Joan buzzed him. “Pablo for you.”
Stone picked up the phone. “Pablo?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Have you seen the news?”
“I’m looking at it right now.”
“So am I,” Pablo replied.
“Do I want to know where you are?”
“Just as well not, I think.”
“If this works, you could be a hero.”
“Nonsense. If it works, my name will never be mentioned. At least, I hope not.”
Suddenly an old photograph of Pablo appeared on the TV.
“Sources at the CIA are telling us that this man, Pablo Estancia, was the source of the intelligence placing Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. Born Erwin Gelbhardt, in Darmstadt, Germany, he acquired the nickname ‘Pablo’ as an international arms dealer. We are also told that agents of the CIA interviewed him for four days earlier this week and that he provided a map of the cave network where bin Laden is supposedly hiding.”
“Oh, shit,” Pablo said. “Did you hear that?”
“Apparently, we’re both watching NBC,” Stone said.
“Yes, I suppose we are. Why on earth would Lance Cabot air this information?”
“I suppose they must be very confident that bin Laden is there,” Stone suggested.
“But why bring me into it?” Pablo asked plaintively. “Now they’ve pinned a big target on my back.”
“I have no idea,” Stone said.
“It’s some sort of revenge,” Pablo said.
“Revenge for what?”
“I’ve no idea,” Pablo said. “I have to go, Stone. My family is arriving this afternoon, and I have to get them to somewhere safe.”
“Is there anything I can do to help, Pablo?”
“No, I don’t think so. Don’t blame yourself for this, Stone.” He hung up.
“Well,” Willa said, “that was a very interesting conversation—at least, your side of it.”
“Try and forget you heard it,” Stone said.
“That was your man, huh? Your client?”
Stone nodded. “He’s been royally screwed, and I don’t know what I can do about it.”
The phone rang again. “Hello?”
“It’s Holly. Have you seen the reports?”
“Right now,” Stone said. “Has Lance lost his mind?”
“He’s losing it right now,” Holly replied. “I know you won’t believe this, but Lance didn’t do this. I think it’s somebody at the Agency who has it in for Lance.”
“I would imagine their numbers are legion,” Stone said.
“Lance is more popular here than you would imagine,” she said. “Somebody’s head is going to roll for this.”
Stone had an idea. “Listen, I think you ought to offer Pablo protection, find him a hiding place and put guards on him.”
“That’s an idea I wouldn’t argue with, and I don’t think Lance would, either, but he’d have to go to the director for funding; he doesn’t have that kind of discretion. Between you and me, I was astonished when Lance ordered two dozen of those jammers at twenty-five thousand a pop. And the kind of protection you’re talking about would cost hundreds of thousands.”
“Talk to Lance and get back to me.”
“Are you in touch with Pablo?”
“No, but he’s in touch with me. He called five minutes ago, having seen the news reports. His family are arriving today at wherever he is, and of course he’s very concerned about their safety.”
“I’ll talk to Lance,” she said, and hung up.
Willa was staring at him. “This is like being in the middle of a spy novel.”
“I want your word you will not speak of this to anyone,” Stone said.
“Do you think I’m an idiot? I don’t want to be involved, I’m just fascinated to hear about it.”
“Don’t you have to go to work?”
“It’s Saturday,” she pointed out, “but if you want me out of here, say the word.”
He kissed her on the neck. “No, I don’t want you out of here.”
“Who’s going to call next?” Willa asked.
“I’ve no idea.”
The phone rang. “Hello?”
“It’s Herbie.”
Stone was silent.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, thanks, and I can’t talk right now,” Stone replied.
“Okay. Can I call you later?”
“Make it Monday,” Stone said, and hung up.
“And who was that?” Willa asked.
“A client, unrelated to anything on the news.”
Willa set her tray on the floor and cuddled up to him. “Let me take your mind off all this.”
“I don’t think you can,” Stone said.
But she could, and did.
FORTY-NINE
Joan buzzed again, and Stone picked up the phone. “Why are you in on Saturday morning?” he asked, panting from his exertions with Willa.
“Never look a gift horse in the mouth,” she replied. “Holly Barker on line one.”
Stone picked up the phone. “Yes, Holly?”
“I figured out who gave Pablo’s name to the press,” she said.
“And who would that be?”
“Todd Bacon.”
“Your acolyte? The new CEO of your new air transport company?”
“One and the same.”
“Why would he do such a thing?”
“I think he’s angry at Pablo over the thing with the flying Mercedes. He had planned the whole operation, then, at the moment it was about to come to fruition, Pablo ruined it for him.”
“Have you confronted him?”
“Lance is doing that right now, and he’s better at those things than I.”
“I hope he tears a strip off his hide,” Stone said.
“I think he’ll do more than that,” Holly said. “I think Lance is angry enough to fire him. Hang on a minute, will you?”
Stone hung on.
“More spy stuff?” Willa asked, brushing her mussed hair out of her eyes.
Holly came back on before Stone could reply. “Okay, it’s done. Todd Bacon is off immediately to man a radio listening post in the Aleutian Islands, off Alaska.”
“The perfect place for him,” Stone said.
“I have to agree,” Holly replied. “There’s a fly in the ointment, though.”
“What’s that?”
“I have to go up to Newburgh and get the air cargo thing running smoothly while Lance looks for somebody else to run it.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as it takes,” she said. “I suppose there are worse assignments, but it does take me away from the center of the action. It’s Lance’s way of telling me that I should have somehow prevented Pablo’s automotive aviation event. This is going to drive my boyfriend crazy.”
“Then you’d better get it up and running smoothly fast.”
“Oh, and Lance is going to the director about funding for protection for Pablo.”
“May I make a suggestion?”
“Yes.”
“Hire Strategic Services; protection is what they do best.”
“What a good idea! I have to go tell Lance. Goodbye!”
Stone hung up.
“Did you finish?” Willa asked.
“My conversation?”
“No, what we were doing. Did you finish?”
“Sort of, but I was interrupted.”
“I didn’t finish,” she said.
“And that’s my cue, isn’t it?”
“You should be on the stage,” she said, lying back and offering him access.
Stone made his entrance.
Stone and Willa appeared at Elaine’s, on schedule, freshly showered and clothed. Mike Freeman was sitting with Dino at their table.
Stone introduced Willa, and they sat down. Bourbon was brought for both of them, and Willa did not pass out from the smell of it.
“I gather you spoke to Holly Barker earlier today,” Mike said in a low voice.
“It’s all right, Mike; Willa was there, and she’s trustworthy.”