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Back Dishonorable Intentions Save as PDF
Chapters (65)
  1. Cover
  2. Books by Stuart Woods
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. Author’s Note
  65. About the Author

“Hello, Lance, how are you?”

“I’m quite well, thank you, considering the state of the world. That weighs heavily on my shoulders, but otherwise, I’m rather lighthearted.”

“I’m so glad.”

“I find I am going to be in your neighborhood today, and I’d love to see your house.”

“Of course. I’ll give you lunch.”

“Is one o’clock all right? I have to make one other stop.”

“That will be fine. Would you like to stay on a night or two?”

“What a nice invitation. Let me see what I can do with my schedule. See you at one.”

Stone hung up.

“That was odd,” Gala said.

“What was odd?”

“The tone of your voice—there was a wariness in it.”

“I hadn’t noticed, but I suppose I’m always a little wary where Lance Cabot is concerned.”

“The CIA head?”

“One and the same. He’s coming for lunch today and may stay the night.”

“Why are you wary of him?”

“Lance always has an agenda, usually hidden, sometimes more than one. I expect he wants more than to see the house.”

“Will I meet him?”

“Of course—you’ll join us for lunch.”

“I’ll excuse myself if it seems he wants to be alone with you.”

“That’s very discreet of you, and don’t worry, he’ll find a way to let you know.”

37

Lance’s entourage was small: just two white SUVs. He dismounted from the front passenger seat, walked around the car and climbed the front steps, where Stone stood, waiting to meet him.

Stone offered his hand. “Welcome, Lance.”

“Thank you, Stone,” Lance replied, looking around at the house and the view. “You always have such good taste.”

“Thank you. May I offer your people some lunch?” But the cars were already making a U-turn.

“Thank you, Stone, but they saw a nearby pub on our way here that they liked the look of.”

“Come in.”

“May I have a tour?” Lance asked.

“Of course.” Stone started with the ground-floor offices, then they took the lift upstairs and saw some bedrooms, including the master suite, then they walked down to the main floor and saw the drawing room and the two dining rooms, large and small, before repairing to the library. Lance, who usually did not reveal much, seemed dazzled, especially by Gala. “I know your work on film,” he said, “and I look forward to seeing much more of it.”

“I’ll do my best to keep you busy,” Gala replied.

“It’s not too early for a drink,” Stone said.

“Have you a good single malt?”

Stone opened the liquor cabinet to display nearly a dozen.

“I’ll try the Talisker,” Lance said. “With a tiny bit of ice.” He accepted the drink and the offer of a chair opposite the sofa, where Gala sat. He took a sip of the whiskey. “Ah, good! The Scots know their business, don’t they?”