The more Hans Luden listened to Joan Gray, the angrier he became. Luden had learned from long experience that if someone acted like this in their marriage, there were probably other areas where they cut corners, cheated others, and looked out only for themselves. He told Joan Gray that he would do a computer search and see if he found anything amiss in her husband's financial situation. He set aside Saturday afternoon to begin his work and asked Li Chen if he would help the Professor. Chen agreed, but first, the men took a quick trip to Salvatore's in the North End for lunch with Dasia Taleb and B Broadbent.
Luden had not seen the two women for some time. They ordered minestrone all the way around, and then the women had pasta vongole while Hans had a salami Panini with cold Peroni beer. Chen opted for Caesar salad with some delicious anchovies from Portugal. Everyone was festive, and Luden ordered a bottle of Antonnini Chianti for the table. After coffee and tiramisu, the group split up, and the Professor and his associate drove to Luden's apartment on Appleton St. in Cambridge.
On dual computers, the two men began their work. Within a short time, the Professor saw what Joan Gray meant. Tyler Gray supported three homes and took numerous trips to the western part of the United States and Europe. His reported income was $300,000, but he also had to pay two tuition payments at the Shady Hills School in Cambridge. They alone amounted to $80,000. So how did this work?
Then a light bulb went off. How could the Professor have been so stupid? Tyler Gray was an estate planner. His clientele comprised some of the most affluent people in the New England area. He took care of old-school rich people. The Professor thought he knew where Gray was financing his lifestyle, and he began searching. He knew Gray was intelligent, and he would have covered his tracks well. This job would take more than half a day, and the Professor and Li Chen set aside the following Sunday to find out how this charlatan was getting so rich.
to be continued