She looked at him for a moment. “Stone, I’m not coming back to New York.”
“Look, this will be over, eventually. Stay with your folks until we’ve cleared it up, then come back.”
“No, I’ve had it with this city. I left the first time because I was unhappy here; now it’s trying to kill me. I’m sorry, but I won’t be back.”
“What about your attitude toward being pushed around by terrorists?” he asked.
“I’ve reconsidered my position.”
“You know I can’t live anywhere else but New York,”
“I know.” She put her arms around him. “You’re the sweetest man I know, but, as you said, when there are enough coincidences lined up, it’s fate. The fates are against us.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She kissed him. “So am I.”
He gave her her ticket and passport, and she disappeared down the ramp and into the airplane.
Stone trudged back to the ticket counter, returned his ticket for credit, and picked up his bags. To his surprise, Dino’s car was still sitting at the curb. Stone tossed his bags into the backseat and got in. “I’m back from England,” he said.
“How come?” Dino asked.
“I didn’t like the weather.”
“You let that girl go?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Will she come back when this is over?”
“No. Take me to a hotel, Dino; if somebody watched me go, I don’t want him to know I’m back.” Dino motioned for his driver to move on. “That was some girl,” he said.
“I know.”
“You incredible schmuck.”
“I know.”
35
S TONE CHECKED INTO THE CARLYLE Hotel and instructed the desk that they were not to acknowledge his presence there unless the caller asked for Elijah Stone, which was his maternal grandfather’s name.
“Of course, Mr. Stone,” the desk clerk said.
Once in his room he called his answering machine. There was only one message, from Bill Eggers. He returned the call, and Eggers came on the line.
“It’s Stone.”
“You all right? I read the Times.”
“I’m all right.”
“You came off as something of a hero.”
“Don’t believe it. What’s up?”
“We’re all ready to close on your Connecticut house.”