Criminal Mischief

34

A couple hundred miles west of Oakland, Ness completed her phone calls and instructions to her SWAT team and made sure they had a copy of the warrant for Zanian.

She sat back in her reclining chair. “Could I have a large Scotch on the rocks, please?” she said to the flight attendant.

“Would you prefer a blend or a single malt?” the woman asked. “We have Laphroaig and a Talisker,” she said.

“The Talisker,” Ness replied, and it was quickly in her hand. “Stone?”

“Yes, Special Agent?”

“You can call me Brio.”

“Yes, Brio?”

“I don’t have a bed in New York. Can you provide me with one?”

“Of course, and with dinner, too.”

“Who else will be there?”

“Just you,” he said. “Margot has chosen to go home to her apartment.”

“Thank you, I accept.”

Stone picked up the satphone and made the arrangements.

“How long till Teterboro?”

“Seven hours. We’ve got a tailwind.”

“I’m sleepy,” she said, setting down her empty glass, which was whisked away by the attendant.

“I’m not surprised. Sleep.”

She sank into her seat, and Stone draped a light cashmere throw over her inert body.

Dino looked over at her. “First time I’ve ever seen an FBI special agent do that. I didn’t know they slept.”

“They do after a long day’s work and a double Scotch,” Stone said.

Dino waved at the flight attendant and ordered. “I think I’ll try that,” he said, taking a gulp of the Scotch.

Stone spread a throw over him, and took his glass away as his fingers relaxed. He ordered a Knob Creek for himself as the satphone rang beside him. “Yes?”

“It’s Joan. Are you still on the planet?”

“I am, and we’re approaching the coast of California. Tell Fred we’ll be landing in about seven hours and to meet us.”

“Who’s ‘us’?”

“Special Agent Ness. Let Helene know we’ll need dinner, no matter what time we arrive.”

“Should I have the maid ready a room for your guest?”

“That remains to be negotiated.”

“We’ll be ready for everything.”

“By the way, I have a letter, in Dino’s possession, stating that I’m to be paid the ten-million-dollar reward.”

“Is it genuine?”

“It is, signed by Special Agent Ness and witnessed by a Hawaiian. I shall want you to present it to the director of the FBI for payment.”

“In person?”

“A copy, via FedEx, please. You retain the original, in case there’s an argument.”

“So, you caught Zanian?”

“No, but I made it possible for the FBI to. Not my fault that they blew it.”

“Are they going to see it that way?”

“To be announced.”

“I shouldn’t hold my breath, then?”

“Not for very long.”

“Okay, boss, I’ll get on it. Oh, I almost forgot: Lance Cabot called and wondered if you would be interested in the whereabouts of Mr. Zanian.”

“Can you patch me through to him?”

“I can try. If I push the wrong button, call him direct.”

“Right.”

There was a squawk, and then the smooth voice of the director of the Central Intelligence Agency filled the satphone. “Stone, where are you?”

“About a hundred miles west of California. Please note that, for once, it does not appear to be on fire.”

“What a nice change. Did Joan give you my message?”

“She did, piquing my curiosity.”

“Have you found Zanian?”

“No, but I saw his G-500 take off from Honolulu this morning.”

“Was he inside it?”

“One can only suspect. Can you confirm that?”

“No, but I suspect it to be so, too.”

“Do you have any inspiration regarding his destination?”

“It ain’t Acapulco,” Lance said.

“I didn’t think it would be. Any further thoughts?”

“I hear Santa Barbara, in an hour or so. He has a house there.”

“That’s the best guess I’ve heard all day. Is it worth having a SWAT team there to meet him?”

“It couldn’t hurt, but the man is elusive by nature, so don’t make any promises you can’t keep.”

“Always good advice,” Stone replied.

“Do you expect to collect the price on his head?”

“I have a letter to that effect from the agent in charge of the case.”

“Well, that’s better than a note on a paper bag.”

“Considerably better, I hope.”

“You can hope. Call me when you’re back home and let me know how things went. If the director turns out to be recalcitrant, let me know. I may be able to help. Goodbye, Stone.”

“Goodbye, Lance.” He hung up. “Now, why didn’t I call him sooner?” he said aloud to himself.

“Call who?” Brio asked sleepily.

“Santa H. Claus.”

“Oh.”

“I am reliably informed by someone who is reliably informed, that Zanian is headed for Santa Barbara. I’m also told he has a house there.”

“Then let’s land at Santa Barbara,” she said.

“Thank you, but I’m through chasing my tail. If you want to have a SWAT team there, good luck to you. You might order up a search warrant for his house, too.”

Ness picked up the satphone and went to work.