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  “We just did that.”

  She took hold of his wrist and checked his pulse. “And after this returns to normal, we’ll do it again, with variations.”

  “You think I can still do that?”

  “I know you can, from experience. It’s one of the things I like best about you.” She fondled him lightly. “See?”

  Stone was too tired to argue with her.

  * * *

  —

  A couple of hours later, she tucked him in. “I’ll call you from Key West,” she said. “Maybe I can persuade you to come there.”

  “I may never come again,” he said. Then, to his overwhelming relief, she was gone.

  Stone slept until mid-evening, when Dino called.

  “Hello.”

  “You sound exhausted,” Dino said.

  “I am as I sound.”

  “But you dropped off Tara.”

  “I did.”

  “Then . . . Oh, no, not Hilda.”

  “She was here when I arrived, and she waylaid me.”

  “By arrangement?”

  “Not by my arrangement.”

  “Where’s Sal?”

  “On his way to Florida, she said. She’s leaving for Key West tomorrow morning.”

  “Is the state big enough for both of them?”

  “Apparently so.”

  “You’re not going down there, are you?”

  “If I did, I might not get out alive.”

  “I told you she could be fatal.”

  “I think you’re right, but she’s using a different arsenal of weapons than you predicted.”

  “I’ll let you get back to sleep. You need it.” Dino hung up, and Stone went back to sleep.

  46

  Jack Coulter walked out onto his terrace overlooking Central Park, wet a finger, and held it up to judge the breeze. Almost none. The sun shone brightly; it was an inviting day.

  He left the building and set out at a brisk walk for the Brook, his favorite club. Fifteen minutes later he was being seated alone at a table in the rapidly filling dining room. Five minutes after that, the head of the Mafia on the East Coast of the United States and his consigliere were seated not five feet from him. It took only a glance to recognize Don Antonio Datilla and Sal Trafficante, before they noticed him, and by then he was deeply into the menu.

  They discussed the food in English, ordered. Then, after checking out Jack thoroughly and finding him to be an upper-class white man of no interest to him, nor they to him, slipped into their Sicilian dialect.

  “So Hilda’s back?” the Don said.

  “Yeah,” Sal replied. “I gave her a good going over to keep her honest, but not enough to make her look bad on stage tonight. I couldn’t stretch her booking; last night was her last performance at the Carlyle.”

  “What will you do with her next? She’s a very useful person, I have found. She kills without batting an eye.”

  “We’ll see,” Sal replied.

  “Barrington?”

  “I can’t let myself be seen by that gentleman.”

  Coulter, who had been getting bored, sat up a little straighter.

  “Why not?” the Don asked.

  “We had an encounter in London.”

  “What was Barrington doing in London when Hilda was here?”

  “I think he was looking for me. He came into my hotel suite with a gun.”

  “Why didn’t you kill him?”

  “Two reasons: It’s messy to kill abroad; our friends are fewer there. The other is that I was in my pajamas, with no weapon handy.”

  “I cannot imagine you without a weapon handy,” the Don said.

  “In a suite at the Savoy?”

  “Let that be a lesson.”

  “Oh, yes, but it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to approach Barrington. He knows me now.”

  “Where is Hilda now?”

  “On her way to Key West, Florida.”

  “Why there?”

  “Because Barrington has offered her his house there, to keep her safe from me.”

  The Don digested this for a moment. “Will Barrington visit her there?”

  “Her allure is such that I think he might find that an irresistible idea,” Sal said.

  “Ideal,” the Don said. “She can kill him there and walk away. No one there knows her, right?”

  “Right.”

  “She finds him attractive. Will she have the guts to do it?”

  “Her guts can be purchased.”

  “For how much?”

  “First, she has to lure him there,” Sal said “Once she’s inside his head, he’ll do whatever she desires.”

  “She’s that good in bed, eh?”

  “Better than anyone could imagine.”

  “If I were younger, I’d try her on for size.”

  “You would not be disappointed,” Sal said. “Would you like me to arrange a trip to Key West for you?”

  The Don held up both hands. “No, no. I’d never be able to explain it to my wife. Besides, I’m not sure my heart could stand it.”

  “Yes, but what a way to go!”

  The two men laughed heartily.

  Coulter’s soup came and he drank it slowly.

  “You didn’t tell me how much she’d cost,” the Don said.

  “We paid her fifty grand to do Manny Fiore.”

  “Ouch! Are you going to tell me she’ll cost a hundred grand?”

  “She felt nothing for Manny, but she’ll have some scruples to overcome with Barrington.”

  “Scruples are expensive.”

  “Exactly.

  “All right, a hundred grand—for you. I wouldn’t do that for anyone else.”

  “Thank you, Don Antonio. I will be eternally grateful. I wish I could get close enough to do it myself. I’d like to watch him die.”

