“Has anyone made an offer to buy the site from you?”

“No, why would anyone do that?”

“Perhaps someone is trying to frighten you and drive the price down, so they can buy it cheaply.”

“Nothing like that has happened,” Marcel said. “Everything is normal.”

“I’m afraid not,” Stone said. “Last night at dinner I found myself seated next to a man called Leo Casselli. Does that name ring a bell?”

“I met someone called Leonardo Casselli at a social function in Paris a couple of weeks ago.”

“Same fellow. In New York he was known as Leo, and he was the reputed head of a large Mafia organization. He returned to his native Italy some years ago.”

“I’ve heard nothing from or about him since our meeting,” Marcel said.

“I doubt very much if Casselli has retired. My friend Dino Bacchetti is looking into it. Casselli introduced himself to me, and as he left the table he said that maybe the burning of the car was a warning, and that perhaps I should heed it.”

“That sounds ominous,” Marcel said.

“I thought so, too.”

“What do you propose we do?” Marcel asked.

“I think we have to wait and see if Casselli approaches us, then, if he does, make a decision.”

“All right,” Marcel replied. As he spoke, a telephone beside him buzzed, and he picked it up. “Yes?” Marcel listened, then covered the phone. “Mr. Casselli is on the line,” he said.

“Don’t speak to him just yet,” Stone said.

“Please tell the gentleman that I’m in a meeting and can’t be disturbed,” Marcel said, then hung up the phone. “Now what, Stone?”

“I think we have to make some preparations before speaking to Casselli,” he said. “I think that we should start by replacing all your security people with guards from Strategic Services, Mike Freeman’s company.”

“I have a contract with the Italian company,” Marcel said.

“Then I had better read the contract.”

Marcel picked up the phone and ordered the contract brought to him.

Stone went through it. “The contract is up for renewal in three weeks,” he said. “I suggest you get Mike’s people in, then buy out the remaining time on that contract.”

“Call Mike,” Marcel said.

10

Stone called Mike Freeman in New York.

“Where are you?” Mike asked.

“In Rome. May I assume you have an office here?”

“You may.”

“I’m here with Marcel duBois,” Stone said. “I expect you remember taking over his security needs in Paris last year.”

“Of course.”

“He has something like the same situation now in Rome. We’re trying to build a new Arrington here, and I’m beginning to suspect that the local Mafia is taking an interest. You remember Leo Casselli?”

“I remember reading about him.”

“He’s back in Italy.” Stone told him about his encounter with Casselli and about the two fires.

“How quickly do you want my people there?”