Unintended Consequences

Freeman.
    “I liked your guest,” Mike said.
    “And he liked you, I could tell.”
    “I’ve done a little looking into him, as is my wont, and I think he makes an ideal investor for us in the States, and an ideal gateway to Europe for us, too.”
    “Surely that isn’t all you’ve found out.”
    “All right, he’s worth something in the neighborhood of thirty billion euros, which puts him well up in the Forbes 100. The comparison to Warren Buffett is a perfectly valid one. Their careers and investing methods are similar, but not their lifestyles.”
    “Yes, I’ve experienced Marcel’s lifestyle, and let me tell you, it is spectacular.”
    Stone’s other line rang. “Hang on a minute, Mike.” He pressed the hold button, then the second line. “Hello?”
    “Stone?” A woman’s voice, familiar. “It’s Helga.”
    “Hold on, Helga.” He pressed line one. “Mike, I’m going to have to talk to you tomorrow.”
    “Good night, then.”

33
    S tone returned to his second line. “Helga, are you all right?”
    “Yes, at last,” she replied.
    “The Paris police woke me in the middle of the night to question me, but they refused to let me see you, so I called Rick LaRose.”
    “Rick was wonderful,” she said. “I hadn’t had any sleep, and the police asked me the same questions over and over, and I was exhausted by the time Rick turned up. He got me released and sent me directly to Le Bourget, where there was an airplane waiting to take me home to Sweden. I’m now at my house out in the archipelago, and it’s very beautiful here, but lonely.”
    “I think I can fix that,” Stone said. “Why don’t you come to New York for a while? None of the Paris complications will bother you here. Marcel is already here, asleep in my guest suite.”
    “Marcel in New York? He almost never goes to America.”
    “It seemed a good time to get him out of Paris.” Stone told her about the attack on them along the Seine.
    “I’m glad you’re out—those people are very dangerous.”
    “Who are they?” Stone asked.
    “A bunch of crazy Russians and East Germans left over from the Cold War days. They’re working for a Russian oligarch named Vishinski. It’s said that he’s close to the Russian leadership. Vishinski is making business inroads into Europe, with Paris as his main target, and he seems to want what Marcel has.”
    “What happened with Aldo Saachi?”
    “He was waiting in my suite when I got there.”
    “How did he get in?”
    “He must have bribed a hotel staffer. He made advances, and I punched him in the nose, but he tore my dress on his way down. When he stood up he had a knife in his hand, so I shot him.”
    “Did the police find the knife?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good, that will help clear your name.”
    “That won’t be a problem. According to Rick, all records of my questioning will disappear, and they will think of some explanation for Aldo’s death, so for all practical purposes, I am not involved.”
    “I’m relieved that you’re all right. When can you come to New York?”
    “Give me a few days to work on that. I’ll need to get Lance’s permission to come to the U.S.”
    “I’ll have a word with Lance and let you know what he says. What’s your phone number?”
    “I have the same cell, the one that Lance gave me. We can talk on that without anyone hearing us.”
    “Then I’ll be in touch.”
    “Please give Marcel my best.”
    “I will.” They both hung up, and Stone went upstairs and to bed.
    •   •   •
    T he following morning he had breakfast with Marcel in the kitchen, then went to his office, where he found a large stack of paperwork on his desk. He called Lance at Langley and left a message for him, then went to work answering mail and returning phone calls.
    Just before noon Joan buzzed him. “Lance Cabot on one.”
    Stone pressed the button. “Good morning, Lance.”
    “Good morning, Stone. Did you have a pleasant flight?”
    “We did indeed, except for the unpleasantness on the way to Le Bourget. Rick saved our bacon.”
    “A good man, Rick. He’s destined for greater things.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.”
    “How is Marcel liking New York?”
    “He’s very happy here. He’s staying with me, and we had dinner with Mike Freeman last night. Mike is going to help him with his personal security situation.”
    “He certainly needs help,” Lance agreed.
    “After Rick’s intervention, Marcel’s feelings toward the Agency have warmed