“Are we talking about illegal recreational drugs?” Sharpe asked.
Mitzi heaved a big sign of apparent relief. “Yes,” she said.
“In what sort of quantity?” he asked.
“Oh, just small stuff,” she replied. “They asked me if I could find them half a pound each of marijuana and cocaine.”
“Half a pound of either of those is not small stuff,” Sharpe replied. “Together, they make a quantity that ordinary dealers might be reluctant to sell you.”
“Oh?” Mitzi asked innocently. “Why? Don’t they want to sell as much as possible?”
“Yes, but they become uncomfortable when someone asks for a quantity that could subject them to arrest for dealing.”
“But that’s what they do, isn’t it?”
“They do, but the penalties for simple possession of a small amount of drugs for personal use and for possession in sufficient quantity to suggest intent to sell are very different, so they become cautious when such a request is made.”
“If it’s about money, that’s not a problem,” Mitzi said.
“It’s not about money, Mitzi; it’s more about discretion.”
“Am I being indiscreet?” she asked, widening her eyes.
“Just a little.”
“I’m sorry. I have no experience at this sort of thing,” she said. “I apologize. Please forget I asked.” She began to rise, but he stopped her.
“It’s for that reason that I want to advise you,” Sharpe said.
“All right, what is your advice?”
“First, we need to find some place to receive the package,” Sharpe said.
“How about right here?” Mitzi asked, waving an arm. “This is not exactly a street corner.”
“No, it’s not,” Sharpe admitted, “and this apartment would be a discreet place for you to accept delivery.”
“Oh, good,” she said, brightening.
“You understand that you must pay in cash?”
“I wasn’t planning to write a check or use my American Express card,” she said.
“Good, because you’re talking about quite a lot of cash.” He quoted a number.
“Goodness, that much?”
“That much.”
“Well, it’s not my money,” she said. “I guess if that’s the going rate, they’ll have to pay it.”
“Do you think they might object to that amount?” Sharpe asked.
“They left it entirely to my discretion, and I leave it entirely to yours, Derek.”
“All right. How soon can you have the cash?”
“I already have it,” Mitzi said. “I always keep some cash in the safe. I hate ATMs-such small bills!”
“I agree entirely,” Sharpe said. “Would you like to give me the money now?”
“I believe I’d prefer cash on delivery,” Mitzi said. “That’s how my daddy brought me up.”
“Well…”
“I’m good for it, Derek. I hope you know that.”
“Of course I know that, Mitzi. I’ll send the man over with it tomorrow morning, if that’s all right.”
Mitzi shook her head. “I’m perfectly happy to receive the package here,” she said, “but I won’t have some drug dealer in this apartment. I’d be scared to death.”
“Well, suppose I send Hildy Parsons over with it.”
Mitzi shook her head again. “I wouldn’t ask Hildy to do that,” she said. “I hardly know her.”
“Oh, she won’t know what’s she’s delivering,” Sharpe said.
“I don’t care about that. I mean, if she had some sort of accident and got caught with it I’d never forgive myself. I’m surprised you’d let her do such a thing, Derek.”
“You want me to deliver it myself?” he asked.
She put her hand on his. “Oh, Derek, would you?”
“Well…”
“I’d be your friend forever,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I might even buy a picture… or two.”
Sharpe smiled broadly. “I’d be very happy to help you out,” Derek said.
“And if my friends are happy with what they get, could you get them more in the future?”
“I’m sure I could,” Derek said. “Tell me, how are they going to get the package back to Charleston?”
“They have their own jet,” she said.
“Perfect,” Sharpe said. “And you’ll have the money ready?”
“Of course. I’ll find something to put it in for you.”
“That won’t be necessary; I’ll bring a briefcase.”
“Oh, good,” Mitzi said, standing up.
Sharpe stood up, too, and made a move toward her.
Mitzi hadn’t been expecting it, and suddenly she found his lips on hers. It was a struggle not to grab a letter opener from the desk next to her and plunge it into his neck, but she stood still and let him put his tongue in her mouth for a moment, before pushing him gently away.
“Oh, Derek, you’re so impulsive.”
“I’ll be more deliberate next time,” he said.
“What would Hildy say?”
“I think Hildy might find it exciting,” he said.
“Please don’t bring her with you tomorrow,” she said. “I would be embarrassed if she found out what we’re doing.”
“I’ll come alone,” he said, rubbing the back of his fingers across her right breast.
“Oh, good,” Mitzi said, taking his arm and leading him back into the living room. “Did you say ten tomorrow morning?”
“That’s good for me,” he replied.
She squeezed his arm. “That’s good for me, too.”
37
STONE AND MITZI SAT sipping bourbon at a front room table at the Park Avenue Café.
“So, it went well?”
“So well I can’t believe it,” Mitzi said. “Downtown was thrilled with what they got on tape.” She smiled. “They enjoyed your tape, too.”
“I’m afraid Patti had been given the task of keeping me out of the living room, and she was enjoying her work a little too much.” He gave her an account.
Mitzi nearly choked on her Knob Creek. “I’m surprised you didn’t succumb!”
“If you and Rita hadn’t worn me out last night, I might well have.”
“Men have no stamina,” Mitzi said.
“I didn’t know we were so weak.”
She nodded. “One orgasm and you’re done.”
“Well, with a little time out in between I can sometimes manage a second round.”
“Sex renders men unconscious,” she said. “Whereas Rita and I could have gone on all night. In fact, we nearly did!”
“But I was unconscious.”
“Well, yes.”
“Maybe we had the wrong kind of threesome,” she said.
“You mean…”
“Yes, you and another guy and me, lest you mistake my meaning.”
“I have no interest in guys.”
“Doesn’t matter, as long as you’re both interested in me.”
“You’re a glutton,” Stone said.
“Sometimes. I’ve never seen the harm in getting everything you want.”
“Hard to argue with that,” Stone agreed.
“I mean, Rita and I gave you everything you wanted, didn’t we?”
“Everything my heart desired.”
“I rest my case.”
Stone took a sip of his drink and tried to think of something to say.
“So,” she said, “do you know another guy?”
“Dino is the only single man I know, and as much as I love him, I don’t think I’d like to get into bed with him.”
“I take your point. I guess I’ll have to do my own hunting.”
“I’m afraid so.” Stone finally thought of something else to say. “By the way, tomorrow morning, you should have your people in place a couple of hours before you expect Derek Sharpe with the goods.”
“Good idea.”
“You could put one of them in a doorman’s uniform.”
She shook her head. “The co-op board would be outraged if they thought the NYPD was staging a drug bust in the building.”
“Come to think of it, you’re not going to need a lot of help to take Derek. You and Tom should be able to handle him; then you can walk him out, and the board will be none the wiser.”
“I think that’s best,” Mitzi said. “I’d hate to get Rita thrown out of the building, especially when she’s asked me to move in with her.”