“Sure. Are you expecting trouble?”
“Yes, I am. When you get this package you should photocopy the patents, then return the originals. Let me know what you think of them as soon as you’ve had a chance to read them.”
“Certainly.”
Stone hung up and handed the leather envelope to Joan. “Make us a copy of these, then the originals will be picked up by an armed messenger, copied there, and returned to us.”
Joan trotted off to do her work.
Stone was working his way through his phone messages when Joan came into his office. “There’s a man named Kronk— Is that a real name?”
“Yes, it is. What about him?”
“He’s here to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment.”
“Where are the copies you made of the patents?”
“In the Excelsior.”
“And the leather envelope?”
“That went with the originals to Woodman & Weld.”
“Good. You can show Mr. Kronk in, and don’t put any calls through while he’s here.”
Kronk entered looking dry-cleaned and well-pressed. “Good day, Mr. Barrington.”
“Good day, Mr. Kronk. I’m surprised to see you. Has your cruise ended?”
“It has.”
“I hope you enjoyed yourselves.”
“Moderately well,” Kronk replied.
“What can I do for you?”
“Where is Mr. Shepherd Troutman?”
“I’m afraid I still don’t know. I haven’t heard from him.”
“I would like you to contact him.”
“I’m afraid I have no means to do that.”
“His cell phone will do.”
“Mr. Troutman turned off his cell phone, on my advice, after he was assaulted, for the second time, in Central Park. I don’t believe he has turned it back on since that time.”
“You said you knew where to send your clients’ bills. Where do you send Mr. Troutman’s?”
“To a post office box in Lenox, Massachusetts.”
“I believe we nearly met there, this morning,” Kronk said.
“You and Mr. Troutman?”
“And you, as well.”
“I’ve been here all morning, since my return from the Vineyard.”
“By what means did you return?”
“Via a light jet, belonging to a business associate.”
“Did Mr. Troutman return with you?”
“Mr. Kronk, I’ve already told you, I am unaware of the whereabouts of Mr. Troutman. Our airplane was a small one; I’m sure if he had been aboard I would have noticed.”
“I dislike being lied to,” Kronk said.
“I dislike being called a liar,” Stone replied.
“Mr. Troutman is in possession of documents that should have been conveyed to me upon the sale of Troutman Industries.”
“I’ve read that sales contract,” Stone said, “and there was no reference therein to any documents being part of that transaction.”
“Nonsense.”
“I’ll ask my secretary to bring me the contract. Perhaps you can point out the reference to me.” Stone reached for his phone.
Kronk held up a staying hand. “Don’t bother. The inclusion of the documents in the sale was implied.”
“Neither do I recall any such implication, though such would hardly have been sufficient to transfer ownership of anything.”
“I am so advised by counsel.”
“Then perhaps you should obtain new counsel, one who didn’t fail the contracts class in law school.”
“Please deliver a message from me to Mr. Troutman,” Kronk said.
“I’d be happy to, if he should be in touch, which I doubt.”
“Tell him that, if I do not receive the documents posthaste, he is going to need new counsel, and a new head.”
“I note the threat in your request, Mr. Kronk.”
“I’m so glad to hear it.” Kronk got up and walked out.
Thirty-Nine
Stone called Mike Freeman.
“Good morning, and welcome back.”
“I had a visit from Gregor Kronk this morning.”
“I thought he was still in Massachusetts.”
“So did I.”
“What did he want?”
“Two things: the patents and Shep Troutman’s head,” Stone said. “We’ve got to review and reconstruct Shep’s security, and we’ve got to get him out of the Vineyard and keep him out of Massachusetts.”
“How soon?” Mike asked.
“Before Kronk figures out how many times I’ve lied to him.”
“You could fly the lot of them to your house in England.”
“I think if you googled me, that house would turn up, first thing. I’ve hidden there too often.”
“Key West?”
“Too hot, and the house is too small to hold everybody in comfort.”
“The Paris house?”
“Too small.”
“Your house in L.A. is infinitely expandable.” Mike spoke of the house Stone had built for his late wife, Arrington, when he had sold her property there to build the Arrington Hotel. She had not survived to see it.
“That’s a good point,” Stone said. A green light flashed on his phone. “Hold on, please.” He picked it up. “Yes?”
“The queen is on line one.”
Stone told Mike he’d get back to him later, then pressed the button. “Yes?”
“This is the White House operator. Will you accept a call from the president of the United States?”
“Of course.”
A click. “Hello there. Where are you these days?”
“In New York. I just got in from a few days on Martha’s Vineyard.”
“That sounds pleasant.”
“Believe me, it was mostly work.”
“Where are you for the next few days?”
“I’ll be in L.A. tomorrow. How about you?”
“I think it would be nice if I were in L.A., too,” she said. “I have a speech to make there, but I can tack on a couple of days without getting impeached, I think.”
“Then I will look forward to seeing you.”
“You will be alone, then?”
“I’ll have two male guests, clients.”
“Then we’ll meet at the guest cottage between the houses.”
“Perfect. Dinner tomorrow night, in the cottage?”
“Perfect, indeed. Looking forward.” She hung up.
Stone buzzed for Joan. “I’m off to L.A. in the morning. Let Faith know, so she can assemble a crew. We’ll need the G-500, wheels up at nine am. First stop, Martha’s Vineyard, next stop Burbank.”
“Done,” she said.
“Also, I’m going to need ten double rooms in the hotel for security people.”
“Your wish, etcetera, etcetera.” She hung up.
Stone called Mike Freeman back. “Okay, L.A. is on. I’ve booked ten double rooms for your people. Shep and Rod can stay at my house. We’ll pick them up at the Vineyard airport at ten am tomorrow. Let Doug know.”
“We’re going to need another airplane for my people and their equipment. I’ll get our L.A. office started on setting up communications today.”
“Okay, give me a few minutes to break the news to Shep.” They both hung up.
Stone messaged Shep: Call me back on a secure line.
A couple of minutes later, Shep was on the phone.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Not great. Have you had any problems there?”
“Not yet, but everybody is pretty tense.”
“Neither you nor Rod is safe at that location any longer, so we’re moving you both tomorrow. You can shut down that house. Doug will have you at the airport at ten am, where my Gulfstream will pick you up. I’ll be aboard.”
“This is a royal pain in the ass,” Shep said. “Where are we going?”
“I’m not going to tell you. You’ll know when you arrive. Don’t worry, the surroundings will be more pleasant there than they have been at your present location.”