“Good night.”
Stone punched off the phone. “What do you think?”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Let’s wait until you hear from him with the wiring instructions. By that time, I’ll have the funds available to make the transfer. We’ll wire them to your Swiss account, and then you can forward them to the Belgian account. That way it will look entirely kosher. You’ll have to sign for the funds, of course.” She smiled. “We can’t have you running off with our money.”
“Suppose I did?”
“I’d hunt you down; you couldn’t hide for long.”
“I don’t think I’d want you on my trail,” Stone said.
Carpenter looked at her watch. “I have to go home and get some sleep.”
“Can I drive you?”
“I’m within walking distance.”
“Then I’ll walk you.”
“That won’t do, I’m afraid. You get some sleep; I’ll be back here by eight in the morning.” She stood up.
Stone walked her to the door and said good night. Stone went back to the kitchen, where Dino was polishing off a final dumpling.
“She doesn’t want you to know where she lives,” Dino said.
“I guess not.”
“Or her name.”
“I guess not.”
“It’s a shame; she’s quite a broad; I’ve never met anybody like her.”
“Neither have I,” Stone admitted.
“What did you tell Sarah about tonight?”
“Business.”
“I suppose that wasn’t too much of a lie.”
“I try never to lie.”
“The best policy,” Dino agreed.
They had a brandy, then went to bed.
Stone was already up and dressed the following morning, when Carpenter rang the bell.
“Good morning,” she said. Today she was dressed more informally, in a cotton pantsuit that complemented her figure.
“Come in,” Stone said.
“Heard anything from Cabot?”
“No, not yet. He said he’d call at nine. Have you had breakfast?”
“No.”