“Bob, before we had lunch and had our first conversation about Colonel Cabot, did you know anything about his life after Vietnam up to now?”
“I never heard a word about the guy. I guess we travel in different circles.”
“Another thing: You have an unlisted number, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Then how did Crow get hold of it?”
“It’s not all that hard to get an unlisted number; I’ve done it for you from time to time, remember?”
“I remember. Okay, call Crow back and make the date. And I think having a recording of the conversation would be nice. Can you wire yourself in a way he can’t detect?”
“Yeah, I can wear a transmitter that looks like a pen and a tiny mike.”
“Where would it transmit to?”
“It has a range of about a mile. I can put the recorder in my van and park near the restaurant. Otherwise, I’d have to wear a recorder, and that would be easy to find in a pat-down.”
“Is he likely to pat you down?”
“How the hell should I know? Depends on how paranoid he is, I guess.”
“Better pick a quiet restaurant; don’t do it at P. J. Clarke’s.”
“A good point.”
“Don’t tell him anything about your expertise with electronics. There’s no reason why he would know about that, is there?”
“None. I didn’t get my first computer until ’79.”
“I’d love to know if he’ll admit having had any contact with Abner Kramer.”
“I guess I can ask him if he’s seen any of the other guys, give him an opportunity to say so. I’ll call you after.”
“Thanks, Bob.” Stone hung up. This, he thought, was a move in the right direction, especially since he had little or nothing to go on. He needed a break badly.
Stone met Dino for dinner at Elaine’s. “Anything to report?” he asked.
Dino gave him a smart salute. “Nothing to report, sir!”
“I’d hoped one of your people could give us something to go on.”
“What, you think somebody is just going to stumble across this piece of furniture?”
“I’d like that,” Stone said, “as unlikely as it is. Maybe there’s something else your guys can do.”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” Dino said.
“I need to know a lot more about Charlie Crow, not your Google sort of stuff – I need to know where he goes, who he hangs out with. Especially who he hangs out with.”
“You’re actually asking me to put New York City police officers on a tail unconnected to any crime?”
“It is connected to a crime: the beating of a man and the theft of an extremely valuable object.”
“It’s not like I can open a file on it, Stone. I mean, there was a time I could have opened a file, then shredded it when it was over, but these days, once you put something in a computer it’s there forever.”
“Well, for God’s sake, don’t put anything in a computer. Just put a couple of guys on tailing Mr. Crow for a few days. I especially want to know if he’s in touch with Abner Kramer.”