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Back Strategic Moves Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. Acknowledgements
  66. AUTHOR’S NOTE

“I’m beginning to think that it wasn’t David. I’m beginning to think it was Stephanie—or maybe Stephanie and David.”

Stone regarded Herbie for a moment. He did not appear to be delusional—indeed Herbie had appeared for some weeks now to be conducting himself entirely within the bounds of rationality, a sort of extended lucid interval. “What makes you think that, Herbie?”

“I’ve overheard snippets of telephone conversations; I’ve heard travel arrangements being made; I’ve heard mention of an island in the South Pacific called Attola.”

“I’ve heard something about that place, Herbie, but I can’t remember what.”

“It’s apparently a very posh place,” Herbie said, “and very far from anywhere.”

“Well, it sounds peaceful,” Stone said.

“It also has something to do with offshore banking,” Herbie said.

“Uh-oh,” Stone replied.

FIFTY-FIVE

FIFTY-FIVE

Stone regarded Herbie with some sympathy. “Herbie, have you invested all your money, all ten million, with the Gunn company?”

“Not all of it,” Herbie said. “Only seven million.”

“Who do you deal with over there?”

“With Jack Gunn,” Herbie said.

“All right, I’m going to try something; you just sit and listen.” Stone looked up the number of Gunn Investments and asked to speak to Jack Gunn. Somewhat to Stone’s surprise, Jack came on the line almost immediately.

“What can I do for you, Stone?”

“I’m calling on behalf of a client,” Stone said. “This is very sensitive, and I must ask you not to mention this to any of your colleagues.”

“All right. What is it?”

“Herbert Fisher is my client. He has seven million dollars invested with you, and he has gotten himself into some difficulties that I believe are temporary. He therefore wishes to withdraw all his funds immediately.”

Gunn was silent for a moment. “Does Stephanie know about this?”

“No, and Herbie is very anxious that she not know. It would be humiliating for him to have to explain it to her.”

“What do you mean by immediately?” Gunn asked.

“I mean right now.”

Again, a silence, then: “All right. I’ll cut a check. Tell Herbie he can pick it up from the receptionist in half an hour.”

“Thank you, Jack.”

“Stephanie tells me that you declined an opportunity to invest with us.”

“I’m very sorry about that, Jack, but circumstances have been difficult. I hope to have a resolution soon, and I hope I can invest with you at that time.”

“I’ll keep the opportunity open, then. Goodbye, Stone.”