Стюарт Вудс - Cut and Thrust

“Well done, Fred. You gentlemen, take him aside and get his ID and his statement. I’ll be up there.” He pointed to where Dino and the others stood, staring down at him, then he ran around the crowd and took up his former position behind Viv.

“May we continue now, Mr. Barrington?” the mayor asked.

“Yes, of course, sir. Someone was just trying to shoot you, but he was thwarted.”

“Just as soon as I get Dino sworn in, I want to hear about that,” the mayor said, and Stone nodded. The mayor returned to his work and took the oath from Dino — then he turned back to the crowd. “I have one more announcement to make,” he said. “I am very pleased to offer my wholehearted, unconditional endorsement of Tom Donnelly as the next mayor of New York City!”

Afterward, as Stone was explaining to the mayor, Tom Donnelly, and Dino what had happened, he saw Fred leave the two detectives and approach. He waved the little man over. “Mayor,” he said, “I’d like to introduce you to the gentleman who just saved your life. This is Frederick Flicker, formerly of the Royal Marines.”

The mayor pumped Fred’s hand, who looked embarrassed.

Fred shook the offered hands, then said, “I’d better get the car.” And he did.

When they were driving uptown, Stone said, “Fred, I’m glad we got you that carry license.”

“So am I, sir,” Fred replied. “I considered shooting the man but thought better of it.”

“I’m so glad you did, Fred,” Stone said.

Stone waited dinner for Ann, and she managed to get home at eight o’clock, looking flustered.

“Anything bad happen?” Stone asked.

“That depends on your definition of ‘bad,’” she replied, then she threw up her hands. “Don’t ask!”

“All right, I won’t.” He led her to the study and poured her a martini. “Helene is putting the finishing touches on dinner,” he said.

“So, how was your day?”

“Well, let’s see. The police commissioner resigned from office and announced for mayor. The mayor appointed Dino to succeed as commissioner, effective immediately, and Fred tackled a gunman and saved the mayor’s life.”

“ What? Tell me everything!”

Stone told her everything. He was about to pour them another drink when Fred entered the study.

“Excuse me, Mr. Barrington, dinner is served in the kitchen.”

“Fred,” Ann said, “I want to congratulate you on your bravery this afternoon. I’ve heard all about it, and that was a marvelous piece of work.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Fred said. “I saw my duty, and I done it, that’s all.”

“That’s all anyone can ask of a man,” Stone observed.

“Ah, Mr. Barrington, I’m sorry to bring this up, but I’ve been besieged by all sorts of newspaper and television people for interviews.”

“Do you want to become even more famous, Fred? If so, grant the interviews.”

“Oh, no, sir, I was trained to do my duty quietly and avoid public exposure.”

“Then ask Joan to tell them all that Mr. Flicker wishes to maintain his privacy and not grant any interviews or photos.”

“A very good plan, Mr. Barrington. I’ll tell Joan.”

Fred led them downstairs as if they didn’t know the way and seated Ann while Stone selected a bottle from the wine cooler. He decanted it and poured them each a glass.

“Oh, Greek food!” Ann enthused. “My favorite.”

“Now that Helene has heard you say that, you may never be given anything else,” Stone said.

They dined on dolmades — stuffed vine leaves — and moussaka — a casserole of lamb and aubergines covered with a béchamel sauce — and drank the sturdy Amarone Stone had chosen. Stone shooed Helene and Fred out of the kitchen, telling them to worry about the dishes tomorrow.

In Los Angeles, Billy and Betsy Burnett were leaving the studio together for the drive home.

“What happened in San Francisco?” Betsy asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Billy replied.

“Come on, Billy, do you think I don’t know why you went there for two nights?”

“Don’t make suppositions.”

“I’m not supposing, I know . And if you’ve resumed killing people, then I think I have a right to know so that I can help keep anyone from finding out. You’ll need an alibi, you know.”

“Darling,” Billy said, “I promise I will never put you in such a position that you will need to give me an alibi.”

“ What happened in San Francisco? ” she demanded.

“When I said nothing, I was telling the truth.”

“Billy, when you undertake something like that, something happens.”

“It’s not that I didn’t try,” Billy said, sighing. “I made two attempts, both foiled by circumstances.”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” Betsy said.

“Don’t be glad — it will have to be done at some point.”

“Will it really, Billy? Isn’t there another way?”

“Ed Eagle has been trying every other way for years, to no avail. It’s down to me, now. I’m all he has left.”

“Well, I can’t tell you not to get involved, I guess. Ed is a friend of Stone’s, and we owe Stone so much.”

“I was able to pass something on to Stone that I hope will help. Barbara is starting a campaign of interviews to make Ed look like the bad guy in all this.”

“That’s terrible!”

“Yes, and I hope that someone can do something to counteract her campaign.”

“Don’t worry yourself, Stone will think of something.”

“I hope you’re right,” Billy said. “Otherwise, I’m going to have to think of something else. Barbara and her husband are looking for a house in Bel-Air, I hear. If they find something in L.A., that will make her more accessible.”

“I just hope this all goes away,” Betsy said.

“It will go away,” Billy replied. “One way or another.”

Ann put her fork down. “That was just wonderful ,” she said. “Now I think I have the fortitude to tell you what happened today.”

“That sounds bad.”

“As I said before, it depends on how you define ‘bad.’”

“Tell me.”

“You must never breathe a word of this to a living soul,” she said. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ann took a deep breath. “I think Kate may be pregnant.”

Stone sat and stared at Ann. “Did Kate tell you that?”

“No, she didn’t, but you know how cool and calm Kate always is?”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that about her.”

“Well, now she’s nervous to the point where she’s been throwing up. I’ve caught her twice.”

“I should think that being the candidate is enough to make her nervous.”

“Maybe, but have you seen any of the campaign commercials?”

“Only one.”

“Did you notice how she seemed to... glow ?”

“That was probably just makeup.”

“She wasn’t wearing makeup,” Ann said. “The director told her she didn’t need it. Only two things make a woman glow like that — a new love or pregnancy.”

“I wouldn’t think there would be time in her life for a new love.”

“No, there wouldn’t be, and she loves Will Lee so intensely that it just wouldn’t be possible.”

“So, to your mind, the only other possibility is...”

“Exactly.”

“Let me ask you this: If she were pregnant, do you think she would tell you?”

“I’ve thought about that, and I believe she would. I don’t think she would tell Molly, they don’t have that kind of relationship — but Kate and I do.”

“Would she tell Will?”

“Oh, yes, she wouldn’t keep that from him.”

“How old is Kate?”

“That’s classified,” Ann said, “and you will never have a high enough security clearance to find out.”