Page 54

At a few minutes before noon, Stone and Jack were at Jack’s apartment, waiting for the call from the extortionist, when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Stone said.

The Strategic Services team were waiting outside the apartment, so he assumed it would be one of them.

But when he opened the door, he found Dino.

“What are you doing here?” Stone asked.

“I’m not here,” Dino said.

“You’re not?”

“Not officially. Remember, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Right. Would you like to unofficially come in?”

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Stone led Dino into the living room, where Jack was standing by the window to his large balcony.

“We have company,” Stone said.

Jack turned and furrowed his brow.

“Dino? What are you doing here?”

“He’s not here,” Stone said.

“Ah, because he’s not supposed to know what’s going on.”

“See?” Dino said to Stone.

“He got it right away.”

“Good for him.”

“I take it you haven’t received the call yet.”

“Not yet. Jack was told noon.”

Dino checked the time.

“It is noon.”

“Perhaps we should add tardiness to the list of the extortionist’s crimes,” Stone said.

On the coffee table, Jack’s phone began to ring.

“I think we can let that slide this time,” Dino said.

Jack answered the phone on speaker.

“Yes?”

“Good afternoon, Johnny,” said the same distorted voice as before.

“I trust you were able to get what I asked for.”

“Yes,” Jack said curtly.

“Where am I taking it?”

The caller chuckled.

“I like the get-it-done attitude. You have something to write on?”

“I do,” Jack said, picking up the pen that was sitting with a pad of paper next to the phone.

The caller rattled off an address, then said, “When you get there, park at the curb and stay in your car until I call you again. You get all that?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. What kind of car will you be in?”

Jack shot a glance at Stone, who gave him a quick nod.

“A Range Rover.”

“Color?”

“Black.”

“There’d better not be anyone else but you in it.”

“Then you’re going to be disappointed.”

“Excuse me?”

“I have a driver. And I’m bringing a friend with me.”

“You mean you want to bring a couple of cops with you.”

“Not cops. You told me not to call them. Just my driver and a friend, that’s all. In fact, you know who my friend is. You tried to kill him a few nights ago.”

The caller was silent for a few seconds.

“Barrington?”

“Yes.”

The man snorted.

“You’re bringing your lawyer? This isn’t a negotiation.”

“He’s coming or you’re not getting the money.”

“You’re not in a position to be calling the shots.”

“Actually, I am. I’m the one with the money, remember?”

The caller paused again, then said, “Fine. You have thirty minutes from right now.”

The line went dead.

“Let me see that address,” Dino said.

Jack handed him the paper.

“That’s right next to Columbia University. I’ll send some squad cars that way, so they’ll be close if needed.”

“We’d better get moving,” Stone said.

“We’ll be cutting it close as is.”

On the ride down in the elevator, Stone briefed the Strategic Services team on the latest developments.

The team leader was a woman named Watkins.

She gestured at one of the men with her.

“Choi will drive for you. The rest of us will split between our two sedans.”

“Don’t stay too close to us,” Stone said.

“No, sir. One will stay a block ahead and the other the same distance but behind.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to ride with you,” Dino said to her.

“It would be my honor, Commissioner.”

The Range Rover and the Strategic Services vehicles were waiting at the curb when Stone and the others stepped out of the building.

Alicia opened the SUV’s back passenger door as Stone, Jack, and Choi approached.

“Thank you,” Stone said.

“Please give the key to Mr. Choi.”

“Sir?” she said.

“Things might get a little dicey from here, so Mr. Choi will be driving.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Barrington, absolutely not. I am your driver, and I am more than qualified to handle ‘dicey’ situations.”

“Your uncle would never forgive me if I put you in danger.”

“I was under the impression you knew my uncle better than that,” she said.

“He told me to stick by you no matter what, and specifically mentioned that people might wish to do you harm.”

“Miss,” Choi said.

“I’ve had extensive training for situations like Mr. Barrington might face today. I’m sure you—”

“Mr. Choi,” Alicia interrupted.

“I’ve taken defensive driving training courses from the British Army, the U.S. Army, and three separate private defense organizations. I’ve spent over eighteen months working in combat conditions. I’ve been fired on by multiple-caliber rifles and twice by RPGs. I have never lost a passenger in any of that time. Is your training better than that?”

Choi took a step back.

“My apologies. I’ll ride with the others.” He headed for the sedan in front.

To Stone, Alicia said, “Are you satisfied with my qualifications?”

“So much so that I regret questioning them in the first place.”

“Then shall we be off?”

“Please.”