6 Stone Barrington Novels (169 page)

THE TEXAN
had a bone-crushing handshake. “Hey,” he said to the table, then he started crushing bones. “I'm Billy Bob Barnstormer.”

“That's Lieutenant Dino Bacchetti of the New York Police Department,” Eggers said, “and that's Stone Barrington.”

“Did you say ‘Barnstormer'?” Stone asked incredulously.

“Yep,” Billy Bob replied. “My grandaddy was a pilot in World War One, and after that he barnstormed around the country for a while, before he started up Southwest Airlines.”

“I thought Herb Kelleher and Rollin King started Southwest,” Stone said.

“Them, too,” Billy Bob replied blithely. “Like I said, he was barnstorming, and his name was originally Barnstetter, so it made sense to make the change while he was doing that work. He got used to it, I guess, so he had it changed, legal-like.”

Dino looked nervously at Elaine and slid a menu across the table. “Have some dinner.”

“Thanks, me and ol' Bill, here, already ate.”

“Bill is having dessert,” Dino said.

“I think I'll have some bourbon for dessert,” Billy Bob replied. He turned to the waiter. “What you got?”

“We've got Jack Daniel's and Wild Turkey and Knob Creek, but Stone is the only one who drinks that, except for that writer.”

“I'll have me a double Wild Turkey straight up,” Billy Bob said, then turned his attention to Stone, giving him a broad, pearly smile. “I heard some good things about you,” he said.

“What did you hear?” Dino asked. “We never hear anything good about him.”

Stone shot Dino what he hoped was a withering glance.

“Well, even back in Texas we get some news from the East ever now and then. Can I buy you fellers a drink?”

“We've got one already,” Stone said. “What sort of problem have you got, Billy Bob?”

Billy Bob looked puzzled. “Problem?”

“Why do you need a lawyer?”

“Well, shoot, everybody needs a lawyer don't they?”

“Hard to argue with that,” Eggers agreed.

“You planning to murder anybody?” Dino asked hopefully.

“Not this evenin',” Billy Bob replied, flashing his big grin again. “They got a pissing place around here?”

“Through the door, first on your left,” Stone said, pointing.

Billy Bob got up and followed directions.

“That ol' boy has either the best teeth or the best dental work I've ever seen,” Dino said.

“How did you come up with this guy again?” Stone asked Eggers.

“I told you, he came recommended by a good client in Texas. Stone, just talk to the man, will you?”

Billy Bob arrived back at the table simultaneously with his bourbon. He peeled a bill off a fat roll and handed it to the waiter.

The waiter looked at it. “A two-dollar bill? I haven't seen one of these in years.”

“Coin of the realm, my friend,” Billy Bob said.

“The Wild Turkey is eight dollars,” the waiter said.

“That's on my bill,” Eggers said.

“And the Jefferson is for you,” Billy Bob told the waiter.

The waiter pocketed the money and went away shaking his head.

“Jefferson?” Dino asked.

“Thomas Jefferson is on the two-dollar bill,” Stone said.

“I thought he was worth more than that,” Dino said.

“Me, too,” Eggers interjected. “Madison is on the five-thousand-dollar bill, except there isn't one anymore. I don't know who's on the ten-thousand-dollar bill.”

“Chase,” Stone said.

“There's no president named Chase,” Eggers replied.

“Salymon Portland Chase,” Stone said. “Secretary of the Treasury and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

“How do you know that?” Dino asked doubtfully.

“I know a lot of stuff,” Stone replied.

“So, Billy Bob,” Dino said, “is that whole wad in your pocket two-dollar bills?”

“Naw,” Billy Bob said. “I got some hundreds in there, too.”

Stone's calamari and Eggers's dessert arrived. Billy Bob tossed down his Wild Turkey and ordered another.

“When did you get into town?” Stone asked, trying to keep a conversation going.

“This evenin',” Billy Bob replied. “My GIV sucked a bird in a engine out at Teterboro, so I'm going to be here a few days while they stick a new one on it.”

“I always wanted a Gulfstream Four,” Eggers said wistfully.

“Sell you mine when my Gee Five gets here,” Billy Bob said. “I got one on order.”

“What's the difference?” Dino asked.

“The Five is bigger, faster, got more range. Shoot, I can go from Dallas to Moscow on that thing, not that you'd want to. Don't know why anybody would want to go to Moscow. Freeze your balls off.”

Everybody nodded gravely. Conducting a conversation with Billy Bob Barnstormer was not going to be easy.

“What business are you in, Billy Bob?” Stone asked.

