Hit List (Stone Barrington #53)(6)

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The CIA technician came into Stone’s office and took the chair across the desk from him. “Well, that guy—whoever he was—knew what he was doing. He did a great job of fucking up your security system.”

“Did you do a great job of fixing it?” Stone asked.

“We did. We’ve tested it in every operating mode, and everything now works.”

“Would you say that whoever the guy was, he’s familiar with CIA equipment and installations?”

The man stared back at Stone for half a minute. “Could be,” he said, finally. “But any genius could have done what he did.”

“So I’m dealing with a genius?”

“At the very least, you’re dealing with somebody who knows how to hire a genius.”

“That’s not encouraging,” Stone said.

“No, it’s not.”

“Anything else I can do for you?” Stone asked.

“See if your secure cell phone works.”

Stone got the thing out and pressed the appropriate buttons. “Scramble,” he said into the phone. He got an immediate confirmation from Lance Cabot. “It works,” Stone said to the CIA tech.

“Then I bid you a cheery good day,” the man replied, and he and his partner departed.

“Did my people fix it?” Lance asked.

“Yes, and they were very impressed with the guy who screwed it up, implying that he was familiar with CIA equipment and installations.”

“That’s libelous,” Lance replied.

“No, it’s just innocent conjecture, based on the available evidence.”

“So, it’s working now?”

“Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

“It’s working.” Stone hurried to hang up first.

Joan came into his office, still carrying her .45. “Is it fixed?”

“It’s fixed. You can put that cannon away now.”

“Not on your life,” she said. “They’ll be back.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, the guy was interrupted and came close to getting shot. I shouldn’t think he’d be happy with how he left things.”

“The CIA guy thought he should be very pleased with himself,” Stone said.

“He’s just annoyed that an outsider could screw up his equipment.”

“Maybe the outsider is a former insider. He was only here— How long?”

“I don’t know; twenty minutes, maybe a little longer.”

“Then he knew exactly where to go, didn’t he? He had some plans rolled up, tucked under his arm. Describe him for me.”

“I don’t know,” Joan said, wrinkling her brow, “medium size, uh . . .”

“I can’t describe him, either,” Stone said. “He didn’t call attention to himself, never said a word.”

“I hope he’s smarter than his boss,” Joan said.

“He may be the boss,” Stone replied, “but I didn’t know him. Dino thinks I know the culprit.”

“He sure didn’t ring a bell with me, either.”

“Call Mike Freeman and tell him I want two more people over here—one at the kitchen door at all times. The guy knows about that door, and the gate to the street.”

“Mike left this morning to fly around the world. He’ll be gone a week or three.”

“Then find the next guy in line—no the next guy in line is Viv, and she’s in Hong Kong. Find the guy after her.”

“Where do you want the other guy?”

“Moving around the house. Make sure he knows who lives and works here. You’ve got photographs, right?”

“A regular album.”

“Good.” His phone rang, and he picked it up. “Hello?”

“It’s Dino. How’s your day going?”

“Not so hot,” Stone replied, then brought him up to date.

“I guess you’re going to blame me for releasing the list to the press.”

“It crossed my mind, but I don’t think the perp learned anything he didn’t already know.”

“You want me to send cops?”

“Tell you what, send me a cop car and park it at the curb. That should accomplish the job while not straining your budget.”

“I can do that,” Dino said.

“When will it be here?”

“As soon as you can look out the window and see it.”

“Listen, have it delivered by two uniforms, and tell them to enter the house through the business entrance. They can go out the kitchen door and across the gardens to the Second Avenue exit. That way, if we’re being surveilled, the perp will think the cops are stationed inside.”

“Don’t slow them down,” Dino said. “I need the manpower.”

“We’ll hide the donuts. Since I can’t go out, you want to come over here for dinner tonight?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Be sure to tell your driver to park out front.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dino hung up.





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