Stone peeled off another thousand pounds from Bartholomew’s money and handed it to Cricket. “Then please give him this; if he needs more, let me know.”
Cricket pocketed the money. “I’m sure he’ll be grateful.”
“What about you, Ted? Do you want out of this?”
“No, sir; I’d like to stay on it in the hope of meeting the two gentlemen who did this to Bobby.”
“I understand, but I can’t promise that will happen.”
“It will, if I continue to follow Bartholomew.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, too, Ted.”
“Believe me, Mr. Barrington, it is not I who will be hurt.”
“Ted . . .”
“Let me deal with this, please. I know what I’m doing.”
“I don’t want anyone killed.”
“I’ve no intention of doing that.”
“I don’t want Bartholomew touched.”
“I won’t promise you that.”
“This isn’t how this was supposed to go.”
“I understand that, but it went that way.”
“I’ll continue to pay you to watch Lance Cabot,” Stone said. “But I don’t want you near Bartholomew. Don’t follow him again.”
“In that case, I’ll have to leave your employ, Mr. Barrington.” He handed over another sheet of paper. “Here’s my bill.”
Stone paid it.
Cricket stood up and offered his hand. “I’m sorry it turned out this way, Mr. Barrington; I know you’re a gentleman and that you didn’t intend for anything like this to happen.”
“Thank you, Ted, and I wish you luck.”
“And the very best to you, Mr. Barrington. Oh, by the way, I’ll leave the tape recorder going in the garage for the time being.”
Stone shook his head. “Don’t bother; I’ll be returning to New York, as soon as I take care of a couple of loose ends.”
“Then I’ll have the equipment removed,” Cricket said. He turned and left the hotel.
Stone went to the concierge’s desk and asked to be booked on a flight to New York the following day, then he went to his suite. He took out the little satellite phone, positioned himself near the window, and from the phone’s memory, dialed Bartholomew’s number.
It was answered on the second ring. “Yes?”
“It’s Stone Barrington.”
“What do you have to report?”
“You and I have to meet right away.”
“I’m in New York.”