by Stuart Woods
“I’m concerned, this being a small community, that any word of your difficulties with my family not become common knowledge.”
“Not from me,” Stone said. “And you’re changed your name.”
“That was easy. Greco was my middle name, after my mother.”
“Do your girls go to school with any children who summer on the island?”
“They do not, as best as I can tell.”
“Do you have any more questions of me about local real estate or life on the island?”
“No, Jimmy has not stopped talking about all that since I arrived.”
Stone laughed, then got serious. “Now we come to the real reason for your visit,” he said.
Egon nodded. “Let’s call it an additional subject.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I want you to know that my associate may not keep his end of the truce that you proposed and he accepted.”
“Oh?”
“In my business, grudges die hard. In fact, now that I think of it, I’ve never known a grudge to die at all.”
“Perhaps you can tell me what this grudge is about,” Stone said. “I’ve never been able to figure it out.”
“It goes back to Paris some years ago, when you became entangled with some members of the Russian organization, resulting in the demise of some of its members.”
“I remember it well. I thought it ended with their deaths.”
“Not while my associate is alive.”
“Is he still alive? On the phone you were doubtful of that.”
“I still am. In fact, if he is not still alive, I am the instigator of his death.”
“That sounds like the beginning of a grudge to me.”
“My resigning from business with Gromyko was grounds for the grudge. I have made it known to someone who handles these things that I would like him to disappear from my life.”
“And his, as well?”
“As well.”
“Have you taken any steps to protect yourself and your family?”
“Moving here for the remainder of the summer is one step. If Serge survives until the late autumn I will have to rethink.”
“Then, I take it, the person you spoke to is on the island?”
“He is.”
“Would he be your cabinetmaker?”
Egon’s eyes widened. “How would you know that?”
“I was a policeman in a former existence,” Stone said, “and I met him while investigating some murders on the island. Oh, he was not the murderer, but I did come to know that he had done that sort of work in his youth, before moving up here to take over his late father’s business.”
“I see.”
“Do you intend for him to do his work on the island?”
“Yes, but only if the Greek appears here.”
“Are you expecting him?”
“Yes, but that’s only my guess. You should let your friend Rawls know that he may be on his way.”
“Why would he come himself, rather than sending someone?” Stone asked.
“Because it’s personal with him, where both you and I are concerned. He would take pleasure in our deaths, and that of Rawls.”
A horn tooted from outside.
“That would be Jimmy,” Egon said.
Stone walked him to the door. “Thank you for the warning,” Stone said.
“Good luck,” Egon replied.
“You, too,” Stone said, and watched him walk to Jimmy’s car.
51
Stone had hardly sat down with his book again when there was a knock at the front door, followed by the doorbell. It sounded urgent; he got up and answered it.
Ed Rawls brushed past him. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.
“Take it easy, Ed.”
“Easy? Wasn’t that Egon Pentkovsky who just left here with Jimmy?”
“It was.”
“Was anybody killed?”
“No. Egon continues to abide by our truce and has taken other steps to distance himself from Gromyko.” Stone sat him down, gave him a Scotch, and told him about his conversation with Egon.
“You believe that?” Rawls asked, thunderstruck.
“I did, and much of it is backed up by Lance’s research into Egon. He’s changed his name from Pentkovsky to Greco, his mother’s maiden name. And did I mention that he’s buying a house here, perhaps as we speak?”
Rawls’s expression had not changed. “What house?”
“Caleb Stone’s family place.”
“I thought that had already been bought by somebody.”
“It was, but the buyer died, and Egon is buying it from his estate. It’s been completely renovated, partly by our friend, the cabinetmaker, whose reputation has preceded him with Egon. Both his reputations, I should say. Egon has asked him to kill Gromyko, if he comes on the island.”
“Horseshit!”
“I don’t have any reason not to believe him,” Stone said. Ed was quieting down now, what with the Scotch plying his veins.
“What are you thinking of doing, Ed?”
“Taking the first shot,” Ed replied firmly.
“Egon’s wife and children are arriving tomorrow.”
“Oh, swell, he’s going to hide behind his family.”
“Ed, could I point out that Egon has never done anything to you? It was you, after all, who took out two of his brothers.”
“I did that for my country,” Ed said.
“If I may ask, how much did your country pay you for your work?”
“That’s irrelevant,” Ed said. He may have blushed a little.
“Ed, if anybody takes a shot at you, or otherwise threatens your existence, then you would have every right to defend yourself.”
“You’re goddamned right I would.”
“However, you don’t have the right to sneak over to the man’s new house and kill him.”
Ed sat back on the sofa and drained his glass. “So I have to give him the first shot, huh?”
Stone refilled his glass. “He’s not going to shoot you, Ed.”
