“Of course, Eduardo.”
“Come and have lunch in a couple of weeks. I’ll call.” He hung up.
Stone hung up, too, relieved.
Dino walked into his office, followed by two burly detectives. “This the guy?” he asked, indicating Smith, who was awake now and trying to get up. The two detectives helped him, and one of them introduced him to handcuffs.
“That’s the guy,” Stone said. “I’ve no idea who he is or what he wants, but he did point that gun at me.”
Dino took the Walther from Herbie with two fingers. “This Walther?”
“The very one.”
“Check him for ID,” Dino said to the detectives.
“Nothing on him, Lieutenant,” one replied.
“My name is Smith,” Smith said.
“Sure it is,” Dino replied. “I’m Jones.”
“I have a British diplomatic passport,” Smith said.
“Well, just show it to me and we’ll forget this ugly little incident,” Dino replied.
“It’s in my inside coat pocket,” Smith said.
“No it ain’t,” a detective replied.
“I had it when I came here.”
“You had this gun when you came here,” Dino said, “and we frown on that in New York, unless you’ve got a permit.”
“He ain’t got a permit on him,” the detective said.
“And we don’t issue permits for silencers,” Dino pointed out.
“I protest!” Smith said.
“You go right ahead, but do it quietly,” Dino said, “or somebody will put you to sleep.” Dino made a motion with his head, and the two detectives dragged Smith, still protesting, out of the office.
“Okay,” Dino said to Stone, “who is he?”
Stone took Smith’s wallet and passport from his desk drawer and handed them to Dino. “One of Felicity’s,” he said, “who has turned unfriendly. Can you lose him for a couple of days?”
“Sure,” Dino said. “Elaine’s tonight?”
“I have to leave town, but I’ll be back soon. I’ll call.”
Dino left, and Stone turned to Herbie. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to invite you to my wedding.”
“When is it?”
“The day after tomorrow, at the Pierre. It just reopened after a big renovation. Stephanie’s parents live there.”
“I’m sure it’s very elegant, Herbie, but I’ll be out of the country tomorrow.”