Shakeup
- Автор: Вудс Стюарт
- Серия: Stone Barrington #55
- Год: 2020
- Язык: английский
- Год: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
- ISBN: 978-0-593-18832-3
- Жанр: Триллеры
Электронная книга - «Shakeup». Краткое содержание книги:
As it turns out, the mastermind behind the malfeasance rocking New York City and the nation’s capital wields a heavy hand of influence. And when Stone is unable to recruit those closest to the case to his side, he is left with few leads and a handful of dead-ends. But with the help of important people in high places — and the expertise of alluring new friends — Stone is more than ready to rise to the occasion.
“Her flight was delayed. She’s coming straight from the airport.”
He nodded toward Lara. “New?”
“Yes, from L.A. Her name is Lara Parks. Peter has cast her in his new film.”
“How are you going to square this with Holly?”
“Holly suggested a while back that we be loyal in our affections only when we’re in the same city.”
“Didn’t I read that she was in L.A. yesterday?”
“Yes, and she stayed overnight. Their paths did not cross.”
“You think that’s really going to work?”
“It’s working so far. We both dislike celibacy.”
“So she’s sleeping with somebody else?”
“I don’t know, and that’s the way she wants it. So don’t bring it up, and I don’t want to hear about it from Viv. Perhaps you could have a word with her about that.”
“I will, but I can’t make any promises about how she’ll take it.”
Lara came to the table, sat down, and was introduced to Dino.
A moment later, Viv entered the room and walked toward their table, her eyes fixed on Lara. She sat down and was introduced.
“So good to meet you, Lara,” she said. “How did you and Stone meet?”
Lara trimmed the pool scene off the beginning of their story. “I’ve been cast in Peter’s next film, and he invited my leading man and me to dinner at his house. Stone was there, too, and when he heard that I wanted to come to New York, he very kindly offered me a lift.”
“Stone is such a generous guy,” Viv said, smiling icily.
“We were chaperoned by Bill Eggers,” Stone said. “We were in L.A. on business.”
Dino whispered something in Viv’s ear. “What would you like to drink, my dear?”
Stone had never heard Dino call her that.
“My usual martini,” she replied. “Dearest.”
Stone winced, but Lara did not seem to have twigged to what was going on.
The maître d’ arrived with menus, and Stone breathed more easily while they studied them.
They ordered, then Lara spoke up. “When Stone and I met, I recognized him immediately from the People photograph of him waltzing with the president.”
“That’s happening all too often these days,” Stone said. “I might have been better off if I hadn’t known how to waltz.”
“Stone,” Viv said, “when did you learn to waltz?”
“My mother sent me to a dancing class when I was twelve. She thought it might make me less awkward with girls.”
“Well,” Viv said, “that certainly worked, didn’t it?”
Everybody had a good laugh, and things went more smoothly after that. Viv and Lara actually got on very well, Stone observed.
22
The following morning, after Stone and Lara had had breakfast and each other, and while Lara was showering, Dino called.
“I’m amazed,” Dino said.
“At what?”
“Viv actually liked Lara. And when I told her about yours and Holly’s arrangement, she thought it was a sensible idea.”
“I’m so glad that we — Lara, Holly, and I — have won Viv’s approval.”
“You damned well ought to be,” Dino said. “Otherwise, Viv would make life hell for both of us.”
“If it helps, you can tell her that, if I have to choose between her approval and the company of women, the choice would be very easy.”
“I am certainly not going to tell her that,” Dino said. “Just try and be happy that Viv is on board with your lifestyle.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as she is, and not a minute later.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Listen, Art Jacoby has checked into the Lowell, and he doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Yeah, Art and I had that conversation.”
“Do you think you can spare a man in plainclothes to watch his back?”
“Watch his back against what?”
“Stray bullets. It appears that Little Debby has plans for him, and not happy ones.”
“He thinks that Little Debby had his girlfriend popped, and he’s next?”
“I think that accurately describes his current frame of mind.”
“Okay, I’ll put somebody on him. Do you want him to know?”
“If he’s any good at all, he’ll figure it out. If he doesn’t, I’ll tell him next time I see him.”
“Which will be when?”
“When he seeks me out again.”
“I think you’d better let him know now,” Dino said. “Otherwise, he might mistake my man for one of Debby’s, and hostilities could break out.”
“Good point; I’ll let him know. What’s your guy’s name?”
“Let’s see,” Dino said, and Stone could hear the drumming of fingers, probably on Dino’s desk. “Frank Capriani!”
“You don’t have to shout.”
“Get in here, Frank!”
“What, was he walking past your door?”
“Yeah. You got the name?”
“Frank Capriani.”
“Very good. You should have been a parrot.” Dino hung up.
Stone called Art Jacoby.
“Yes?”
“It’s Stone.”
“Good morning.”
“Where are you now?”
“Getting dressed to go out. I’ve got a fitting for a suit.”
“An NYPD detective is going to find you and follow you around.”
“Why?”
“Because Dino doesn’t want blood to be spilled on the pristine streets of his New York.”
“That’s very thoughtful of him. And you. I expect you arranged it.”
“His name is Frank Capriani. If you get a chance, shake his hand.”
“Right.”
“And go out heeled.”
“To my tailor’s?”
“You’ll need him to conceal that bulge under your arm.”
“Good point. Okay, I’ve no objections to being followed around.”
“Buy him a cup of coffee — strike that — a drink. And, at the end of the day, cross his palm with silver.”
“How much silver?”
“A hundred, if you can afford it.”
“I can.”
“Have a nice day.”
“I’m determined to do that.” They hung up.
Lara had been dispatched to upper Madison Avenue in Fred’s care when Joan walked into Stone’s office. “Donald Clark to see you.”
“Here? Again?”
“I’m afraid so. I can ward him off, if you want.”
“Send him in, I’ll do it myself.”
Donald Clark entered the room as if he owned the place. “Good morning, Stone.” He took the chair opposite Stone.
“Morning, Donald. What can I do for you?”
“You can make a phone call for me.”
“To whom?”
“To Hol... the president.”
“Do you have a sprained dialing finger, Donald?”
“It’s difficult to get through to her. She’s the president.”
“Yes, I remember something about that.”
“She’s taken away my Secret Service detail.”
“Why are you surprised by that?”
“Cabinet secretaries all get Secret Service protection.”
“Donald, do I have to remind you that you are not a member of her cabinet?”
“Well, sort of.”
“She withdrew your name from the confirmation process. You are aware of that.”
“Still... my wife has been murdered, and I’m... feeling nervous about it.”
“No one is going to murder her twice,” Stone said.
“I know that, but what if I’m next?”
“Donald, it’s my information that you’re a very wealthy man — something on the order of half a billion dollars, I read in the paper.”
“Money is not bulletproof,” Clark said.