Desperate Measures
- Автор: Вудс Стюарт
- Серия: Stone Barrington #47
- Год: 2018
- Язык: английский
- Год: G.P. Putnam's Sons
- ISBN: 978-0-7352-1922-9
- Жанр: Триллеры
Электронная книга - «Desperate Measures». Краткое содержание книги:
“What’s up today?”
“I thought you’d like to know. Yesterday, after my two guys put what’s-his-name—?”
“Donald Trask?”
“Yeah, after they put him into a cab, they followed him to see if he went home. He didn’t. He went down to the Lower East Side, where there’s a gun shop used by a lot of cops, and tried to buy a gun.”
“I know the place. He can’t buy a gun in Manhattan without a New York City carry permit.”
“He bought a gun.”
“He has a carry permit?”
“He does, and before you ask, he hasn’t done anything that would make it possible for me to have it canceled.”
“He got drunk and tried to lure me into a fight.”
“He got drunk, maybe, but I keep telling you, all he did was invite you to participate in a sporting event, which is not even a misdemeanor, let alone a felony.”
“What did he buy?”
“A Beretta nine millimeter, the small one, and an over-the-belt holster — oh, and couple of spare magazines and a box of ammo.”
“What kind of ammo?”
“Federal Personal Defense, the hollow points.”
“So he’s serious, you think?”
“I don’t know,” Dino said, “but if I were you, I’d behave as if he were serious.”
“Where did he go from there?”
“To the New York Athletic Club.”
“That’s where he’s staying.”
“I wonder what their rules are about firearms on the premises?” Dino said.
“I don’t know,” Stone said, “but we could find out if one of your guys would call the club secretary and tell them there’s an armed member in one of their rooms.”
“I think you should perform that task yourself,” Dino said.
“I would,” Stone replied, “but I want to be able to deny having done it.”
“Figures,” Dino said.
21
Stone thought about the dangers of having an armed Donald Trask loose in the city and what should be done about it. He put aside thoughts of his own safety and called Cilla Scott.
“Hello?”
“It’s Stone, where are you?”
“In the rear seat of a black town car I’ve hired for the day, on the way to see Herb Fisher.”
“Good. Do you have a will?”
“Yes.”
“Who are the beneficiaries?”
“My father, a couple of charities, and Donald. Why do you ask?”
“When you arrive at Herb’s office I want you to ask him to draw up a new will for you.”
“Why?”
“Your father is dead, and I presume you don’t want your personal fortune to fall into Donald’s hands in the event of your death.”
“A good point.”
“Don’t leave Herb’s office until the will is properly witnessed and signed.”
“What’s the rush?”
“Your position will be precarious until you have a new will.”
She was silent for a moment. “You don’t mean...”
“I mean that yesterday, after his encounter with Fred, Donald went to a gun shop downtown and bought a pistol, a holster, and ammunition.”
“And you think...”
“At this moment Donald is the only person who stands to benefit from your demise.”
“Oh, my God,” she breathed.
“If you’ll do as I ask, I’ll give you dinner here this evening.”
“How can I resist that. I promise I’ll sign a new will.”
“Keep your car and have it deliver you here. Call, and I’ll open the garage door. Also, bring an overnight bag with a few things. I think it would be best if you stay here for a few nights.”
“Well, that’s subtle,” she said.
“You may have your choice of six guest bedrooms, each with a lock on the door.”
“And why do you think this is a good idea?”
“Does Donald have a key to the Carlyle apartment?”
“Oh. I’d be happy to accept your hospitality.”
“One other thing. Ask Herb to let Donald’s attorney know that you’ve signed a new will excluding him.”
“I will. What time tonight?”
“Six?”
“See you then.” She hung up.
Herb Fisher received Cilla Scott and noted the absence of the knee scooter and the presence of a cane. He got her to a chair. “Are you sure you’re ready for hobbling?”
“I spoke with my doctor and got his permission. The Carlyle supplied the cane.”
Herb sat down. “I’ve heard from Donald’s attorney. Donald is okay with the deal, but he wants ten million dollars.”
“Ha!” Cilla replied.
“It’s pretty much what I expected. I have a counteroffer in mind.”
“And what is that?”
“You are cash-rich at the moment, are you not, what with your inheritance from your father?”
“I am.”
“Offer to buy his share of both properties from him, in cash, immediately.”
“That’s clever,” she said. “What should I pay him?”
“What do you think the properties are worth?”
“The Greenwich estate would probably go for ten million in today’s market — there’s a lot of land. The Carlyle apartment would probably go for four million. Those valuations are from my Realtor.”
“So, we’ll offer him seven million dollars for both properties?”
“That’s good for me. I’ll keep the Greenwich house and sell the apartment. I’ve already started looking for one.”
“All right. Shall I call Terry now?”
“First, there’s another matter,” she said.
“Shoot.”
“My will is among the documents I gave you at our first meeting.”
“I saw it, but I haven’t read it.”
“The beneficiaries are a couple of charities, my father — who’s now dead — and Donald. I don’t want my death to be an advantage to Donald, and I want him to know I’ve changed the will.”
Herb produced a legal pad. “Who would you like the beneficiaries to be?”
“For the moment, just the two charities, and I’d like to sign it before I leave here today.”
Herb pressed a button on his phone. “Come in here, please.”
Herb found the will and, momentarily, a young man appeared. “This is Devon, one of our associates; Devon, Ms. Scott.” He handed him the will. “Ms. Scott needs a new will immediately, with the charities shown in the current will as beneficiaries. Eliminate the two other parties, print out a new will on our boilerplate, and bring it to me soonest.”
“Ten minutes,” Devon said, disappearing with the will.
“What sort of apartment are you looking at?” Herb asked.
“Three bedrooms en suite, living room, dining room, large kitchen, library, office, two maids’ rooms, on Fifth Avenue, twelfth floor, terrace, park views, parking, twelve millionish.”
“Sounds nice. Have you made an offer?”
“Probably today.”
“Give them a six-million-dollar deposit, but insist that the closing must be after the divorce is final, so it won’t get into the mix.”
“All right.”
“Are we ready to call Terry?”
“I am.”
“If he doesn’t bite immediately, can I sweeten the pot by another million dollars?”
“I’d do that to be rid of him immediately.”
Herb made the call.
“Good morning, Herb.”
“Good morning, Terry. I have a revised offer for you.”
“Ready to copy.”
“The offer is the same, but Ms. Scott will buy his share of both properties for seven million dollars cash, payable on final decree.”
“That’s interesting. Can you hold?”
“Sure.” Herb turned to Cilla. “I think Donald is in his office now.”
Terry came back. “Ten million dollars and we have a deal.”
“Eight million, and that’s our absolute, final offer — or we go to trial. Tell him for me, he’s not going to enjoy it.”