Стюарт Вудс - Desperate Measures

“Please don’t do that,” Stone said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll resist the temptation.”

“The City of New York would be grateful for that,” Dino said. “I was afraid we were going to have to arrest him tonight.”

“What for?” Cilla asked.

“That’s the problem. He has a carry license for the gun, so... ”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Stone said. “As I recall, a carry license lists the authorized weapons and their serial numbers, does it not?”

Dino brightened. “You’re right, it does, so unless he had the presence of mind to add his new gun to the list, we’ve got grounds for canceling his license.” Dino picked up his phone and made a call. “It’s Bacchetti; I want you to run the carry license for one Donald Trask and tell me if he’s added a new weapon, a Beretta, to his authorized list in the past few days. I’ll hold.” Dino covered the phone. “He’s checking. What? No Beretta? Thank you.” He hung up. “He hasn’t registered it.”

“Problem is,” Stone said, “he’s not carrying it. It’s in the safe at the Athletic Club.”

“Hoisted on my own petard,” Dino said.

“Well, he won’t carry it into the courthouse tomorrow morning, but after that, he could check out at any time.”

“Jesus, but you’re a lot of trouble,” Dino said.

“Me? What’d I do?”

“Now I’m going to have to put a man on him, so, if he has a bulge under his coat when he leaves the club, we can bust him.”

“How long does he have to register the new weapon?” Stone asked.

“I’m not sure. Three days, maybe.”

“I think I can get him to check out of the Athletic Club,” Cilla said.

“How are you going to do that?” Stone asked.

“I’ll see him in court tomorrow morning, and as soon as we get the decree, I’ll tell him I want him out of the Greenwich house by the weekend. He’ll have to go up there and pack up his stuff, so he’ll check out of the club and sleep in Greenwich, until he leaves the house.”

“So,” Stone said. “He’ll probably check out of the club tomorrow after his court appearance, so Dino’s guys can roust him when he’s on the way to catch his train.”

“That works for me,” Dino said, tossing off his drink. “Okay, I’m going home. We’ll pick up Mr. Trask’s tail when he leaves the courthouse. Which court?”

“Family court, chambers of Judge Watney,” Cilla replied.

“Then we’ll follow him to the Athletic Club and let nature take its course.”

“Cilla,” Stone said, “where is he likely to stay after he leaves the Greenwich house?”

“Normally to the Carlyle, but after our hearing he won’t have access to that anymore. Margot will be getting it ready to show it.”

“So, back to the Athletic Club?”

“Maybe, but there he’ll have the inconvenience of checking his gun. Maybe the Yale Club; he’s a member there.”

“Is there anyone at the Greenwich house you could have call you when he leaves?”

“Yes, the housekeeper, who will be glad to see the back of him.”

“Good. Tell her to ask him for a forwarding address and number when he leaves, then call you.”

“I can do that,” she said. “I’ll be speaking to her in due course.”

Dino said good night and left.

Cilla finished her cognac, then stretched and yawned. “You can take that as a hint,” she said to Stone.

Stone turned out the lights and escorted her upstairs.

He got undressed and into bed, and she went into her dressing room and was there for a half hour. When she came out she was wearing a long negligee.

“Why is it,” he said, “that it takes so long for a woman to take her clothes off ?”

She stood by the bed, slipped the straps off her shoulders, and allowed the negligee to fall to the floor. “I guess I’m just going to have to make that up to you,” she said, climbing into bed.

And she did.

At ten o’clock the following morning, Cilla got into Stone’s Bentley, and Fred drove her downtown to the courthouse. They were a few minutes early, so Fred parked near the front steps with the engine idling.

“Fred?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Stone told me how you handled my, ah, former husband the other day, and I want to thank you.”

“It was my pleasure, ma’am. Please let me know if it needs doing again.”

At ten minutes before the hour, Fred pulled up to the broad front steps and opened the door for her. As she got out, he handed her a card. “I’ll be nearby, Ms. Scott,” he said. “Please call me when you’re on the way downstairs, and I’ll pull up right here.”

“Thank you, Fred.” She walked up the front steps and found Herb Fisher waiting there, briefcase in hand. They shook hands.

“Donald and his attorney are on their way upstairs to the courtroom,” he said. “We’ll wait there, until the judge calls us into her chambers.”

They went through security, and she drew some comfort from the metal detector. Surely, Donald would not have tried to carry a gun through that. They rode up in the elevator. In the courtroom, Donald and his attorney were sitting in the front row. Herb directed her to a seat a few rows behind them. They sat quietly until a clerk came into the courtroom.

“Scott v. Trask,” he called out.

They all stood and were directed into the judge’s chambers. She was a small woman, wearing her robe. They were not offered seats but stood before her.

“Your Honor,” Terry Barnes said, “these are Ms. Scott and Mr. Trask, and Herbert Fisher for the co-plaintiff.” He placed a sheaf of documents on the desk before her. “Both parties have had counsel review the property settlement, and they have both signed. I believe everything is in order. I’ve printed out a decree, which both counsels have reviewed.”

The judge scanned the property settlement and nodded.

Cilla found herself breathing more rapidly. Donald was going to somehow torpedo this, she thought. Perhaps he would produce a weapon and kill them all.

“Are both parties satisfied with the agreement? Ms. Scott?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Mr. Trask?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Ms. Scott, do you have a financial instrument that will effect settlement?”

“Right here, Your Honor,” Herb said. “A cashier’s check in the amount of eight million dollars for Mr. Trask, and transfer documents to be signed by him. They already bear Ms. Scott’s signature.”

Trask signed the transfer documents, and the judge handed him the check, then she signed two copies of the decree and handed them to the lawyers. “If you have nothing else before the court, this matter is adjourned,” she said, and everyone filed out of the room.

The attorneys shook hands.

“Donald?” Cilla said.

“Yes?” He seemed surprised to be addressed.

“I have guests coming to Greenwich for the weekend, and I’d be grateful if you would remove your personal effects by five PM on Friday.”

“I’ve already arranged a mover for Friday,” Donald replied.

“Then goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

They left the courtroom together but took separate elevators down. Cilla called Fred to let him know she was coming.

“Herb, can I give you a lift uptown?” she asked.

“Thanks, but I have a car and driver.”

“Oh, by the way, my offer for the apartment was accepted last night, so I’ll need you to arrange a closing as soon as possible.”

“Have the seller’s attorney call me, and I’ll get right on it.”

“How long should it take?”

“Assuming a clean title, say next Monday, at ten AM?”

“Fine.”

“I’ll need a cashier’s check for the balance on the apartment.”