Shoot First(Stone Barrington #45)(6)
“Stone used to be on the NYPD, and he and Dino were partners in the old days, so they’ve been best friends forever. Stone, believe me, is a perfectly straightforward man. He’s what he seems to be.”
“I’m delighted to hear it,” Meg said. “I had a marriage that didn’t survive the first year of my start-up, and I didn’t have much of a social life while I was building my company. Since the buyout, everything has changed but isn’t necessarily better. Anybody who reads the Wall Street Journal knows how rich I am, and I’ve had to be very careful about the men I meet.”
“I can understand that,” Viv replied. “I don’t think Stone is as rich as you are, but he’s very well off, indeed. He doesn’t need your money.”
* * *
—
THEY HAD PASTA at the outdoor dining table.
“I know you’re in software,” Stone said to Meg. “What are you working on these days?”
“A lot of things,” she replied, “but the one that’s taking up most of our resources is the self-driving car. We’ve stolen a march on most of our competitors, and our system is in the final stages of testing.”
“Have you tried it out in New York yet?” Stone asked. “That should be a challenge for it.”
“As we speak,” she replied. “We have six vehicles—four cars and two delivery trucks—on your streets. And we’re going to put on a demonstration for the Steele board this week in Key West.”
* * *
—
THE BELLINIS were now using the name Beresford on passports and credit cards, which Gino thought sounded classy. They dined at the 21 Club early and then went to see Hamilton. “These seats were twenty-five hundred each from the hotel concierge,” he said to Veronica. “But who gives a fuck? We may not be as rich as we ought to be, but we’re rich enough for right now.”
“I’m happy,” Veronica said, “but you’re not going to be until Meg is dead and buried.”
“But then I’ll be very, very happy,” he said. “I’ll keep suing them until they come up with a big settlement. With Meg gone, they’ll fold.”
“I hope you’re right,” Veronica said.
* * *
—
AFTER DINNER, during which a couple of bottles of wine were consumed, they all ended up in the spa, and Stone was impressed with how comfortable Meg was, being naked with new friends.
She had a shower in the master bathroom, then dressed.
“I was hoping you’d stay,” Stone said.
“Not tonight, but I won’t keep you waiting long.”
“I’ll drive you to the Casa Marina.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she said. “I called for a car. Just lead me to your front door.”
He did so, and a sleek car with a small antenna array on top was parked just outside. As they approached it, the rear door slid open, and Meg got in. “This is my pride and joy,” she said, giving him a kiss.
The door slid shut, and the car moved silently away, turning at the corner.
Stone went back inside. “Is Meg gone?” Viv asked.
“Her car came for her,” Stone said. “No driver, just the car.”
* * *
—
TEN MINUTES LATER, the front doorbell rang, and Stone answered it.
Meg stood there, looking unhappy.
“I hope the car didn’t have an accident,” Stone said, bringing her in.
“It didn’t,” Meg replied. “It just stopped. One of my techs is with it now.”
“You look as though you could use a drink,” Stone said.
“I certainly could,” she replied, and he poured her a gimlet.
“Did the tech figure it out?”
“He thinks it’s a software problem,” she replied.
“Software is what you do, isn’t it?”
“It is, and we have rewritten it half a dozen times over the past two years. I would think it was impossible that we would still have a bug, but while the tech was there, he got a call. All six of our vehicles in New York stopped, too.”
“So, they all have the same software bug?”
“So it seems,” she said. “I’ve already called a team into the office to get to work on it.” She yawned. “I’m tired,” she said.
“Then why don’t you stay the night?”
She looked up at him. “Are your intentions honorable?”
“Only as honorable as they need to be,” Stone replied.
5
On Monday morning the directors of the Steele Group reassembled at the golf course.
“How’s Al Harris?” Stone asked Arthur.
“On the mend. He insisted that we play today, and he swears he’ll be at the board meeting on Friday.”
“Did he have surgery?”
“Yes, and his arm will be in a sling for a bit.”
“When you speak to him, tell him I wish him well and look forward to seeing him at the board meeting.”
They had to wait five minutes for Meg to show up, and when she did it was in a taxi. Stone supposed she was saving her driverless car for its demonstration to the board, if it was working again.