Near Miss

“We can’t afford to make a mistake in this,” Krupin said. “We must make sure before we take action. Trust me when I say I am doing all I can to resolve this quickly.”

“You say that like you’re in charge,” Asimov said. “I don’t recall us making that decision.”

“Someone needs to—”

More shouting broke out, all of them trying to drown out each other. All but the Bean Counter. Once he felt the cacophony had gone on long enough, he stood and looked around the table, without saying a word.

One by one, the men fell silent.

“Mr. Asimov has a point,” the Bean Counter said. “Our first priority should be deciding who will take over the family. Only when we have a new leader can we discuss dealing with whoever is responsible for the Greek’s death.”

One of the men scoffed. “I suppose you’re going to suggest you should be given the job.”

The Bean Counter absolutely thought he was best suited, but he was smart enough to know now was not the time. “You would be wrong. I do have a suggestion, but it is not me.”

“Who?” Asimov asked.

“There is really only one choice,” the Bean Counter said, then smiled.

Chapter 43

Stone decided to spend the next day at home. Given the Greek’s death, it seemed a reasonable precaution.

He had suggested the same to Carly.

“Why should I worry? I didn’t do anything,” she said.

“You did help plan his execution.”

“They don’t know that, do they?”

“Probably not, but look at it this way. You are a known associate of mine, and I am someone Gromyko very much wanted dead. If they can’t get to me, they may try to get to my friends. Have you forgotten they already kidnapped you once?”

“That’s one more thing I’ll never forget.”

“I thought not,” Stone said. “If you stay here, you are under the protection of Mike Freeman’s people, the best in the business.”

“I suddenly have the desire to work from home today.”

“I thought you might.”

Stone had just finished a mid-afternoon video conference when Dino called.

“Everyone still breathing over there?”

“Last I checked.”

“That’s good to hear. Dinner?”

“Always.”

“Clarke’s or Patroon?”

“Here, I think. No sense in tempting fate.”

“Works for me. What time should we be there?”

“Sixty-thirty for drinks?”

“See you then.”

Stone handed drinks to Dino and Viv as soon as they walked in, and then refreshed the one Carly had been drinking.

“Did you see the news?” Dino asked.

“That depends on what news you mean,” Stone said.

“About Alexei Gromyko.”

“If you’re about to tell me he’s dead, then yes. I heard something about that.”

“I’m sure you did. I was talking about his funeral.”

“That I hadn’t heard. What about it?”

“It’s tomorrow.”

“That’s fast,” Carly said.

“It is,” Stone said. “I guess there’s no question about the cause of death.”

“As the coroner said to me,” Dino said, “ ‘the means of Mr. Gromyko’s demise is self-evident.’ ”

Carly frowned. “That still doesn’t explain why they’d bury him so soon.”

“I can think of a reason,” Viv said. “A good one, too.”

“I’m all ears.”

“So they can get it over with.”

“That isn’t very respectful.”

“Maybe not,” Dino said, “but Viv’s right.”

“I never get tired of hearing you say that,” Viv said.

“I’ve noticed.”

“I still don’t get it,” Carly said. “Gromyko was the head of the family. Shouldn’t his funeral be a big deal?”

“From what I heard, it will be,” Dino said. “We’re calling in an extra one hundred fifty officers to handle security.”

“The police doing security for the mob.” Carly shook her head. “That has to be a first.”

“Far from it,” Stone said. “Do you think there’s never been a funeral for the head of a crime family here before? The last thing anyone wants is a shootout taking place at a cemetery.”

“It would be convenient,” Carly said, seriously.

“There are times when I worry about what’s going on in that head of yours,” Stone said.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“I guess that depends on your point of view.”

She thought for a moment, then said, “No one has told me yet why it’s happening so fast.”

“Simple,” Viv said. “Everyone’s focus will be on the funeral. Until it’s over, everything else they had going on will be put on hold.”

“Like day-to-day graft,” Stone offered.

“Or dealing with the person who had the head of their organization killed,” Dino said.

Stone blanched. “I could have gone without hearing that.”

Helene stepped into the doorway. “Dinner is ready.”

“Great, I’m starved,” Dino said.

“Me, too,” Carly said.

Stone, however, had lost his appetite.

After a meal of grilled salmon, baby potatoes, and asparagus — most of which Stone just pushed around his plate — they retired to the study for a glass of port.

“You look like you have something on your mind,” Carly said to Stone.

“What gave you that idea?” Dino asked. “The fact that he barely ate anything? Or that he has yet to take a sip of his drink?”

“Both.”

“It was the drink for me,” Viv said.

“Me, too,” Dino agreed.

“That obvious, am I?” Stone said. “I have indeed been thinking. Perhaps a trip to Maine is in order.”

“The last time I was there, people were shooting at us,” Carly said.