“Listen, there’s been a boat cruising up and down off my dock.”
“How far off your dock?”
“I don’t know, three, four hundred yards, maybe.”
“It’s Penobscot Bay, Ed; the largest such body of water in Maine, and it’s full of boats, many of them cruising or fishing off your dock a few hundred yards. Don’t take it personally.”
“Was I supposed to take the guys in the plumber’s van personally?”
“I believe you did, and they are no longer a threat.”
“The guy who sent them is.”
“Well, I’m afraid Egon thinks that is true.”
“He said Gromyko is coming after us?”
“Words to that effect, and it was just a guess on his part.”
“Who better to guess?”
“You have a point, but believe me, Egon is out of it. I think you can get away with shooting anybody else who comes after you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“But not Egon. Just think of his wife and those two little girls, staring at you from a courtroom bench. You wouldn’t have a chance with a jury.”
“I’d blow my brains out, rather than go to prison,” Rawls said.
“Or, you could just do everybody a favor and do that now. It would save a lot of trouble.”
Rawls looked at Stone sharply. “You’re a real pal, you know that?”
“I’m just trying to help, to keep you from murdering an innocent man who is going to be your neighbor.”
“I don’t know if I can sleep, knowing that he’s just down the road.”
“Give it a shot—and I mean that metaphorically. Is Sally going to stay for a w
hile?”
“She is,” Rawls said, and managed a little smile.
“She’s a great reason to stay out of prison, Ed.”
“And a great reason to stay alive,” he said.
“Go home and take a nap, and make love to Sally. She will prefer that to conjugal visits at the Maine State Prison, and it will improve your mood.”
“That’s the best advice you’ve ever given me,” Rawls said, then tossed off his drink and left.
52
Stone went upstairs to wake Rocky for dinner, and she wasn’t in bed. He checked the bathroom, then went back downstairs and found her sitting on the sofa before the fire.
“You have quite a disappearing act,” Stone said.
“While you were talking with your guests I took a nap, then I went out for a walk, and when I came back you were gone,” she said.
“Now you’re back.”
“I am, and ready for a drink. It’s sundown somewhere.”
Stone made them both one. “There’s something I have to tell you about,” he said.
“Shoot.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet with the Greek.” He told her about his conversation with Egon.
“Does he have any concrete knowledge of that?”
“Just what he reads into his conversations with Gromyko. It’s his feeling that the Greek is going to disregard the pact he made with us and resume his worst intentions.”
“I see.”
“My point is, you should not go for walks alone.”
“You don’t think I can take care of myself?”
“Let me tell you a little story. Some years ago, the summer I inherited this house, a female friend of mine—one who shall remain nameless, but who is just as smart and capable of self-defense as you—went for a run down the road out there, where she was attacked without warning and spent four days bound, gagged, and chained to an iron bedstead, living on a diet of candy bars. She was about to be executed when we found her.”
“Would she have a name familiar to me?”
“We won’t discuss her name or her plight further. I use this story to show that when someone wants to get you, they can get you anywhere, even on this Edenic island. And it will save me endless worry if you will comply with my request.”
“Even if I go armed?”
“She was armed.”
“Ah.”
“I’m waiting for an affirmative reply.”
“What is the alternative?”
“To pack you up and put you on the nearest public conveyance, a Greyhound bus, and send you back to New York, where Lance will have you locked in the cellar of the Agency’s New York station until this is resolved.”
“You make it sound so attractive.”
“It does have the advantage of giving you a long, long tour of the part of New England that is serviced by U.S. Highway Route One, which sports about three thousand traffic lights and stop signs on a two-lane road. The scenery is gorgeous, but take along three or four novels.”
She sighed. “As difficult as that option is to resist, I will comply with your request.”
“Oh, good. Let me top that drink up for you.”
“Is this leading up to sex?” she asked, accepting the refill.
“Not until after dinner, unless you want to run the risk of being caught in flagrante delicto by other guests and passing strangers.”
“I think I’ll just keep drinking, until you’re ready to throw me over your shoulder and haul me upstairs.”
“Good choice.”
* * *
—
The following morning Stone woke to find himself alone again, but before he could conduct a search, Rocky came out of the bathroom, dabbing at her hair with a towel, but otherwise naked, which he preferred.
“Have I ever told you you have a beautiful body?” he asked.
“And will I hold it against you?” she replied, supplying the punch line to an old joke.
“If you please.”
“It’s wet right now, but I’ll get back to you on that.” She went back into the bathroom and hair dryer noises began.
Mary rang a bell downstairs, inviting all to breakfast, so Stone got dressed and ran downstairs. Rocky followed shortly.
“Do I hear a helicopter?” Rocky asked.
Stone listened. “You do, I believe.”
