“No more than usual.”
“Can I assume you are planning on eating dinner?”
Stone glanced at his watch. It was nearly six pm. He’d spent most of the afternoon going from one client phone conference to another and had lost track of time. “If there’s a meal I never miss, it is that.”
“Oh, good. I was afraid I would have to go it solo.”
“That would be a crime. Patroon? Leave in thirty minutes?”
“It’s like you’re reading my mind. I’ll get changed.”
“And I’ll call Dino.”
As Stone and Matilda were getting into the Bentley, Carly pulled into the garage.
“Hungry?” Stone called to her.
“Famished.”
“Then you should join us.”
The look Matilda gave Stone as he climbed in beside her wasn’t exactly annoyed, but it wasn’t not annoyed, either.
“My dear, your green is showing.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Carly popped her head through the doorway a moment later. “I hope I’m not imposing.”
“Not at all,” Matilda said, instantly cheery.
“We’re meeting Dino,” Stone said. “So, you can be his date.”
“No Viv?”
“Working, I’m afraid.”
“My luck, then.”
“Please don’t tell him that, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
They were halfway to Patroon when Fred said, “Our friend is back.”
“What friend?” Matilda asked.
Stone told her and Carly about being followed that morning. Matilda started to turn her head so she could look out the back window.
“Don’t,” Stone said. “We don’t want him to know we know he’s there.”
“Do you know who it is?” Carly asked.
“I personally haven’t seen him, but from Fred’s description, it’s Bozo.”
“The clown?”
“You and Fred should hang out more. This Bozo works with our friend Trench.”
Matilda huffed. “Trench is not my friend.”
“Nor mine.” Stone called Mike Freeman, since Dino would also be on the way to Patroon. “I have a situation I could use some help with.” He explained about the tail.
“How do you want us to handle it?”
“Keep an eye on him and be ready in case he tries anything.”
“How likely do you think that will be?”
“Highly.”
“Understood. Where are you headed now?”
“Patroon.”
“I should have guessed. Have Fred take the long way, and I’ll have a car following within ten minutes. I’ll message you when you can go eat.”
“Don’t take too long. I have two ladies here who might start gnawing on my arm, if you do.”
“That sounds like the kind of problem you enjoy.”
“I’d rather not test the theory.”
Dino was waiting for them at the bar when they arrived.
Carly took in Patroon with a sweeping glance. “Oh, my!” she said.
“Didn’t New Haven’s finest rank with this?” Stone asked her.
“I dismissed New Haven’s finest the first month of my freshman year,” she said. “This place has New York written all over it.”
“How discerning you are,” Stone replied, grinning.
“Oh, I am. I am.”
“I thought you said seven,” Dino said.
“Sorry,” Stone said. “We had to take a slight detour. But we’re here now.”
“And we’ve brought you a date,” Carly said. “Me.”
“Please, don’t tell Viv that,” Dino said.
“Why does everyone keep asking me not to tell people things?”
Chapter 22
“That’s them.” Bozo pulled to the curb around the corner from Patroon, where two people stood waiting. The man, Reggie Hogan, was another trainer at the gym, and the woman, Candy Parker, was a waitress at a diner Bozo frequented.
Trench eyed the couple. “Are you sure you can trust them?”
“Stop worrying. They’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now, wait here. I’ll be right back.” Bozo hopped out of the car and approached the couple.
“You two ready?”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Hogan held out his hand.
“You get paid after you do the job.”
“How do we know you won’t stiff us?”
Bozo moved into Hogan’s personal space. “What did you say?” They were the same height, but both knew Bozo would wipe the floor with Hogan if blows were exchanged.
“Nothing. Sorry.”
“That’s what I thought.” Bozo stepped back. “I ask again: Are you ready?”
The woman nodded. “I am.”
“Me, too,” Hogan said.
“You need to keep the driver busy for at least ten minutes,” Bozo said to Candy. “Not a second less.”
“I remember.”
“Do you also remember what to do after?”
“I find a seat at the bar and keep an eye on the attorney and his friends. When they’re leaving, I let you know.”
“Perfect. Okay, let’s get this show on the road. Make it look good.”
Fred knew something was up the moment he saw the man and woman heading down the sidewalk. They appeared to be arguing, but it was more of an act than the real thing.
Fred donned his wireless earbuds, and as instructed, called the number Stone had passed on to him.
“This is Fred Flicker. To whom am I speaking?”
“Janet Hutto, Strategic Services.”
“Ms. Hutto, can you see me from your position?”
“We can.”
“And the couple walking toward me?”
“We see them. They look like they’re acting.”
“That is my assessment as well.”
When the couple was almost to the Bentley, the man slapped the woman, pushed her to the ground, and ran off. She cried out, then called for help.
“She’s baiting you,” Hutto said.
“Perhaps I should find out why.”
“Would you like me and my partner to back you up?”
“Don’t. That might scare her off. I can handle myself.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
Fred slipped his phone into his pocket, leaving it on, then climbed out and jogged to the woman.
“Madam, are you okay?”
“Far from it. I was just assaulted.”
“I saw. Can you stand?”
“I think so.”
Fred helped her to her feet.
“Would you like me to call the police?”
“I’m... I’m not sure. Is there someplace I can sit down and catch my breath?” She looked around, until her eyes landed on the entrance to Patroon. “Maybe in there?”
“I’m sure they have a chair you can use.”
She took a step and winced. “Can you help me? It feels like I twisted my ankle.”
“I would be happy to.”
In his ear, Hutto said, “We’ll keep an eye on your car.”
Fred escorted the woman into the restaurant and over to a chair, then approached the hostess. “Someone pushed her down. Is it possible to get her a glass of water?”
“Of course.”
As the hostess hurried off, Fred looked back at the woman. “Have you decided if you’d like me to call the police?”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to cause a scene.”
“I think it’s more accurate to say that man who hit you and shoved you onto the sidewalk caused the scene.”
“I need a few minutes to collect myself before I decide anything.”
“Very well. If you need me, I’ll be out at my—”
“No,” she said, grabbing his hand. “Please, stay with me. I’m afraid he might come back.”
“Mr. Flicker,” Hutto said over Fred’s earpiece. “A man has just stopped at the back of the Bentley and dropped down, out of sight.”