“Hello?” He sounded relaxed, but alert, as he always did.

“Mr. C. has just left my office. We have concluded arrangements, and I’d like to tell you what they are.”

“Please do, I’m dying to know.”

“He’s going to have four eight-hour days of your time to interview you. He’ll be bringing several of his people to sit in, and the entire interview will be recorded with video and audio, two copies. You get one, he gets one. That way there can be no later dispute about who said what to whom.”

“All right, but I don’t want our discussion about you-know-who recorded—audio or video.”

“That’s fair. We’re going to get all the signed documents—including a letter from the attorney general—before we introduce that subject. It will be the very last thing on the agenda.”

“Good. I will need a large-scale map of the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

“I’m not going to ask him to bring that; it would tip him off. Visit a map store. There’s one on West Forty-third Street, just east of Sixth Avenue.”

“As you wish,” Pablo said.

“Pablo, now would be a good time to move your family,” Stone said.

“I have already done so,” Pablo replied. “My family and my staff have moved to my house in—”

“I don’t need to know that,” Stone said.

“My wife called me last night. They are safe and comfortable.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“It will be a great relief for her when this business is concluded.”

“I’m sure it will be.”

“You will have to come and visit us, Stone. I live in very nice places. You’d like Marbella.”

“That’s on the coast of Spain, isn’t it?”

“Yes, a lovely spot.”

“It would be very pleasant to come and see you, Pablo.”

“Stone, I would like you to draw a new will for me.”

“I’d be happy to, as a courtesy.”

“I’ll messenger over a list of my bequests, so you can have it ready to be executed when I see you.”

“Pablo, do you have a residence in Florida?”

“I do, in Palm Beach.”

“I’m going to get a document for you to sign declaring Florida as your legal residence.”

“Is there a tax or some other advantage?”

“Yes, you’ll avoid paying New York State and City income taxes. In Florida you’ll pay a small intangibles tax on your investment holdings—stocks and bonds.”

“That would be acceptable,” Pablo said.

“What address have you filed your tax returns from?”

“My Marbella address.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Can you recommend a trustworthy private detective?”

“I can, but I need to know what you have in mind. I don’t want to screw up our deal with these people, either before or after our meeting with them. You’re going to have to promise to be a law-abiding citizen.”

“Then let’s wait until we meet to discuss that.”

“Certainly.”

“Do you need any other local referrals?”

“A good shoe repair shop,” Pablo said.