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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

“Nor with any country,” Holly replied. “The new owners have also subdivided most of the island and have begun selling lots—minimum, five acres—and have funded a construction company to import building materials. They’ve almost completed a cushy new beach resort of about a hundred suites. And the construction company is already the island’s largest employer. They’ve adopted a building code and everything.”

“And—let me guess again—they’ve started a bank.”

“Sorry, I should have mentioned that; it was the first thing they did. It’s up and running and is a member in good standing of the world banking community.”

“And it offers numbered accounts and confidential services?”

“Exactly. It already has deposits of more than a billion dollars.”

“Does the IRS know about this?”

“Probably, but there’s nothing they can do about it. Attola has accepted no foreign aid from the United States, so we have no leverage there, short of invasion or blockade. I understand we would like to have a naval refueling station there for both aircraft and ships, so we’re being nice to them.”

“This sounds like a story on 60 Minutes,” Stone said.

“It probably will be soon. Why do you want to know about this?”

“It’s my turn to give you this answer,” Stone said. “I am not at liberty to say.”

“Gee, thanks. I spill my guts, and you tell me nothing?”

“Soon perhaps; be patient.”

“Go away.” Holly hung up.

Joan buzzed Stone. “Willa Crane on one.”

“Hey, Willa.”

“I can’t talk,” she said. “Dinner tonight at Elaine’s, eight-thirty?”

“Sure.”

She hung up without another word, and Stone was left staring at a dead phone.

At the end of the day Stone decided not to let Aaron Beck stew any longer. He called the Israeli Mission and asked for Beck.

“This is Aaron Beck,” a voice said.

“Good afternoon, Moishe,” Stone said. “It’s Stone Barrington.”

“Ah, Stone.”

“I have heard briefly from Pablo Estancia, and he has asked me to relay the following message to you. I quote: ‘Please tell Mr. Aarons that I have not, at any time, knowingly sold arms or ammunition to anyone representing any Palestinian organization, legal or otherwise, nor do I intend to do so. Any other questions Mr. Aarons has should be directed to Mr. Lance Cabot, of the Central Intelligence Agency, who has all the answers.’ ”

“And where is Pablo?” Aarons asked.

“He did not mention his location to me before he hung up. Good day, Moishe, and thank you again for an excellent lunch.”

Stone hung up feeling satisfied.

FIFTY-SIX

FIFTY-SIX

Stone walked into Elaine’s to find Dino not yet at their usual table. He sat down and a drink was brought to him.

“Dino called,” the waiter said. “He said not to wait dinner for him. He said you’d understand.”

“I don’t understand,” Stone replied. “Dino never misses dinner.”

“He said something about a double homicide.”