Page 2 of Near Miss

“That’s what they think, too. A tip: don’t bring up Jack Kennedy or even George Wallace in their presence. They get all defensive.”

“Then I’ll never bring up those names,” Stone promised. He rose and went to get a fresh bottle of Knob Creek from the cabinet next to the bar.

“They’ll never need to watch your ass,” Holly said. “I’ll do that for them.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in this millennium,” Stone said, putting that part of himself back on the sofa.

“Have you loosened up yet?” Holly asked.

“I believe I have,” Stone replied.

So, they went upstairs, past two Secret Service agents, and did what Holly had suggested earlier. They did it well, too, being accustomed to each other’s bodies.

Chapter 2

Stone got Holly into his Bentley, which was nearly as well armored as the car the government supplied for her, and shipped her off to the East Side Heliport. She was wearing a burka that Ralph Lauren’s people had made for her, which saved her from recognition by the public. Her helicopter was something smaller than Marine One, and that helped, too. It was normally used by the CIA, but they were happy to loan it to her, especially at budget time.

Stone went back into his study and called Dino Bacchetti.

“Yo.”

“ ‘Yo’? Is that the person to whom I am speaking?”

“Yeah, who’s this, Lily Tomlin?”

“Dinner at Clarke’s, in an hour?”

“You’re on.” Dino hung up.

They got through a drink at the bar before they were called to their table. There was a very attractive woman seated next to Stone, opposite a handsome young man.

“I need to powder my nose,” she said to her companion, and he let her out from behind their table, though not too graciously.

As soon as she had gone, the young man threw some money on the table and got a waiter’s attention. “Bring her another drink and tell her I was called away on important business. Keep the change.” He departed.

Stone and Dino both took note of his behavior. A few minutes later the woman returned and sat down.

“I’m very much afraid you have been abandoned by the cad you came in with,” Stone said.

“Well put,” she said, glancing at the empty seat across from her.

“Have you had dinner yet?”

“I had thought I had that in my immediate future,” she said, “but it was not to be. Did he say something about important business?”

Stone nodded. “I’m Stone Barrington, and this is my friend, Dino Bacchetti,” he said. “If you’d like to join us for dinner, we promise to be harmless.”

“How kind of you!” she said brightly, moving toward them, while the waiter made adjustments with the table.

“Are you often abandoned so rudely?” Stone asked.

“Only by that particular gentleman,” she replied.

“May I ask your name?”

“I’m Matilda Martin,” she said.

“I know you may not believe this,” Stone said, “but my mother’s name was Matilda.”

---