“I don’t think so; they’ve never met.”
“Have you ever mentioned her name to him?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Possibly, but there’s no reason for him to remember it, and he doesn’t know where she lives.”
“Is she in the phone book?”
“No, she has an unlisted number.”
“You’re sure there’s no other way he could trace you there?”
“No, there isn’t. What’s going on, Stone?”
“Did Daltry ever sculpt you?”
“Yes, he did a full-sized nude last year. It’s a very good likeness of me, if I do say so.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“Only the head.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Daltry had the head delivered to me. I perceive that as a threat.”
“You mean he cut the head off the statue?”
“That’s what I mean.”
“Holy shit. He told me he expected to get half a million for the thing, from the right buyer.”
“Celia, I want you to think about this some more. Think about every mention of your friend you might have made to Daltry or anyone he knows. If you think of some way he might trace you to her house, then I want you to get out of there and check into a hotel, and be sure you aren’t followed.”
“All right, I’ll think about it, but I don’t think he could find me.”
“Call me on my cell, if you decide to move, so I’ll know where you are.”
“I miss you.”
“Just take care of yourself.” He said good-bye and hung up.
“Is she getting out?”
Stone shook his head. “She says there’s no way he could find her.”
“I hope she’s right,” Dino said.
Later, when he was ready to leave the house for dinner, Stone called Eliza. “Is there a garage near you?” he asked.
“Right next door,” she said.
“Okay, I may be a few minutes late, but I’ll be there.”
“Just as well; I got a late start on the sauce.”
“See you soon.” He hung up and went to the front windows, checking up and down the block for any sight of Devin Daltry or his two ex-cops. Nothing. He went down to the garage and backed quickly out into the street, made the light at Third Avenue and started a series of turns, making his way gradually uptown, checking his mirrors constantly for any sign of a following car. When he was certain he wasn’t being followed, he parked in the garage next door to Eliza’s building and, after checking the block once again, rang her bell and took the elevator upstairs.