Stone Barrington 06-11

face?”
    “Yes, but it wasn’t the face we saw at the Nineteenth Precinct. I don’t know how she changes, but she does.”
    “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
    “It seemed to me more dangerous not to meet with her. She knew who I was and that I had played a part…”
    “Yes, I suppose that’s true. Where did you meet her?”
    “In a bar. I’m afraid I can’t tell you any more than that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because, before she would talk to me, she insisted on paying me a retainer. I’m now her attorney.”
    “That was very clever of her. Can you contact her again?”
    “Perhaps.”
    “You’re not sure?”
    “No.”
    Carpenter pushed back from the table. “I have to leave,” she said.
    “To report to your superiors?”
    “Thank you for the champagne,” she said. Then she got up and left.

39
    Stone’s phone rang early the next morning.
    “It’s Carpenter,” she said.
    “Good morning.”
    “Are you free for lunch today?”
    “Yes.”
    “Twelve-thirty at the Four Seasons. There’s somebody I want you to meet.”
    “Who?”
    “I’ll see you at twelve-thirty.” She hung up.

    Stone was on time, and Carpenter, with a companion, was already seated at a table in the Grill. The man rose to greet Stone.
    “This is Sir Edward Fieldstone,” Carpenter said. “Sir Edward, may I introduce Stone Barrington.”
    The man was six feet, slender, rather distinguished-looking, with thick, gray hair that needed cutting, hair visible in his ears and nose, and a well-cut if elderly suit that could have used a pressing. “How do you do, Mr. Barrington,” he said, his voice deep and smooth, his accent very upper-class. “Won’t you sit down? Would you like a drink?”
    Stone glanced at the bottle on the table: Chateau Palmer, 1966. “That will do nicely,” he said.
    Sir Edward nodded, and a waiter appeared and poured the wine.
    “Thank you so much for coming on such short notice,” Sir Edward said. “Let’s order some lunch, shall we?”
    They looked at the menu, and Stone ordered a small steak, while Carpenter and Sir Edward both ordered the Dover sole, not seeming to care that it might not be the best thing with the wine.
    “Lovely weather,” Sir Edward said. “We’re not used to it. London is always so dreary.”
    “It can be dreary in New York, too,” Stone said, wondering exactly who Sir Edward was. He seemed to be in his mid-sixties, and very un-spylike.
    They chatted about nothing until their food came. Stone waited for somebody to tell him why he was there.
    “Is there anything you’d like to know?” Sir Edward asked. It seemed a non sequitur.
    Stone looked at Carpenter, who kept her mouth shut. “Perhaps you could begin by telling me who you are,” he said.
    “Of course, of course,” Sir Edward said, sounding apologetic. “I’m a British civil servant. Perhaps I shouldn’t go any further than that.”
    “Are you Carpenter’s immediate superior?” Stone asked.

    “Perhaps a notch or two upwards.”
    “Are you the head of Carpenter’s service?” Stone asked.
    “One might say so. Pass the salt, please.”
    Carpenter passed the salt.
    “MI Five or MI Six?” Stone asked.
    “Oh, those lines seem so blurred these days,” Sir Edward replied. “Let’s not be too specific.”
    “Perhaps I should explain, sir,” Carpenter said.
    Sir Edward gave her the faintest of nods.
    “It is very unusual for… a person in Sir Edward’s position to meet, in his official capacity, with a person outside his service. In fact, very few outsiders are even aware of his name.”
    “Would you prefer to be addressed as ‘M,’ Sir Edward?” Stone asked.
    Sir Edward chuckled appreciatively but did not reply.
    “That’s a little outdated,” Carpenter said. “You do understand that this meeting is, well, not taking place?”
    “All right,” Stone said. “Perhaps you could tell me why it is not taking place?”
    “Thank you, Felicity,” Sir Edward said. “I’ll take it from here.” He turned to Stone. “Mr. Barrington, I believe you are familiar with recent events involving a young woman by the name of Marie-Thérèse du Bois.”
    “Somewhat,” Stone said.
    “And you know that we have been trying to protect certain of our personnel from certain actions of this woman.”

    “You mean, you’re trying to stop her from killing your people?”
    Sir Edward looked around to be sure he was not being overheard. “One might say that, though perhaps not quite