Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington 19)

“Do I want to know where you are?”

“Just as well not, I think.”

“If this works, you could be a hero.”

“Nonsense. If it works, my name will never be mentioned. At least, I hope not.”

Suddenly an old photograph of Pablo appeared on the TV.

“Sources at the CIA are telling us that this man, Pablo Estancia, was the source of the intelligence placing Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. Born Erwin Gelbhardt, in Darmstadt, Germany, he acquired the nickname ‘Pablo’ as an international arms dealer. We are also told that agents of the CIA interviewed him for four days earlier this week and that he provided a map of the cave network where bin Laden is supposedly hiding.”

“Oh, shit,” Pablo said. “Did you hear that?”

“Apparently, we’re both watching NBC,” Stone said.

“Yes, I suppose we are. Why on earth would Lance Cabot air this information?”

“I suppose they must be very confident that bin Laden is there,” Stone suggested.

“But why bring me into it?” Pablo asked plaintively. “Now they’ve pinned a big target on my back.”

“I have no idea,” Stone said.

“It’s some sort of revenge,” Pablo said.

“Revenge for what?”

“I’ve no idea,” Pablo said. “I have to go, Stone. My family is arriving this afternoon, and I have to get them to somewhere safe.”

“Is there anything I can do to help, Pablo?”

“No, I don’t think so. Don’t blame yourself for this, Stone.” He hung up.

“Well,” Willa said, “that was a very interesting conversation—at least, your side of it.”

“Try and forget you heard it,” Stone said.

“That was your man, huh? Your client?”

Stone nodded. “He’s been royally screwed, and I don’t know what I can do about it.”

The phone rang again. “Hello?”

“It’s Holly. Have you seen the reports?”

“Right now,” Stone said. “Has Lance lost his mind?”

“He’s losing it right now,” Holly replied. “I know you won’t believe this, but Lance didn’t do this. I think it’s somebody at the Agency who has it in for Lance.”

“I would imagine their numbers are legion,” Stone said.

“Lance is more popular here than you would imagine,” she said. “Somebody’s head is going to roll for this.”

Stone had an idea. “Listen, I think you ought to offer Pablo protection, find him a hiding place and put guards on him.”

“That’s an idea I wouldn’t argue with, and I don’t think Lance would, either, but he’d have to go to the director for funding; he doesn’t have that kind of discretion. Between you and me, I was astonished when Lance ordered two dozen of those jammers at twenty-five thousand a pop. And the kind of protection you’re talking about would cost hundreds of thousands.”

“Talk to Lance and get back to me.”