The Short Forever

ancient Morris Minor estate car, nicely kept, awaited them.

                        “Where’s everybody else?” Stone asked, as Sarah started the car.

                        “Erica’s sleeping in; Lance wanted a drive, so I loaned him the Mini Cooper.”

                        “Where’d Lance go?”

                        “I dunno; just for a drive.” They passed through the gates of the estate, and Sarah turned toward the village. Shortly, they had stopped in front of a small grocery.

                        Down the block, Stone spotted the bright orange Mini Cooper. “You go ahead and shop,” he said to Sarah; “I want to have a look at the village.”

                        “All right; meet me at the car in half an hour; I’ll be done by then.” She went into the grocery.

                        Stone started down the street toward the Mini Cooper. It was empty, and he looked around, wondering where Lance might have gone. Then he saw him enter a pub across the street. Stone glanced at his watch; it was just opening time. He dawdled down the street, wondering why Lance would be in a pub before lunch. Wasn’t there enough booze back at the house? He considered going inside himself, but Lance’s behavior was unusual enough that he preferred not to be seen following him. He ducked into a news agent’s across from the pub, bought a Herald Tribune, and pretended to read it. No more than a minute had passed when he saw two people get out of a parked saloon car and head for the pub.

                        Stone had never seen them before, but their appearance struck a chord. They were Mediterranean in appearance, and the woman was quite beautiful. That matched the description of the people Sarah had seen with Lance in a restaurant, and he remembered Hedger’s saying that two of Lance’s contacts in Cairo had been a young couple. Stone tucked the newspaper under his arm and crossed the street.

                        The pub had stained-glass windows, and Stone peered through one. He saw the three of them seated at a corner table, and he moved around to the side of the building for a better view. He found another window, one with clear glass, partly protected by curtains. He could stand and look inside through a small opening in the drapes without being seen by Lance and his friends.

                        There was a very earnest conversation going on, which stopped abruptly when a barmaid brought drinks to the table, then resumed as soon as she had gone. Lance was making a point, tapping a forefinger hard on the table, leaning forward for emphasis. The couple seemed uncomfortable, and the woman placed her hand on Lance’s arm, in a calming motion. He jerked away from her and brought his palm down hard on the table, apparently very close to losing his temper. The couple sat back and listened, not arguing. Then Lance threw some money on the table, got up, and walked out.

                        Stone flattened himself against the wall until he was sure Lance had left the pub, then started toward the front of the building. From around the corner, he heard the distinctive sound of the Mini Cooper revving, then driving away in a hurry. Stone went into the pub.

                        The couple were still there, ignoring their drinks, looking worried, talking animatedly. Stone stood at the end of the bar nearest them and ordered a lemonade.

                        “I don’t care,” the man was saying. “This is getting dangerous.”

                        “We have to do this,” she said. “What choice do we have? How else are we going to make this kind of money?”

                        “Why do we have to take all the risks?” he asked.

                        “We’re not taking all the risks; Lance is doing his part.”

                        “Let’s get back to London,” the man said, standing up.

                        Stone turned his back to them, pretending to examine a photograph of the pub on the wall next to him. He didn’t want them to register his face; he might run into them again.

                        When they had been gone long enough to get to their car and drive away, Stone left the pub and walked back to the Morris Minor. Sarah was just coming out of the grocery with a cart filled with bags, and he helped her stow them in the rear of the estate car.

            They were back in plenty of time for lunch, and found Erica had joined the living. After they had eaten, Lance took Stone into the morning room and sat him down.

                        “I’ve done some looking into your background,” he said, “and I like what I’ve learned.”

                        “What have you learned?” Stone asked.

                        “I’ve learned what sort of policeman you were and what sort of lawyer you are now. I’m impressed with the variety and depth of your experience.”

                        “Thank you,” Stone said, not sure what to make of this.

                        “I think you and I might do some business together. Interested?”

                        “What sort of business?”

                        “Profitable.”

                        “How profitable?”

                        “Very.”

                        “How illegal?”

                        “Entirely aboveboard,” Lance said. “And the money will be made quickly.”

                        “In my experience,” Stone replied, “fast money is usually made at the expense of the law and at the risk of prison. I’m not interested in either of those possibilities.”

                        “I assure you, this would be a straightforward business transaction.”

                        “Why do you need me to accomplish this transaction?”

                        “First, there’s some legal work in New York; I need to create a corporation and open banking and brokerage accounts in the corporation’s name.”

                        “Any attorney could do that,” Stone said. “Why me?”

                        “Because you’re here, and I’m not in New York,” Lance replied. “It’s as simple as that.”

                        Stone had a feeling it was not at all simple. “I’d have to know all of what you intend to do and how you intend to do it.”

                        “Not just yet.”

                        “I’m sorry,” Stone said, “I won’t be involved unless I know what I’m getting into.”

                        “I promise, you’ll only be doing what any New York attorney would be doing.”

                        “You mean, what I don’t know won’t hurt me?”

                        “That’s quite true.”

                        “I’ve always found that truism to be a lie,” Stone said. “It’s what you don’t know that can destroy you.”

                        “I can’t tell you everything just yet,” Lance said.

                        “Let me know when you can, and then we can talk about it,” Stone replied. “Whatever you tell me will be bound by attorney-client privilege as long as it’s legal, and if we should agree to disagree, you’d have nothing to fear from my talking about your deal.”

                        Lance stared at him for a moment. “You’re not a very trusting person,” he said.

                        “Let’s see,” Stone said. “What I know about you so far is that you’re ex-CIA and that you’re involved in, shall we say, unconventional business dealings. And you have a serious enemy who is still inside the Company and who wishes to see you in jail or, perhaps, worse. Does that about sum it up so far?”

                        “You’re taking Stan far too seriously,” Lance said.

                        “I’m not sure you’re taking him seriously enough,” Stone said.

                        “I assure you, I’m giving him the attention he deserves.”

                        Stone shook his head. “I’m not willing to talk about this, until you’re ready to talk to me a lot more.”

                        Lance considered this. “All right,” he said. “I’ll be back to you as soon as I can.” He got up and left the room.

                        Stone wondered if he wasn’t getting near the time when he should be calling Detective Inspector Throckmorton. Not just yet, he decided finally.