“Are we expecting VIPs?”
“I’m not,” Stone replied. “But I think I hear two helicopters.”
“Are we being invaded?”
“I hope not.”
Seth came into the room. “You want me to drive to the airport?”
“Good idea,” Stone said. “If the passengers are friendly, bring them back with you. If not, keep going.” Seth disappeared.
Twenty minutes later, he walked back into the house. “Welcome back. No new houseguests arrived?” Stone asked.
Seth shook his head and described the helicopter he’d seen. “I didn’t get a good look at the passengers, who had a taxi waiting for them, but the machine was a very slick corporate type.”
“I don’t much like the sound of that,” Stone said, and he went to find Dino and fill him in.
53
Stone was still thinking about the helicopter when his phone rang.
“Yes?”
“It’s Rawls. A chopper just flew by me at low altitude and landed.”
“So Seth told me.”
“I’m going to arm myself to the teeth and hunker down. I recommend you do the same.”
“Right.” Stone hung up.
“You think the Greek was aboard the chopper?” Dino asked.
“Helicopters are rare up here. No resident would land in one, since the town council has banned them from landing at the airfield: too noisy for local tastes.”
“Then I think we should assume that we have company,” Dino said.
“Then let’s prepare a reception,” Stone said. He unlocked Dick’s little office and opened the weapons locker. “What would you like, Dino?”
“I’m carrying a Glock, so a long gun would make me happy.”
“Me, too,” Rocky said, “if I’m invited to the party.”
“Come get ammo,” Stone said to them. He issued the weapons, and they started loading magazines.
“You got any grenades in there?” Dino asked.
“Nope. I think Dick probably thought a grenade would be too contained in this house and destroy everyone’s eardrums.” He handed them the two assault rifles and chose the Heckler & Koch machine gun for himself, sticking magazines in his belt for ready access.
Thus armed to the teeth, they double-bolted all the doors and took up positions behind furniture.
“We’ve got armored glass in the windows, right?” Dino asked.
“Yes,” Stone replied. “But I’d stay at the edges. We don’t know what they’re carrying.”
Seth came into the room carrying a pump shotgun. “Mary is secure in the pantry,” he said, “and I’ve got two boxes of double-ought shells.” He set them on the coffee table and started stuffing his pockets with them.
There was a hammering on the front door, and Stone picked up a phone and pressed the intercom button. “Yes?”
“Police! We got a search warrant, open up!”
“What police?”
The man hesitated. “State cops!”
“I know the state cops around here. Identify yourself!”
More hesitation. “I am Brown!”
“I didn’t ask what color you are. Who are you?”
“This is who I am,” the voice yelled, and somebody started firing at the front door, which hardly noticed.
Stone turned and faced the rear picture window, figuring they would try that next.
A large man, fully suit
ed up in black combat gear, ran onto the back porch, firing at the rear door.
Stone aimed at the door, in case it gave. It did not. The assailant stepped back out of sight.
“I don’t think they knew what they’d be dealing with,” Stone said to Dino, who was still covering the front door.
“Tough,” Dino said.
Stone saw a black projectile come from the side of the house and heard it bounce once on the rear porch. “Grenade!” he shouted. “Take whatever cover there . . .”
The explosion cut him off, but the door and big window held. Stone waited for the smoke to clear, then ran to the window, staying low, and looked from side to side. “Here he comes again!” he shouted, and hit the deck.
The assailant began firing at the rear door again and this time something penetrated the glass. “A round made it through!” he shouted. “Everybody, ready to fire at the door!”
What sounded like a sledgehammer struck the rear door, which held until the fourth or fifth attempt, then the doorframe seemed to bulge. “Watch out for another grenade!” Stone shouted. A moment later it went off. Astonishingly, the door held, and the man started to work with the sledgehammer again. What sounded like a crowbar was prying at the doorjamb. “He’s going to get in in a minute,” Stone cried. As he spoke, the door gave way and the man in black burst into the room.
All three of them fired bursts at him, and Stone’s caught him low, under the knee, and the assailant fell forward onto his belly. Stone fired a burst at his ass, figuring the armor didn’t go down that far at the rear. That got a cry and some swearing in a strange language from the man, and Stone fired another burst.
Dino ran forward, his Glock in his hand. He held the pistol at the back of the man’s neck, under his helmet, and fired once. The man went limp.
“One down,” Dino said.
Now the sledgehammer sounds came from the front door, and they spun around and concentrated on that. After a dozen tries the hammering stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, Stone saw another black-suited man headed for the rear door, firing as he ran. “Man at the back door!” he yelled, and everybody poured lead in that direction. The man’s face mask blew away and blood spurted out.
“Two down!” Dino shouted, and everything went quiet.
