Class Act
- Автор: Вудс Стюарт
- Серия: Stone Barrington #58
- Год: 2021
- Язык: английский
- Год: G.P. Putnam's Sons
- ISBN: 978-0-593-33166-8
- Жанр: Триллеры
Электронная книга - «Class Act». Краткое содержание книги:
As Stone sets out to unravel a tangled web of crime and secrets, his mission becomes even more complicated when he makes an irresistible new acquaintance. In both the underbelly and upper echelons of New York, everyone has something to hide — and if Stone has learned anything, it’s that history has a way of repeating itself...
“Based on what knowledge?”
“I may have said something that included your name.”
“What sort of something?”
“Something in bed.”
“What did you tell Sal about me?”
“Nothing. He had never heard your name until I spoke it.”
“In bed?”
“Yes.”
“What did you say, exactly, about me?”
“Nothing.”
“But you spoke my name?”
“I screamed your name!!! When Sal and I were fucking!!! Now do you get it?”
Stone was momentarily at a loss for words. “I hope you lied to him,” he said, finally.
“What could I say? That I made up somebody else’s name while I was fucking him?”
“That would have been a start.”
“I said it was the name of an old boyfriend from college,” she said. “That didn’t work.”
“What worked?”
“The truth. It was all I had left.”
“And that worked?”
“Well, he didn’t beat me up, so I guess so.”
“Did you tell him who I was?”
“I didn’t need to. It took him about three minutes to have somebody, ah, research you. It’s not a common name, you know.”
“What else does he know about me?”
“Have you ever googled yourself?”
“Not for a long time.”
“Maybe you’d better have a look at Wikipedia.”
“Maybe I’d better,” Stone admitted.
“Look, this will blow over. I can convince him that you’re nothing to me.”
“How long will that take?”
“I don’t know. I won’t be bringing up your name, though.”
“That’s good to know, but not very comforting.”
“I could come over there and comfort you,” she said.
“I think that would be an apocalyptic lapse in judgment,” Stone said.
“He won’t know. He’s already left town.”
“I expect he’s acquainted with persons who have not left town. And from what you’ve told me, they could be following you, as well as me.”
“You think so?”
“What phone are you talking on?” Stone asked.
“The phone in my suite, at the Carlyle.”
“Oh, swell,” Stone said. “That’s really confidential. He’s probably already hired a staff member to give him a daily rundown on your calls in his absence.”
“I didn’t think of that. Next time I’ll use a throwaway.”
“Listen to me, Hilda. You cannot communicate with me by any means.”
“For how long?”
“Forever is almost long enough. If he learns something that will make him want to kill me, he will probably include you on his revenge list.”
“All right, I won’t call again.”
“Or write or e-mail or FedEx or send carrier pigeons.”
“Oh, all right.”
“Then goodbye, my dear. I hope we’ll both live long enough to meet again after somebody has put two in Mr. Trafficante’s head.” He hung up.
He had only one thought. Jesus, what a mess!
34
Stone made it to Patroon by eight-thirty. As he entered, he looked to his usual table and saw Dino drinking with a woman whose back was to him, but who was not Viv. It didn’t look like Hilda, either.
He approached the table cautiously. It was Tara Wilkes. She stood up and hugged him. “I’m so sorry for my behavior last night,” she said.
He held her a little away from him and looked into her eyes. “Why are you sorry?”
“I had an unreasonable fit of jealousy, and I behaved badly. Will you forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive,” Stone said, reseating her, then seating himself.
“Welcome back into the fold,” Dino said.
“Who?”
“You.”
“Please excuse me,” Tara said, and allowed herself to be steered toward the ladies’.
“Me back in the fold? I thought it was Tara, and the fold was mine.”
“It’s a female thing,” Dino said. “She asks your forgiveness, but what she’s really doing is forgiving you.”
“You’ve been reading Cosmopolitan, haven’t you?”
“Sometimes I pick it up at the barbershop,” Dino admitted. “It’s unisex. You look like you don’t feel well,” he said.
“I don’t particularly. I mean, I’m not sick, I’ve just had some bad news.”
“Share with me. Maybe that will help.”
He told Dino about his conversation with Hilda Ross.
Dino’s eyes widened. “She screamed your name while in Trafficante’s arms? That’s unbelievable!”
“Trafficante believed it. It didn’t take him long to get a fix on me, either. He knows everything but my underwear size and Social Security number.”
“Is Sal the jealous type?”
“Yes, and one who can turn jealousy into revenge in a flash.”
“So that’s why he looked at you that way last night?”
“Here comes Tara,” Stone said. “Try to look cheerful and unconcerned.”
“Sure,” Dino said, pasting a wide smile on his face. Stone did the same.
Tara sat down. “What are you two so happy about?”
“Just happy to see you,” Stone said, working on keeping the smile in place.
“How nice,” she said doubtfully.
“Really,” Stone said. “Really glad to see you.”
“Stone was telling me he’s going to take a vacation,” Dino said.
Stone glared at him. “Is that your advice, Dino?”
“In the circumstances, why not?”
“What circumstances?” Tara asked.
“Stone is feeling a little crowded in New York.”
“Dino,” Stone said. “Please stop talking.”
Dino raised his hands in surrender.
“Where are you thinking of going, Stone?”
“Do you think you could take a week off from your work?” Stone asked. “Maybe two?”
“Well, my preseason shows ended today, and my supervisors have got the new patterns in hand, so there’s not really much for me to do for a while but complain. And I’m sure my people could do without that.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning,” Stone said. “Bring your passport, casual outdoor clothes, a sweater, some walking shoes, and a dress or three for the evenings.”
“How serious are the evenings?”
“From casual to black tie. You never know.”
“And I’m not supposed to ask where we’re going?”
“Right.”
“How about Viv and me?” Dino asked. “Can we come?”
“Sure, glad to have you.”
“Stone,” Tara said, “you mentioned you have an airplane. Is it big enough for four people and their luggage?”
“Yes,” Stone replied. “And a dog. I’m inviting Bob.”
“How many bags may I bring?” Tara asked.
“About one camel load.”
“Better make it two camel loads,” Dino said. “Viv will bring that much.”
“There’s room for that?” Tara asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Dino said.
“Are we flying east or west?”
“Don’t ask,” Stone said.
“When will I know?”
“When we get there. You can bring a compass, if you’d like an early warning.”
A waiter brought a menu.
“Osso bucco,” Stone said.
“Me, too,” Tara echoed.
“Chicken paillard,” Dino said.
“And a bottle of the Pine Ridge cabernet,” Stone said, handing back the meus. The waiter fled.
“Do you ride?” Stone asked.
“Yes,” Tara said. “Shall I bring a saddle?”
“Just your habit and boots. I think we can find you a helmet.”
“How about a crop?”
“All right, but to be used only on the horse.”
“Will I have time to read?”
“Yes, but we have books at our disposal, if you don’t want to carry a book bag.”