Turbulence (Stone Barrington #46)(18)

“Yes,” Lance said. “Mr. Owaki has many friends in high places.”

“And, apparently, some in low places, as well,” Stone said.

“Quite,” Lance said drily.

“I don’t have to take that from you, Stone, or from anyone else,” Box spat, looking from Stone to Lance and back.

“Perhaps,” Stone said, “you are not in possession of the news that Mr. Owaki has already tried to murder both me and your hostess and has sworn to try again.”

“Why would Selwyn even know you or Meg?” Box asked, looking genuinely surprised.

“He made a major effort to acquire Meg’s firm’s most valuable intellectual property—the specifications and designs of her self-driving automobile—and I represented her in the matter. Owaki doesn’t care who he has to kill to get what he wants. He’s in rather a bad fix now, having bought an automobile factory in England and having been left with no new product to manufacture. Not to mention the charges against him in federal court.”

“I know nothing about any of that,” Box said. “To me, he’s just a charming acquaintance.”

“And a rather large contributor to your campaigns, Joe,” Lance said.

“Lance,” Stone said, “has Owaki managed to leave the country yet?”

“My God, Stone, he’s only been out for a few hours.”

“You must be aware that he has three private jets at his disposal,” Stone said, “and at least two passports.”

“I am aware of all that,” Lance replied, “but I’m not sure the judge in his case is.”

“My guess is, if you phone his apartment, just down the street, your call will go directly to voice mail. Or, if Owaki answers, you’ll hear the muffled roar of jet engines in the background.”

Lance reached for his cell phone, then excused himself.

“Can you really be that naive, Senator?” Stone asked Box.

“Or, perhaps, that venal?”

Lance returned and sat down heavily. “I’m very much afraid you are prescient, Stone,” he said.

“Well,” Dino said, speaking for the first time, “At least the sonofabitch is no longer in my jurisdiction.”

“I don’t have to take this from any of you,” Box said, standing up. “Lance, I’m going to find my girl and get out of here; you can make your own way home.”

“Joe,” Lance said patiently, “we arrived here in my car.”

“I’m afraid your girl departed on her own a few minutes ago,” Stone said. “She’s on her way home, as we speak—in my car.”

“What?” Box demanded.

“Apparently, word of your personal reputation has preceded you.”

“Now, Joe,” Lance said, and a slight urgency in his voice caused Box to turn and look at him, “I’m afraid we are going to require your assistance in retrieving Mr. Owaki.”

“Me? How could I possibly help?”

“You were very helpful to Mr. Owaki, who is a sworn enemy of your country, were you not?”

“I’m not aware that he is that.”

“You are now, Joe. Now, tell us, where has Mr. Owaki flown to? Perhaps we can arrange a reception for him.”

“I don’t know.”

“Joe, I suspect that you may have some idea, and if you tell us, it will reflect much more favorably on you, than if you do not.”

“Well,” Box said, “he did mention something about our meeting at a London restaurant.”

“When?”

“Perhaps as soon as tomorrow evening. I’m going over for the big air show down in Kent next week.”

“Which restaurant?”

“La Bonne Nuit,” Box replied.

“Ah, yes, that of the three Michelin stars.”

“I believe so.”

“Lance,” Stone said. “If I could hazard a guess, I’d say that Mr. Owaki might be found at Annabel’s after his dinner.” Annabel’s was a private club in Berkeley Square, frequented by the famous and infamous.

“A very good insight, Stone,” Lance said. “Do you have any idea where Owaki lands his airplane in England?”

“Again, a guess: I would think that Mr. Owaki’s dislike of inconvenience would send him to the airport nearest to London, which would be London City Airport.”

“I can certainly have him met there,” Lance said.

“Something else: Owaki left Britain at the personal invitation of the home secretary, and U.K. passport control will certainly be aware of that. He also has a Turkish passport, I believe.”

“And,” Dino put in, “you don’t know which of his airplanes he’s traveling in, or even if he chartered something.”

“It gets thornier and thornier, doesn’t it?” Lance said. He turned to Senator Box. “Joe, I think it best if you keep your dinner date with Owaki at La Bonne Nuit.”

“I suppose I could do that, if I have decent transportation at my disposal.”

“Meaning a government aircraft?” Lance asked, with a look of astonishment.

“Why not? I’m a high government official traveling on my country’s business. Our aircraft manufacturers do a brisk business at that air show.”