Foreign Affairs

“So are you.”

The driver dropped Hedy under an arch in a narrow street and took her bags to the elevator.

“I’d like to go to Mr. duBois’s office,” Stone said. Ten minutes later, they were driving under a larger arch and into a spacious courtyard. “Can you take my luggage to the Hassler, please?”

“Of course, sir. Should I come back for you?”

“I’ll get a cab,” Stone said. “Whatever happened to the Lancia following us?”

“He kept with us all the way.”

Stone got out and went into the building, where a uniformed security guard called duBois, then he was sent to the top floor.

Marcel greeted him at the elevator. “Come in, Stone,” he said, and ushered him to a comfortable sitting room.

“This is a lot like your Paris home,” Stone said, looking around.

“When you live in several places, it’s best to keep them as much alike as possible. That way, I always know where everything is.”

Marcel served Stone an espresso, then sat down.

“What’s going on, Marcel? I was followed here from Positano by two men in a car. Were they your security people?”

“No,” Marcel said. “It appears that someone is taking a deep interest in our plans for the new hotel. Perhaps it’s related to that.”

“Marcel, have you been approached by anyone demanding a bribe?”

“A bribe for what?”

“For anything at all. I’m begi

“No one has asked me for money, except the people I’ve hired for various things. Apart from the fire, everything has been normal.”

“Marcel, it is not normal for your car to be stolen at an autostrada service area, then returned to me in Positano and set afire.”

Marcel shrugged. “I will grant you that.”

“Who is providing security for the hotel site?”

“The same security company that provides people for this building.”

“An Italian company?”

“Yes. They were recommended by a business acquaintance.”

“Perhaps it would be better if we delayed the acquisition of the hotel site until we’ve had time to look into this situation.”

“Stone, I closed on the site this morning, on schedule. You and I now own it, through the corporation.”

“Has anyone made an offer to buy the site from you?”

“No, why would anyone do that?”

“Perhaps someone is trying to frighten you and drive the price down, so they can buy it cheaply.”

“Nothing like that has happened,” Marcel said. “Everything is normal.”

“I’m afraid not,” Stone said. “Last night at di

“I met someone called Leonardo Casselli at a social function in Paris a couple of weeks ago.”

“Same fellow. In New York he was known as Leo, and he was the reputed head of a large Mafia organization. He returned to his native Italy some years ago.”

“I’ve heard nothing from or about him since our meeting,” Marcel said.

“I doubt very much if Casselli has retired. My friend Dino Bacchetti is looking into it. Casselli introduced himself to me, and as he left the table he said that maybe the burning of the car was a warning, and that perhaps I should heed it.”

“That sounds ominous,” Marcel said.

“I thought so, too.”

“What do you propose we do?” Marcel asked.

“I think we have to wait and see if Casselli approaches us, then, if he does, make a decision.”

“All right,” Marcel replied. As he spoke, a telephone beside him buzzed, and he picked it up. “Yes?” Marcel listened, then covered the phone. “Mr. Casselli is on the line,” he said.

“Don’t speak to him just yet,” Stone said.

“Please tell the gentleman that I’m in a meeting and can’t be disturbed,” Marcel said, then hung up the phone. “Now what, Stone?”

“I think we have to make some preparations before speaking to Casselli,” he said. “I think that we should start by replacing all your security people with guards from Strategic Services, Mike Freeman’s company.”

“I have a contract with the Italian company,” Marcel said.

“Then I had better read the contract.”

Marcel picked up the phone and ordered the contract brought to him.

Stone went through it. “The contract is up for renewal in three weeks,” he said. “I suggest you get Mike’s people in, then buy out the remaining time on that contract.”

“Call Mike,” Marcel said.

10

Stone called Mike Freeman in New York.

“Where are you?” Mike asked.

“In Rome. May I assume you have an office here?”

“You may.”

“I’m here with Marcel duBois,” Stone said. “I expect you remember taking over his security needs in Paris last year.”

“Of course.”

“He has something like the same situation now in Rome. We’re trying to build a new Arrington here, and I’m begi

“I remember reading about him.”

“He’s back in Italy.” Stone told him about his encounter with Casselli and about the two fires.

“How quickly do you want my people there?”

“As quickly as possible, and I’d like you to be particularly careful that none of your people has any Mafia co

“How many do you need?”

“The current contract with an Italian company calls for twelve.”

“I’ve got four Americans there who speak good Italian. Let’s start with them and then go to Italians who speak English.”

“Sounds good.”

“I can have at least half a dozen on-site tomorrow morning and the rest soon after. I’ll send in some people from Paris, if necessary.”

“Excellent.” Stone gave him the address. “Have your supervisor come to Marcel’s apartment on the top floor of the building, then he can start moving his people in.”

“All right. Are you staying there?”

“I’m at the Hassler, but the best way to reach me is on my cell. And we’re going to need the new hotel building site guarded, too.”

“We’ll assess that tomorrow morning and make a recommendation, and that will include a sweep of the offices for devices and a thorough examination of Marcel’s computer systems.”

“Good.”

“I’d better get started, then, we’re near the end of the business day in Rome.”

“Thanks, Mike.” Stone hung up. “Mike can make the transition tomorrow morning. His supervisor will come here and speak to you, then he’ll move his people in. It should go smoothly.”

“Wonderful,” Marcel said. “I’m much relieved.”

“We don’t want a repeat of our encounter with the Russians in Paris,” Stone said. “It’s best to draw a clear line now.”

“I agree.”

Marcel’s phone rang again, and a conversation ensued. He hung up. “That was our construction company,” he said. “They’re withdrawing from the project, and they wouldn’t give me a clear explanation of why.”

“I think we know why,” Stone said. “You should speak to the architects in New York and see who they can recommend to take over the project. Explain to them what we’re facing here.”

“Of course.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go back to the Hassler and make some calls of my own.”

“Good. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Stone took the elevator downstairs and walked through the courtyard to the street, where he found a cab almost immediately. Back at the Hassler, he called Joan.

“How is su

“Su

“All right. I don’t know how long that will take.”

“Let’s get him started.”