Page 17 of Distant Thunder

“May I have it back, please?”

“No. I may need to get in on another occasion.”

“Is someone pursuing you?”

“Usually,” Lance replied. “Ah!” He cupped a hand to his ear. “I hear my car. I’ll go now.” Then he did.

Stone was going to tell Joan to lock him out, then he recalled that it wouldn’t do any good.

10

Stone and Vanessa Morganmet in the reception room at Patroon, then found Dino and Viv already at their table. Introductions were made.

“Funny,” Dino said to her, “I thought your last name would be Collins.”

“I declined that opportunity at the time of our marriage,” Vanessa replied.

“As many women do,” Viv said, “though not I.”

“Any more questions related to Collins,” Stone asked, “before we put that subject aside permanently?”

“Thank you, Stone,” Vanessa said.

“Don’t mind Dino,” Stone replied. “He’s a policeman, andhe feels he has a God-given right to know everything about everybody.”

“Are you saying that I don’t have that right?” Dino asked.

“I am.”

“Then you’re under arrest, and I’m taking you in for further questioning.”

Everybody laughed.

“See what I mean?” Stone said. “And he’s known me for twenty-odd years.”

“Yes, and they’ve certainly been odd,” Dino reposited.

“I can’t promise you that it won’t be like this all evening,” Stone said to Vanessa.

“What kind of policeman are you, Dino?” she asked. “Do policemen specialize, like doctors in a hospital?”

“Many officers should repose in the psychiatric wing,” Stone said.

“Are you including Dino in that group?”

“Certainly not. I’d never hear the end of it. And since Dino is being shy about answering your question, I will tell you that he is the police commissioner of New York.”

“And I specialize in everything,” Dino added.

“That means that there is no one’s business that Dino’s nose wouldn’t be stuck into.”

Mercifully, a waiter appeared and they gave their drinks orders and accepted menus.

“Viv, what do you do?” Vanessa asked.

“I’m a retired cop, and now I work for Strategic Services, the world’s second-largest security company.”

“Don’t ask which is the largest,” Stone said. “You’ll never get a straight answer.”

---