“Why, whatever turns a two-dollar bill,” Billy Bob replied. “You name it, I'm in it. Me and Warren Buffett got a little start-up goin', but I cain't talk about that, yet.”

Stone tried again. “What's your
main
interest?”

“Money.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“American dollars.”

Stone sighed.

Eggers jumped into the breach. “Stone, most of our clients are in more than one business. Sounds like Billy Bob, here, is an investor.”

“I like that,” Billy Bob said. “An investor. Yeah.”

“Where you staying while you're in town?” Dino asked.

“Well, usually I take the presidential suite at the Four Seasons,” Billy Bob said, “but all their suites are booked up for some kind of convention, so I guess I got to scare up some other accommodation.”

“New York hotels are tight this time of year,” Dino said. “Stone, why don't you put up Billy Bob at your house? You've got a lot of room.”

Stone aimed a kick under the table at Dino, but Dino was too quick for him. “Well, I think Billy Bob is looking for a higher level of service than I'm able to offer,” Stone said.

“It would be very kind of you, Stone,” Eggers chimed in. “After all, it's very late, and Billy Bob is a client.”

Stone looked desperately for an out.

“Why, thank you, Stone,” Billy Bob said, sounding truly grateful. “That's the nicest thing anybody ever did for me. And I thought all New Yorkers was tight-assed sons of bitches.” He shook his head in wonder.

“Oh, not all New Yorkers,” Dino said. “Stone is a prince of a fellow.”

“He certainly is,” Eggers agreed, pursing his lips to suppress a laugh. “A king, even.”

“If I were a king,” Stone said, “neither of you two would have a head.”

“Now, Stone,” Dino said, “that's unkind. And just when Billy Bob was thinking well of you.”

“I still think well of him,” Billy Bob said, tossing back another Wild Turkey. “Well, I think I'm about ready to hit the bunkhouse. You ready, Stone?”

“Yes, I guess I am,” Stone said, rising. “You get the bill,” he said to Eggers.

“Sure thing, Stone.”

“C'mon, boy, I'll give you a ride in my limousine,” Billy Bob said.

Stone followed him toward the door, stopping at a table to give Elaine a peck on the cheek. “Good night, Elaine.”

“Good riddance,” she said.

STONE STEPPED OUT
into the bitterly cold night and turned up his overcoat collar. Billy Bob joined him, overcoatless, and pointed at an absurdly long white limousine at the curb.

“Just hop in there, boy,” he said.

As he climbed into the enormous car, Stone tried to remember the last time someone had called him “boy.” Probably when he was a boy, he concluded.

Billy Bob climbed into the car and settled in beside him, then, simultaneously with the slamming of the door, the window beside Stone suddenly crazed over, apparently because of a bullet hole in its center. This was followed quickly by two more bullets, and this time, Stone could hear the gun. He had not even had time to duck. He looked out the now-absent window in time to see a black Lincoln Town Car turn left onto Eighty-eighth Street, against the light, and disappear down the block.

He turned to speak to Billy Bob and found him no longer there. Stone hipped his way across the seat and got out of the curbside door, looking for Billy Bob. The Texan stood in the street, holding an old-fashioned Colt Single-Action Army six-shooter with a pearl handle, looking for a target.

“Are you nuts?” Stone yelled at him.

“Huh?” Billy Bob asked, noticing Stone for the first time.

Stone snatched the pistol out of his hand. “Give me that!”

“Hey, what are you doin'?” Billy Bob demanded.

Stone stuck the weapon into his inside overcoat pocket. “You can get three years at Riker's Island just for holding that thing in this town.”

“You mean New York won't support a man's Second Amendment right to bear arms?”

“Let's just say that the New York Police Department has a different interpretation of the Second Amendment than you do.”

Stone walked back toward Elaine's.

“Where are you going?”

“To get the police,” Stone called over his shoulder. “Somebody has just tried to kill you, and if I were you, I'd get out of the street before they come back.” He went back into the restaurant and walked back to the table he had just left. “You'd better get some people over here,” he said to Dino. “Somebody just took a few shots at Woodman & Weld's newest client.”

“What!!!”
Bill Eggers shouted.

“Yeah, you can really pick 'em, Bill.”

Dino got on his cell phone and called the cavalry.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER,
Dino's detectives were conducting their preliminary investigation of the incident, and a criminalist was searching the car for bullet fragments.

One of the detectives walked over to Billy Bob, notebook in hand. “You're Mr. Barnstormer, is that right?” the detective asked.

