“The opportunity is large; I don’t want word to get around until I have my investors in this company.”
“Good thinking,” Stone said. Then it got very quiet. He caught Patti looking at his crotch and involuntarily crossed his legs.
36
MITZILED DEREK HARPE into the study off the living room, and they sat down on a sofa. She turned to face him. “This is awkward,” she said.
Derek placed a hand on her knee. “I don’t want you ever to feel awkward with me.”
She shifted her position to dislodge the hand. “I have some friends in Charleston who want something that I can’t supply them,” she said.
“And what would that be?” Sharpe asked.
“Something that I have no experience in obtaining,” she said, “since I have no personal need for it.”
“Well, if we were in the nineteen-twenties I’d think you were going to ask me where you could buy a case of Scotch.”
“That’s not a bad analogy,” Mitzi said, trying to seem more nervous than she felt. “It’s just that I’ve been in New York for such a short time that my circle of acquaintance doesn’t extend to people who… have a wider circle of acquaintance.”
“Now it sounds as if you want me to provide you with a porno star for your personal use. Or that of your friends.”
“That’s not a good analogy,” she said. “What they want is unavailable over the counter, so to speak.”
“Are we talking about illegal recreational drugs?” Sharpe asked.
Mitzi heaved a big sign of apparent relief. “Yes,” she said.
“In what sort of quantity?” he asked.
“Oh, just small stuff,” she replied. “They asked me if I could find them half a pound each of marijuana and cocaine.”
“Half a pound of either of those is not small stuff,” Sharpe replied. “Together, they make a quantity that ordinary dealers might be reluctant to sell you.”
“Oh?” Mitzi asked innocently. “Why? Don’t they want to sell as much as possible?”
“Yes, but they become uncomfortable when someone asks for a quantity that could subject them to arrest for dealing.”
“But that’s what they do, isn’t it?”
“They do, but the penalties for simple possession of a small amount of drugs for personal use and for possession in sufficient quantity to suggest intent to sell are very different, so they become cautious when such a request is made.”
“If it’s about money, that’s not a problem,” Mitzi said.
“It’s not about money, Mitzi; it’s more about discretion.”
“Am I being indiscreet?” she asked, widening her eyes.
“Just a little.”
“I’m sorry. I have no experience at this sort of thing,” she said. “I apologize. Please forget I asked.” She began to rise, but he stopped her.
“It’s for that reason that I want to advise you,” Sharpe said.
“All right, what is your advice?”
“First, we need to find some place to receive the package,” Sharpe said.
“How about right here?” Mitzi asked, waving an arm. “This is not exactly a street corner.”