Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington 19)

“The American passports of Pablo and his family have been flagged, preventing them from entering or leaving the country.”

“Well, I suppose you’ll have to take that up with the IRS, Stone,” Lance said. “It’s their beef.”

“No, it’s not; it’s the State Department who has flagged the passports. Will you look into this, please? I know that the Agency has a close working relationship with State, and I don’t want to see Pablo struck mute by this easily solved problem.”

“Clearly, you have never dealt with the State Department, and I resent your suggestion that Pablo might violate our agreement.”

“That is not his intention, Lance, as I’m sure it was not your intention to have Pablo and his family inconvenienced in this manner. I hope we can sort this out to prevent any dissension among us.”

“Well, I’ll be happy to phone someone at Foggy Bottom, but I can’t make any promises.”

“I’m sure when your contact there learns of the great value of Pablo to national security, he will see the light.”

“May I have the numbers of the passports, please?”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Lance: we both know your contact will have those at the tap of a keyboard.”

“Perhaps,” Lance said. “We’ll see. I don’t know if he’ll still be in his office at this hour, but I’ll leave a message if he isn’t, and I’m sure he’ll get back to me in due course.”

“I would think that you would be able to reach him now, just as I was able to reach you, and he will be able to instruct the proper person to remove this obstacle before the weekend.”

“Where is Pablo at this moment, Stone?”

“I don’t know, Lance. He has visited me here, but most of our communication has been telephonic. He could be anywhere.”

“I hope he doesn’t have it in his mind to scamper; perhaps you should relay to him the difficulties such an action could visit upon him.”

“Lance, you’ve recently kidnapped the man from his home, snatched him off a highway in Spain and forced him to enter the U.S. illegally, without proper extradition, and then threatened him with torture. I don’t think there’s anything I can tell Pablo about your methods that he doesn’t already know.”

“I hope you’re not going to be difficult about this, Stone. I’m beginning to feel just the tiniest bit stressed by your client’s wavering.”

“Lance, it is within your power to resolve this matter within hours, if not minutes, thereby restoring your monkish state of serenity. We will look upon your immediate actions for a sign of your good faith.”

“Once again, Stone, I must point out that if this has anything to do with the IRS, that’s beyond my purview.”

“I’m sorry, Lance, but I forgot to mention in our previous conversations that Pablo resolved all issues with the IRS years ago and we have in our possession a letter from that agency’s director confirming that, as far as it is concerned, Pablo has been, since that time, an upstanding citizen. All that remains is for you to straighten out the State Department, so that we may independently confirm that the flags have been lifted and will not be reinstated.”

There was a brief silence. “I’ll get back to you,” Lance said, then hung up.

Stone called Pablo. “I’ve spoken to Mr. C. and he has agreed to call his contact with the State Department. He’ll get back to us.”

“God, I hope so,” Pablo said.

“It’s important, Pablo, that you take no action in response to this matter. Are we clear about that?”

“All right,” Pablo said, then hung up.

Stone rested his forehead on the cool, glass top of his desk and whimpered.

THIRTY-THREE

Stone arrived at Elaine’s to find Woodman & Weld’s managing partner already seated with Dino and already drinking.

“Evening, Bill, Dino,” Stone said as he slid into a chair only slightly behind the Knob Creek that had been placed on the table.

“Evening, Stone,” Eggers said.

Stone looked at Bill for signs of pleasure or displeasure, but he wore his usual, very effective poker face.