Page 101 of Near Miss

Carly looked at Stone. “You said that’s when Greco’s having his meeting.”

“I did.” Stone had made the same connection. To Ed, he said, “Are we to assume said meeting is taking place here on Islesboro?”

“If it was, staying close to home would be a good idea,” Ed said. The server arrived with his Scotch. Ed thanked him and took a healthy sip.

“And you know this because?” Viv asked.

Dino raised both of his hands. “Wait. I’m not sure I should be around to hear the answer to that.” He started to stand, but Ed motioned him back down.

“I never said I knew anything.”

“Greco must have told him,” Carly said. “Unless you did, Stone.”

“I had no idea where the meeting was going to take place,” Stone said.

“Then that leaves Greco,” she said. “Ed, are you doing something for him?”

Ed’s brow tensed.

“Carly,” Stone said, “that’s one of those questions you shouldn’t ask.”

“Why?”

“You remember when Ed said it would be better for us not to know the details?”

“Yes. Oh, I got it.”

“I knew you would.”

Chapter 49

The group of Russians met on Islesboro at mid-morning Monday, after sleeping on the mainland the night before, then chartering their own ferry.

Peter received them on the front porch at noon, and after a glass of something, they sat down to a buffet lunch. When that had been consumed, and the house had been cleared of caterers and his wife and children, he sat down at his dining table with the family’s council.

“Once again, welcome to Islesboro,” he said. “It is my understanding that I have been chosen to lead the family. So you all say?” The group made affirmative noises. “Very well, I accept, and I will run things pretty much as the late Greek did, absent the murders.”

This news was greeted by a cold silence. “Anyone with objections to this policy will be murdered,” he said, then paused forthem to realize he was joking and laugh a bit. “I’ve spent the weekend catching up with current operations and the books. As you know Alexei initiated the policy of conducting ourselves as legitimate businesses, and that conversion will continue apace. As time passes you will begin to know the advantages of legitimacy, particularly of paying taxes. We will gain more from paying than it costs us.

“I want you all to understand that anyone who violates the legitimacy rule will pay dearly. And murder and other violent methods will no longer be practiced.” Their expressions remained hostile.

“We will begin with the matter of Stone Barrington,” Peter said. “Neither Barrington nor his friends and associates in and outside his law firm will be touched.”

“But we have had multiple generations of leadership with his death as an objective.”

“All that is over,” Peter said.

“What if he provokes us?” someone asked.

“We will not be provoked,” he replied. “If Barrington needs to be spoken to, I shall do the speaking. Does everyone understand this rule?” He looked around the table and waited until he got a nod from every man present before continuing. “Good. It is my wish that everyone at this table reach their own home safely tonight.” He waited for that to sink in.

“Divisions of responsibility for management will continue as envisioned by Alexei. If changes need to be made, I will make them. While the business will be legitimate, it will not be a democracy, and votes on any subject will not be taken. My orders will suffice. Only those who accept these conditions will be welcomed at this table when next we meet. Others may takeretirement as outlined in Alexei’s plan. You are all wealthy men and will take salaries from the individual companies. I will award such bonuses as I feel are good for the whole business. It will be expected of all of you to live on the salaries assigned to you. Displays of personal wealth are to be discouraged.” Peter continued for another half hour, then closed the meeting and thanked all for their attendance. He wondered how many he would have to kill before they took him seriously.

Ed Rawls, sitting in his living room, took off his headset, and switched off the receiver of the microphones he had planted in the house before the meeting. He called Stone Barrington on his secure cell phone and told him what had transpired. “I’ll bet you the son of a bitch doesn’t live for another week,” he said.

“Don’t underestimate him,” Stone replied.

Ed decided to tell him what he hadn’t at the golf club bar.

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