Dirty Work

19

Herbie’s smile collapsed. “I, ah . . .” He couldn’t seem to get it out.

Stone was too stunned to speak for a moment. Finally, he said, “Hi, Herbie.”

Herbie turned and sprinted across the terrace like a terrified rabbit, then out through a door.

“Come on!” Stone said. He and Dino struggled out of the deep soft chairs, around the table, and ran after Herbie. Stone got a glimpse of him fleeing the parking lot, and he turned on the speed, losing a loafer in the process. “Get him!” he yelled at Dino, then went back for his shoe. By the time he caught up, Dino was standing in the street, looking around.

“Which way did he go?” Dino asked.

“I don’t know. I had to stop for my shoe.”

“You’re a big fucking help, Stone.”

From behind a little stand of trees beside the street, they heard a car start, then the sound of tires spinning on gravel. Stone ran around the trees in time to see a yellow jeep disappear around a curve. “Well,” Stone said, “at least we know what he’s driving.”

“A jeep?” Dino said, laughing. “Haven’t you noticed that half the tourists on this island are driving rented jeeps?”

“It’s a yellow jeep,” Stone pointed out. “They’re not all yellow.”

“I’m hungry,” Dino said.

They walked back into the hotel and out onto the terrace, where two new piña coladas were melting.

“Your table is ready, gentlemen,” the waiter said. “Right this way.”

They settled into a banquette near the door, where they could still see some of the view, and accepted a glass of wine.

“How the hell are we going to find him?” Dino asked, as he dug into his first course.

“He’ll call his uncle Bob as soon as he can, but he’s having the same problem contacting him that I am. As soon as Bob gets within range, I can explain things to him, and he’ll explain them to Herbie.”

“And how long do you figure that will take?” Dino asked.

“Well, Bob’s been down here for at least four days. Maybe he’s ready to go home.”

“What if he’s on a three-week vacation?”

“Don’t say that.”

“When does Herbie have to appear in court?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Oh, swell.”

“I called Tony Levy and told him to get a postponement, no matter what.”

“Who’s the judge?”

“Kaplan.”

“You’re fucked,” Dino said, chuckling. “You’re out of a quarter of a mil, and by the time you get home, Irving Newman is going to own your house.”

“Dino, you’re ruining my appetite.”

“Have you called Irving?”

“No. I’m hoping he hasn’t heard that Herbie jumped. How could he know?”

“Well, when Herbie doesn’t show the day after tomorrow, and Tony Levy is standing in front of Kaplan with his dick in his hand, Irving is going to suspect something. He’s got a guy in every courtroom, you know.”

“I know. Can we just drop it?”

“And Irving is not the kind of guy to just trust you for a quarter of a mil.”

“It’s not a quarter of a million, it’s two twenty-five.”

“Oh, that’ll make all the difference,” Dino said.

“Really, Dino, you’re ruining my dinner.”

“Of course, you’ve got some bucks in the bank. You could write Irving a check.”

“I’d have to sell stock, and my portfolio is way down. I have hopes of it bouncing back, but it would cost me dearly to write that check right now.”

“Didn’t you have to make a margin call last week?”

“Dino, if you keep talking about this I’m going to go back to the room, find your gun, and shoot you.”

“I didn’t bring a gun.”

“Let’s change the subject, all right?”

“Okay.” Dino chewed for a moment and sipped his wine. “Does Carpenter know you left town?”

Stone groaned. “I didn’t have time to call her.” He dug out his cell phone and called the Lowell. “What’s the name she’s registered under?”

Dino looked thoughtful. “I don’t remember,” he said. “She’s got too many names.”

The hotel answered.

“Just a moment,” Stone said, covering the phone. “Come on, Dino, help me out here.”

“I swear, I can’t remember it.”

“Neither can I.” Stone slapped his forehead. “Susan!” he said.

“That’s right!”

He put the phone to his ear. “May I speak to Susan Kinsolving, please?”

The phone rang and rang, then the operator came back on. “I’m sorry, sir, but there’s no answer. Would you like voice mail?”

“Yes, please.” Stone listened to the message and heard the beep. “It’s Stone. I’ve had to leave town on business. Please call me on my cell phone.” He repeated the number, in case she had lost it. “I’ll be back in a day or two.” He punched off.

Dino laughed. “A day or two? That’s funny.”

“We might get lucky.”

“We already got lucky, and you blew it.”

“I blew it?”

“It wasn’t me,” Dino pointed out.

“You were closer to him than I was. You could have just grabbed him.”

“Who could see after the flash went off?”

“Well, I couldn’t see either.”

A woman at the next table leaned over. “Excuse me,” she said, “but are you two married to each other?”

“I’m very sorry,” Stone said.

“You sure sound married,” she said, then went back to her dinner.

“You’re embarrassing me,” Stone whispered.

"I’m embarrassing you?” Dino asked, astounded.

“I asked you to change the subject.”

“And I did,” Dino replied.

“Gentlemen, please,” the woman at the next table said.

“I’m very sorry,” Stone said again.

“I did change the subject,” Dino whispered.

“Shut up,” Stone said.