Page 65 of Near Miss

“As you wish,” Kinder said. “Let’s get started.”

Five hours later, they concluded the meeting. Everyone at the table appeared very tired.

“That was the most productive such meeting I have ever attended,” Kinder said. “I will need tomorrow to review it and compose other questions, if necessary. After I’ve done that, it will be time to involve a United States attorney to assess the chances of success at prosecution. May we meet again tomorrow evening?”

“Of course,” Stone said.

Kinder and Grant had a brandy, then repaired to their rooms for the night.

“You did astoundingly well,” Stone said to Greco.

“Thank you.”

“Carly, did you get everything?”

“Of course,” she said. “I’ll dictate it to Joan tomorrow, and she can type it up.”

They adjourned for the evening.

Chapter 33

They met again in Stone’s study the following evening, and this time Tom Kinder and his associate had a drink.

“Where’s your U.S. attorney?” Stone asked.

“She will be here shortly,” Kinder replied. “I’m told that when asked to provide a prosecutor, she volunteered herself.”

A distant alarm bell went off in Stone’s brain. But before he had time to identify it, a tall, beautiful blonde walked into the room.

“Stone, may I introduce Tiffany Baldwin, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York? Tiffany, this is Stone Barrington, attorney for our witness, whom you have already met, and his associate, Carly Riggs.”

Stone’s heart sank. He and Tiffany had had half a dozen rolls in the hay in years past, and she would not let go. He avoided her at all times.

“Oh, yes,” Tiffany replied. “Stone and I are old friends. How do you do, Carly?”

“I do very well, thank you,” Carly replied. She appeared to have immediately sensed the circumstances of Stone’s previous acquaintance with Tiffany.

“Shall we start?” Stone asked. He conducted the meeting without so much as glancing at Tiffany, to Carly’s evident amusement.

When they were done, they all had a nightcap. Then Greco departed with the FBI, while the U.S. attorney didn’t budge from her seat. Neither did Carly.

STAY!Stone mouthed at Carly, who kept a straight face.

“May I have another drink?” Tiffany asked.

Stone poured her a very small Scotch.

“Carly,” Tiffany said. “Stone and I have something to discuss. Would you excuse us, please?”

“I’m sorry, Tiffany,” Stone said, “but Carly goes where I go this evening. I can’t have meetings with opposing counsel without her present.”

“You want a witness, then?”

“I think that will help keep the conversation on track.”

“I’ll be as quiet as a mouse,” Carly said sweetly.

“This is a rather intimate discussion,” Tiffany said.

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