  * * *

  —

  Coulter finished his lunch and watched them depart as he had his dessert. Those two would never dream that someone at the Brook would have understood their conversation. He gave them time enough to drive away, then he signed his check and went looking for a cab.

  * * *

  —

  Stone was finishing a sandwich at his desk and feeling a little sore. It amazed him that he could still be aroused just by thinking about Hilda and what they had done the afternoon before. It was disturbing, too.

  He jumped as his cell phone rang. “Yes?”

  “I just got in and got settled,” Hilda said. “I’m lying on your bed, thinking about yesterday.”

  “A pity you’re so far away.”

  “You’re the one who’s far away,” she said. “Why don’t you come and visit me here? The weather is lovely.”

  “It’s not so bad here,” he said.

  “Do you know what I would like to do to you, if you were here?”

  “Don’t tell me.”

  She told him.

  “Stop it.”

  “Are you getting, ah, interested?”

  “Who wouldn’t?”

  “Good, that’s a start. Let me see what else I can think of.”

  “Please don’t.”

  She thought of something.

  “I have to go now.”

  “No, you have to come now.”

  “I’d need you for that.”

  “I’m right here,” she said. “Come tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Stone said.

  “We both already know what you can do,” she said. “Just do it here.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Stone said, then hung up.

  He was thinking about it! Was he crazy?

  47

  Stone had just hung up when Joan buzzed. “Jack Coulter is here. H
e doesn’t have an appointment.”

  “Send him in.”

  Jack came in, waved, and sat down.

  “You look like a man in a hurry,” Stone said.

  “I was afraid you’d already be dead,” Jack said.

  “Don’t rush me.”

  “Do you know who Antonio Datilla is?”

  “The Don?”

  “Correct.”

  “How about Salvatore Trafficante?”

  “The Don’s consigliere.”

  “You’re better informed than I thought,” Jack said.

  “It sounds as if you want to inform me further.”

  “I just had lunch at the Brook, and they were sitting closer to me than you are now.”

  “Tell me more.”

  “They were speaking Sicilian, not knowing that I grew up in a household with a grandmother who spoke nothing else.”

  “So you eavesdropped?”

  “Didn’t bat an eyelid. You’d have been proud of me.”

  “What was the content of their conversation?”

  “Mostly you and a woman named Hilda, who, I understand, is in residence at your Key West house.”

  “You understand way too much,” Stone said. “She wasn’t supposed to tell anybody.”

  “That’s when some women tell everybody,” Jack pointed out.

  “Not Hilda, not everybody. Just the guy who wants me dead.”

  “They’re going to offer her a hundred thousand dollars to do it. You should be flattered. The last time she killed for them they only paid fifty thousand.” Jack leaned forward. “You’re thinking about fucking her again, aren’t you.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “You’re attracted by the idea of doing that to her before she can do the other thing to you.”

  “If I’m not blushing, I should be,” Stone said.

  “Don’t do it, Stone. That’s a fool’s bet.”

  “I can’t disagree with you,” Stone said.

  “Tell you what. Why don’t I go down there and kill her for you?”

  “If you met her, you’d want to fuck her first,” Stone said.

  “I suppose there’s a bit of a challenge involved.”

  “It’s a nice thought, Jack, and I appreciate it, but you don’t want to get involved in this.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m already involved. If I don’t go down to Key West, she’ll come up here.”

  “She won’t be expecting me.”

  “Don’t underestimate her, Jack.”

  “Then let me find another assassin—one who won’t be tempted to fuck her first.”

  “What kind of assassin is that?”

  “A woman.”

  Stone thought about that. “Possibly.”

  “Certainly.”

  “How can you be sure the woman won’t want to fuck her, too?”

  “Because she’s cold-blooded and coldhearted. She doesn’t let anything get in the way of business, not even sex.”

  “Interesting.”

  “And she’s already in Florida.”

  “Where?”

  “Palm Beach.”

  “How much?” Stone suddenly realized that he was talking about sending a hired killer to murder someone.

  “Twenty-five grand,” Jack said.

  “Sounds cheap, for that line of business.”

  “It’s a discount for me.”

  “Why for you?”

  “Because I got her out of a very bad jam, once. Saved her life. She’s pitifully grateful.”

  “I thought you said she was cold-blooded and coldhearted.”

  “Not where I’m concerned.”

  Stone thought some more.

  “Don’t let your conscience get the better of you, Stone. Hilda is taking money to kill you. That should let you see just where you stand on her list of priorities.”

  “This can’t happen in my house,” Stone said. “It’s a small town.”

  “Then we’ll have to arrange for the deed to be done somewhere else.”

  “Is your lady smart enough to handle that?”

  “It’s what she does,” Jack said. “And she’s never been caught, or even suspected.”

