Foul Play

Fifty-Three

Stone was on his way uptown in the Bentley when his cell phone rang. “Yes?”

“Stone, it’s Charley Fox. I’m glad you’re alive to talk to.”

“Thanks, Charley.”

“Who’s going to be in charge of Shep Troutman’s account with us?”

“I am. He left a will. After a number of specific bequests, I’m his principal heir.”

“Wow. Have his executor send me some paperwork, and I’ll get the account transferred.”

“I’m his executor.”

“Well, I guess that’s kosher. It happens sometimes that the executor and the heir are one and the same.”

“The head of the estates department at Woodman & Weld and a guy from the bar association say that it’s kosher.”

“Great. Listen, I call with some news: Troutman Industries has filed an IPO. They’re going public.”

“We don’t have any of that, do we?”

“No.”

“Let’s leave it that way. Take no action.”

“Okay, we’ll stay out of it. Kind of a pity, though. It’s going be a sought-after stock. They just had a fabulous year.”

“Good for them. Gotta run, Charley.”

“Sure. See ya.”

They both hung up.

Stone got out of the car at P. J. Clarke’s and went inside. Dino was waiting at the bar, and so was his Knob Creek on the rocks. Stone took more than a sip.

“You’re looking better,” Dino said.

“I’m feeling better.”

“Good news?”

“Could be. I’m not sure yet.”

“So, what is it?”

“I’m not going to tell you, because I wouldn’t want you to make an investment because of something I told you.”

“Okay.”

They were shown to their table and busied themselves with the menus. They ordered steaks, as usual.

“So,” Dino said, “the Troutman company is going public?”

“How the hell did you know that?”

“I heard a rumor.”

“Don’t do anything about it, hear me?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to mess with insider trading. What are you going to do?”

“I’ve already told Charley Fox not to touch it.”

“I hear it’s going to be a hot stock.”

“I hope so.”

Dino looked at Stone narrowly. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing, yet.”

“I take it I don’t want to know.”

“Hang on a minute.” Stone got out his phone.

“Who are you calling?”

“Herbie Fisher.”

“Okay.”

“Hello,” Herbie said.

“Herb, it’s Stone.”

“Evening. I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Thanks, but I have a question for you. Did Shep Troutman actually sell the apartment in the Carlyle?”

“No, that was a ruse, to keep those Russian guys away from it.”

“So, it’s in Shep’s estate.”

“It is, until the executor wants to do something with it. I hear that’s you.”

“Right. That’s all I want to know, Herb. See you soon.”

“What was that about?”

“Finish your dinner. We’re going to commit burglary, sort of.”

“Whatever you say,” Dino replied.

After dinner they went back to Stone’s house. He opened the Excelsior and removed a document, made some copies, and returned it to the safe.

Back in the Bentley, he said to Fred, “The Carlyle, please.”

At the hotel, Stone went to the manager’s office, but he had left for the day. He found an assistant manager.

“Good evening, Mr. Barrington. We were all very sorry to hear of Mr. Troutman’s death.”

“Thank you,” Stone said, handing the man a copy of the document. “I’d like a key to the apartment.”

“We sealed it on hearing of Mr. Troutman’s death, but I’m happy to open it for his executor.” He had a key card made and handed it to Stone. “This is a permanent card; it won’t expire until you order it changed.”

“Thank you,” Stone said.

“Can we sit down and talk about this for a minute?” Dino asked. They found chairs in the lobby. “What are we about to do?” Dino asked.

“I told you, burglary. We did it once before, remember?”

“I remember, but I have a strong feeling that we’d better be able to successfully explain this to somebody at some point.”

“Dino, I’m Shep’s executor. I’m also his heir. I’m entitled to enter his property and do whatever I wish with the contents.”

“What contents are we looking for?” Dino asked.

Stone explained what he wanted, though he wasn’t entirely sure what it was.

“Okay, then. You’re sure you don’t want to take a tech with us?”

“Not unless we can’t get into his safe. I saw Shep open it once, and I think I can remember the code. If I can’t we’ll need somebody with tools, who knows what do with them.”

“Okay, I’m satisfied.”

“Are you armed?”

“Does a gorilla have nuts?”

“Okay, just bear in mind that I’m not, and if we have any problems, try not to shoot me.”

“Sometimes I want to shoot you,” Dino said, “but you’re in luck, not tonight.”

They went in search of an elevator and found one without an operator. Stone inserted the key card, tapped in the floor number, and they started up.

They reached the floor, got off the elevator, and made their way to the front entrance of the apartment.

“Uh-oh,” Dino said, pointing at the door.

Stone followed his finger. The door was just slightly ajar.