MITZI LOOKED AT STONE over the rim of her glass of Knob Creek. “You seem a little down,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m worried about the bust,” he said.
Mitzi adjusted her push-up bra. “I thought you liked it.”
“Not that bust,” Stone said, laughing in spite of himself. “Sharpe and Larsen.”
“Sounds like a Dickensian accounting firm, doesn’t it?” Mitzi said.
“I wish it were,” Stone replied.
“Oh, come on, Stone. It’s pretty straightforward, once we cover all our bases.”
“We don’t even know where all the bases are,” Stone said.
“Brian and Tom had a meeting with the U.S. Attorney this afternoon and asked for some of her people. That should help.”
Stone admired her bust again. “Do you have a vest that will protect those?”
“Without looking overweight and dowdy? No.”
“Just this once?”
“Maybe, after we make the buy.”
“Wear it during the buy.”
“You think Derek is going to shoot me in the apartment?”
“I don’t know what to think. How are you going to pay for the drugs?”
“I already have, remember?”
“Sharpe is going to want real money, not a bad check.”
“Tiffany had a word with Sharpe’s bank.”
“How do you know which bank he uses?”
“By the deposit stamp on the back of the check.”
“You’re not going to get a New York banker to tell Sharpe that your check has cleared and the funds are available.”
“No. An FBI agent on the banker’s phone line will confirm that. The bank isn’t liable for what an FBI agent says to Sharpe, especially since they won’t know what the agent is telling him.”
Stone nodded. “I like that. Whose idea was it?”
“Mine, but I let Brian propose it to Tiffany.”
“You shouldn’t be so self-effacing,” Stone said. “It won’t do you any good. Brian will get all the kudos from the bust, and he’ll leave you high and dry.”
“Can I trust you with a secret?”
“Sure.”
“I passed the lieutenant’s exam last week.”
“So you think you’ll get Brian’s job?”