'Go on, Mr. Stone,' Richmond said.
'You have a cabin in the mountains in Fullbrook, Mr. Richmond,' Stone said. 'There are no neighbors for acres in all directions.'
'Right. People come up to look at the view from the ridge some nights, but not often.'
'Can they see your place from there?' Stone asked.
'Not at all.'
'Good. In two days, at six in the morning, you will receive a call there,' Stone said. 'You will be asked to drive somewhere, pick something up, and return to your cabin. You will wait there until you are told to drive somewhere else. When that is finished, your work is finished.'
'That's it?' Richmond said.
'More or less. For you.' Stone looked at Mandor. 'You will be needed in San Diego. You'll be working security detail. You won't need to do anything except sit, most of the time.'
'That is still pretty vague, Mr. Stone,' Mandor remarked.
'We've only just met.'
'So all we get is a good night kiss,' Richmond joked.
'Yeah,' Mandor laughed. 'I'm assuming it's outside the law, this thing we'll be doing.'
'Laws are sometimes inadequate to deal with reality,' Stone said.
'They still put your ass in jail for breaking them,' Mandor said. 'Mr.
Stone, twenty-five grand apiece is real good money, I'll give you that.
And I appreciate careful security measures. But secrecy bothers me.
A lot.'
'Then you have the option of walking away,' Stone said.
'Both of us?' Richmond asked. 'Because I'm okay with trusting you.'
'This is a two-hander, a job for men who are experienced and cool under pressure,' Stone said. 'I've checked both of you out, Mr. Richmond.
But if you have someone else in mind '
'That won't be necessary,' Mandor said. 'I'm in.' A man did not make money by being cautious. If Richmond was comfortable with this, Mandor could live with it.
'I'm glad to hear that,' Stone said. 'And don't worry, gentlemen. As you said, Mr. Mandor, the money is good.
Beyond that, however, I must tell you the upside is truly exceptional.'
'Are you saying there will be more work?' Richmond asked.
'That's only a small part of what I'm talking about,' Stone assured him. 'You can't appreciate, yet, how significant your contribution will be. When you do, you will be justifiably pleased.'
'It may sound shallow to you, but being well compensated is all the pleasing I need,' Mandor said.
'That isn't shallow at all, Mr. Mandor,' Stone said. 'It's one of the reasons this nation was founded. So that men would be free to pursue financial achievement.'
Mandor liked the sound of that. Greed as patriotism.
The meeting wrapped quickly after that. Richmond and Mandor chatted briefly as they walked toward the elevator. Richmond had taken the envelope and put it in his shirt pocket.
