Decker handed him a card. “If you can think of anything, give us a call.”
Dykes took the card and looked up at him. “What is going on here, Agent Decker?”
“I wish I knew. But we’re going to find out.”
As they walked to their car, White said, “Let me guess. Back to Miami and the Fontainebleau?”
“Where else?”
Chapter 70
I?T WAS NOW KNOWN AS the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. It had undergone a two-year, billion-dollar renovation and reopened in 2008. There was a Michael Mina steak restaurant, a slew of bars, and also Italian and Cantonese cuisine. The lobby was vast and expensive looking.
“Surprised the Service could afford the rates here on their per diem,” said White as they walked toward the concierge desk.
“It was cheaper back then, no doubt. And what the president wants the president gets.”
“Yeah, you’ll catch me at the local Marriott, thank you very much. A meal here probably equals one of my paychecks.”
“You know what they say, if you have to ask the price…”
They flashed their creds at the concierge, who, after they had told him what they needed, made a phone call and then directed the pair to a small office off the lobby. There a young woman rose to greet them.
Pamela Lawrence was in her twenties with an energetic manner and dancing blue eyes. “FBI, huh? That’s not something we see every day.”
“I hope not,” said White.
They sat down across from her. Decker said, “We’re interested in the hotel’s history.”
Lawrence said enthusiastically, “It is very historic. It’s on the National Register. And in 2012 the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects ranked the hotel number one on its list of Florida architecture.”
“Congratulations,” said Decker. “We were interested in another part of its history.”
“Okay, what?”
“In 1981 President Reagan gave a speech here.”
She looked at him blankly. “Reagan? I wasn’t aware of that. But that was almost twenty years before I was even born.”
“Do you have records that might address that event? I mean, it’s a pretty big deal when the president comes to your place.”
“We’ve had lots of big names here. When the hotel reopened in 2008, Usher and Mariah Carey performed.”
“Wow,” said White. “That’s some firepower.”
“Right?” said Lawrence, smiling. “I mean, I was only eight back then, and I don’t really follow their music, but I’m sure it was pretty cool.”
“Now you’re really making me feel geriatric,” quipped White.
“But a president, now that’s really cool,” said Decker in a prompting manner. “So, do you have an archive or something we could look at?”
“We do actually, but I helped put it together, so I know it doesn’t include this speech by President Reagan. I’m sorry. Maybe I should go and research that.”
“I suppose there’s no one working now that was here at that time?”
Lawrence went on her computer and checked. “Our longest-serving employee started in 2010.” She glanced up. “Hospitality has a high turnover rate, even in a place like this.”
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with the attitude and behavior of the guests,” said Decker.
“Isn’t the customer always right?” said Lawrence brightly.
“Ask yourself that in two years.”
They left. White drove while Decker checked his phone.
“Okay, Google was no help, maybe we need to do it the old-fashioned way.”
“Meaning?”
“The local newspaper. Reagan’s in town to give a speech? It might be in their news morgue.”
“Now you’re really showing your age.”
“And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Arthur Dykes said that Reagan was there to give a fund-raising speech.”
“Right, so what? Politicians do those all the time.”
“Dykes also said it was eight months after John Hinckley shot Reagan. Well, Reagan was shot in March, so eight months later was November of 1981.”
“Which was before I was born!”
“The point is, why would Reagan be doing a fund-raiser not even a year into his term? I know how politics has gotten nowadays, but back then you didn’t need a billion bucks to run for president.”
“I guess that is odd.”