Murder at the Bellamy Mansion by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

Street, and their fraudulent accounting practices have brought down the entire global economy. My country continues to pour our revenues into yours. Our exports have fallen. The losses I have personally suffered . . . Now there may be a substantial delay in the building of the new port. And where is my container fleet to deliver our goods?”
    Brian explained, “Citigroup has been downsizing. Laying off employees right and left in an effort to improve their bottom line and avoid bankruptcy. So they have contracted out a lot of the work involved with this bailout. And they’ve selected our firm to handle the New Hanover County area. They’ve turned over the documents to us and we get paid when we collect. Once they prove they are cleaning up old loans, they get a bigger piece of the taxpayers’ pie.”
    “ And you’re going to collect the old outstanding debts from our area?” I asked.
    “ Correct, Ashley. And as we discussed on New Year’s Eve, it is surprising who some of the debtors turn out to be. As I told you, the Bellamy Mansion is one of the debtors on Citigroup’s books. Some old notes that got transferred over during bank mergers, and well, just got overlooked and were basically ignored.”
    “ Until now?” Jon said as disbelieving as I that this could be happening.
    Brian nodded his head up and down. “Surprised the hell out of me too. Come on, y’all, let’s sit down and I’ll explain exactly how this operation is going to work.”
    We moved over to the banquettes along the wall and Brian began his lengthy tale.
    “ I expect y’all know the history of the mansion. Except for you, Han,” Brian said.
    Han grinned. “I’ve been getting an earful from Candi about that mansion. She has her heart set on owning it.” He chuckled lightly.
    Jon and I made eye contact and shared a silent vow: Over our dead bodies.
    “ Of course we know the history of the mansion,” I said.
    “ OK, I’ll try not to be redundant then,” Brian continued. “When the mansion was under construction, Dr. Bellamy practiced competitive shopping for the materials needed. So, even though there was an ongoing political conflict with the Northern states over the issue of slavery prior to the war, Dr. Bellamy purchased much of the materials and fixtures for the house from New York and Philadelphia where he could get the best products at the best prices.
    “ He and the architects used a purchasing agent out of New York, name of Thaddeus Greensleeves. Greensleeves would receive the drawings and specifications from the architect, Rufus Bunnell, and then he would shop the manufacturers in New York City, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia until he found just what the architects had in mind. Greensleeves then would arrange for the transport of the materials by train or ship, and handle the paperwork. All for a fee, of course.”
    “ I never heard about anyone named Greensleeves involved in the construction of the Bellamy Mansion,” I said, “and I have researched the building of the mansion.”
    “ I don’t want to get into a dispute about this matter with local historians,” Brian said dismissively. “All I know is I’ve got the documentation to prove my case.”
    “ You’ve got the original documents?” I asked.
    “ Of course. Citigroup turned them over to my firm,” Brian replied.
    He paused to relight his cigar which had burnt out.
    “ Because I’d like to take a look at them,” I said.
    “ Well, I don’t know, Ashley. You are not a party to this case. Look, let me explain. When the Civil War started, the Confederacy put into effect a policy called ‘condemnation.’ All debts owed to Northern merchants had to be paid to the Confederate government. Thus, Dr. Bellamy paid the Confederacy for outstanding debts on items like a dozen elaborate gasoliers, shutters for all the windows, all of the hardware, brass cornices, art objects, carpets, antiques, marble, mahogany, burled walnut. The list goes on and on. As the war