It was the case of the missing cabinet member in the Hamptons last week when — well-heeled sources tell us — Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross seemed to lose his security detail leading to an awkward search at a tony takeout joint.
A source tells Page Six that guests grabbing grub at the Golden Pear cafe in Southampton were taken aback on Friday when agents entered asking if anyone had seen the secretary.
“His security people lost him in the Hamptons,” an area regular told Page Six of Ross. “They went into the Golden Pear in Southampton and said, ‘Has anyone seen him?’ ” The source added, “They said they had lost him and asked anyone who spotted him to call them. They gave out cards that said ‘Commerce Department security’ — and told the owner, ‘If you see him, will you call us immediately?’ ”
Rumors even spread that the agents “were combing Southampton on Friday looking for Wilbur Ross.” The same source said, “He was found later that day, but they were in a panic.”
But another source told us the case was less dramatic — and that Ross was no runaway mogul.
The source said that Ross was simply a few minutes late to grab a sandwich and meet his security squad at an assigned time.
When reached by Page Six, a rep for the Department of Commerce only commented, “Five minutes later, they realized where he was. Mystery solved.”
Later that night, Ross was reportedly at the Polo Bar, near Trump Tower.
The Golden Pear is a favorite of power players including former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton. Also, Malia Obama was at the Southampton eatery over the summer.
Meanwhile, Ross and his wife, Hilary Geary Ross, are Southampton fixtures. They hosted fund-raisers at their estate last year for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The Golden Pear did not get back to us.