Shoot First(Stone Barrington #45)(17)

“Key West International Airport,” she said. “The departure set-down.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the car said, and the little caravan set off, negotiating turns, stopping at stop signs and traffic signals, avoiding careless tourists crossing the road in front of them, and giving bicycles and scooters a wide berth. At the airport, the cars pulled up to where departing passengers would be set down. “You are at your destination,” the car said. “Would you like me to call someone to help with your luggage?”

“No thank you,” Meg replied. “We’ve decided not to leave, but to go back to the Casa Marina instead.”

“Would you like a sightseeing tour on your way?”

“Why not?” she replied.

The cars set off again, while the car radio broadcast a continuous guided tour of the town, giving the riders a history, pointing out landmarks, and making a few jokes. Presently, they were driven back to the hotel, where the passengers got out, and the cars drove away. Meg got a big round of applause from the board.

“That’s very impressive, Meg,” Arthur Steele said for the group. “Do the vehicles always operate so flawlessly?”

“They certainly do,” Meg said. “We’re now ready to proceed from beta testing to fleet trials for the Department of Transportation and the State of California. We’ve also assigned vehicles to about two dozen officials for their daily commutes and normal uses.”

“A smart move,” Arthur said.

“Well,” Meg replied, “it will be much better than waiting for them to read the written reports from their testing staff. There’s nothing like a hands-off experience to sell a new idea.”

That got a big laugh from the board, and everybody went inside for a cocktail party, joining selected investors of both the Steele Group and Harmony Software.

“That was spectacular,” Stone said to Meg, as they followed the group.

“It kind of was, wasn’t it?” Meg replied with a big smile.

“Tell me,” Stone said, “what would have happened if one or more of the cars was involved in an accident?”

“First of all, no accident would have occurred that could be blamed on the cars, only other, driver-operated vehicles, and our cars are very good at anticipating errors by drivers of other cars. But if an accident had somehow happened, the cars would have collaborated with each other on an assessment of the injuries and damage, taking only a few seconds, then the police and ambulances, if necessary, would have been automatically notified. By the time they arrived, the cars would have printed out a completed standard-form accident report for the police and the insurance company, and the passengers would have been on their way again in record time.”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“We better have,” Meg replied.





13




The following morning Stone called Joan and let her know they were returning to New York a little early.

“Everything all right?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you want Fred to meet you?”

“Good idea. I’ll be bringing a guest, and we’d be crowded in Dino’s car.”

“I’ll let Helene know, too. Dining in tonight?”

“I expect so, just the two of us, in my study.”

“You should know that when you arrive you’ll find an unexpected guest waiting for you.”

“Who’s that?”

“You’ll see,” Joan replied, then hung up.

Stone wondered if that person could be of the female persuasion. He would not be comfortable with such a presence on this occasion. He nearly called Joan back and told her to clear the decks, but decided, instead, to rely on her discretion.



* * *



—

THEY ARRIVED at the Key West airport and left the car in the lot for George to pick up, then walked out to the airplane. Stone unlocked the baggage compartments and began loading luggage.

“You didn’t tell me you had your own airplane,” Meg said. “I was expecting an airliner.”

“What’s money for?” Stone asked.

“I don’t see any pilots.”

“There’s just one, and you’re looking at him.”

She appeared a little uncomfortable.

“Are you concerned about my piloting skills?” Stone asked her.

“Not at all, except maybe when I’m aboard that,” she said, pointing at the Citation.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll be happy to put you on an airline, but it will be close to bedtime before you arrive, since you’d probably have to make a couple of stops to change airplanes.”

Viv stepped in. “Meg, we’ve flown with Stone many times, and believe me, you will be in good hands. You and I can talk on the way about your security arrangements in New York.”

Reluctantly, Meg climbed aboard the airplane and took a seat with Viv in the passenger compartment, while Stone conducted a preflight inspection. Dino took the copilot’s seat; he didn’t fly himself, but he liked to complain about Stone’s flying.

They were first in line for takeoff, and a minute later they were climbing in a northerly direction, before joining Stone’s filed flight plan. Within half an hour they were at flight level 400, or forty thousand feet. Stone adjusted the heating for comfort and let the autopilot do the rest, then turned on some classical music in the hope of soothing Meg. The air was smooth up high, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight.