Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington 19)

“You know, I’ve heard about this place, but I’ve never been here,” Willa said. “It’s too far uptown for my crowd.”

Stone introduced the women to Elaine, who sat down for a minute. “So?” she said.

“Life is interesting,” Stone said.

“As bad as that, huh?”

“Maybe not.”

“Gotta go,” Elaine said, rising to greet another table of regulars who had just sat down.

“So that’s the famous Elaine,” Willa said.

“The one and only,” Stone replied.

“How’s the food?” she asked, fingering a menu.

“Better than you’ve heard,” Stone said. “The food critics get pissed off because they can’t get the good tables that are reserved for the regulars.”

A waiter appeared and took their drink order.

“Ah,” Stone said, looking toward the front door, where Herbie and his new wife were entering. “And now you get to meet the dangerous and deceptive Herbert Fisher.”

“You’re kidding,” Willa said.

The couple stopped at the table, and Stone made the introductions.

“I’m glad you can afford to eat out, Stone,” Stephanie said, “in your reduced circumstances.”

“I’m investment-reduced,” Stone replied amiably, “not dinner-reduced.”

The couple continued to their table.

“That was Herbie Fisher?” Willa asked.

“You expected a wild-eyed monster, huh?”

“Not exactly, but I didn’t expect a nebbish, either.”

“And a nebbish who married well,” Stone replied. “Stephanie is the daughter of Jack Gunn.”

“So he can afford the very best representation in criminal matters,” Willa said.

“I’m glad you understand that,” Stone replied.

Stone took Willa home and got back to his house to find that two more men had been added to Cantor’s workforce.

“Stone,” Cantor said, taking a small black box from his pocket and pressing a button. “This will keep us from being overheard. There’s a bug on every phone in the house, including your office and Joan’s. You want me to duplicate them all?”

“Every one of them.”

“How much time have I got? The video installation takes longer, if you don’t want them to notice.”

“Six o’clock Monday morning,” Stone said.

“I can do that, probably by midnight tomorrow.”

“Good man.”