Chapter 25

 

 

Pen had her cover story clear in her mind before she placed the call. Best to stick fairly close to the truth. All successful liars know this.

“The Oakwood Group,” said the voice at the other end.

“Hello,” Pen said, giving the word the thickest of her British accent. “Is it the company that advertises setting up corporations? I believe the name in your advertisement was Biz Yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the young woman on the line. “Biz Yourself is one of our entities. Are you interested in incorporating your business?”

“Actually, I have some questions about how it’s done. I’m a writer of romantic suspense novels, you see, and I’ve got a situation with one of my characters who needs to form a business very quickly.”

“Suspense stories? Wow. What name do you write under?”

Pen always got this question when someone found out she was a writer, as if she’d never use her real name. “Penelope Fitzpatrick. And what’s your name?”

“Ohmygosh, you’re actually—” The voice went a little squeaky. “Wow, I’ve read all your books. I’m Lily Visionis, and I’m your biggest fan!”

She got this a lot too. “What was your favorite?”

“I just finished Uncertain Destiny. That’s the newest one, right? But I mean, if you’ve got a newer one, please tell me. I cannot wait!”

“Um, actually, not yet. You’re correct, that’s the newest.”

“You know, if you are ever in Dover, I will come to the bookstore and have you sign all my books.”

“If you can answer a few small questions about the incorporation process, Lily, I will be happy to send you signed copies.”

“Oh, wow! Okay, so what a person does is fill out a form. It’s really a simple one—basically who owns the business, their address, and that kind of stuff. If they want a Delaware address, they can use ours. We actually have over two hundred businesses who list our street address as theirs.”

“Really? They can do that?”

“Sure.”

“Why would they not just list their real address?”

“You want some guesses, or do you want the official response? Cause I’m supposed to say that it’s none of our concern what address they fill in on the form.”

“But … what’s your guess?”

“Oh, all kinds of reasons. It’s way cheaper and quicker to become incorporated here than most other states, maybe they don’t want somebody back home to be able to check up on them, maybe they’re doing something a little shady …”

“Do you know of instances where that has happened? Something ‘shady’ or illegal?”

Lily paused. “Well, no. I mean I really can’t say that it’s ever happened. We don’t ask.”

“Doesn’t the paperwork require them to state the nature of their business?”

“Oh, yeah, but it can be pretty vague. A lot of them just have something like, the purpose of the business is to buy and sell products. Or, the purpose of the business is financial.”

“Ah, I see. And then when someone wants to look up information about one of those businesses, is it readily available?”

“Oh yes. By law. They can either call us or come by, or there’s now an online search feature.” Lily rattled off a website address.

“And once the person has set up their corporation …”

“Oh, they can do anything that any other business does. Set up a store or office, open bank accounts, get a tax identification number. They’re in business.”

“Just that easy.”

“Yep. Was there anything else you needed to know?”

“Well, I did come across a business recently that I was curious about,” Pen said, deciding to keep young Lily talking. “It’s called Blandishment Inc., and I do believe their advertising materials stated they were incorporated in Delaware.”

“One moment, and I can tell you. Um, Ms. Fitzpatrick? Is this going into a story of yours?”

“Maybe, someday.”

Computer keys ticked away in the background while Lily kept talking, going on about her favorites of Pen’s books. Within two minutes, she switched topics again. “Okay, here’s what the official documents say about Blandishment Inc. Cute name, by the way. Doesn’t it mean something like insincere flattery?”

Pen caught her breath. How appropriate for what Cody Brennan had done.

“Never mind,” Lily was saying. “The principal officer in the corporation is a Woodrow Wilson Baker. Hm, why does that name sound familiar?”

“Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States at the time of the Great War,” Pen said. “Actually, World War One.”

“Really? Hm. I must have learned that in school.”

“Is there other information on the paperwork?”

“Well, they did just what I was telling you about. Used our street address for the business. The purpose of the business is listed as Horses. Whatever that means.”

“Anything else?”

“Nope. That’s it. This Wilson guy is the only officer on the paperwork. He’s president, secretary, board member, and contact person.”

“And it’s legal to do that?”

“A lot of states like to see at least two officers, but sometimes it really is just one person starting a business on their own.”

Pen was feeling a bit stumped and was unsure what else to ask. “All right, then. Thank you so much for your assistance, Lily.”

“Do I still get a signed book?”

Pen smiled. “Absolutely. Give me your address.”

That accomplished and the call ended, Pen sat back in her chair and went through the conversation once again. She had learned something, but she was not at all certain what.

A scrap of paper on her desk caught her eye, the reminder that she was also to research Cody Brennan’s university credentials and find out what she could learn from that.