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

“I’ll have to ask Langley.” That meant Lance.

“I’d like to try, anyway.”

“I came over to brief you on tomorrow’s lunch.”

“So, brief me.”

“We’re going to have a significant presence in and around the restaurant, that is, we and the Paris police.”

“Good.”

“Also, we’ve had a word with the maître d’ about seating arrangements. Any apparent entourage of your luncheon companion will be shunted upstairs.”

“Good idea.”

“I also want you to record your conversation.”

“I don’t mind doing that.”

Rick handed him a small jeweler’s box. “This is what you’ll use.”

Stone opened the box to find a small American flag pin. The red stripes were rubies, the white ones diamonds, and the blue field diamonds on a background of sapphires.

“Just put that in your buttonhole,” Rick said. “No visible wires or batteries. As soon as you plug the pin into the little clamp that holds it on, it activates. It’s good for about three hours, which should be plenty.”

Stone put the pin back into the box and the box into his pocket. “Okay.”

Rick handed him another box. “This goes into your left ear,” he said.

Stone opened the box and found what appeared to be a lump of plastic. There was also a sort of tool with a hook on the end.

“Push it into the ear as far as it will go. To get it out, use the little hook.”

Stone examined the thing carefully. “You’ll be able to talk to me?”

“Only if I have suggestions. If you can lead him into an admission of a crime, that would be a nice bonus.”

“I doubt he’s going to pour his heart out to me.”

“Maybe he’ll brag.”

“Who knows?”

“Exactly. If he does, encourage him.”

“I’ll do that.”

“You might also encourage him to threaten you. That would be helpful to the French. Tomorrow, you won’t see any of us. Just leave the house and walk down the street to Lipp.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want a weapon?”

“What would I do with it? Shoot him in the middle of a popular restaurant? I’d never get a table again.”

“Lance says to be careful.”

“Lance always says that. He doesn’t really think I’ll be exposed to harm, does he?”

“Lance always expects that. It’s not a bad policy. One more thing: when you’ve wrapped up your lunch, don’t leave the restaurant with him. Make an excuse to stay.”

“Okay.”

“Good luck.”

“Will I need it?”

“We’ll see.”

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