Just two weeks before the present, I got a letter in the mail, the address was unfamiliar but, interestingly, the name was. John Willis claimed to have been "good friends" with my father, Walter Dean, as I am his daughter, Jesse Dean.
My father was a hardworking man and cared about his company religiously. He had only one friend with others being only acquaintances with whom he struck business deals. However, I've never heard of a man named John Wilis.
The letter read as follows:
Dear Ms. (Jesse) Dean,
I heard of your father's passing and hoped you would receive my condolences. Walter and I were good friends, and he is greatly missed. Walter was a good man, a good businessperson at that. A wealthy man like Walter, well, it was imperative he knew the business.
On a more positive note, I know you are his daughter, and I'm sure he taught you the laws of business. And, if you will have me, I would like to have a "business" lunch date. I'll give you the details of the deal I want to strike. I hope this letter finds you well.
PS: I have included the time and place of our lunch date. Hope to see you soon.
Your friend in life and death,
John Willis
What made this letter so conveniently suspicious was that I had gotten this letter just when I came of age to inherit my father's wealth. At that moment, I didn't know whether to accept the invitation or refuse. All I knew was that this "deal" could be dangerous to all the things my father worked hard for and to my life.