Can you name this short story/novella?

Question

Hey guys I'm thinking of a short story or novella but for the life of me can't remember what it's called. Most likely it's written by Steven King because the time I read the story I'm thinking of I was working through some of his books...but I still can't remember what it's called!

Basic plot is there's this man who owns a business that looks like a business on the outside, he goes in and then there's some type of a secret passage to another office where he changes clothes to look like some sort of army officer. Then he goes to a hotel or something and changes clothes yet again to look like a bum. He does this all to conceal his idenitity and then he sits on the street corner disguised as a shamed homeless vetran and makes a whole lot of money. On the outside he's a respectable business man but he is really just a fraud.

Has anyone else read this and remember what it's called? Thanks!

Answer 1

Blind Willie
Blind Willie
The tale of a man named Bill Teale who pretends to be a businessman. He has an office with three heavy locks on the door. He crawls through a trapdoor in the ceiling and enters another office, in which he dons a disguise, changing himself into who the people on this floor know as Willie Teal. After a brief foray into hotel bathrooms around New York, he becomes Blind Willie, a homeless vet who stands by a street corner and begs money.

Originally published in Six Stories. Only 1100 Numbered and signed copies of this book have been published by Philtrum Press (900 were sold).

The story is also included in Hearts in Atlantis.

Answer 2

Don't recognize the stroy, but it happens in real life all over the place. A large percentage (if not the majority) are professional "bums" and make a quite nice tax-free income.

I watched one such "homeless Vietnam Veteran" (even though he was obviously too young to have served in the Vietnam War) panhandle all afternoon across the street from my office. At the end of the day, he got in his new Lexus and drove off.

My brother-in-law who is a police officer says it's not unusual for them to clear 250-300 bucks a day.

Answer 3

It sounds really interesting, I would definitely give them a go! But I would be careful about using the name Dmitri, as there is a Demetri in the Volturi Coven in the Twilight series.