Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington 15)

The three of them went to work, taping the blankets around the piece, while Barton watched impatiently, then they loaded it back into the van and left.

“Why don’t we get some dinner and take the thing back tomorrow?” Dino asked.

“Because,” Stone said, “Charlie Crow is sending somebody to pick it up tomorrow morning at eight.”

“Oh.”

Stone looked at his watch. “We might make it to Elaine’s by midnight.”

“Yeah,” Dino said, “if we don’t get arrested for grand theft secretary.”

At the Sutton warehouse, they woke up the night man, who was snoring away, his feet on his desk.

“What?” he said, snapping his eyes open.

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“We’re taking this piece to Mr. Crow’s locker,” Cantor said.

“Didn’t you just take it out?”

“We got our orders,” Cantor replied.

“Okay, go ahead,” the man said.

They trundled the two pieces up to the locker, which Cantor opened with his lock picks, and, when the pieces had been returned to their original spot, snapped the lock shut again.

Stone and Dino walked into Elaine’s at half past midnight, while Cantor parked the van. The joint was jumping. Gianni, one of the two headwaiters, approached them. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I’d have kept a table for you.”

Stone looked at his regular table and saw four people he didn’t know sitting there. “Who’s that?”

“A guy named Charlie Crow, big deal in real estate.”

Dino began to laugh.

“Oh, shut up,” Stone said.

“All I’ve got is something in the next room,” Gianni said.

“I’ve never even been in the next room,” Stone said, “except for a party.”

“Come on,” Gianni said. “I’ll bring you a cake with a candle on it.”

Dino was still laughing when they sat down.

“Gianni,” Stone said, “head off Bob Cantor when he comes in, and bring him in here. Don’t let Mr. Crow see him, if you can help it. And bring whiskey, quickly.”

Cantor was at the table by the time the drinks came. “Jesus, I just saw Charlie Crow in the other room, sitting at your table.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Stone said.

Dino began to laugh again. “Shall we send Mr. Crow’s party some drinks?”

The three of them ordered dinner.

“Dino,” Stone said when they had finished eating, “can you put a couple of guys on the warehouse tomorrow morning? I want to know where Crow has the secretary delivered.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Dino said, getting out his phone.