“I found it in a shop down the street, amazingly enough. They had two bottles, and I bought both of them.” She poured them each a drink.

“I didn’t know you were a bourbon drinker,” he said.

“I’m a Georgia girl, little town called Delano. We didn’t even have a liquor store, but we managed.”

“How did Arthur Steele become your stepfather?”

“My mother moved to New York when I was in college, and she got a job at an insurance agency. She met Arthur there, when he came to see her boss. Next thing I knew, she was married to him and living on Fifth Avenue. They invited me up for Thanksgiving, and that was the first time I met him.”

“Was it love at first sight for the two of you?”

“No, but we got along. He was nice enough to give me a trust fund, the income from which has allowed me to be a painter. It took me ten years to start making a living from selling my work.”

“Arthur must have a soft spot for you.”

“He has a soft spot for my mother, and whatever it cost him, it was worth it not to have her worrying about whether I was starving. Arthur is a pragmatic man.”

—

At seven they walked across the street to the little restaurant, and it turned out to be very good.

“I guess I’m going to have to get used to having Italian food every night,” Hedy said.

“That’s no strain for me,” Stone said. “I love Italian food.” There were no spirits available, so he ordered a bottle of Amarone.

Stone’s phone rang. “Hello?”

“It’s Hal. The car we bugged is back in the neighborhood. Be prepared to leave cash on the table and leave, if necessary.”

“Okay.” Stone saw Ernie walk past a window near their table, and he shifted his chair to the other side, so as to face the street.

“Anything wrong?” Hedy asked.

“Not yet,” Stone said.

14

Ernie appeared in the restaurant window again. He was looking up the street and held up a hand as if to say, “Stop.”

Then he turned, looked directly at Stone, and beckoned.

Stone left cash on the table, took Hedy’s hand, and towed her to the door. Ernie walked up. “Just one second,” he said, looking up the street again. “When I say go, walk quickly across the street and under the arch.”

Stone waited patiently.

“What’s happening?” Hedy asked.

“I’ll tell you in a minute.”

“Go,” Ernie said.

Stone took Hedy’s hand and hurried her across the street and into the courtyard. When they were on the elevator, Hedy demanded information again.

“Ernie and Hal saw someone who made them uncomfortable,” Stone said. “They wanted us to cross the street without being seen.”

“Okay,” Hedy said. “Is this how we have to live our lives for the next three weeks?”