Felicity thought about it for a moment. “I’m inclined to think you are right,” she said.

“Have you made any progress finding the leak at your end?”

“We have our suspicions.”

“Ian said he thought it would be service personnel—a driver or a cleaning lady.”

“We’re covering that avenue very closely. These people are vetted in much the same way that our officers are. The problem is, the vetting doesn’t cover their susceptibility to large sums of money. How does one assess a weakness?”

“I should think it would be easier to assess after the fact: bank balances, large cash expenditures, that sort of thing.”

“Of course we’re looking into that, but if they don’t put a bribe into their bank account, pay off the mortgage, or buy a new Jaguar, we’re stymied.”

“There’s always interrogation,” Stone said.

“As we speak, practically everyone in the building is being polygraphed and pressurized, in one way or another. This really is a major effort.”

“Of course it is, but I don’t think Ian’s safety has been compromised. I’m perfectly happy to continue having him as a guest.”

“He’ll be several days in hospital,” Felicity said. “I’ll reassess when he’s better.”

“Then you’ll be staying on for a few days?”

She smiled. “It would appear so.”

“Then perhaps you’d be more comfortable with me than at the embassy.”

“I’m sure I would be. First, though, I have to smooth the ambassador’s ruffled feathers and convince him that you are the quarry, not Ian. He has an aversion to the intelligence services, thinks we’re all cowboys.”

“In that case, perhaps he’d be happy to be rid of his houseguest.”

“Perhaps he might, I’ll find out.” They stopped in front of the embassy. She kissed him affectionately. “I’ll be in touch,” she said, then got out of the car.

When she was safely inside, Fred got back into the car. “I’m very sorry about all this, Mr. Barrington,” he said.

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Fred.”

“I should not have left the garage with that window open.”

“It was not an unreasonable thing to do. Don’t worry about it.” Stone thought about that. “On the other hand, go on worrying about it. Dino and I think the shooter was after me, not Major Rattle.”

“Then I shall go on worrying about it,” Fred said.

“Call the Bentley dealer and order a repair or a new seat. Worry about that first.”

—

Frank met Jimmy James at a restaurant by the water. Jimmy stood out in the group, because he was wearing a pin-striped suit and necktie, whereas most of the other male customers seemed to believe themselves to be in Honolulu.

They ordered drinks and lunch; Frank declined the drink.

“Let’s get down to business,” Jimmy said. “Are the police in New York looking for Frank Riggs?”