Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington 19)

“If you can ask questions while chewing. Who are you bringing with you?”

“Holly will be here, and at least one person who may remain anonymous. Also, there’ll be a court stenographer with his little machine.”

“As long as they’ll all fit at my table.”

“Will you have anyone else there besides Pablo? If so, they’ll have to be cleared.”

“Just the two of us,” Stone said. “Occasionally, Pablo and I may have to consult privately, and as our agreement states, I can instruct him not to answer, if necessary.”

“Ever the lawyer, Stone,” Lance said. He shook hands and left.

Joan came in when he had gone. “So that’s the elusive Lance Cabot?”

“Elusive? Why do you say that?”

“Well, I’ve heard you talk about him for years—usually disparagingly—but I’ve never seen him until now. He’s very good-looking and beautifully dressed, too. It’s strange having two of you in the office at once.”

“I’ll introduce you next week.”

Joan left, and Stone called Pablo.

“Hello?” He sounded relaxed, but alert, as he always did.

“Mr. C. has just left my office. We have concluded arrangements, and I’d like to tell you what they are.”

“Please do, I’m dying to know.”

“He’s going to have four eight-hour days of your time to interview you. He’ll be bringing several of his people to sit in, and the entire interview will be recorded with video and audio, two copies. You get one, he gets one. That way there can be no later dispute about who said what to whom.”

“All right, but I don’t want our discussion about you-know-who recorded—audio or video.”

“That’s fair. We’re going to get all the signed documents—including a letter from the attorney general—before we introduce that subject. It will be the very last thing on the agenda.”

“Good. I will need a large-scale map of the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

“I’m not going to ask him to bring that; it would tip him off. Visit a map store. There’s one on West Forty-third Street, just east of Sixth Avenue.”

“As you wish,” Pablo said.

“Pablo, now would be a good time to move your family,” Stone said.

“I have already done so,” Pablo replied. “My family and my staff have moved to my house in—”

“I don’t need to know that,” Stone said.

“My wife called me last night. They are safe and comfortable.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“It will be a great relief for her when this business is concluded.”

“I’m sure it will be.”

“You will have to come and visit us, Stone. I live in very nice places. You’d like Marbella.”

“That’s on the coast of Spain, isn’t it?”

“Yes, a lovely spot.”