  “Why don’t you have a chat with her and see what’s involved? And I want to know everything: how she gets to Key West from Palm Beach, how she gets back, how she deals with the body, how she covers her tracks. What is your lady’s name?”

  “Gigi.”

  “What else?”

  “Just Gigi.”

  “Is she beautiful?”

  “Just a sec,” Jack said. He got out an iPhone and started scrolling, then stopped and handed the phone to Stone.

  Tall, slim, looked great in the bikini. “Wow.”

  “Will she appeal to Hilda?”

  “E-mail this to me, and we’ll find out,” Stone said.

  Jack e-mailed the photo.

  “We’d better give Gigi another name,” Stone said.

  “Why?”

  “If they travel in the same crowd, Hilda could have heard of her.”

  “All right: Cara,” Jack said. “Cara Connery.” He stared off into space.

  “Are you having second thoughts, Jack?”

  “Always,” Jack replied. “That’s how you stay ahead of the game.”

  48

  Stone called Hilda’s throwaway.

  “Well, hi, there,” she breathed, making the hair on Stone’s chest stand on end. “Are you on your way?”

  “Not for a couple of days. Complications at the law firm. I’ll be there, though.”

  “You’d better hurry. I might explode.”

  “It occurred to me that I could send you a playmate to keep you busy, until I get there.”

  “Who is he?” She sounded doubtful, even a little hurt.

  “She, not he. Her name is Cara Connery. A year or so ago, I offered her the house, but the timing was wrong. She called today and said she’d like to go down.”

  “That part sounds interesting. How did you know I like a girl now and then?”

  “Intuition,” Stone said. “Hang on, I’ll send you a photo.” He sent it on its way. “Got it?”

  “Yes, and I want it.”

  “Let me call her and tell her about you, then I’ll get right back.” He hung up.

  “Did she bite?” Jack asked.

  “Oh, yes. You’d better call Cara.” He explained what he’d told Hilda.

  “I’ve already spoken to Cara, while you were on the phone.”

  “What was her reaction?”

  “Positive,” Jack said. “Enthusiastic when I offered her twenty-five grand and expenses.”

  “She knows why she’s going, then?”

  “Yes.”

  “She knows not to be seen with Hilda or to leave a body in my house?”

  “Disposal is included. Cara will drop her off in the Everglades on her way home, in the dead of night. There are hungry things in the Everglades.”

  Stone sat and stared at his desk. How was this any different from killing Trafficante at the Savoy? He had been ready to do that, he thought.

  “You’re still going to have to deal with Trafficante, though. From his conversation with his Don, I’d say he hates you.”

  “Believe me, I realize that.”

  “I may be able to help with that, too.”

  “I may need help with that.” Stone buzzed Joan. “How much cash do we have in the safe?”

  “About thirty-five thousand, I think.”

  “Put twenty-five of it into an envelope and bring it to me, please.” He turned to Jack. “Where is Cara now?”

  “In New York, for a few days’ shopping.”

  “I think sh
e’d better get to Key West right away, before Hilda gets bored again. She can rent a car at the airport and return it in Palm Beach.”

  “She’ll be on a six o’clock plane. Should be at your house by nine.”

  Joan came in with a fat envelope. “Give it to Mr. Coulter, please. He’s going to make an investment for me.”

  Joan gave Jack the envelope. “Do we need a receipt?” she asked Stone.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Stone replied. “Restock, though.”

  “Will do.” Joan left.

  “Tell Cara that the maid is off this week. She’ll be back on Monday to clean up after Hilda.”

  “That’s convenient,” Jack said.

  Stone gave him the address and directions to the house from the airport, and the code for the driveway gate. “Tell her there’s off-street parking, and she can use the garage closest to the house; same gate code.”

  “Do you want her to call you when it’s done?”

  “No, I want her to call you when it’s done. Then you can call me and just say ‘the package arrived,’ and I’ll know she’s on her way back to Palm Beach.”

  “Done,” Jack said, rising. “I’ve got to get home. Hillary and I are dining with friends tonight.”

  “Thank you, Jack,” Stone said, and saw him out.

  Stone went back to his desk and called Hilda.

  “What’s up?”

  “Cara,” Stone said. “She’s landing this evening; should be at the house by nine. She’s got this number, if she needs to reach you.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Hilda said.

  “I’ll be down the day after tomorrow. I’ll let you know what time to expect me.”

  “My guess is, you can expect to find both Cara and me here,” Hilda said. “We’ll plan something special for you.”

  “That sounds enticing,” Stone said. They both hung up.

  The phone rang, making Stone jump.

  “Hello?”

  “It’s Dino. What’s up?”

  “Not much.”

  “Dinner at P.J.’s, seven o’clock?”