Chesterfield studied Moser for a moment. Then he laughed. “Really, Sam, old boy?” He laughed again. “Do you think the committee is going to expel the husband of the wealthiest member of the Westmont because of the complaints of a secretary?”
“I believe that they will take her complaints and the other complaints quite seriously considering their source, the sheer number, and your reputation.”
Chesterfield leaned forward and jettisoned all pretense of civility. “Listen to me, you little shit. Fuck with me and you’ll be the one who’s out on his ass.”
Moser stared back, unfazed. “This is exactly the type of behavior that we do not tolerate at the Westmont, sir. Continue along this path, and you will no longer be welcome here.”
Chesterfield stood up so quickly that his chair almost toppled over. “We’ll see who’s not here, Sammy boy,” he shot back before stomping out of the office.
Moser closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he picked up his phone and dialed Landon Crawford.
Retired Federal Judge Landon Crawford was still an imposing figure at seventy-three. He had been six two when he played linebacker for Harvard. Age had taken away several inches and he’d lost a little muscle mass, but his chest and shoulders were still thick, and his hair, though gray, was mostly there. More important, he continued to project the force of personality that had cowed opposing linemen and recalcitrant attorneys.
The judge sat in his favorite spot at a corner of the terrace that overlooked the eighteenth hole. In the distance, maple trees, birches, and evergreens shaded the lush green fairways. It was an idyllic setting, but Crawford was certain that his peace would soon be disrupted. Everyone knew where he held court, and ten minutes after Crawford ended the call with Sam Moser, Robert Chesterfield walked onto the terrace, looked around, and spotted the board chair.
“Landon, we have to talk,” Chesterfield said as he sat opposite Crawford.
“Should I signal the waiter? Do you want something to eat or drink?” Crawford asked.
“I do not, old chap. I am too upset to eat or drink.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Samuel Moser. The little cretin just accused me of engaging in disreputable conduct and threatened to toss me out of the club.”
“Sam can’t toss you out of the club. He’s an employee.”
“Exactly, and I will not tolerate an employee speaking to me the way he did.”
“It would take a recommendation of the membership committee and the vote of the board to discontinue your membership.”
“Right.”
“What is it you want me to do, Robert?”
“I want you to fire that impudent little toad.”
Crawford frowned. “Because he brought complaints by club members and employees to your attention?”
“The accusations are completely unfounded.”
“Robert, I have to tell you that you have been the subject of much discussion since Lily asked us to grant you a club membership. Maybe you’ve noticed that several members have excluded you from their bridge and poker games. That’s because they suspect you cheat.”
“Who says I’m cheating? Tell me who said that.”
“I’m afraid that the complaints were told to me in confidence, but there have been several, and the people making them have sterling reputations.”
“And I don’t.”
“Look, Robert, I’m going to be frank. There were a number of board members who were not pleased to have you join our club, but Lily is a dear woman and everyone was deeply saddened when Frank passed away. So we let you in because it made Lily happy. Your conduct has made many people regret their decision.
“You are Lily’s husband and your behavior is not the sort of behavior in which a married man should be engaged. The Westmont Club is not a pickup bar in a seedy section of Portland. Our members are the cream of Portland society and we value our employees. I’ve had several members of the female staff complain that you’ve made lewd suggestions and groped them. I’ve had similar complaints from some of the wives. And this was before Sam came to me with Sophie Randall’s complaint.”
“So you’re siding with that obese bookkeeper?”
“I’m not taking sides, Robert. I am telling you that several members of the club and staff are not enamored of your conduct. I am also telling you that steps will be taken if this conduct does not cease immediately.”
“Then let me tell you that I’m going to resign my membershipunless Moser is fired. Think of what that will do to Lily. She’ll be disgraced. Think of how much you’ll be hurting her if she has to leave the Westmont, because that’s what she’ll do if I tell her how I’m being treated.”