Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington 19)

“Are you having a quiet winter, Seth?” Stone asked.

“Quiet as usual,” Seth replied. “We got some snow last week.”

“It’s very pretty,” Adele commented as they drove through the village.

At the house, Mary greeted them, and Seth took their luggage upstairs.

“I’ve got some clam chowder on the stove,” Mary said. “Would you like some?”

They agreed and had a good lunch in the kitchen, then moved to the living room.

“What’s that sound?” Adele asked.

Stone listened. “Phone,” he said. He took his house key and opened the locked door that concealed

Dick Stone’s study. Dick had been about to be promoted to the job now held by Lance Cabot at the CIA when he, his wife, and daughter had been murdered, but Stone didn’t want to tell Adele that they had been killed in the house.

Stone picked up the phone. “Yes?”

“Good afternoon, Stone.”

“How on earth did you know I was here, Lance?”

“Stone, are you forgetting where I work? I always know everything. I thought you knew that.”

“I keep forgetting,” Stone replied. He had told his secretary where he was going, but she wouldn’t have told Lance.

“A bit chilly up there, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Stone replied.

“You don’t sound very happy to hear from me,” Lance said.

“Why should I be happy to hear from you, Lance? It’s a weekend, and I’m away from my office.”

“Ah, yes; I forgot that you are a nine-to-five office worker.”

“What do you want, Lance?”

“Well, Stone, first of all I want to tell you how unhappy I was with your performance in my meeting with Mike Freeman.”

“Performance? What the hell does that mean?”

“I expected you to take the Agency’s position in our conversation.”

“I’m counsel to the company,” Stone said. “I take their position in all meetings, with you or anybody else.”

“Stone, you’ve been on the Agency’s payroll for some time now.”

“I’m not on your payroll,” Stone said. “You pay me when I work for you, like any other client. It’s not like I’m on salary.”

“Still.”

“Lance, perhaps it would be better if you just released me from my contract with the Agency.”

“Oh, no, I don’t want to do that. There are times when I need your particular talents.”

“Well, don’t try to employ them when I’m representing Strategic Services.”