Dirty Work

'The letter and the sum are both inadequate,' she replied.

'Listen to me, Marie-Therese. This is the offer, and it won't change. It's more than you ever expected to get, and I advise you in the strongest terms to accept it.'

She was quiet for a moment. 'All right, but Sir Edward will have to apologize to me in person when we meet.'

'We can make that demand at the meeting, but don't expect it to happen.'

'All right. Now, how are we going to prevent these people from trying to kill me at the meeting?'

'I have some ideas about that,' Stone said, and he explained.

'I like it,' she said. 'Tell Sir Edward to be at the Rockefeller Center skating rink tomorrow at three p.m.'

'All right,' Stone said, and hung up. Then he called Dino.

43

Stone was halfway through his first bourbon when Dino arrived at Elaine's.

Dino gave Elaine a kiss and settled into a chair opposite Stone. 'A Laphroaig on the rocks,' he said to a waiter.

'You're drinking single malts now?' Stone asked.

'Only when you're buying,' Dino replied. 'And it's better than that corn whisky you drink.'

'Corn liquor aged in oak barrels for ten years,' Stone said. 'And bourbon is a patriotic American libation.'

'Then you ought to get the Medal of Honor. What's going on?'

'I need your help.'

'So what else is new?'

'You'll be preventing a killing on the streets of New York, so just think of it as doing your job.'

'I'm real anxious to hear what your idea of doing my job is.'

'All right, pay attention, this is complicated.'

'I'll try to follow,' Dino said, 'if you'll keep it to words of two syllables or less.'

'Actually-'

'That's four syllables.'

'Dino, shut up and listen.'

'Can I have another Laphroaig on the rocks?' Dino asked a passing waiter.

'You haven't finished the one you're drinking,' Stone pointed out.

'Yeah, but you're going to talk for a long time, and I don't want to interrupt you by ordering another drink.'

'You just did.'

'After this. Go.'

'I've arranged a meeting between the head of Carpenter's service and La Biche, and-'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa!' Dino nearly shouted. 'How the fuck could you do that when you don't know either one of them?'

'We've all met since I saw you last.'

'Last I heard, you were upset about their trying to kill her.'

'I still am. I'm trying to stop it from happening. That's why I need your help.'

'Okay, just a minute, there's something I want to know.'

'What?'

'What are four retired NYPD cops doing outside in the street and at the bar right now?'

'They're making sure I'm not being followed.'

'Stone, have you come over all paranoid?'

'Dino, if you'll just let me talk uninterrupted for a few minutes, all your questions will be answered, I promise.'

'I'm listening.'

'No, you're not, you're asking questions.'

'No, I'm listening.' Dino rested his chin in his hand. 'See? This is me listening.'

'To begin again, I've arranged a meeting between La Biche and Sir Edward Fieldstone-'

'Where do the Brits get these names?' Dino asked, shaking his head.

'Dino, shut up and listen.'

Dino drew an imaginary zipper across his mouth.

'… who is the head of Carpenter's service. He has proposed a truce between his people and La Biche – in short, they stop killing each other.'

Dino shook his head in wonder and laughed.

'Dino…'

'I didn't say a word, but that was funny.'

'The participants in this situation don't think it's funny.'

'Yeah, I'll bet. How many of this Fieldstone guy's people has La Biche got on the scoreboard?'

'Too many, that's why he wants the truce. So I've arranged a meeting between them.'

'Is the girl bananas? If she shows up at a meeting, the Brits will waste her.'

'That's what I'm trying to prevent, and that's why I need your help.'

'You want me to get her some body armor to wear?'

'That's not the worst idea you've ever had, but no, I don't think that will be necessary.'

'Well, I don't want to be anywhere nearby when this meeting happens.'

'That's exactly where I want you to be.'

'Not anywhere nearby?'

'No, nearby. In fact, very nearby.'

A look of incredulity spread across Dino's face.

'Just hear me out.'

'You want me to take a bullet for this broad?'

'No, but if you're there, nobody will take a bullet.'

'And how do we know that?' Dino asked. 'Really, I'd like to know why my presence would stop them from pulling her plug.'

'Dino, you're a lieutenant in the NYPD. It's not in their interests to kill such a person. That's why they won't shoot if you're close to her and they know it.'

'And where is this meeting going to take place?'

'I don't know.'

'What?'

'I don't know yet.'

'Let's backtrack a minute here,' Dino said. 'How is it you happen to be in touch with La Biche?'

'I got her number from Bobby, the bartender.'

'From Bobby, the bartender here?' Dino pointed down.

'Yes.'

'Let me get this straight: If you want to get in touch with an international terrorist and assassin, the guy to see is Bobby, the bartender at Elaine's?'

'In this case, yes. You see-'

'Boy, I've been underestimating Bobby. I thought all he did was pour drinks, but all the time, he's a clearinghouse for spies and assassins.'

'You remember the night you arrested her here?'

'I seem to have some recollection of that.'

'She was at the bar talking to Bobby. He asked her for her number, and she gave it to him. Her cell phone number.'