“I hope you’re not going to be difficult about this, Stone. I’m beginning to feel just the tiniest bit stressed by your client’s wavering.”

“Lance, it is within your power to resolve this matter within hours, if not minutes, thereby restoring your monkish state of serenity. We will look upon your immediate actions for a sign of your good faith.”

“Once again, Stone, I must point out that if this has anything to do with the IRS, that’s beyond my purview.”

“I’m sorry, Lance, but I forgot to mention in our previous conversations that Pablo resolved all issues with the IRS years ago and we have in our possession a letter from that agency’s director confirming that, as far as it is concerned, Pablo has been, since that time, an upstanding citizen. All that remains is for you to straighten out the State Department, so that we may independently confirm that the flags have been lifted and will not be reinstated.”

There was a brief silence. “I’ll get back to you,” Lance said, then hung up.

Stone called Pablo. “I’ve spoken to Mr. C. and he has agreed to call his contact with the State Department. He’ll get back to us.”

“God, I hope so,” Pablo said.

“It’s important, Pablo, that you take no action in response to this matter. Are we clear about that?”

“All right,” Pablo said, then hung up.

Stone rested his forehead on the cool, glass top of his desk and whimpered.

THIRTY-THREE

Stone arrived at Elaine’s to find Woodman & Weld’s managing partner already seated with Dino and already drinking.

“Evening, Bill, Dino,” Stone said as he slid into a chair only slightly behind the Knob Creek that had been placed on the table.

“Evening, Stone,” Eggers said.

Stone looked at Bill for signs of pleasure or displeasure, but he wore his usual, very effective poker face.

“Anybody hungry?” Stone asked, picking up a menu.

“Sure,” Dino replied.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Eggers said.

“Well,” Stone said, “I hope your digestion improves quickly, because I’m starved.” He wasn’t about to ask if something was troubling Eggers.

Eggers fingered the menu, then set it down. “I have heard a rumor, Stone, that you may somehow be connected with a Mercedes automobile that somehow found its way into a Rye swimming pool.”

Stone looked at him askance. “You think I’ve been running around Westchester County, driving expensive automobiles into swimming pools? I assure you, my Mercedes is cozily tucked into my garage at home and has not been out for days.”

“I saw something about that on TV,” Dino said innocently.

“There’s all sorts of strange stuff on TV these days,” Stone replied. “Probably some reality show gone wrong.”

“I’ve heard it was a different kind of show gone wrong,” Eggers said. “And I’m concerned that my firm’s putative next partner might be associated with such a stunt. Dr. Holland, owner of the pool in question, is a client of the firm, and he is not as amused as everyone else in the country to find a large chunk of twisted steel in his pool. He is having to remove extensive plantings in his garden in order to get a crane in position to hoist the thing onto a flatbed truck, and there are questions as to whether his insurance covers falling German hardware.”