buy.”
“What kind of phone do you want to buy?”
“One that does the same thing this does.”
“You want to buy the same phone?”
“If you’ve got it.”
“We have a newer version. Your phone is quite old.”
“The newer version would work the same way this one does?”
“More or less.”
“What’s the less?”
“It would have more features.”
“Would it have these features?”
“Yes, among others.”
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
“So, you want an upgrade.”
Teddy sighed. “You win. I want an upgrade. Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
“Fine. Transfer the data. Except for the number.”
“Sir?”
“I want a new phone number.”
“You know there are serious drawbacks to having a new number.”
“Such as?”
“People won’t be able to call you.”
Teddy smiled. “I certainly hope not.”
* * *
• • •
JORAM HATED TO be the bearer of bad news. He had a wife and two small children. All he cared about was keeping his head down. Then he wound up in Fahd’s office, monitoring important calls.
“Now the other phone’s dead,” Joram said. He sounded like he was apologizing.
“Billy Barnett?”
“Yes.”
“They’re both dead?”
“Yes.”
“But they could be activated again?”
“It’s possible.”
“Fine. Then you’re done for the time being. You can go back to your post in the other room.”
Joram struggled to keep the relief from showing on his face. “Yes, sir.”
Fahd stopped him. “But first, whose lines have you been monitoring?”
“Lance Cabot and Billy Barnett.”
Fahd grimaced. “I’m afraid your memory is faulty. Whose lines are these again?”
Joram looked terrified. He gawked at Fahd stupidly, trying to divine the right answer. “I don’t remember?”
Fahd smiled. “Yes, I didn’t think you did. Good man. So you won’t be mentioning any names to anyone. Am I right?”
“Yes, sir. Absolutely,” Joram said.
It took all he could do not to run out of the room.
18.
FRED DROVE DOWN the block and turned into Stone Barrington’s underground garage.
“The car that was following us is on the corner,” Fred said. “He must have come back here when I lost him. What do you want to do about it?”
“At the moment, nothing,” Teddy said.
“I’m not comfortable having someone watching the house.”
“It’s just until we leave for the airport.”
“Am I driving you to the airport?”
“Teterboro. Stone, Dino, and I are going to France.”
On his way in, Joan presented Teddy with six color prints of the passport photos. “Will these do?”
“Perfect,” Teddy said. “Thanks, Joan.”
Teddy and Fred went on into Stone’s study.
Stone and Dino were drinking Knob Creek. “Good, you’re back. Care for a drink? You, too, Fred?”
“I just wanted to report. We were followed by a man in a gray Lexus. He’s currently parked on the corner of your block.”
“I see,” Stone said. He turned to Teddy. “What do you want to do about it?”
“It’s probably better he doesn’t know we spotted him,” Teddy said. “If he’s still hanging around after we leave, Fred, feel free to beat him to a pulp.”
Stone saw the photos in Teddy’s hand. “How did the picture come out?”
Teddy smiled. “I think it’s some of Dino’s best work.”
“Fuck you,” Dino said.
“What are you going to do with it?” Stone said. “I don’t have the equipment to mock up credentials.”
“It’s okay. I’ll use an old one. Where’s my suitcase?”
“I’ll get it for you,” Fred said. He was back in minutes with the suitcase.
Teddy unlocked it, and took out a bulging leather zip pouch slightly larger than a wallet. He unzipped it and began leafing through IDs. There were credit cards, driver’s licenses, and various credentials.
“Ah, here we are,” Teddy said. “CIA credentials. What don’t I need anymore? Oh, here we go. Felix Dressler. Look at those sideburns. Major pain in the ass to put on. But, shave them off and he’d look like me. At least he’d look like me in that passport photo. Which means I can use these credentials. Gentlemen, meet Agent Felix Dressler, on a longtime covert assignment just emerging from deep cover.”
“What assignment?”
“I’ll come up with something.”
“So, what’s his story?” Dino said.
“I suppose he ought to have one,” Teddy said. “Can I get on the Internet?”
“Be my guest,” Stone said.
Teddy sat down at Stone’s computer, hacked into the CIA site, and posted the credentials of Felix Dressler, establishing him as a longtime agent, the veteran of several clandestine missions. He designated a large portion of Dressler’s file as classified, eyes-only material, that could only be accessed by senior officers with top-priority clearance.
“That’ll do for now,” Teddy said. “I’ll make up more background on the plane.”
* * *
• • •
FAHD GOT THE info on the plane from Joram and called his contact in New York. “Stone Barrington’s private jet is a Citation CJ3-Plus.