Bianchi raised a hand. “Only in the most legitimate sense, you understand. I have interests on the West Coast, and they sometimes coincided with the interests of the gentleman in question. He did, after all, run a large banking business—in addition to his other interests, of course.”
“Of course.”
“W
hat impressed me about this incident was the very carefully crafted nature of your vengeance.”
Stone wondered for a moment if this conversation was being overheard by some federal representative, but then he remembered that the feds were very aware of the incident. “I wasn’t thinking very carefully at the time,” he said.
“Then your instincts speak well of you. Somehow, you looked at this man and knew that little else could hurt him as much as the loss of his beloved status symbol.”
“I suppose there’s some truth to that.”
“I’m glad you and I understand each other, Mr. Barrington.”
We do? Stone thought.
“You see, just as you were protecting a cherished woman at that time, you are now protecting yet another woman important to you.”
“Yes,” Stone agreed.
“As am I,” Bianchi said. “Do you understand?”
“Up to a point,” Stone replied.
“You understand that I would like to help bring an end to this business?”
“Of course.”
“And that I cannot tread on Dino’s toes, as it were.”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps it might be possible for me to help you, instead of Dino.”
“You must understand, Mr. Bianchi, that Dino is my closest friend, that I owe him my life, quite literally.”
“Of course. I know all about that, and I understand completely. I am not suggesting that you should do anything to violate that friendship.”
“Good.”
“I am merely saying that there may arise information that Dino would not wish to be privy to, and that our sometimes awkward relationship prevents me from offering him.”
“What sort of information?”
“Then you will accept this from me?”
Stone was uncomfortable. “I’m not certain what I would be accepting.”
“I understand that this Mitteldorfer, on being released from prison, has disappeared.”
“That is correct.”
“Perhaps I can help you find him.”
“How can you do that?”
Bianchi shrugged. “Let us just say that I have…acquaintances who have acquaintances who have friends who might be able to help. If I should request it.”