“No one blamed you. He deserved to die.”
“I didn’t kill him!” Millie took a breath. “Get someone else.”
“Oddly enough, there’s no one else I trust. At least for this job. I promise it won’t be like last time. You won’t have to carry a gun. You won’t even have to leave D.C.”
“Can I tell Quentin about it?”
“Oh, God, no.”
“Then I can’t do it.”
“A possible terrorist plot is going to succeed or fail based on whether you have a spat with your boyfriend?”
“Why can’t you get someone else?”
“There’s no one else qualified.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“You have the contacts. Your boyfriend doesn’t have to know.”
“Oh, no? I’m not even sure how to explain this phone call.”
“Good. You’ll do it. Here’s the deal. I just need a go-between. I need you to contact someone for me.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I’ll be out of the country, and he has to be contacted in person. It can’t be on the phone, and it can’t be in his office. He has to meet you in a neutral setting. That’s crucial. Insist on it.”
“And if I can get him to do that?”
“Pass along the message and tell him what to do. He’ll understand.”
“Giving orders was never my forte.”
“But you’ll do it?”
“I’ll do it. Who do you want me to boss around?”
“Lance Cabot.”
11.
TEDDY WENT UP the steps and rang the bell.
The door was opened by Fred Flicker. Fred was Stone Barrington’s driver, though he was much more than that. A formidable bodyguard, formerly of the Royal Marines, he could handle most men with his bare hands. Teddy was one of the few who did not fall into that category.
“May I help you?”
“Billy Barnett to see Stone Barrington.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“We didn’t set a specific time, but I’m sure he is.”
Fred led Teddy to the outer office where Joan Robertson, Stone Barrington’s secretary, sat behind a desk.
Joan looked up. “Yes?”
“This gentleman wishes to see Mr. Barrington.”
“And you are?”
“Billy Barnett.”
“No, you’re not.”
Teddy grinned. “Thanks, Joan, you’ve made my day. Tell Stone that a man you don’t recognize claims to be Billy Barnett.”
Joan picked up the phone and relayed that message.
Moments later the door opened and Stone Barrington came out. “Where is this imposter?” He sized up Teddy, and grinned. “Oh, I say. Excellent disguise. It would have fooled most people, but not Joan. Fred, take him out and teach him a lesson.”
“Not if you want him to keep driving for you,” Teddy said.
Stone smiled. “Ah. It is Billy Barnett, after all. Joan, call down to Helene and see if we can rustle him up some breakfast.”
“I ate on the plane,” Teddy said.
“Coffee and scones, then. And call Dino and tell him he got here. Come in, come in. Leave your suitcase, Fred can take care of it.”
Stone ushered Teddy into his study and sat him in an overstuffed leather chair.
“Boy am I glad to see you,” Stone said.
“Oh?”
“Dino called. A body was just discovered at LAX with a ticket for the red-eye in his pocket. I didn’t recognize the name, but God knows which one you might be using.”
“You told Dino I was coming?”
“I invited him to dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Dino’s coming to France?”
“You weren’t there when l’Arrington opened. The French gendarmes are much more receptive to police officials than American tourists. So, what happened on the flight?”
“A hitman tried to take me out at LAX, and I’m fairly certain another was waiting for me at JFK.”
“Is he alive?”
“The one at JFK is. He was looking for Billy Barnett, not whoever I am now.”
“Who are you, by the way?”
Teddy sighed. “Damned if I know.”
“And why do you want me to fly you to France?”
“I have my equipment with me. I can’t bring it in on a regular flight.”
“You don’t want to be caught smuggling arms into France.”
“That’s right.”
“You want me to smuggle arms into France.”
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
Stone smiled. “You wouldn’t tell me anything on the phone. What’s this all about?”
“You wouldn’t believe it.”
12.
FAHD’S NEW YORK contact called him back. “The man you were looking for did not get off the plane. But a passenger with a ticket for the flight was found dead in the men’s room in L.A.”
“It wasn’t him. If it was, my contact in L.A. would have reported in. The person we are looking for is dangerous and elusive. He killed our man in L.A., and he walked away from your man in New York.
“Luckily, we know where he’s going. He’s going to see someone named Stone Barrington. Send your man to his house, have him follow them when they leave. The man with Stone Barrington will be him.”
“Should he take them both out?”
“No. Billy Barnett is dangerous. Just keep tabs on him from a distance. We know they’re going to Paris, so check all flights. Let me know as soon as you have something.”
Fahd hung up the phone and turned to the new techie, Joram, he had monitoring his computer. Unlike his predecessor, Abad, a stickler who pedantically did everything by the book, Joram was a marshmallow of a man and dutifully did everything he was told. Blind fear of offending made Joram totally trustworthy.
“Get me everything you can on Stone Barrington.”
13.
DINO ARRIVED WHILE Stone and Teddy were enjoying coffee and pastries.