Richard Lyle Mills nursed a glass of brandy while he waited. His membership at the Sunnyvale Golf and Country Club afforded him a few exclusive privileges. On a silver tray on the table beside his velvet and bronze wingchair, its sidekick kitty-corner to him, sat one of his most prized privileges, namely, a bottle of Napoleon Grande Fine Champagne Cognac. One of the world’s finest and most expensive cognacs, it was securely kept under lock and key when he was not present.

He breathed a sigh o...