Stuart Woods: Dirty Work

A maid discovered the body early in the morning and notified police and hotel security. The hotel was locked down and a search conducted, resulting in a confrontation between Ms. King and police. When she pointed a pistol at them, she was shot to death.

"That's it?" Stone asked. "No reference to what happened at the Four Seasons or to Mason?"

"It's the clean version," Dino said. "Only Purdue gets his name in the papers." Dino threw up his hands. "Don't look at me. This came from a lot higher up the food chain."

"Speaking of food," Stone said, reaching for a menu. A waiter set down a Wild Turkey on the rocks. "Want to share the porterhouse for two?"

"Why not?" Dino said. "I haven't eaten. Mary Ann is at her father's."

"The porterhouse, medium to medium rare," Stone said to the waiter.

"Make that rare," Dino said.

"Make it rare on his side," Stone countered, and the waiter went away.

Carpenter suddenly appeared, looking businesslike in a suit. She sat down.

"Drink? Dinner?" Dino asked.

"Neither. I'll eat on the airplane."

"There's a flight to London this time of night?" Stone asked.

"There's an RAF airplane waiting for me at Teterboro," she said. "I'm taking back two bodies as hand baggage."

"Oh, yes."

"What will happen to La Biche's remains?" she asked Dino.

"Potter's field is my guess."

"No," Stone interjected. He told them about the package from Marie-Therese. "She wants her ashes sent back to Switzerland."

"Why don't you just flush them down the toilet?" Carpenter asked.

"Shut up, Felicity," Stone said.

"You liked her, didn't you?" she asked.

"No, I didn't. I admired… some of what she was – determined, even principled, in a way."

"And you don't like me anymore?"

"I like you, but I don't admire you," Stone said.

"I did what had to be done."

"No, you did what you had to do; there's a difference."

"At least I know that she's not after me anymore. I can relax now."

"I don't know how you can ever relax again," Stone said.

"I'm quitting, you know."

"Are you really?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"Don't think about it, just quit. You can't be a human being again until you do."

"I wish you understood," she said.

Stone shrugged. "Like you said, it's a war; what's to understand?"

She stood up. "I have to go." She gave Dino a hug, then turned to Stone.

"I don't feel like kissing you," she said.

"Then don't."

"Call me when you're in London?"

"After you've retired."

She gave him a little wave, then left.

They were quiet for a while, sipping their drinks, then Dino finally spoke. "You were too hard on her."

"Was I?"

"We all have our dirty work to do – Carpenter, me, and you."

Stone downed the rest of his bourbon and signaled a waiter for another. "I think you'd better order a police car to take me home tonight."

"It's waiting outside," Dino said.