The following morning, they repeated the experience, with variations. Then, while the two women showered together, Stone ordered breakfast and joined them, until the food arrived.

—

Following breakfast, they returned custody of Felicity to Geoffrey, who returned her to the dock.

“Oh, I’d better go and have a look at her boat,” Stone said.

“Don’t bother,” Felicity replied. “I’m sure it will start immediately.”

They both laughed.

“Now,” Gala said when Felicity had departed, “was that a satisfactory experience?”

“Entirely satisfactory,” Stone said, kissing her.

“It could happen again,” Gala said, “with Felicity or some other suitable woman.”

“How will I know when?”

“I’ll be sure and let you know. Just place yourself in my hands, so to speak.”

“I rather enjoy being in your hands, so to speak.”

15

Stone was settling into the study to get some work done when Gala came in. “Would you mind terribly if I missed lunch with you today? I’d like to run up to London and get some shopping done.”

“Of course, go right ahead. I’ll give you a car.”

“I’d rather take the train, if someone will give me a lift to Southampton station.”

Stone lifted a phone and spoke to Geoffrey, then hung up. “The car will be out front in five minutes. Get Geoffrey’s number and let him know on what train you’re returning, and he’ll meet you at the station.”

She kissed him and departed.

Stone worked until early afternoon, having a sandwich in the library for lunch, then, as New York began its day, began receiving calls. Joan was first.

“We’re still alive and well here,” she said.

“Good. I think you can dismiss Mike’s men. I have reason to believe that Tirov has left the city.”

“Will do.”

Bob Cantor called next. “I’ve made some refinements to my tracking software,” he said. He gave Stone instructions on reloading the software. “There,” he said. “Would you like to add any other numbers to be tracked?”

Stone thought about it, then gave Bob Gala’s new number.

“Great, you’re all set. I’ve assigned the color yellow to her phone, to make it easier to distinguish it. If you want to add any other phones, you’ll be given a choice of colors.”

“Thanks, Bob.” He hung up, then switched on the phone and checked for Gala. He picked up a yellow dot in the Savile Row area of London, and by zooming in, he was able to identify the location of Cecconi’s, a restaurant. Then, to his surprise, a green dot appeared on the screen at the same location, but slightly apart from the yellow. He called Gala’s number.

“Hello?”

“Hi, where are you?”

“I’m at Cecconi’s, having a bite at the bar,” she said.

“Then you should know that Tirov appears to be in the same restaurant.”

“Oh, my God! How did you know?”