“Ah,” Lance mused. He gave the driver an address, then pressed a button and a thick glass partition rolled up, separating them from the two men in the front seat. “Actually,” Lance said, “there’s something I’d like to talk to the two of you about.”
“Shoot,” Holly said. She was sitting between Lance and Stone.
“You may have read in the papers that the Agency is working very hard on terrorism since nine/eleven.”
“I believe I’ve seen reports to that effect,” Stone said.
“As a result, we’re stretched a little thin these days, and we’ve had to neglect some other matters, particularly those which require attention on our own soil.”
Stone snorted. “And I thought you folks were proscribed from dealing with home matters.”
“Formerly, yes. Since nine/eleven, things have changed a bit.”
“I’ll bet,” Stone said.
“Stone,” Holly said, “could you just shut up so we can hear what Lance has to say?”
“Thank you, Holly,” Lance said. “I couldn’t have put it better myself.”
Stone smoldered in silence.
“As I was saying,” Lance continued, “we’re stretched a little thin these days, and, as a result, I have been authorized to add a few . . . consultants, shall we say, to our roster.”
“Consultants?” Holly said. “What do you mean?”
“People who are sometimes in a position to render services to us, but who are not permanent employees.”
Stone couldn’t stand it anymore. “You mean people to whom you don’t have to pay pensions or offer medical plans?”
“You misunderstand,” Lance said. “I’m referring to people who have built lives outside our service, and who have independently acquired information or contacts that might be of use to us in the future. Let me give you a couple of examples. Stone, you were recently involved, quite inadvertently, of course, in a British intelligence operation dealing with an assassin who was causing problems in Europe and New York.” He paused.
“If you say so,” Stone said, surprised that Lance knew about this.
“We would have liked to know about this during the fact, instead of afterward,” Lance said. He didn’t wait for Stone to respond. “Holly, you were recently involved in a major federal investigation in Florida, and, as I understand it, you had a great deal to do with its successful conclusion. We would have been very pleased to know about that at a much earlier date. Is this making any sense at all to the two of you?”
“Sure,” Stone said, “you want us to become CIA snitches.”
“No, no,” Lance said placatingly. “We would like for you both, from time to time, to perhaps participate more actively in certain situations that might arise. Of course, we’re always receptive to pertinent information.”
“What sort of situations?” Holly asked.
“For instance, Stone has been of help to us in dealing with the Herbie Fisher problem, and, although that problem has not yet been entirely solved, that certainly isn’t Stone’s fault. Holly, you might similarly be of help in some other situation, on your own home turf. One never knows when.”
“I see, I think,” Holly said. “We’d just be on call, sort of.”
“Yes, sort of. And we’d never wish to interfere with your own duties in your main work.”
“And this is work for which we’d be paid?” Holly asked.
“Of course, and generously. Ask Stone.”
Stone spoke up. “There isn’t enough money in the CIA’s coffers to make it worthwhile dealing with Herbie Fisher and his problems.”
“Still, you didn’t come off all that badly, did you?” Lance asked. “What did you spend—a couple of hours?”
“Well, yes, it didn’t occupy a great deal of time,” Stone admitted, “and I was well paid.”
“You see?” Lance said, spreading his hands. “We’re starting to be of one mind.”