The properties on the books were worth over three hundred million even considering the crash in real estate. The loans to property values had sunk the bank. Doors were closing next week. I estimated we could bail out the bank and keep the doors open for just twenty-seven million dollars.
A drop in the bucket. The bad loans could be bundled and sold off for the three hundred million they were worth.
I added a few notes to the sheet and slid it into my briefcase.
The phone chimed. "Mister Franklin?" It was Carla.
"Yes, Carla?" "Mrs. Preston would like you to take lunch with her." I checked my watch. "What time?" "Forty minutes. Is that enough time?" "Of course. Where at?" "Parking garage. Her limo." "I'll be there." I clicked off the com-button and settled back. Was this about business? Did she normally take lunch with executives? I wouldn't know if she did.
~ ~ ~ I followed Jacqueline into the swanky café. It had a less than pretentious name: Talbot's. But I knew that a lot of these twenty dollar cup of coffee places thought names like this justified outrageous prices.
