Shakeup

44

Stone was taxiing the Gulfstream from Jet Aviation at Teterboro to Runway One, with the Bacchettis in the passenger compartment, when his cell phone rang. “Yes?”

“Where are you?” Holly asked.

“Taxiing for takeoff,” Stone said, “on the way to England for a few days. Dino and Viv managed to get some time off, as they usually do, so they’re aboard.”

“A pity. I’m coming to New York. What, or who, takes you to England?”

“A security breach at my London house. The country house is probably next. I suspect a burglar at work.”

“What did he take from the London house?”

“Nothing, apparently. It seems to have been a dry run for Windward Hall, since they have identical security systems.”

“Will you see Felicity?”

“Her service is in some sort of panic; she may be down to Hampshire, if she sorts it out.”

“I’m jealous.”

“Oh, good!”

“Beast!”

The tower called: “N123 TF, cleared for takeoff.”

“I’ve been cleared for takeoff,” Stone said, checking for traffic, then turning left onto the runway. “Bye-bye.” He centered the tiller and moved the throttles forward. Soon, he was climbing, then turning northeast. He switched on the autopilot, got out of the left seat, and was replaced by Faith, his regular pilot. He went aft, settled into a seat opposite the Bacchettis, and the flight attendant brought them freshly squeezed orange juice.

“Mimosa, anyone?” she asked.

Dino opened his mouth, but Viv beat him to it. “Too early for you,” she said.

“Hair of the dog,” Dino replied.

“Nonsense,” Viv said, then opened her copy of the Times. “How long, Stone?”

“Around six hours. We’ve got a big tailwind.”

“I love a tailwind,” Viv said.

“Who doesn’t?”

Dino filched the business section of the newspaper from his wife.

“You never used to read the business section,” Stone said.

“I never used to have money,” Dino replied. His late father-in-law had left him comfortably fixed, annoying his ex-wife to no end. “Now, I enjoy watching the market.”

“Will we see Felicity?” Viv asked.

“She has some sort of flap on at work, but if she can resolve that, yes. I’ll call her when we’re an hour or so out and find out if she’s in London or Beaulieu, at her house there.”

“I think I can guess where she’ll be,” Viv said. “After all, she is motivated to fix her flap, with you on the way. Does Holly know where you’re headed?”

“She called as we were taxiing,” Stone said. “She knows all.”

“Or suspects,” Viv said.

“Viv, my darling,” Dino said. “Shut up.”

“I’m just...”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘prying.’”

Viv made a disgusted noise and disappeared behind her newspaper.

As the sun set, Stone picked up the satphone and dialed a number.

“Ah, just as you said you would,” she said.

“Just as I said.”

“And your ETA?”

“Seven o’clock, your time, give or take.”

“I’ll wait for you in the library,” she said. “What would you like me to wear?”

“Something that will impress Viv Bacchetti. She and Dino are along.”

“I will be delighted to see them,” she said.

Stone could not detect any irony. “They’ll be delighted to see you, too. You and Viv can bring yourselves up to date on the international gossip, and Dino and I can listen quietly.”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll see you seven-thirtyish.”

In London, Alfie Bing got a call. “Hullo, boss,” a voice said.

“And to you,” Alfie replied. “What say you?”

“It was just starting to get dark when I visited, and the hangar was unoccupied.”

“Very good,” Alfie said, then hung up and turned to Eddie Craft. “We’re on,” he said. “We’ll leave around eleven; it’s an hour-and-a-half drive, that time of the evening.”

“I’m at your disposal,” Eddie said. “Are we going heeled?”

“I never do,” Alfie said. “I prefer my wits to carrying a gun. I’m much less likely to get shot, even if the opposition is armed. I do take along a cosh, though. A rap behind the ear can do much to discourage interference.”

“I take your point, but do you mind if I carry?”

“I do mind. If you wish to do so, find your own jobs.”

“I yield to your authority,” Eddie said.

“And I’ll pat you down to be sure you’re good,” Alfie replied.

Stone and Dino changed into their dinner suits and went down to greet Dame Felicity, while Viv took her time.

“Viv apologizes,” Dino said, after kisses had been exchanged.

“No need,” Felicity replied. “She’s a woman, after all, and we must always look perfect for you lot.”

“So that’s why it takes so long.”

“View it as a compliment.”

“I will, unless I’m hungry,” Dino said.

“You look lovely,” Stone contributed. “I love the dress.” The butler came round with a silver tray, bearing their drinks. “May I prepare something for Mrs. Bacchetti?” he asked Dino.

“She’d like a very dry martini with two anchovy-stuffed olives the instant she sits down,” Dino said. “She gets surly if she has to wait for her martini.”

“I shall be ready, Commissioner.” He repaired to the butler’s pantry.

“What is the condition of your flap?” Stone asked.

“What flap?” Felicity asked, blandly.

“The one that was defying solution, last time we spoke at any length.”

“Oh, that. I simply assigned one of my deputies to handle it, then got into the car and drove down here, chasing the police car ahead of me.”

“I’m so glad,” Stone said, as Viv swept into the room.

They gave her a little round of applause, and by the time she sat down, her martini had materialized before her.