine. It totaled three of the surrounding cars as well. Luckily, I was still learning about the car and had pressed the button accidentally while I was still halfway across the parking garage.

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