“That sure is right,” Billy Bob said.

“You got any identification, sir?”

Billy Bob produced a Texas driver's license.

“Is this your current address?” the detective asked, checking the license.

“It sure is.”

“Are you armed, Mr. Barnstormer?” the detective asked.

“Hold it, Billy Bob,” Stone said, placing a hand on his arm. “My name is Barrington. I'm Mr. Barnstormer's attorney,” he said to the detective. “I'd like to point out that your question is inappropriate, in the circumstances, since Mr. Barnstormer is the intended victim here, and I instruct him not to answer. I will tell you, though, that Mr. Barnstormer is not carrying a weapon.”

“Okay,” the detective said, making a note. “Anybody see the car?”

“I did,” Stone replied. “I was sitting next to the shot-out window, and I saw a black Lincoln Town Car make a hard left onto Eighty-eighth Street, running the light. It had New York plates, but I couldn't get the number.”

“Okay,” the detective said. “Mr. Barnstormer, can you think of anyone in New York City who might want to cause you harm?”

Billy Bob looked at Stone.

“You can answer that one,” Stone said.

“Nope.”

“No one at all?”

Billy Bob looked at Stone again, and he nodded.

“Nope.”

“Do you know anybody in New York, Mr. Barnstormer?”

“Sure, I know lots of folks. I know Lieutenant Bacchetti over there, and I know a feller named Mr. Michael Bloomberg.”

“You know the mayor?” Stone asked, surprised.

“Yep, we're real tight, Mike and me.”

“I think that's all I need to know for the moment, Mr. Barnstomer,” the cop said. “Where are you staying?”

“You can reach him through me,” Stone said, handing the detective his card. “Can we go now? You through with the car?”

The criminalist walked over.

“You find anything?” the detective asked him.

“No bullet fragments,” the young man said, “but I found some residue on the broken glass.”

“What kind of residue?”

“Whoever did the shooting used frangible ammo, the kind of stuff you use at the firing range. The slugs disintegrated on impact with the glass, which is why the window on the opposite side of the car didn't take any hits. Looks like you've got an environmentally conscious shooter.”

“A real citizen,” Stone said. “Is the car released?”

“Sure,” the criminalist said.

“Are you through with Mr. Barnstormer?” Stone asked the detective.

“For the moment.”

“Thank you and good night,” Stone said, climbing into the car. “Let's go, Billy Bob.”

The car pulled away from the curb, and Stone gave the driver the address before turning to his new client. “All right, Billy Bob,” he said, “what the fuck was that all about?”

“How the hell should I know?” Billy Bob responded.

“You don't know who your enemies are?”

“I don't have no enemies, to speak of.”

“What about the ones not to speak of?”

“Well, you know, you do business, you piss off a few people along the way.”

“You do much business in New York?”

“Now and again.”

“You do business with anybody of a criminal nature?”

“Well, you never know what folks do in their spare time.”

“You know anybody with connections to organized crime?”

“I do business with businesspeople, that's all,” Billy Bob said, sounding defensive.

“You piss off anybody in New York?”

“Not that I know of,” Billy Bob said.

Stone was having trouble speaking, now, since he was sitting next to the blown-out window and the icy air was blowing in his face at thirty miles an hour, and his lips didn't want to move. He put his gloved hands over his face and waited for the car to reach its destination.

THE CAR PULLED UP
in front of Stone's town house in Turtle Bay, and everybody got out. The driver went to the trunk and began unloading luggage, while Stone, in amazement, counted. Eight pieces of black alligator luggage with brass corners were disgorged. Stone reckoned there was fifty thousand dollars' worth of reptilian baggage there. It took all three of them to get it up the front steps of the house and into the entrance hall.

“Pick me up at nine o'clock in the morning,” Billy Bob said to the driver, “and get me a car with a back window.”

“I'd advise you to travel in something less conspicuous,” Stone said, “since people are shooting at you. Try a black Lincoln, like the shooter; there are thousands of them in the city.”

“Okay,” Billy Bob said to the driver, “something shorter and blacker.” He tipped the man and sent him on his way.

Stone and Billy Bob humped the luggage into the elevator, and Stone pushed the button for the third floor. “Left out of the elevator, first door on your right,” he said. “I'll walk up; we wouldn't want to break the cable.”

“What time do you get up?” Billy Bob asked. “I fix a mean breakfast.”

“Not early,” Stone said. “Kitchen's on the ground floor; help yourself.” He let the elevator door close and headed for his own room, thinking only of how to get the man out of his house at the earliest possible moment the following morning.