They enjoyed themselves again and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
They were awakened for breakfast at five and boarded the airplane while the luggage was loaded aft. Lance sat up forward, so he could see the pilots.
Stone sat down beside him. “Do you fly, Lance?”
“Do you mean myself? With my hands on the controls?”
“Yes.”
“No. I was trained for it but was too busy to keep up with the training schedule to stay current.” Lance handed him a fresh copy of yesterday’s New York Times. “The crossword is virginal,” he said.
Stone joined Vanessa across the aisle and shared the paper with her.
“I see the Times has stopped printing John’s death notice,” she said.
“Lance probably checked the three-day option on the form, thinking that was enough to get the word into the air.” He thought about that. “Still, there was the attempt on Jack at Islesboro, and that was after the notice ran.”
“I wonder if they’ve found him yet,” she said.
“Who, the Russians?”
“Da.”
“I think Lance would have heard by now.”
“You have a point,” she said, filching the arts section, which contained the crossword, and burying her nose in a fashion piece.
They raced the sun across the Atlantic and called it a tie at Teterboro. The airplane was towed into the Strategic Services hangar, where they and their luggage deplaned. Lance had his own car waiting to take him to the heliport.
Back in the city, Fred dropped Vanessa and her goods at her building, where she gave Stone a grateful, luscious kiss, along with her thanks. “Don’t call until tomorrow,” she said. “I’ll be sleeping until then.”
Fred drove to Turtle Bay and circled the block twice, before pulling into the garage and closing the door behind them. Stone’s phone was buzzing as he sat down in his office.
“Dino for you on one,” Joan said.
“Good afternoon,” Stone said.
“You’re back?”
“Only just at this moment.”
“Dinner at P. J. Clarke’s at seven?”
“Done.”
They both hung up. Joan came into the office. “I hope it wasn’t too much fun,” she said.
“It was too brief to have been too much fun, but it was very pleasant.”
“It’s been quiet here. Various figures seemed to be casing the house the first couple of days. Then, I guess, they figured you had skipped town, so they vanished. Was there a reception committee on the other side of the pond?”
“An accidental one. We went out to dinner and the person we least wanted to see was sitting across the room. We don’t know if he saw us, but we decamped this morning, just in case.”
“I’ve had an offer on my house for twenty-two mil,” she said.
“Tell Margot to throw a net over the bidder before he escapes.”
“You mean I should accept the offer?”
“Immediately and with both hands.”
“I’ll instruct Margot.” She went back to her desk.
Stone read his mail and returned his calls, then Joan came back. “Margot got him up to twenty-three point five mil, mostly furnished,” she said. “And she’s thrown a net over him. We close next week.”
“I think you’d better put that check in the bank. Our safes here are full to overflowing with your cash.”
“Oh, I’ve been slowly toting it to various banks. All that’s left is your money.”
He gave her back the sterling she had sent with him.
“Why, you hardly spent anything.”
“Wait until you see the Amex bill,” he said.
40
Stone got to Clarke’s a little early and found the bar less packed than usual. He took a seat, intending to save the next one for Dino, then he turned to the bartender, to receive his bourbon, which had already been poured. In that moment, the seat next to him was filled, and the occupant turned out to be more attractive than Dino.
She was, in fact, beautiful — a honey blonde with her hair around her shoulders, in a lovely dress that revealed cleavage, and there was much of it to reveal. “May I have a Macallan 18 on the rocks, please?” she said to the bartender, then turned to regard Stone.
“Put that on my bill,” Stone said to the bartender.
She allowed herself a small smile. “You are very kind,” she said, and there was a hint of an accent.
“I detect an accent,” Stone said.
“You are very quick. I am Polish. Anna,” she said, offering a hand.
Stone took it and found it strong and soft. “Stone,” he replied.
“Like a rock?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“You have a good hand,” she said, squeezing.
“As do you,” Stone said.
She gave him that little smile again, which caused a thrill to run down his leg. “I’m meeting a friend,” he said. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“How kind you are. I’d love to.”
“What brings you to New York?”
“Pleasure,” she said, “along with a little business.”
“What business are you in?”
“Vodka,” she said. “My father makes Poland’s finest. He sent me here to meet with someone who would like to be our North American distributor. I am to judge his worthiness and report back.”
“How soon are you reporting back?”
“Not too soon. I still have pleasure to occupy me.”
Dino had suddenly appeared and plugged into the conversation. Introductions were made. “That would explain why you are drinking Scotch, instead of vodka.”
She made a face. “I drink vodka — Papa’s vodka — all the time,” she said. “Scotch is a nice change. Don’t tell Papa.”
“I won’t tell Papa,” Dino said.
“You can go home now, Dino,” Stone said. “We won’t be needing you anymore.”
“Fat chance,” Dino said.
“What does this mean?” Anna asked.
“No,” Dino said. “I won’t go home.”
Anna gave him a big smile. “You are sweet, Dino.”
They took possession of their table.
“What is good here?” Anna asked.
“Beef,” Dino said.
They all ordered steaks, and Stone ordered an expensive cabernet, then they settled in.
“Have you met this distributor yet?” Stone asked.
“Yes, but he is old. At least forty.”
Stone and Dino exchanged a glance. “Ripe,” Dino said. “Like a good wine.”
“If you say so,” she said, trying hers. “Oh, I see what you mean.”
Stone felt relieved.
She leaned over the table, exposing more cleavage. Stone and Dino were transfixed.
“What is Papa’s vodka called?” Dino asked.
“Polska. They will not have it in this restaurant until I choose a distributor.”
“We’ll hold our breath,” Dino said.
Their steaks came, and they ate — Anna, greedily, as if there were a shortage of beef in Poland. Stone ordered a second bottle of wine.
“If you will excuse me,” Anna said, “I must visit what you call, I believe, ‘the little girls’ room.’ ”
Stone and Dino stood, so the table could be moved, then they both watched her walk away, an uplifting experience.
“I’ve got a big disappointment for you, pal,” Dino said.
“What’s that?”
“She’s not Polish.”
“And why do I care?”
“You should care that she’s lying. She’s Russian.”
“So?”
“So what is the nationality of the people who are trying to kill you?”
Stone started to speak, and his jaw dropped.
“I’ll say it for you,” Dino said. “Russian.”
“How can you tell?”
“Something about her tits.”
“I heartily approve of those.”
“Who could not, but it’s her handbag that worries me.”