“Of course.” Simms backed out and shut the door.
Call extended his hand. “McCall Landry.”
“I remember you, Mr. Landry. You’ve hardly used the account Mr. Stonechurch set up for you. Is everything not satisfactory?”
“On the contrary. My expenses are modest.”
“Please. Where are my manners? Sit. Sit.” He indicated the chairs in front of his desk and waited for Calland Laurel to take their seats before he returned to his. He lowered himself carefully into his chair, sat back, and rested his folded hands on his belly. “What can I do for you?” His gaze wandered from Laurel to Call and back to Laurel.
“We’re here on the same matter,” said Laurel. “Strictest confidence, naturally.”
“Naturally,” said the banker. “Confidence is essential to banking.”
Call said, “We are aware there are some legal tender notes in circulation, specifically ten-dollar notes. Issued eighteen sixty-two and later, with the red seal and serial numbers. Mrs. Booker received several at her mercantile and she would have deposited them here. Do you still have them or have they gone back into circulation?”
“We have some,” Higgenbotham said. “I can’t say they are the ones Mrs. Booker deposited.”
“We’d like to see them.”
The banker blanched a little. “Do you suspect counterfeiting?”
“No. We have no reason to think that.”
Marginally relieved, Higgenbotham said, “Well, it’s highly unusual.”
“Mr. Stonechurch will hear from me about your cooperation.”
Higgenbotham pretended to consider the request so as not to appear to be swayed by Call’s statement. “I suppose it would be all right since Mr. Stonechurch would approve.”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“I have to open the safe.” He rolled his chair to the large rectangular Morse safe situated against the wall six feet away and turned his chair so it blocked the view of his guests. “It will only take a moment.”
It took several because Higgenbotham kept going past one of the numbers in the combination and had to start again. When he finally pulled the door open, he removeda short stack of ten-dollar notes. “You’ll have to look at them here,” he said, shutting the door and spinning the lock. “I would prefer to be present.”
“That’s fine,” said Call. “Count them first, please.”
Higgenbotham did and passed twenty bills to Laurel. She gave them to Call, who fanned them out and removed the ones they knew they weren’t interested in.
“Six,” he said, handing the others back to the banker. “Paper? Pencil?”
Higgenbotham took both out of his desk drawer and held them out.
Laurel took them. Not having her spectacles put her at a disadvantage reading the serial numbers on the greenbacks. It was easier to take the numbers down as Call read them. With the pencil poised over the paper, she waited for Call to begin. He read out the numbers slowly and clearly and checked them once she had finished transcribing.
“That’s all,” he said, returning the sixty dollars to Higgenbotham.
“And you’re certain they’re not counterfeit.”
“Certain, but feel free to examine them for yourself. Are there any more? In the tellers’ drawers, for instance.”
“We don’t keep the bigger notes out there. No reason for it.”
“All right.” He stood. “Thank you.”
Laurel got to her feet and also thanked the bank manager. “Strictest confidence,” she said again.
“Absolutely.” He was still scratching his head when they left him alone.
