Distant Thunder

23

Stone arrived at Patroon before dinner and was shown to their usual table. A martini was set down across the table for him.

“For your guest,” the waiter said. “Your usual?”

“Yes, please.”

Stone’s cell phone rang. “Yes?”

“It’s Jack Collins.”

“Good evening. Your martini awaits you.”

“It’s my understanding that you’ve invited another guest. Who is he?”

“His name is Dino Bacchetti.”

“The police commissioner of New York?”

“That is correct. Dino and I were partners when we were police detectives.”

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this.”

“Why? Have you committed a crime in New York?”

“Well, no.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Silence for a moment. “You want a witness,” Collins said.

“I do. You may bring one, too, if you like.”

“Who would I bring?”

“Anyone you like. Anyone you trust.”

“There are very few of those.”

“Then don’t bring one,” Stone said. “Your martini is getting warm.”

A man slid into the seat across from him, raised his glass, and sipped his martini.

“You’re wearing a disguise,” Stone said. “Gray wig, eyebrows, and moustache. Who are you hiding from?”

“From those who might wish to harm me.”

“Who are they?”

“I have my suspicions, but I can’t prove it yet.”

“Who tried to kill you?”

“Russian mobsters, I believe.”

“And whom did they kill instead?”

“Someone I sent to a meeting on my behalf.”

“Was he Agency?”

“You know enough about them to know that I can’t answer that.”

“You could if the answer was no. Since it’s not, he was. How did you choose him for the task?”

“I trusted him, and he was willing.”

“Did he impersonate you?”

“Yes.”

“You must feel bad about what happened to him.”

“I do, and I expect to exact revenge, at some point.”

“Where were you when he was shot?”

“Observing.”

“And where was he?”

“On the ferry, at their request.”

“Given the weather, it would have been very difficult for you to observe from ashore.”

“You have a point.”

“Why did the Russians want you dead?”

“Because I know their plans.”

“What are their plans?”

“I think it’s best that you don’t have that information just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because then they would want you dead, too.”

“Why haven’t they tried again?”

“Because they don’t know what I look like.”

“Thus, your disguise?”

“You’re very quick. The disguise protects you, too.”

“Ah.”

Dino arrived and was seated before Collins could bolt. Stone introduced the two men.

“Think of Dino as part of your disguise,” Stone said.

“How so?”

“Because they wouldn’t expect you to be dining with the police commissioner.”

Collins laughed. “Point taken.”

“Would you like to order?”

“Thank you, I’ll have the Dover sole.”

“And a Caesar salad? Very good here.”

“Thank you, yes.”

They ordered.

“Another martini?” Stone asked.

“No, I think I’d better keep my wits about me.”

“I assume you’ve checked the exits and plotted an escape route.”

Collins smiled. “Why do you think that?”

“Because that’s what they taught you at the Farm.”

“Quite right.”

“Now, Jack, why did you request this meeting?”

“Because I wanted to see if you are good enough for my wife to be sleeping with.”

“May I remind you that when we met, she and I both thought her a widow.”

“I suppose, for all practical purposes, she is.”

“Then you’re not planning a resurrection as John Collins?”

“I think not.”

“By the way, you should know that you no longer have access to the Cayman bank account.”

Collins displayed a slight alarm. “Why not?”

“Because Vanessa changed the account number and password — at my suggestion.”

“Why did you suggest it?”

“Because you removed four hundred fifty thousand dollars at a time when we both thought you dead.”

“That’s inconvenient.”

“I’m sure Vanessa will give you the new codes, if you ask for them.”

“Do you have them?”

“It’s not my account. By the way, she’s closing whatever other accounts you may have.”

“Why?”

“Because a dead person can’t have such accounts.”

“I hadn’t counted on that.”

“Then you should have trusted her sooner than you did. I’ll leave the two of you to sort that out.”

Stefan, the headwaiter, turned up tableside to do his magic with the Caesar salad. They turned their attention to him.