“I’ll be right back.” Stone slid out of the banquette, walked to the front door and went outside. He looked up and down Madison Avenue. Traffic was light. A car was double-parked in front of the building next door, and two bored-looking men sat in the front seat.

Stone hailed a cab. “Start your meter. I’ll be right back,” he said to the driver. He went back inside and got Celia. “There are two men waiting in a car outside, and there’s no back way out of here, so we’re just going to have to brazen it out the front way.”

“Whatever you say.”

He led her outside and got her quickly into the cab. “Take your next left, then left again on Fifth Avenue,” he said to the driver. He positioned himself so that he could see the rearview mirror.

The car with the two men followed.

25

Celia looked over her shoulder. “It’s the same two men,” she said.

Stone dug in his pocket and handed the cabbie a hundred-dollar bill. “Do you think you can lose the car with the two guys behind us?”

The cabbie glanced in his rearview mirror, then grabbed the hundred. “I’ll do my best,” he said.

They were on Fifth Avenue now. “Turn right onto Central Park South, then turn into the park at Sixth Avenue,” Stone said.

The cabbie raced up Central Park South, but there was a red light at the corner of Sixth Avenue.

“Run it,” Stone said, “and turn into the park.”

“The park’s closed,” the cabbie said, pointing. “There’s a sign.”

“We could use a cop right now. Do it, and I’ll square it with the cops.”

The cabbie ran the light and turned into Central Park. The car behind them followed.

“Is there a tire iron in the trunk?” Stone asked.

“There’s a tire iron right here,” the cabbie said, reaching down to the floor and handing Stone the steel tool.

“Brake hard and pull over here,” Stone said. “I’m getting out of the car, and if I whistle loudly, get the hell out of here and find a cop.”

The cabbie stood on the brakes and ran the cab up onto the curb. The car behind followed, nearly rear-ending the cab. Stone got out and, clutching the tire iron, advanced on the car. He yanked the driver’s door open, grabbed the driver and pulled him into the street.

The man’s companion got out the passenger door and leveled a snub-nosed revolver at Stone. “Freeze, police!” he yelled.

Stone flashed his own badge. “Yeah? If you’re on the job, what are you doing harassing an innocent woman for money?”

The driver of the car struggled to his feet. “You just assaulted a police officer, pal.”

Stone put away his badge and took out his cell phone, punching a speed-dial button.

“Bacchetti,” Dino said. “This better be good.”