Naked Greed

17

Back at Teterboro, Stone turned their luggage over to a lineman and walked into the terminal with Caroline.

“Sweetheart,” he said, “I’m going to need a break.”

“I’m not surprised,” she said. “You had a really good run there, but I’m greedy and hard to keep up with.”

“I couldn’t have put it better,” he said. They got into the car. “What’s your address?”

“I’m in Soho.”

“Fred, you can drop me first, then take Ms. Woodhouse downtown?”

“Righto, sir.”

They arrived at Stone’s house. He kissed Caroline and opened the door.

“Call me when you’ve recovered your health,” she said, smiling.

Stone limped into the house and upstairs. He stretched out on the bed, ready for a nap. The phone rang. “Hello.”

“You’re back,” Dino said.

“I noticed that.”

“I tried you in Maine, but no reply.”

“I’m not there anymore.”

“I thought maybe she might have fucked you to death.”

“Close.”

“Viv’s actually in town for a change. You want to join us for dinner?”

“Sure.”

“Bilboquet at seven-thirty?”

“I thought they closed.”

“They reopened.” Dino gave him the new address, right around the corner from his building.

“You bringing a date?”

“I don’t think I could look at an unmarried woman right now.”

“You’ll get over that.” Dino hung up.

The old Bilboquet had been an indoor postage stamp; the new one was roomier. Dino and Viv were already there. He kissed Viv on the forehead and sat down.

“I hear you’ve been exercising strenuously,” Viv said drily.

“I’m slowly recovering my health. A drink would help.”

Drinks arrived, and they toasted nothing in particular.

“How was Maine?” Viv asked.

“Don’t start.”

“I mean the actual, geographical Maine.”

“I didn’t see a lot of it,” Stone said. “The flight home was nice, though.”

“I take it you’ve figured out how to get the jet in and out of that tiny airport,” Dino said.

“All it took was good brakes landing, full power taking off, and great piloting skills.”

“Have you heard from Gino Parisi’s friends?”

“We had a quiet weekend without them.”

“It was a smart move, going up there where they couldn’t find you. I’ve since heard even more terrible things about Frank and his friend Charlie.”

“I’m happy to have missed them.”

“You need to go on doing that. You didn’t take a cab up here, did you?”

“No, Fred drove me.”

“Good. I don’t want you on the sidewalk waving your arms.”

“Thank you, I will follow that advice, until you tell me the coast is clear.”

“Is Perado still in town?”

“Yep. We close the sale on the Winkle business tomorrow morning. He’ll be going straight back to San Antonio from the closing.”

“Smart move. It shouldn’t take us much longer to get something on Parisi that we can convict him of, then he’ll be out of your hair — and Perado’s.”

“You mean I can’t leave the house until that happens?”

“I wouldn’t advise it. After all, you’ve got Helene to cook — you don’t really have to live on pizza and Chinese.”

“If I can’t go out, then maybe I should have a dinner party. I don’t do that often enough.”

“That’s right, you don’t. Who will you invite?”

“All the old familiar faces. Like you two.”

“We’ll look forward to it.”

“Tell me when you’re free — you’re a lot busier than I am.”

Dino checked his calendar on his iPhone. “Let’s see, how about the day after tomorrow?”

“Great. Drinks at seven, dinner at eight.”

“Done.”

Dino, who was seated facing the street, got up. “Excuse me for a minute.” He walked away from the table and out of the restaurant.

“What’s that about?” Stone asked Viv.

“Beats me.”

Dino returned. “Frank and Charlie have rejoined you.”

“Oh, shit.”

“They’re obviously watching your house. Don’t worry, I had them rousted. Two to one they’re carrying something illegal, so they’ll be out of your hair overnight, at least.”

“Thank you, Dino.”

“It’s all part of the service,” Dino replied.