The Bean Counter gestured to his companion. “I asked Mr. Korolev to learn all he could about the incident. He can fill in the details.”
Gromyko’s eyes shifted to the younger man without his face moving. “Leonid, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir,” Korolev said.
“I’ve heard good things about you. Prove to me I have not been misinformed.”
Korolev told the Greek everything except about the failed mission the night before, as it had no bearing on the question that had been asked.
At the mention of Stone Barrington, the already uncomfortable atmosphere turned tense.
When Korolev finished, the Greek focused his attention back to the Bean Counter. “How long have you suspected Barrington’s involvement?”
“His involvement is limited to being an acquaintance of a woman Trench was interested in.”
“How long?”
“A few days.”
“And you didn’t think it was important to tell me immediately?”
“I wanted to determine his role, if any, in what—”
“Stop.” Gromyko closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, then pushed himself to his feet. Teeth clenched, he said, “Barrington is responsible for the deaths of at least the last two heads of this family, and dozens of our men. If he even breaths in the direction of one of our people, I should be told. Or do you not think that’s the case?”
“I didn’t want to give you—”
“I don’t care what you wanted. What I want is Barrington’s head on a pike, mounted to the door in front of his law firm.”
He walked up to the Bean Counter, until their faces were only inches apart. “Are you even aware that Barrington is already involved in an even bigger problem for us? Or was your head too far up your ass hiding this from me to notice?”
The Bean Counter’s brow furrowed, unsure what the Greek was talking about.
“Why do you think we’re meeting here in this dump?” the Greek said. “Because your buddy Stone Barrington has convinced the FBI to arrest me. There are agents scouring the town looking for me right now. Were you aware of that?”
“I, uh... no.”
“Of course, you weren’t. By not telling me until now, you have put me at a disadvantage. I do not like being at a disadvantage.”
He turned back to the table and swept his plate onto the floor, then with his back to everyone said, “I want Barrington dead. Now.”
Chapter 37
Joan buzzed Stone. “Lance on one.”
Stone picked up the phone. “Why do you bother being announced?”
“Sometimes it’s convenient.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I want to meet Carly Riggs.”
“Why?”
“She sounds interesting.”
“She is interesting. That’s why you can’t meet her.”
“Don’t be that way, Stone.”
“You’re recruiting, and she’s not currently available.”
“When will she be available?”
“After she’s made partner at Woodman & Weld.”
“That’s too long to wait.”
“She’s done Yale, Yale Law, and she aced the bar exam.”
“That’s why I want to meet her.”
“She has a career in the law planned, and I don’t want you to screw it up for her by shipping her off to the Farm, then to God-knows-where.” The Farm was the CIA’s training facility in Virginia.
“That would be a good career for her.”
“It would be good for you, not her. Carly needs protecting from all that for a while, maybe for a long while.”
“Why don’t we let her be the judge of that?”
“Because I don’t know yet how good her judgment is.”
“We like them when they’re still a little malleable.”
“Lance, I can’t stop you from trying, but I’ll do everything I can to keep her where she is and doing what she’s doing.”
“Can you protect her from the Russians?”
“Yes.” Stone wished he were as confident as he sounded.
“We can protect her at the Farm.”
“We can protect her here, too.”
“You didn’t protect her last night,” Lance said.
Why did Lance know everything? “A minor slipup. It won’t happen again.”
“And how will you prevent that?”
“By shooting everybody who tries.”
“You might be able to trade her for peace with Gromyko,” Lance said.
“I already have peace with Gromyko. He’s being arrested this morning for income tax evasion.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m expecting a call momentarily.”
“He’ll just bail out and disappear.”
“He won’t get bail.”
“You think he can’t get bail out of Tiffany Baldwin?”
“Yes.”
“And what happens if Tiffany doesn’t play?”
“I’ll shoot her myself,” Stone said.
“Bravado doesn’t suit you, Stone.”
“It’s courage, not bravado.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Content of character.”
“You don’t have it in you to shoot anybody.”
“I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again.”
“Face-to-face? In the head?”
“Twice.”
“Are you going to shoot me, if I recruit Carly?”
“Not you.”
“Why not?”
“Because, if I shoot you, there are too many people who would care. Nobody cares about Gromyko.”
“That’s true, I suppose. All right, I’ll give you a little more time with Carly.”
“You’ll stay away from her at all times, or you’ll make me mad,” Stone said.
“And why do you think I would fear you mad?”
“Because, if you think about it, you’ll realize how many ways I could screw you.”
“Such as?”
“Do you like your job, Lance?”
“Of course.”
“Would you like to keep it?”
There was a silence. “You’re threatening me with going to the president?”
“If I do, you’ll have a hard time working anywhere, ever again.”
“That’s a serious threat,” Lance said. “Can you back it up?”
“Try me.”
Another long silence, then Lance hung up.
Stone hung up, too, and his hand was trembling. Nobody had ever talked that way to Lance. Maybe he had gone too far.
Chapter 38
When Carly came down to the lobby of the Seagram Building, Stone was waiting for her in the Bentley.
“This is unexpected,” she said, sliding in the back seat next to Stone.
“It’s necessary,” Stone said.
“Is Gromyko in jail?” she asked.
“I’m still waiting for that call. In the meantime, there’s another threat to deal with.”
“Now what?”
“Lance Cabot.”
“The head of the CIA?”
“That’s the one.”
“What’s the problem with him?”
“He’s taken an interest in you.”
“What sort of interest are we talking about? Sex?”
“No, nobody’s sure whether Lance does that. He wants to recruit you for the Agency.”
“Well, that’s flattering. Does he always do that personally? I thought he had a nationwide network of recruiters at such places as Ivy League universities.”
“Oh, he does, but he always has an eye out for talent, and when he spots it, he wants it. And he’s spotted you.”
“Is he so hard to say no to?”
“He is, and there’s an element of danger in that.”
“How so?”
“Here’s how it works,” Stone said. “First, he’ll take you to a very good dinner, and he’ll talk the whole time. You won’t even have a chance to ask questions, until he’s finished.”