“Perhaps a good investment would interest me,” Stone said.
“With respect, Stone,” Larsen replied smoothly, “I think we’re out of your league here.”
“Stone,” Mitzi said, “would you mind?”
“Not at all,” Stone said, rising.
“Patti,” Larsen said, “why don’t you keep Stone company?”
Stone walked off down a hallway, having no idea where he was going, and Patti trotted along behind him. After a short walk, he emerged into a kitchen, a large room filled with the latest in appliances but decorated as though it were a part of someone’s comfortable home. Stone opened a refrigerator door. “Can I get you something, Patti?” he asked.
Patti came over and looked into the fridge, placing her hand on his ass and squeezing. “
Mmmm
. Why don’t you open that half bottle of champagne?” she asked.
Stone brought it out then searched the cabinets until he came up with a pair of flutes. He opened the half bottle and poured. There was a sofa in the room, but sexually sated as he was, he didn’t want to share it with Patti, who, on their previous evening together, had been very seductive, so he took a kitchen stool at a counter in the center of the room.
Patti used a stool as a ladder that allowed her to sit on the butcher-block countertop beside him. “I’m glad we have a little time together,” she said. “Last time we met I didn’t see enough of you, so to speak.”
Stone glanced at her hiked-up skirt, which hadn’t been long to begin with and was now near crotch level. “Well, I’m seeing a lot of you now,” he replied.
“Would you like to see more?” she asked playfully, hiking up the skirt until there was nothing between the countertop and her ass. She was not wearing panties, and her wax job was Brazilian.
“Is that the new fashion?” Stone asked. “No underwear?”
“Like it?” she asked.
“What’s not to like?” Stone asked. “I’m sure it attracts a lot of attention.”
“It attracts the attention of only those I’m attracted to,” Patti replied.
“That’s very flattering,” Stone said. He couldn’t think of anything else to say. Clearly, Patti had been sent by her husband to keep him out of the living room, and she was using every technique at her disposal. “I hope no one suddenly walks in here,” he said.
“Oh, no one will,” Patti said. “It’s obviously the maid’s night off, and the others are talking about money, which will hold their attention for some time. I’d say we have at least an hour alone before someone invites us back to the living room.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Stone said, becoming aroused in spite of himself. He sipped his champagne. “Are you always so free with your favors?”
“When I feel like it,” Patti replied, “and I feel like it tonight. In fact, I’m getting wet just thinking about it.”
“Then I don’t think you need me for a satisfactory resolution to your, ah, condition.”
“Oh, I never need a man for that,” she said, “but there are times when I’d like one, and this is one of those times.”
Stone was short of words again.
“In fact,” she said, “all you have to do is stand up. This counter is exactly the right height for you to just sort of walk into me.”
“I suppose it is,” Stone said.
She reached over and stroked his crotch. “And I can tell you’re ready.” She squeezed.
Stone twitched involuntarily. God knows, I’m ready, he thought. He looked for a way out of this without insulting her. “Actually, I was quite active last night, and I’m pretty sore.”
“I’ll be gentle,” she said. She took his arm, pulled him off the stool onto his feet, and kicked the stool away. She put a hand inside his belt and pulled him toward her.
“I really am very uncomfortable with this,” Stone said, removing her hand from his belt.
“Then let’s free things up,” she said, reaching for his zipper.
“Let’s not,” Stone said, removing her hand again.
“Stone!” a male voice called from the hallway.
Stone turned. “Yes?” he called, trying not to sound relieved. When he turned back, Patti had hopped off the counter and returned her skirt to its full length.
Derek Sharpe walked into the kitchen. “Sig would like you back,” he said.
“Sure,” Stone replied, and followed Patti, who was following Derek.
She reached back for his crotch, but he evaded her by sidestepping.
Stone concentrated on reducing the bulge in his trousers, but it was difficult. He took a seat. “How can I help?”
“Derek,” Mitzi said, “may I speak to you privately for a moment while Stone chats with Sig?”
“Of course,” Sharpe replied. He got up and followed Mitzi from the room.
“I’ve been explaining to Mitzi how profitable it can be to invest in emerging technology,” Larsen said.
“What sort of emerging technology did you have in mind?” Stone asked.
“A new software company that’s developing software for the iPhone,” Larsen replied.
“Lots of people are developing software for the iPhone,” Stone said. “What’s so different about this one?”
“It’s very, very different,” Larsen said, “but I’m afraid I can’t go into that.”
“Did you go into it with Mitzi?” he asked.
“In broad terms. I’m prepared to give her a prospectus, if she’s interested, but she wanted your opinion.”
“It’s hard to have an opinion,” Stone said, “when you’re talking in generalities.” He really wanted to be listening to the conversation between Sharpe and Mitzi, but at least downtown was listening.
“I’ll make sure that you see the prospectus,” Larsen said.
“Do you have a copy with you?”
“Yes, but that’s Mitzi’s; I’ll send someone to you tomorrow with a copy that you can peruse, then return to me.”
“You’re being very cautious,” Stone said.
“The opportunity is large; I don’t want word to get around until I have my investors in this company.”
“Good thinking,” Stone said. Then it got very quiet. He caught Patti looking at his crotch and involuntarily crossed his legs.
36
MITZILED DEREK HARPE
into the study off the living room, and they sat down on a sofa. She turned to face him. “This is awkward,” she said.
Derek placed a hand on her knee. “I don’t want you ever to feel awkward with me.”
She shifted her position to dislodge the hand. “I have some friends in Charleston who want something that I can’t supply them,” she said.
“And what would that be?” Sharpe asked.
“Something that I have no experience in obtaining,” she said, “since I have no personal need for it.”
“Well, if we were in the nineteen-twenties I’d think you were going to ask me where you could buy a case of Scotch.”
“That’s not a bad analogy,” Mitzi said, trying to seem more nervous than she felt. “It’s just that I’ve been in New York for such a short time that my circle of acquaintance doesn’t extend to people who … have a wider circle of acquaintance.”
“Now it sounds as if you want me to provide you with a porno star for your personal use. Or that of your friends.”
“That’s not a good analogy,” she said. “What they want is unavailable over the counter, so to speak.”
“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.