Unintended Consequences - By Stuart Woods

33





Stone returned to his second line. “Helga, are you all right?”

“Yes, at last,” she replied.

“The Paris police woke me in the middle of the night to question me, but they refused to let me see you, so I called Rick LaRose.”

“Rick was wonderful,” she said. “I hadn’t had any sleep, and the police asked me the same questions over and over, and I was exhausted by the time Rick turned up. He got me released and sent me directly to Le Bourget, where there was an airplane waiting to take me home to Sweden. I’m now at my house out in the archipelago, and it’s very beautiful here, but lonely.”

“I think I can fix that,” Stone said. “Why don’t you come to New York for a while? None of the Paris complications will bother you here. Marcel is already here, asleep in my guest suite.”

“Marcel in New York? He almost never goes to America.”

“It seemed a good time to get him out of Paris.” Stone told her about the attack on them along the Seine.

“I’m glad you’re out—those people are very dangerous.”

“Who are they?” Stone asked.

“A bunch of crazy Russians and East Germans left over from the Cold War days. They’re working for a Russian oligarch named Vishinski. It’s said that he’s close to the Russian leadership. Vishinski is making business inroads into Europe, with Paris as his main target, and he seems to want what Marcel has.”

“What happened with Aldo Saachi?”

“He was waiting in my suite when I got there.”

“How did he get in?”

“He must have bribed a hotel staffer. He made advances, and I punched him in the nose, but he tore my dress on his way down. When he stood up he had a knife in his hand, so I shot him.”

“Did the police find the knife?”

“Yes.”

“Good, that will help clear your name.”

“That won’t be a problem. According to Rick, all records of my questioning will disappear, and they will think of some explanation for Aldo’s death, so for all practical purposes, I am not involved.”

“I’m relieved that you’re all right. When can you come to New York?”

“Give me a few days to work on that. I’ll need to get Lance’s permission to come to the U.S.”

“I’ll have a word with Lance and let you know what he says. What’s your phone number?”

“I have the same cell, the one that Lance gave me. We can talk on that without anyone hearing us.”

“Then I’ll be in touch.”

“Please give Marcel my best.”

“I will.” They both hung up, and Stone went upstairs and to bed.

• • •

The following morning he had breakfast with Marcel in the kitchen, then went to his office, where he found a large stack of paperwork on his desk. He called Lance at Langley and left a message for him, then went to work answering mail and returning phone calls.

Just before noon Joan buzzed him. “Lance Cabot on one.”

Stone pressed the button. “Good morning, Lance.”

“Good morning, Stone. Did you have a pleasant flight?”

“We did indeed, except for the unpleasantness on the way to Le Bourget. Rick saved our bacon.”

“A good man, Rick. He’s destined for greater things.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“How is Marcel liking New York?”

“He’s very happy here. He’s staying with me, and we had dinner with Mike Freeman last night. Mike is going to help him with his personal security situation.”

“He certainly needs help,” Lance agreed.

“After Rick’s intervention, Marcel’s feelings toward the Agency have warmed considerably. I think you’ll find him more cooperative.”

“I’m extremely glad to hear that,” Lance said.

“Lance, I’ve invited Helga Becker to visit me in New York. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

“Do you think you can avoid having her photographed in your company while she’s there? I don’t want her to turn up on Page Six—at least, not until everything has quieted down in Paris. Our two presidents have had discussions about the Aldo incident, and word has reached me that Aldo’s friends are extremely angry.”

“I think I can shield her from the press.”

“I’m glad Marcel is staying with you. A lot of our friends seem to do that from time to time.”

Stone knew he was referring to Holly, but he said nothing.

“I think it’s time we augmented the security arrangements for your house,” Lance said. “After all, after the events of a few weeks ago, al Qaeda is aware of you.”

This had crossed Stone’s mind, but he hadn’t done anything about it. “What sort of augmentation?”

“If you’re going to go on hosting people important to us, like the president and first lady, even after they’re out of office, then we’ll need to install a new security system, and we’ll need to replace the exterior doors with steel ones and the windows with steel-framed armored glass.”

“The New-York Historical Society will be alarmed to hear that, and you’ll have to have their approval.”

“Leave that to me. The doors and windows will appear identical to the ones they’re replacing. We did the same thing with your cousin Dick’s house at Dark Harbor, which you now own.”

“You’re not going to send me a bill for all this, are you?”

“Fear not, Stone, it will be done with dispatch, and you will be none the poorer for it.”

“All right.”

“A man named Joe will call and survey the place. He’ll phone Joan first.”

“And you’ll take whatever steps are necessary so that Helga won’t have any problems entering the country?”

“I will, but I don’t want her flying commercial until I say so, and that could be a few weeks.”

“Then I’ll arrange something. How’s the new job?”

“More hectic than I had imagined. Kate has been a great help with the transition. I’m moving into her offices tomorrow. Now I must go.” Lance hung up without further ado.

Stone buzzed Joan. “A man named Joe, a friend of Lance’s, is going to come to the house and make a nuisance of himself, and then he’s going to put in a new security system and replace all the windows in the house.”

“Is that all? Oh, it’ll be fun!” She hung up.

Marcel rapped on the rear door to Stone’s office and walked in. “May I?”

“Of course,” Stone said. “How’s the jet lag?”

“I’m feeling quite well,” he said, “after a good night’s sleep.”

“When would you like to meet with Mike Freeman about your security arrangements?”

“Anytime at all. And we should invite Bill Eggers and discuss the Arrington proposition, as well.”

“I’ll do that. By the way, Helga called last night after you went to bed and sends you her warm regards. She’s safe in Sweden, but she’s going to come and visit me in New York.”

“When will she come?”

“As soon as I can arrange a private air charter. Lance doesn’t want her flying commercial until things have quieted down.”

“My French attorney will come to New York if we can reach an agreement on the Arrington business. I can have him pick her up in Stockholm on his way.”

“That’s very kind of you, Marcel.” And a reason to conclude our business quickly, Stone thought.