Nice, France
The director of the Hotel Le Negresco approached Ron and Jo Anne Withley immediately after they had finished their scrumptious dinner. "Mr. and Mrs. Withley, I'd like a word with you," he said, his attitude professional and his expression severe. "Would you please come to my office?"
Ron Withley sat back in his chair and frowned. "What is it? Can't you discuss it here? There's no one around."
The director joined them with reluctance. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Withley, but I must ask you to leave. You no longer have a line of credit remaining, and your outstanding expenses are growing rapidly. In view of the fact that you have been an excellent customer in the past, we will not involve the law if you leave immediately."
Ron stared at him in silence, then turned to Jo Anne. "Let's go upstairs," he said. "I want to make a few calls."
A few moments later a furious Ron slammed down the phone for the fourth time. "No credit! Also the Grand Hotel in San Remo refuses us, claiming we have no credit. In the past fifteen years, we've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars there, and they treat us as if we were thieves. No credit, indeed. It's an insult." He tossed his suitcase on the bed. "Come. Pack. We have to leave."
"Pack? But where will we go?"
"To our chalet."
"To our chalet in the mountains? At this time of year? You must be kidding! Can't you just ask to have the money transferred? I just received a letter from Susan and Greg. They need money to go on a cruise."
"Nothing we can do about that now," Ron said. "Ask them to join us. We'll stay at our chalet in the French Alps, for a while."
Jo Anne slammed her suitcase on the bed and began to pack. "But that's our ski residence," she said with resentment. "Nobody's there this time of year. Nobody who counts, at any rate."
"Do as I say," Ron said in anger. "It's the only place we can afford."
"Don't tell me…"
"That's enough! Move. We can't withdraw any money. There's no money to withdraw. We have to wait until a certain operation is concluded."
When they arrived at the chalet in Megève, Ron Withley called Commissario Tomaso Caltabieni. "I need to see you," he said. Caltabieni did not respond.