Stealth

15

To clear his head, Stone ordered up the gelding and went for a ride. Dino and Viv declined to join him. He walked, then trotted the horse to warm him up, then eased into a canter. As the stone wall grew nearer he spurred the animal into a gallop. Clearly, the horse knew what was expected of him and he soared over the wall and ran until he was reined in.

Back at the house, Stone found his book in the library, then read until everyone was assembled for lunch.

“You’re looking a bit more clear-eyed,” Viv said.

“Yeah,” Dino echoed. “I hear your girl slipped you a Mickey last night.”

“It would appear so,” Stone said.

“What are you going to do about that girl?” Dino asked.

“Nothing. Felicity will look into the matter when she feels the time is right.”

“Don’t you find this disturbing?”

“I find it baffling. I can’t understand why she, or whoever she works for, would go to these lengths to deceive me.”

“It’s gotta be Fife-Simpson running her,” Dino said.

“That’s what Felicity thinks, but she’s apparently in a delicate situation: Fife-Simpson has been pressed on her by her ministry, and she doesn’t know why.”

“It sounds as though they’re going to dump her soon, and they want their own man there, ready to step in.”

“My guess is that’s what Felicity thinks, too, but she won’t talk about it.”

“Wheels within wheels,” Viv said. “That’s what these intelligence people are like. You never know what they’re thinking.”

The phone rang, and Stone took the call.

“Hi, it’s Rose. I just wanted to apologize for leaving without talking to you, but they had three hysterectomies lined up and waiting at St. George’s, and the surgeon called in sick.”

“It’s all right, I understand.”

“Do you think you’ll come up to London this week?”

“Yes, my London office has asked me to. Are you free tomorrow night?”

“I can do that.”

“I’ll book a suite at the Connaught. Bring your toothbrush.”

“Sounds good. I think I can be there around five.”

“By the way, what’s your phone number?” Then she began talking to someone else in the room.

“Sorry, got to run; I’ll see you tomorrow evening.” She hung up.

So did Stone. “I didn’t get her number,” he said. He called Felicity.

“Yes, Stone?”

“I’ve heard from Rose. I’m going up to London tomorrow. I’ll book a suite at the Connaught — she’s meeting me there. Tell me, do you have some sort of concealable device I can use to record her?”

“I can do better than that,” Felicity said. “Let me book your suite at the Connaught. We have one there that is specially equipped. You won’t have to do a thing, except talk.”

“We’ll go out for dinner,” he said.

“Make an excuse to order from room service instead.”

“All right. Let me know what you learn.”

“All in good time,” she said, then hung up.

“Felicity’s service has a suite at the Connaught that’s wired,” he said to the Bacchettis.

“Be careful what you say,” Viv said to him, “because your voice will forever be in the files of MI-6.”

“Good point,” Stone said. “Do you think I should confront Rose with her lies?”

“Heavens no,” Viv said.

“Just give her all the rope she wants,” Dino said. “Let’s see what else she tells you.”

“Right,” Viv said. “If you start questioning her too closely, she’ll get suspicious and clam up. Just let her talk.”

“What else do I want to know about her?”

“Anything she tells you is likely to be a lie,” Viv said. “But I have to tell you, she doesn’t sound like a well-trained intelligence agent.”

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s already blithely told you things you could easily check out and disprove. A real pro would have a legend prepared that’s all backed up.”

“You could try getting her prints,” Dino said, “on a wineglass, or something. Where are you going for dinner?”

“Felicity wants me to order from room service.”

“Do what Felicity says,” Dino said.

“If the room is wired, just let the conversation flow, and Felicity will have it on tape.”

“Right,” Stone said.