“Sure it is,” Dino replied. “I’m Jones.”

“I have a British diplomatic passport,” Smith said.

“Well, just show it to me and we’ll forget this ugly little incident,” Dino replied.

“It’s in my inside coat pocket,” Smith said.

“No it ain’t,” a detective replied.

“I had it when I came here.”

“You had this gun when you came here,” Dino said, “and we frown on that in New York, unless you’ve got a permit.”

“He ain’t got a permit on him,” the detective said.

“And we don’t issue permits for silencers,” Dino pointed out.

“I protest!” Smith said.

“You go right ahead, but do it quietly,” Dino said, “or somebody will put you to sleep.” Dino made a motion with his head, and the two detectives dragged Smith, still protesting, out of the office.

“Okay,” Dino said to Stone, “who is he?”

Stone took Smith’s wallet and passport from his desk drawer and handed them to Dino. “One of Felicity’s,” he said, “who has turned unfriendly. Can you lose him for a couple of days?”

“Sure,” Dino said. “Elaine’s tonight?”

“I have to leave town, but I’ll be back soon. I’ll call.”

Dino left, and Stone turned to Herbie. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to invite you to my wedding.”

“When is it?”

“The day after tomorrow, at the Pierre. It just reopened after a big renovation. Stephanie’s parents live there.”

“I’m sure it’s very elegant, Herbie, but I’ll be out of the country tomorrow.”

“Maybe next time?” Herbie asked.

“Sure, next time. Put me down for it.”

58

Later that day Stone packed Felicity’s remaining bag and one for himself, then walked through the garden to the street and found a cab.

He walked into the Plaza suite to find Felicity parked in front of the TV, watching MSNBC. “Hey, there,” he said, kissing her on the neck.

“Good afternoon,” she said tonelessly. Her eyes never left the TV.

“I had an encounter with your minion, Smith, this morning.”

She turned and looked at him for the first time. “What sort of encounter?”

“One reinforced with a silenced pistol. I believe he intended to use it on me, because I wouldn’t tell him your whereabouts, but Herbie Fisher interrupted him. God bless the boy.”

“Where is Smith now?”

“In the drunk tank at the Nineteenth Precinct.”

“Dino?”

“You betcha.”

“How long will he be incarcerated?”

“Since he doesn’t have any identification, probably two or three days. Has Smith gone off the reservation?”

“Either that, or I have.”

“He seemed to be laboring under the misapprehension that Palmer has sacked you.”

“At least one of your television networks seems to be laboring under the same misapprehension,” Felicity replied. “Something has gone horribly wrong, and I don’t know what it is.”

“Don’t make any phone calls,” Stone said.

“Do you think I’m mad?”

“Certainly not.”