“All right, I won’t worry.”

“Actually, perhaps you should worry just a little, because Casselli called you yesterday and was connected to your old number for a couple of seconds.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“That was long enough for him to get a fix on your general location, if he has the right equipment, and I’m sure he does, so you should assume he knows you’re in Paris.”

“Swell.”

“But, if you hung up immediately, he probably doesn’t have your street address.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“Don’t be relieved too quickly, he might have gotten it.”

“Oh?”

“But don’t worry, I’ve got a fix on Casselli’s phone, and he’s still in Rome.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Of course, he may be sending his minions to Paris as we speak.”

“I can’t win, can I?”

“Of course, if they don’t have your street address, they can’t find you, can they?”

“It’s always so reassuring to talk to you, Lance.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I suppose you’re wondering why I’m calling.”

“That crossed my mind.”

“Rick LaRose is going to come to see you.” Rick was the Paris station chief for the Central Intelligence Agency.

“It’s always a pleasure to see Rick.”

“Not this time. He’s going to ask you to do something you won’t want to do.”

“And what would that be?”

“I can’t talk about it on the phone. Rick will explain it all when you see him.”

“I can hardly wait.”

“Don’t be sarcastic, Stone, it doesn’t suit you.”

“Would you prefer irony?”

“That doesn’t suit you, either.”

“And what is Rick going to do for me, in return for my doing something for you that I won’t want to do?”

“He’s going to keep Casselli and his friends from capturing you and barbecuing you on a spit.”

“Is that what Casselli wants to do to me?”

“He did that to someone very recently—last week, I think.”

“You’re just trying to frighten me.”

“I am, because you should be frightened. Under Casselli’s thin veneer of respectability, he’s really a vile and barbaric creature. I wouldn’t put anything past him. I could tell you stories from our file on him that would turn your hair white.”

“Don’t, please.”

“If you’re nice to Rick, I won’t.”

“I’ll be as nice to him as I can be, under the circumstances.”

“I was looking for a more unqualified response.”

“That’s the best I can do—under the circumstances.”

“I suppose. I understand the new girl, Ms. Kiesler, is very nice.”

“You know about her, too?”

“Stone, we’ve known each other for a long time—when are you going to get used to the fact that I know everything about everybody?”

“Never.”