Family Jewels

56

The following day Holly arrived a little late, so they had only half an hour in bed before they had to dress for dinner.

“I apologize for the brevity,” Holly said.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Stone said, kissing her, then watching as she got out of bed and padded around the master suite, collecting garments for the evening, followed everywhere by Bob. He and Holly were already in love. She gave him a little wave, then headed for the shower.

—

They arrived at Patroon nearly on time. Dino and Viv were only half a drink ahead of them. Everybody kissed, while Bob explained to a waiter about his bone.

“It’s very good to see you back home,” Dino said to Holly.

“Oh, Washington is my home now,” she replied.

“You still have an apartment here, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I never use it,” she said, winking at Stone. “Besides, I’m told it’s a good investment, already worth twice what I paid for it.”

“Speaking of apartments,” Dino said, “our friend Daryl Barnes doesn’t have one at 740 Park.”

“I’m not surprised,” Stone said. “Maybe he has friends there?”

“Marks, maybe — friends, no. And we can’t go canvassing the building, asking the residents if they have any guests who are con men and murderers. The mayor would be on the horn in seconds.”

“Have you had your meeting with the Sotheby’s security people?”

“Yeah, this afternoon. I think we’ve got it bracketed.”

“How many of your officers will be there?”

“Four. Sotheby’s will have another four.”

“And there’ll be a dozen Secret Service people in the building,” Holly added.

“Oh, are the Lees coming?”

“They are. Kate says Christmas is only a few months away, and Will needs to be exposed to jewelry well ahead of time.”

“That’s a pretty broad hint,” Viv said.

“Kate doesn’t believe in little hints where jewelry is concerned.”

“Smart girl,” Viv said, digging an elbow into Dino’s ribs.

“Oh, I forgot,” Dino said. “We’ll be there, too — strictly out of security concerns.”

“It can’t hurt to have a look at Carrie’s jewels,” Viv pointed out.

“Oh, yes it can,” Dino replied.

“Another nice thing about having the Secret Service there,” Holly said, “is that every person in the room and every staff member will have been okayed by them before the President arrives. They will have run the name, date of birth, and Social Security number on everyone, and anybody with a criminal record or who has ever threatened a president will be excluded.”

“That should help make security easier,” Dino said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the Bloch-Bauer necklace,” Viv said.

“You could have stopped by my office and seen it there,” Stone said, “until I turned it over to Sotheby’s.”

“I don’t recall an invitation,” she said, glaring at Dino.

“It never occurred to me that you would want to see it,” he said.

“See it? Everybody in New York wants to see it. I want to wear it out to dinner.”

“Not without an armed guard,” Stone said.

“You forget, I’m in the armed guard business. I could have a platoon of them guarding me.”

“Dino,” Stone said, “you are clearly remiss.”

“Thank you for your support,” Dino replied.

“Viv,” Stone said, “maybe after the reception I can arrange for you to try on the necklace.”

Holly’s hand shot up. “Me too!”

“All right, you too.”

“They can arm-wrestle for it,” Dino said. “I’d like to watch that.”

“You can go first, Viv,” Holly said.

“You, my dear, are a gentlewoman of the first water,” Viv said, clinking glasses with her.

“Stone,” Dino said, “you should bid on the necklace.”

“Me? What would I do with a ten-million-dollar piece of jewelry?”

“Want a suggestion?” Holly asked, snuggling up to him.

“Tell you what,” Stone said, “I’ll bid on it, and you and Viv can take turns wearing it...”

This received a chorus of cheers.

“... if Dino will pay the insurance premiums.”

“Yeah, sure,” Dino said.

“I want you both to remember that I made the offer,” Stone said, “and that Dino wouldn’t hold up his end.”

“Tell you what,” Dino said, “I won’t pay the insurance, but I’ll be sure that whoever is wearing it will have an armed guard from the NYPD.”

More cheers from the women.

“Until I retire.”

Groans from the women.

Dinner arrived and was consumed.