Carnal Curiosity - Stuart Woods Page 0,54
he probably knows how to throw a punch, so watch yourself.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be surprised if the girl knows how to throw a punch, too, or maybe kick you in the balls.”
“Then I’ll certainly watch myself. What do I owe you?”
“Reimburse me for the Rolex, and we’re square.”
“The check is nearly in the mail. Thanks, Bob.”
Stone hung up and buzzed Joan and asked her to send Cantor the check, then buzzed Fred Flicker on the intercom.
“Yes, sir?”
“Fred, I’m going to need you to drive Dino Bacchetti and me down to the Village tomorrow morning, shortly after eleven o’clock.”
“I’ll have the car ready, sir.”
“And I have some papers for you to fill out.”
“Papers, sir?”
“An application for a license to carry a firearm. Chief Bacchetti is going to be of help.”
“I’ll come right over, sir.”
Fred was there in two minutes, and Stone gave him the license application. “You’ll have to be fingerprinted at police headquarters, too. Any problem with that, Fred?”
“Not a bit of it, sir. If they investigate me they’ll just find my service record.” Fred was ex–Royal Marines.
“Good. Here’s a pen, fill that out, and I’ll give it to Dino tomorrow.”
Fred sat down and began filling out the form. “Any word on my application for a green card, sir?”
“An immigration specialist at my law firm is handling that,” Stone replied. “He expects a favorable outcome in a matter of weeks. Oh, on the application list your work as ‘personal assistant and security guard.’”
“Righto, sir.”
“Fred, did you ever carry a weapon out of uniform?”
“Only in Northern Ireland, sir.”
“You served there?”
“That was our war, until the Falklands came along.”
“You were there, too?”
“It was where the shooting was, sir. Royal Marines always run toward the sound of gunfire.”
“Was it rough down there?”
“Not as rough as a Belfast pub on a Saturday night, sir, but I was aboard HMS Sheffield when she took an Exocet missile from an Argentine fighter jet. I had just delivered some documents to the captain and was getting ready to board our rigid inflatable for the return trip, when I saw the thing coming. I yelled, ‘Hit the deck!’ and did so myself. I got bounced around a bit, but I wasn’t really hurt. Twenty of the poor sods in the crew bought it, though.”
“I don’t envy you the experience,” Stone said.
Fred went back to filling out the form, then signed it and gave it to Stone.
“I’ll get Joan to notarize it,” Stone said, leaving it on his desk. “See you at eleven tomorrow.”
Fred left, and Stone took the document to Joan. “Notarize this, please, then pack two hundred thousand in hundreds in my briefcase and put it in your safe. I’ll get it out tomorrow.”
“You know the combination?”
“Unless you’ve changed it.”
“Nope, it’s the same.”
“Then I’ll be able to get at it.”
44
Stone was on his second cup of coffee in his study when Dino let himself into the house. Stone poured him a cup. Stone’s briefcase was open on the coffee table, displaying the cash.
“So,” Dino said when he had settled into a comfortable chair, “what’s your plan?”
Stone gave him the substance of his conversation with Bob Cantor the day before. “Fred will let us out a block or so from the shop, and we’ll walk to it, with you remaining well back. I’ll leave my briefcase containing the cash with Fred, and I’ll call you when I need it.” Stone slipped his little Colt Government .380 under the banded hundreds. “Just in case.” He handed Dino a beeper-like black box and showed him his own. “Call this a panic button. If I signal you, come in fast, gun first.”
“Okay. You sure you don’t want some backup?”
“I don’t think we’ll need it, you’re scary enough, if it comes to that.”
“I’m flattered you think so.”
Stone gave him Fred’s completed carry application, complete with notary’s stamp and a photo Joan had taken. “I’d appreciate anything you can do.”
Dino looked over the form. “Royal Marines, pistol champion, et cetera, et cetera. Very impressive. His qualifications won’t be an issue.”
“What might be?”
“He’s a foreigner. Has he got a green card?”
“Soon, our immigration lawyer says. Should we wait?”
“Nah, I think I can manage this without being seen to manage it. Tell me, what are you going to do when you get in that shop on Barrow Street?”
“Improvise,” Stone replied.
“Oh, shit.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble. I’m just an art lover, shopping for pictures.”
“If you say so.”
Stone produced his little wallet that held his honorary badge and tossed that