Criminal Mischief

58

Stone raised his glass to Brio and Wilcox. “Smooth sailing,” he said.

“That sounds like you’re not expecting it,” Brio said.

“I’m uncertain. It’s just a feeling. Listen. Do you think you could spare a couple more special agents to fly to Teterboro with us?”

“You don’t think two are enough?” Wilcox asked.

“I’d like some backup,” Stone said.

Brio looked at her watch. “Well, you’re a little late. Their airplane landed in Port Said yesterday, and everybody was checked into a hotel for some rest and showers and a change to civilian clothes. They took off this morning for Teterboro.”

Stone sighed. “Well, I took too long to make that judgment,” he said.

“Zanian is a pudgy little guy,” Brio said. “Why do you think that two burly FBI agents can’t handle him?”

“I know, I know. I’m just a belt-and-suspenders guy, I guess.”

“I’ve never noticed that about you before,” she said.

“Forget it. It’s out of the question now.”

“I can help them out, if necessary,” Wilcox said. “I was once a security guard at the State Department, during my university days.”

“And I’ll bet you were a tough guy,” Brio said.

“Tough enough for the job. I tossed a few people out of the building, and all of them were bigger than I. Zanian isn’t.”

“Thanks for the thought, Henry,” Stone said. “I guess we can both pitch in if the going gets rough.”

The commanding general made his entrance and was handed a martini. “Our last evening,” he said, raising his glass.

Everybody drank.

“General,” Stone said. “Does this yacht have a brig?”

“ ‘A brig’?”

“A naval term for a jail cell.”

“Yes, of course,” Said said. “That is a normal element of our security aboard. One never knows what one may encounter.”

“Is there anyone incarcerated at the moment?”

“Yes, a sailor who made unwanted advances on one of the chef’s assistants. She’s a lovely young woman. The man seemed unable to contain himself, so we locked him up. He’ll be dealt with on arrival in Port Said.”

“How will he be dealt with?”

“The captain will determine that. I’ve no interest in the matter. Why do you ask about this?”

“We thought we heard ghostly chains rattling.”

“Then perhaps you did, Stone. You’re not crazy after all, eh?”

“I’m relieved to learn that,” Stone said.

“What is it Occam’s razor says?”

“If you hear the sound of hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.”

“Quite. And when you hear chains rattling, think prisoner, not ghost.”

“Good advice.”

“And what are your plans after tomorrow, Stone?”

“As soon as we’ve secured Mr. Zanian aboard, we’ll take off for Teterboro. I expect to sleep in my own bed tomorrow night.”

“Not alone, I hope,” Said said, chuckling.

“That remains to be seen,” Stone replied.

“And, Brio, what are your plans?”

“That will be up to the director of the FBI,” she said.

“Wilcox?”

“I’ll need to report to the State Department in Washington and, while I’m at it, see if I have a new assignment.”

“I hope we will continue to have you in the Sultanate. Would you like me to make an official request?”

“Perhaps it would be better for you to have someone who is more trainable. I’m pretty set in my ways.”

“We would be delighted to have you stay on, but whatever you and the State Department want is fine with us.”

“One thing they will want to know about in Washington,” Wilcox said, “is the disposition of the sultan.”

“It’s not entirely up to me, so you will have to wait until I’ve had time to consult with my administration.”

“Then we will be patient.”

“What is it they say: ‘Patience will be rewarded’?”

“That is axiomatic, but sometimes we don’t like the reward,” Wilcox replied.

They were called to dinner.

Later, as they were undressing for bed, Brio began rubbing Stone’s shoulders and neck. He moved so as to give her better access.

“What’s worrying you, Stone?” she asked. “I’ve never seen you worried before.”

“I’m not worried, exactly. It’s just that I don’t like being in a position where I can’t control what’s happening.”

“I never thought you were a control freak,” she said.

“I’ve never thought of myself as that, either, but maybe I have a touch of the condition. Once we’ve concluded our business, I want to leave immediately, no delays.”

“Perfectly okay with me, but delays do occur at airports, and I don’t think that Egyptian ones are an exception to that. You need to just relax.”

“What you’re doing right now is good for what ails me,” Stone said.

“Take off your trousers and stretch out on the bed. I’ll do even better things.”

He did, and she did.