Stone accepted a Knob Creek and looked around. “Looks like people live here,” he said.
“We can thank Jimmy Hotchkiss’s wife for that,” Peter said. Tracey Hotchkiss was an expert interior designer. “Marla, will you excuse us for a while?”
“Of course,” she said, and took her drink with her.
The two men settled themselves in comfortable chairs before a small fire. “My situation has changed.”
“How so?”
“Today, my family chose me to succeed Alexei Gromyko. It was against my wishes, but they prevailed.”
“You understand that I cannot discuss matters of a criminal nature with you?”
“That won’t be necessary. I just want to tell you that I am, starting on Monday, going to decriminalize all my family’s business interests.”
“From what little I’ve heard of the extent of your businesses, that will be quite a task.”
“Not as great as you may think. Gromyko, during his tenure and under the influence of the Bean Counter, began structuring the majority of the businesses involved into corporate groups or holding companies that are transparent and pay taxes. There are, of course, a few enterprises the family has been involved in that can’t be incorporated for legal reasons. While Gromyko had planned to keep those businesses, I will be eliminating them completely.”
“A good start. What about your testimony to Assistant Director Kinder?”
Greco grimaced. “That is a delicate matter. I talked to Kinder before leaving the city and let him know about the change in my status, and that I would no longer be cooperating with his investigation.”
“I imagine that didn’t go over well.”
“I explained to him what my plan was and asked that he give me a little time before he pursued the family further.”
“And he agreed to that?”
“He said he would take it under consideration.”
“That’s more than I would have expected,” Stone said.
“I believe my frankness in our discussions at your house created some goodwill between us.”
“That may be so, but don’t expect it to last forever.”
“I asked him to give me two months. I guess we’ll see if he will.”
“So, are you Egon Pentkovsky again? Or is there a new name I should call you?”
“I’m keeping Peter Greco for now. I know my Pentkovsky roots are the reason they gave me the job, and I will embrace that. But I also feel going by Greco will be a fresh start for everyone.” He leaned forward. “Stone, I want you to know that I attach no blame to you in the matter of either of the Greeks’ death, nor those of my brothers.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Stone said. “Does that go for all the members of your family?”
“I have not spoken to all of them yet, but I will see that the word goes out that neither you nor yours be touched.”
“I hope the word spreads quickly.”
“It will, but do be careful for a few days.”
“Thank you for the warning. But having to watch my back touches on what seems to me will be your biggest problem. By that I mean, restraining the criminal activities of the people who conduct the family’s operations.”
“I will begin addressing that problem on Monday, when I meet with the council. May I retain you and your firm to help with the legitimization?”
“No, because that would entail being involved with criminal matters until you have made everything squeaky clean. My firm, Woodman & Weld, operates at the highest level of the legitimate practice of the law, and they will not be drawn into enterprises that don’t meet their ethical standards.”
“Understood. May I seek, personally, your counsel from time to time?”
“I’m sorry, no. And we can’t meet again until you have completed your cleansing. I will give you this advice, though: the faster you legitimize the better. It is only when law enforcement agencies such as the FBI begin to fail to make cases against you that they will start to back off a bit.”
“Thank you for that. And I understand your position. I will not violate your boundaries.”
Stone stood up. “Well, then. You might begin your cleansing on this island. Never give anyone here anything to gossip about.”
“Good advice,” Peter said, and escorted him to his car.
Back in the house, Peter sat Marla down and explained to her what had happened with the family and what her obligations would be, beginning with using only legitimate credit cards for her personal and household shopping. He did not raise the subject of Olga.
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Yes, and you must be, too. You can begin with the occasional generous, but not outrageous, donations to local charities. It will be good for people to think of us as donors, when the subject comes up.”
“I understand,” she said, then came and sat in his lap, surprising him. He found that he enjoyed being surprised.
Chapter 46
Stone returned to his own house, where he found his guests — the Bacchettis and Carly — settled in the living room before a big fire. “It’s starting to rain,” he said to nobody in particular.
“Raining in Maine?” Dino said. “No kidding?”
“We’re not in Scotland, Dino,” Stone replied. “It doesn’t rain constantly here. There are often sunny days.”
“Whatever you say,” Dino replied, gazing at the rain beating against the windows on the seaward side of the house.
“It’s nice weather for the fire,” Carly pointed out.
“Thank you for that,” Stone said. He poured himself a drink and sat down. “I have news from my meeting with Peter Greco.”
“Did he shoot you twice in the head?” Dino asked.
“You will note that my head has only the usual number of holes.”
“Did he miss?”
“This morning, after the Greek’s funeral, Greco was appointed the new head of the family.”
“You should be wearing full body armor,” Dino counseled.
“On the contrary, he is meeting with his council on Monday, and at that time he will give them instructions that neither I nor mine — which includes you lot — are to be touched.”
“I’m happy to be included in your lot,” Dino said.
“We are still to be careful until word has filtered down to the soldier level.”
“Careful?” Carly asked. “What does that mean?”
“Don’t go out alone,” Dino said, “and when you do, go armed.”
“That’s what we were doing anyway, wasn’t it?” she asked.
“Then just keep on doing it. Peter says he’s taking all the family businesses fully legal.”
“Does that include the murder and mayhem part?” Viv asked.
“Apparently, Gromyko incorporated most everything and started paying taxes.”
“You can do that with murder and mayhem?”
“Businesses have been doing that for centuries. But I do believe he intends to divest himself of that particular avenue.”
“Will wonders never cease?” Viv asked.
“Wonders remain to be seen,” Stone replied. “I will say that I am encouraged by what he told me.”
“You are easily encouraged,” Dino said.
“Perhaps, but I am not credulous. I’ve gotten to know him a bit, and I appreciate what he’s trying to do.”
“Does that mean you’re his lawyer now?”
“No, it doesn’t. I’ve explained to Peter that Woodman & Weld deals only with upright clients.”
“Some of your clients will be surprised to hear that,” Dino said.
“You won’t find a cleaner, more ethical law firm in the city,” Stone replied.
“Okay,” Dino said. “I suppose I can stretch your credibility that far.”
“I’m so grateful,” Stone said.