Стюарт Вудс - Contraband

“Well, hello, Max!” she enthused. “I like the sweater dress.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Max replied.

“I’m not old enough for ‘ma’am,’ yet,” Robbie replied.

“Thank you, miss!”

“Better. Put your shoes on. I want to see your legs better.”

Max slipped into her shoes.

“Makes all the difference, doesn’t it?”

“If you say so,” Max replied.

“Tell me what you’re looking for in the way of garments,” Robbie said.

“Dresses, suits, a coat or two.”

“In other words, everything.”

“I’m from out of town, and I need things that are better suited to New York.”

“And where are you from?”

“Key West, Florida.”

“Yes, that would require a different look, wouldn’t it? I take it you didn’t find your cashmere dress there.”

“No, I found this at Bergdorf’s.”

“Do you like cashmere?” Robbie asked.

“I just love it, for New York.”

Robbie dug out a book of fabrics and opened it. “Take a look through these. I’ll be right back.” She left the room.

“Come on, Stone,” Max said. “Grab the other end of the table.”

“Where are we taking it?”

“To the middle of the floor, away from the sofa.”

Stone got up from his comfortable chair and started for the table.

Robbie came back into the room. “See anything you like?” she asked.

“Yes, all of them. Which would you choose to work with?”

Robbie flipped through the book and pointed to a black. “This one.”

“I’m afraid that’s a no go,” Max said. “Stone has a dog who sheds.”

“Oh, you’re staying at Stone’s, are you?” Robbie asked, archly.

“She’s staying at the Lowell,” Stone said quickly, “but she visits me from time to time.”

“I’m sure she does,” Robbie said, looking Max up and down. “How nice for both of you.”

“Both of us?” Max asked, mystified.

“Well, I’d take you both on in a heartbeat,” Robbie said, giving her a warm smile.

Max recovered. “That sounds interesting,” she said, “but first, let’s dress me, before we start undressing.”

“Quite right, my dear,” Robbie said. “I was just going to suggest you strip down for me, so I can see what I’m working with — unadorned.”

“But I hardly know you,” Max replied, batting her eyelashes comically.

Someone knocked, and Robbie went to the door and opened it. The woman who had admitted them stood there. “Mrs. Stevens is here for her fitting,” she said.

“Tell her I’ll be right down,” Robbie replied, then closed the door. “Drat! And just when things were getting interesting,” she said.

“I’m glad you’re interested,” Max replied.

“Will you excuse me for a few minutes?” Robbie asked. “Mrs. Stevens is a very important customer, and I must attend to her.”

“Of course,” Max said. “Take your time.”

“I won’t be shocked if, when I come back, you’re both undressed.” She left the room, closing the door behind her.

“See what I mean?” Stone asked.

“You’re right, she’s a fast worker. Now, come help me with this table.”

They each grabbed an end and tugged. “Hang on,” Max said. “Stand back.” She waved Stone away from the table.

Stone stood back. “What are you doing?”

Max lifted her end of the table and all the books slid off onto the floor. “Now, get your end,” she said.

Stone took hold of the table, and together, they managed to get it a couple of inches off the floor and move it away from the sofa.

“This is a four-inch slab of marble on legs,” he said.

“Now,” Max said. She shucked off her shoes again and began her heel march.

Stone winced, but then the sound she was making changed in pitch.

“Here,” Max said, “right here.” She stepped off the rug and picked up one corner. “Grab hold,” she ordered.

Stone grabbed a corner and folded it back, away from the sofa. There was a mat underneath, and they folded that back, too.

“Oh, look,” Max said. “What have we got here?”

There was a door in the floor, with recessed hand grips. “Let’s get this open,” she said.

Stone took hold, and they lifted the heavy door, which was hinged on one side.

Stone viewed the contents. “Holy shit,” he said.

The space under the door in the floor contained a box, about three by five feet, with a brass handle at each end. There was also a lock.

“All right,” Stone said, “use your feminine search skills to find the key.”

Max looked around, then she went to an end table next to the sofa, opened a drawer, and held up a large key. “There you are,” she said.

“How did you do that?” Stone asked.

“I just looked where I would have hidden it,” Max replied.

Stone took the key from her, inserted it into the lock, and, after some jiggling, turned it. “You want to do the honors?” he asked.

“Why not?” Max replied. She took hold of the handle and lifted, and the box opened.

“Holy shit,” Stone said again.

“That’s redundant,” Max replied

The box was filled with neatly bundled stacks of cash. There was also a Smith & Wesson snub-nosed .38 pistol there, resting on top of the cash.

“I want a ballistics check on that weapon,” Stone said.

Then they heard Robbie’s voice on the other side of the living room door.

Max closed the box. “Quick!” she said, kicking the corners of the carpet back into place. The two of them managed to shift the coffee table back into place.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Stevens,” Robbie was saying. “Final fitting a week from today?”

Max grabbed two of the fabric sample books and dropped them onto the table, opening one.

“Good. See you then,” Robbie said, then the door opened.

Max began turning pages in the book. “Sorry about the mess,” she said to Robbie. “I needed room to work.”

“Quite all right,” Robbie said.

Stone’s phone rang, and he checked the name of the caller. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said. “I have to take this.”

“Take your time,” Robbie said. “Max and I will get better acquainted.”

Stone stepped out of the room onto the small landing, from which stairs led down to the ground-floor entrance. “Dino?”

“Who else?”

“Where are you?”

“On the way up to Sixty-Third Street, with a warrant,” he said. “Judge O’Neal came through for us.”

“I’m at Robbie’s. We found the cash and a .38.”

“Well, what do you need me for, then? Shall I go back to my office?”

“You keep a-coming,” Stone said. “Max and I will try to keep Robbie occupied.”

“Gimme ten,” Dino said, then hung up.

Stone put away his phone and walked back into the living room. Max was fending off a very determined Robbie.

Robbie looked at Stone. “Oh, good, you’re back just in time! Join us!” She turned her attention to Max again, who slapped her sharply across the chops.

Stone stood, transfixed.

Robbie looked back at him. “Right here,” she said, hiking up her skirt and revealing a bare bottom. “Come on, whip it out!”

“Stone!” Max called out. “Get her off me!”

“Robbie,” Stone said, ineffectually.

Stone then took Robbie by the hair and removed her from Max’s person. “Robbie,” he said, “it’s over.”

“What do you mean?” Robbie asked. “I’m just getting started!”

There was a hammering on the door and someone shouted, “Police! Open up!” Then the door opened, and Dino walked in.

“Dino, you’re just in time,” Stone said.

Robbie calmly said, “Do you have a warrant?”