Hit List

57

Stone called Dino.

“Bacchetti.”

“It’s Stone.”

“I thought you’d be in bed all day after the adrenaline dump.”

“Speak for yourself. I was up at my usual hour, feeling great.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Anything wrong with me was cured by my first ride on the Norton.”

“Already? Have you insured the thing yet?”

“I self-insure.”

“Liability insurance is cheap, and you’re bound to get sued by somebody, if you keep riding it in the city.”

“You have a point,” Stone admitted, if reluctantly. “I’ll call Arthur Steele.”

“What, you call the chairman of the board about motorcycle insurance. Is that just to piss him off?”

“You have another point,” Stone said. “I’ll get Joan to do it.”

“As long as you don’t let her ride it.”

“Can you imagine Joan on a motorcycle? In one of her tweed suits?”

“Just barely. Don’t leave the keys lying around, though.”

“You have another point. You’re scoring well today.”

“I score well every day. You just don’t pay attention.”

“Has there been any flak about the cars we shot up last night?”

“Of course there has, but we’re handling the claims as usual. I did tell them to prioritize cars parked on that block.”

“I hope there weren’t any Lamborghinis or Ferraris among them.”

“We can hope,” Dino said.

“Did you get your tickets to Holly’s election-night bash at the Carlyle?”

“Yeah. We’ll be there. Where’s the action?”

“Everywhere. They’ve booked the whole hotel.”

“I bet I know where your action will be.”

“If you do, avoid it. We’ll be busy.”

Dino gave a coarse laugh. “You’ll be high and dry for women after that,” he said.

“Don’t count on it. Shouldn’t a single president be able to have a sex life?”

“Okay by me,” Dino said, “as long as she runs the shop right.”

“Holly is not a lazy person. You needn’t worry about that.”

“Viv gets back this afternoon. Dinner tonight?”

“Patroon? Seven-thirty?”

“Done.” Dino hung up.

Stone buzzed Joan.

“Yes, boss?”

“I’m going to need liability insurance on the motorcycle.”

“How much?”

“Ten million.”

“Not nearly enough. If you get sued, the plaintiff will go for the moon, once his lawyer figures out who you are. A good lawyer would tell you to register it under a corporate name. And I’d go for fifty million.”

“You think Arthur will go for that?”

“I’ll take care of it with his secretary. He’ll never know.”

“Okay, negotiate.”

“Consider it done, and don’t ask any questions. I won’t tell you what the premium is.”

“Oh, all right, go!”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you: your bike’s license plate arrived this morning.”

“You mean I went riding all over town without a plate?”

“You went riding all over town?”

“Sort of.”

“I’ll put the plate on. Pretend it’s always been there.” She hung up.

No sooner had she gone than Stone’s cell rang. “Yeah?”

“It’s Dino.” He didn’t sound happy.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sig did another name on the list late last night.”

“Who?”

“What does it matter? You don’t know any of them. It would have been after we saw him.”

“Well, that pretty much ruins my day.”

“Don’t let it. It’s not your fault.”

“You keep saying that. Why don’t I believe you?”

“You just enjoy feeling guilty,” Dino said.

“I’m hanging up now,” Stone said.

“Listen to me. Go armed.”

“Got it.” Stone hung up. Upon further consideration he retrieved his little Terry Tussey .45 auto and its light shoulder holster and hung it next to his jacket.

At a little after seven, Stone’s phone rang: in-house call.

“Yes?”

“It’s Fred, sir. If you’re going out for dinner this evening I’d let me drive you; rain coming.”

“All right, I’ll meet you in the garage at seven-fifteen.” He hung up, got out his iPhone and went to Weather Bug. Radar showed heavy rain west of the city.

It was drizzling when Stone arrived at the restaurant, and as he left the car, Fred handed him an umbrella. “You’ll need this when you return to the car. There’s no awning.”

Stone went inside, checked the umbrella, and joined the Bacchettis in their usual booth. “You’re looking wonderful,” Stone said to Viv. “Travel somehow improves you.”

“You’re a very convincing liar,” she said, returning his kiss. “You must get a lot of practice.”

“Calumny!” Stone retorted. “Learn to accept a compliment!”

“Yes, sir,” she said, and drinks arrived on the table.

“Rain tonight,” Dino said.

“So I hear. It was only sprinkling when I arrived, but Fred insisted on driving me and gave me an umbrella, too.”

“Fred is a smart guy. Listen to him.”

“Is the rain going to affect something you’re running tonight?” Stone asked.

“Probably. I’ve got every motorcycle we own on the streets looking for that black BMW you identified.”

“Did I mention that every BMW motorcycle I’ve ever seen was black?”

“Now you tell me,” Dino said, picking up his phone and passing that information to his men.