He did as she commanded.
“Good evening,” she said, holding out a hand with long fingers and a large emerald ring. “I’m Tatiana Orlovsky.”
Stone took the hand, cool and soft. “I’m Stone Barrington,” he managed to say.
“Why are you and I the only people on this lovely terrace?” she asked.
“Because God meant us to be alone together.” There was some laughter a few footfalls behind him. “But not for very long.”
She laughed, a very nice sound.
“Your name has a heavy Russian accent,” he said, “but your voice does not.”
“My name has been in this country since my grandfather stole a lot of very good jewelry from a titled Moscow family during the revolution in 1917 and stowed away on a ship bound for New York,” she said. “I, on the other hand, have been here for only thirty-four years, and English is my only language.”
“I hope you still have the jewelry,” he said.
“Oddly enough, we do… At least, my mother does. My grandfather was clever: He borrowed money on the jewelry, invested it in the stock market, redeemed the jewels and spent the rest of his life building a business and a lifestyle in which the jewelry would not look out of place.”
“I
s the very beautiful necklace you’re wearing part of the collection?”
“No. It’s a string of cubic zirconia that cost less than two thousand dollars at Bergdorf’s. The design is a copy of a Harry Winston necklace, though.”
“You make it look like real diamonds.”
She laughed that laugh again. “My husband never notices.”
Stone’s heart sank.
She must have seen the look on his face. “Oh, no. I don’t… I mean, I’m not… I’m in the process of being divorced, at the moment. I’ve stopped wearing my wedding ring.”
Stone’s heart soared again. “I’m relieved to hear it,” he said, “because I’m opposed to adultery. I’m afraid that, in your case, I might have gone against my principles.”
“I’m flattered that you would think of abandoning your principles,” she said, “but I’m glad you don’t have to.”
“So am I,” he replied.
“And what, may I ask, do you do?”
“I’m an attorney.”
“With a firm?”
“I’m of counsel to Woodman and Weld.”
“Oh, I know the firm, but what does ‘of counsel’ mean?”
“It means that I handle the cases that they would rather not be seen to be associated with.”
“That sounds a lot more interesting than drawing wills and managing estates.”
“Believe me, it is, and it suits me perfectly. Before I was an attorney I was a police detective, and that experience has come in handy when dealing with people like Harlan Deal.”
“I should imagine so. Do you deal with Mr. Deal?”
“I have in one instance, but, I’m happy to say, it won’t be a regular thing.”