Worst Fears Realized

sinking his very large and very expensive yacht.”
    Stone was astonished. “Did you hear this from Dino?”
    Bianchi shook his head slowly. “I was, shall we say, indirectly acquainted with the yacht’s owner.”
    “I see.”
    Bianchi raised a hand. “Only in the most legitimate sense, you understand. I have interests on the West Coast, and they sometimes coincided with the interests of the gentleman in question. He did, after all, run a large banking business—in addition to hisother interests, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    “What impressed me about this incident was the very carefully crafted nature of your vengeance.”

    Stone wondered for a moment if this conversation was being overheard by some federal representative, but then he remembered that the feds were very aware of the incident. “I wasn’t thinking very carefully at the time,” he said.
    “Then your instincts speak well of you. Somehow, you looked at this man and knew that little else could hurt him as much as the loss of his beloved status symbol.”
    “I suppose there’s some truth to that.”
    “I’m glad you and I understand each other, Mr. Barrington.”
    We do?Stone thought.
    “You see, just as you were protecting a cherished woman at that time, you are now protecting yet another woman important to you.”
    “Yes,” Stone agreed.
    “As am I,” Bianchi said. “Do you understand?”
    “Up to a point,” Stone replied.
    “You understand that I would like to help bring an end to this business?”
    “Of course.”
    “And that I cannot tread on Dino’s toes, as it were.”
    “Yes.”
    “Then perhaps it might be possible for me to help you, instead of Dino.”
    “You must understand, Mr. Bianchi, that Dino is my closest friend, that I owe him my life, quite literally.”
    “Of course. I know all about that, and I understand completely. I am not suggesting that you should do anything to violate that friendship.”

    “Good.”
    “I am merely saying that there may arise information that Dino would not wish to be privy to, and that our sometimes awkward relationship prevents me from offering him.”
    “What sort of information?”
    “Then you will accept this from me?”
    Stone was uncomfortable. “I’m not certain what I would be accepting.”
    “I understand that this Mitteldorfer, on being released from prison, has disappeared.”
    “That is correct.”
    “Perhaps I can help you find him.”
    “How can you do that?”
    Bianchi shrugged. “Let us just say that I have…acquaintances who have acquaintances who have friends who might be able to help. If I should request it.”
    “I must tell you, I am uncomfortable with this.”
    Bianchi held up a hand. “I understand completely.” He reached into the ticket pocket in his jacket, produced a card, and handed it to Stone.
    Stone examined it. It contained only a Manhattan telephone number.
    “If you should feel you need my…advice, please telephone this number and leave a recorded message. Someone representing me will be in touch.”
    Stone pocketed the card and gave Bianchi his own, which seemed only courteous, in the circumstances.
    “I will wait to hear from you before making inquiries,” Bianchi said. “Shall we join the others?” Hereplenished their glasses, and they walked slowly toward the door. “Perhaps, if you will permit me, I will just speak a name to you. The name is Judson Palmer.”
    “It doesn’t ring a bell,” Stone said.
    “Mr. Palmer is a minor theatrical producer,” Bianchi said, taking Stone’s arm.
    “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
    “It was he who was having an affair with Mitteldorfer’s wife when she was murdered.”
    “Does Mitteldorfer know who he is?”
    “That is uncertain.”
    “Thank you.”
    Bianchi stopped walking. “Stone—may I call you Stone?”
    “Of course.”
    “And please call me Eduardo.”
    “Thank you.”
    “I have very much enjoyed our evening together. I don’t go out much since my wife’s death, but it would please me if you would accept another invitation to dinner here.”
    “Thank you, Eduardo; I’d be very pleased to come.”
    The two men walked back to the small sitting room and joined the others. A large woman in an old-fashioned black dress had joined the group.
    “Allow me to introduce my sister, Rosaria,” Bianchi said.
    Stone took her hand. “Dinner was a wonderful experience,” he said. The woman blushed. Bianchi sat next to her.
    Stone chose a seat as far as