Page 102 of Near Miss

“I had a feeling it was something like that,” Stone said. “At least, he’s hiring the best.”

“I’m still not sure if I should have said yes.”

“Is he paying you well?”

“He is.”

“Then take his money and consider it island pest control.”

“Is that your professional opinion?”

“Professionally, I have no opinion on this because this conversation never happened.”

“Like so many of our conversations.”

“Per your suggestion, we’re having dinner here tonight,” Stone said. “If you’re free, join us.”

“I’ll check my schedule.”

Chapter 50

Ed Rawls watched the departure of the Russians from the dock next door and did a head count: two missing. He sent Peter Greco a text with this information and confirmed that the two were the same pair Greco had suspected would be the problem.

In short order he received a reply:This should be a straightforward assassination. You may shoot to kill. Don’t forget the cleanup. Payment will be as agreed and placed in your mailbox.

Consider it done,Ed wrote back. He walked over to the newly renovated house next door, which he knew to be unoccupied, carrying only a key and a briefcase.

He assembled the Czech sniper’s rifle, set up a tripod on an upper deck where it could not be seen from the road, and checked the view from the deck, past his house and dock. As the sun set, a dinghy appeared at the dock of the new house, and two men carrying duffels alit on the dock and tied up the dinghy.

Using a 24x monoscope, he followed them up the dock and past his perch, watching as they waited behind shrubbery for the traffic to clear, then crossed the road. Ed went back to his silenced rifle and began to follow their progress with the rifle’s scope. A message came on his radio, through the earpiece. “Anytime now.”

Ed aimed at the second of the two figures sneaking up to the house, and sighted him in. He squeezed off a round, catching the man above the ear and felling him. His companion turned around to discover the source of the sound he had heard, and Ed shot him in the forehead before he could collect himself.

Ed spoke into the radio. “All present, dead, and accounted for,” he said.

“Excellent,” came Greco’s reply. “When will disposal take place?”

“Your part, as soon as the sun goes down,” Rawls said.

“They will be bundled and delivered to you in the craft they arrived on, at that time,” Greco said.

“Good. I will complete my part after dinner, pending receipt of payment.”

“Done.”

Rawls disassembled and packed the rifle. He walked back to his house, put the case in his safe, then got into his car for the drive to the Barrington house. On the way, he stopped at the mailbox to collect the waiting envelope. When he reached his destination, he took a moment to do a fast count of the envelope’s contents, pocketed it, and walked up to the house.

Carly met him at the front door, while the others were just gathering at the table. “Come in, Ed, and take a seat.”

Stone looked at him questioningly for a moment. Rawls nodded.

“Welcome, all,” Stone said, raising a glass of a fine California Chardonnay to them in greeting.

The others joined the toast, then they all took a seat.

Mary began distributing plates, and Seth, her husband, brought in a large serving dish, set it on a trivet at the center of the table, and removed the lid. Stone was handed each plate and, in turn, filled them with roast pork and apples and sent them around the table.

“Bon appétit,” he said, raising his replenished glass. They responded, then dug in.

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