Unintended Consequences - By Stuart Woods

46





Stone arrived at home in the van and was told to wait inside it for a moment. He tried to relax as the two young men up front got out and surveyed the neighborhood. Finally, the bald one opened the door for him.

Stone got out. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Stanley,” the young man said. “Now you’d better get inside.”

Joan buzzed him in through the outside office door. There was a young woman sitting in a chair beside her desk.

“Who’s your friend?” Stone asked.

“A friend of your friend outside,” Joan said. “It seems I’m valuable enough to rate a guard.”

Stone kissed her on the forehead. “You bet your ass you are.” He went into his office and looked for something to do. There wasn’t much, but he did it. After he’d done it, he called Dino.

“Chief Bacchetti’s office,” a woman’s voice said.

Stone was accustomed to getting Dino directly. “This is Stone Barrington. May I speak to the chief, please?”

“What is your business with the chief, Mr. Barrington?”

“Nefarious and disreputable. Just tell him I’m on the line.”

She put him on hold for quite some time. Finally, she said, “The chief will speak to you now,” and put him through.

“Hey, Stone.”

“Hey, yourself. Who’s the barricade?”

“That is my new secretary. I also have a detective assistant, a deputy chief, and some guy from public affairs in my offices.”

“Why do you sound so pissed off about it?”

“I’m used to a glassed-in cubicle with a view of a dozen guys sitting at worn-out desks. Now I’ve got a view of the city, featuring two large office buildings that are no longer there, and a lot of mahogany paneling. All that’s missing is a grand piano.”

“Ah, I can see you’re suffering from a bad case of cultural overindulgence.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“You and Viv want to get some dinner tonight?”

“Okay by me. I’ll check with her. Where you want to do it?”

“Patroon all right?”

“Sure. See you there at what, eight?”

“Tell you what, I’ll pick you up at home. I’ve got a new ride.”

“An M1 tank?”

“Something like that. I’ll be outside your door at eight.” They both hung up.

• • •

It was nearly six before Marcel returned from his meetings at the auto show, and Stone took him into his study for a drink. He handed him a Knob Creek. “Would you like to join the Bacchettis and me for dinner this evening?”

“Thank you, Stone, but I’m tired, and I’d just like for Helene to give me some dinner and put me to bed.”

“That is easily arranged,” Stone said. “I heard some good news for you this afternoon.”

“I can always use good news.”

“Turns out you’re not the target of all this attention from our Russian friends. I am.”

“Oh, how nice for me!”

“Lance Cabot has given me my own transportation, and they’d like for you and me to travel separately. The Bentley is yours and Helga’s for the duration.”

“Fine. Where is she?”

“Right here,” Helga said from the doorway. “There’s a Black Maria parked in front of the house. Is someone being arrested?”

Stone laughed. “That’s how I’ll be traveling for a while. We’re joining the Bacchettis for dinner, picking them up at eight, so after I get a drink into you, can you be ready to leave at seven forty-five?”

“That sounds awfully exact,” she said, accepting the drink.

“It was meant to. Dino and I are accustomed to being punctual with each other, unless his work gets in the way.”

“Then I will make the effort,” she said, setting down a Chanel shopping bag and sitting next to Marcel on the sofa.

“I spent the afternoon with your masters from the Agency,” Stone said. “I should warn you that traveling around town with me may put you in a certain amount of danger.”

“Then I shall be well armed,” she said.

They finished their drinks and Marcel went to find Helene.

Stone fixed them another drink. “One of the things I learned this afternoon is that I’m the target, instead of Marcel. The Russians want The Arrington, and they’re willing to wait until I’m dead before going after Marcel.”

“That’s very interesting,” Helga replied.

“I also learned that Aldo was waiting in your suite to kill me, not for amorous purposes. Of course, he would have to have killed you, too.”

“Then I’m still glad I shot him,” she said. “It’s just more satisfying now. I would take grave exception, and I mean grave, to anyone who meant you harm.”

“That makes me feel warm all over,” Stone said.

“Are we quite alone?” Helga asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Because I feel a sudden urge to have sex in a leather armchair.” She stood up and began peeling off her clothes, then she pulled Stone to his feet and undressed him.

The armchair accommodated them both quite nicely.

At eight o’clock sharp, Stanley opened the van’s sliding door and admitted the Bacchettis.

Dino looked around him. “What is this beast?”

“An M1 tank disguised as a land yacht,” Stone said.

Viv looked around her. “This is more like the interior of a corporate jet than a van,” she said.

“A good comparison,” Stone said. “It’s how I’m traveling these days, until the Agency has corralled the Russians.”

“Can we expect to be shot at?” Viv asked.

“At the very least,” Stone replied.

“Oh, good.” She removed a 9mm pistol from a shoulder holster, inspected the magazine, and found it full. She pumped a round into the chamber, then returned the weapon to its holster.

“I don’t have to check mine,” Dino said. “It’s never been unloaded, except through the barrel.” They pulled to a stop in front of Patroon. “Sit tight for a moment,” Stone said to his guests. “Stanley has to case the joint before we can expose ourselves.”

A moment later, the door slid open, and Stanley assisted the ladies out. “How long?” he asked Stone.

“A couple of hours,” Stone replied.

“Then we’ll park the van, and I’ll be inside with you.”

“Whatever makes you comfortable, Stanley. By the way, three of us are armed.”

“Please don’t shoot me,” Stanley said.