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Chapters (63)
  1. Cover
  2. Books by Stuart Woods
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  63. AUTHOR’S NOTE

“It looks all the more real because it’s your own hair.”

“It certainly does.”

“Now for the glasses,” she said, holding up a pair of wraparound sunglasses. “Notice that they’re darker in the middle than at the edges. That will let you use your peripheral vision. If someone looks directly into your eyes, he won’t be able to tell where you’re looking.”

“It’s very dark in the middle,” Stone said.

“Let me give you a tip,” Marge said. “I knew a guy, once, who was almost but not totally blind. He could read a letter, if he held it up to just an inch or two from his eyes. If you get in trouble because you can’t see well enough, push the glasses up and hold something close as if to read it. That will give you a chance to look around.”

Stone tried it, and it worked.

Marge made some adjustments so that the glasses fit better, then she stood back and looked at her work. “What do you think?”

Stone checked the mirror. “I’ve never seen that guy before in my life.”

“Neither has Leo Casselli.”

54

Stone got up from his chair and took Marge’s arm. “Walk me over to the piano,” he said. There was a lot of chatter in the room, and it suddenly died. Stone could see well enough through the dark lenses to know that everyone was looking at him.

He reached out and felt for the piano, then found the chair with his other hand and slid into it. He played a fanfare, then waited. The group burst into applause.

“You look fantastic,” Jim said. “If you had walked in here in that disguise, I would have shot you.”

“He’s right,” Dino said. “I wouldn’t have known you.”

“Neither would I,” Stone said, rising and moving around, still practicing feeling his way. Dino reached out to help him.

“It’s okay, Dino, I’m not really blind.” Everybody laughed, then they all got very quiet again.

“Bon giorno,” a booming voice said. There, standing next to Marcel and dressed in red, stood a cardinal of the church. He walked over to Stone and made the sign of the cross. “I will say a special prayer for the blind for you.” He looked confused when everyone burst out laughing.

Stone took off his glasses. “I’m not really blind, Your Eminence,” he said. “It’s just for today.”

Prizzi joined in the laughter. “And you are Mr. Barrington?”

“I am.”

“I bring the regards of Arturo Steele.”

“Thank you, Your Eminence. I hope to see him soon.”

“I truly believe that Casselli no longer has possession of your lady friend,” he said. “He was too frightened to lie to me.”

“What was he frightened of?”