Family Jewels

48

Dino was on the phone in a flash. “Whataya got?”

“Don’t ask me how I know this, but David and Alexandra Bannister are registered at the Lowell, on East Sixty-third.”

“How do you know that?”

“You’ll just have to trust me.”

“That’s on the same block as my apartment.”

“I managed to figure that out.” He gave Dino the suite number. “I’d like to go along for the bust. I can identify them.”

“All right. Meet me there in an hour. It’ll take me a while to get uptown, and I want the pleasure, myself.”

“All right.”

“We’re going to do this softly, softly,” Dino said. “No flashing lights or sirens, no uniforms, no gangs busting in all at once, got it?”

“I have not a light, a siren, or a uniform, and I would make a poor gang member.”

“When you see my car out front, get in and I’ll tell you my plan.”

“I can’t wait to hear it.”

Stone returned some calls, then started for the door.

“Don’t forget,” Joan said, stopping him in his tracks, “you have an appointment at four o’clock with Senator Marisa Bond.”

“Damn it, I forgot about that.”

“It’s in your calendar, so that’s no longer an excuse.”

Stone got out of a cab at Sixty-third and Madison and spotted Dino’s car parked across the street from the hotel. He rapped on the window, and Dino opened the door and invited him in.

“Okay, what’s your plan?” Stone asked.

“You and I are going to go to the front desk and inquire as to whether Mr. and Mrs. Bannister are in, then I’m going to radio my team, and they’ll filter in in twos.”

“And what if they’re not in?”

“Hang on, I’m still making this up. Okay, got it — we’ll go up to their suite with a pass key and wait for them there.”

“Have you got a warrant for this?”

“Have you forgotten that you’re talking to the police commissioner of the City of New York?”

“Nope. Have you got a warrant?”

“It’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Half an hour later the warrant arrived in the hands of a breathless young patrolman in uniform.

“Get in the front seat,” Dino said to the young man. “Didn’t anybody tell you this is a plainclothes operation?”

“No, sir,” the young cop said.

“Sheesh!” Dino picked up his radio. “Okay, Barrington and I are going in. Give us a five-minute head start.” He got out of the car, and Stone followed. They walked into the hotel, and at the front desk Dino addressed the young woman on duty. “Good afternoon,” he said. “Do you know who I am?”

She pointed at him. “Don’t tell me... you’re Joe Pesci, the actor!”

Stone burst out laughing.

Dino flashed his badge. “I’d like to see the manager, please.”

She made the call. “He’ll be right out.” She pointed to Dino again. “Burgess Meredith!” she said.

“Mr. Meredith is a hundred years old, and a foot shorter than I am,” Dino replied.

The manager appeared. “May I help you? Oh, Commissioner, good day to you.”

“Good day.” Dino exposed a corner of an envelope in his inside jacket pocket. “This is a warrant,” he said. “Are Mr. and Mrs. David Bannister in their suite?”

“No, sir,” the desk clerk said, “they went out for some lunch.”

“Then I’d like a key to their suite, please.”

“Do it,” the manager said to the young woman, and she printed out a key card.

Dino put it in his jacket pocket. “Half a dozen other men will be joining me in just a minute,” he said.

“The elevators are there,” she replied, pointing.

Stone and Dino rang for an elevator; it arrived shortly, and they got in. As the doors began to close, a hand stopped them, and a couple got in. The doors closed, and the elevator started up.

Stone suddenly realized who they were. “Derek, Alicia,” he said, extending his hand. “It’s Stone Barrington.”

They didn’t miss a beat, and for a moment it was old home week. “Are you staying here, Stone?”

“Visiting friends,” Stone said. The elevator doors opened and Stone followed them out. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, “let me introduce my friend Dino Bacchetti.” Hands were shaken and smiles exchanged. “Dino,” Stone said, “is the police commissioner of New York City, and he has a warrant for your arrest.”

Derek/David put his key card in the door to his suite and opened it. “Come in, and let’s chat. After you, Commissioner.”

Dino entered, followed by Stone, and the door slammed behind them.

“Shit!” Dino yelled, yanking on the door. It wouldn’t open.

“He’s jammed it,” Stone said, trying to help. They were still working on it when there was a sharp rap on the door. “Police! Open up!”

“Put your shoulder against it!” Dino yelled. A couple of tries, and the door burst open.

“A handkerchief,” Stone said, pointing to it on the floor. “I didn’t know you could jam a door with a handkerchief.”

“Everybody downstairs!” Dino commanded. “You guys take the stairs.” He pressed the elevator button as the four cops headed down the stairs.

Dino got on the radio. “The subjects are on their way downstairs!” he yelled into it. They got onto the elevator, rode down, and emerged into the lobby. All was perfectly peaceful. A moment later four plainclothes cops burst out of the door to the stairs, pistols drawn.

“Find ’em!” Dino yelled.

Stone and Dino hurried to the street and looked both ways. Nothing.

Stone looked at his watch. “Listen,” he said, “I’ve got an appointment with a United States senator in half an hour. Let me know how this turns out.” He ran for a cab, leaving Dino fuming on the sidewalk, shouting into his radio.