Two Dollar Bill (2 page)

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.

STONE WAS WAKENED by the smell of seared meat. He rolled over and checked the bedside clock: 8:30 A. M. He had overslept. He struggled out of bed, got into a robe and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

Billy Bob Barnstormer was standing before the Viking range, turning over a thick strip steak on the integral gas grill, while stirring something in a saucepan on an adjacent burner. He looked over at Stone. Hey! G'mornin'! I didn't wake you up, did I?

You did. What are you doing? Stone looked at the steaks; he had bought them at Grace's Marketplace, at hideous expense, with the idea of cooking them in the company of a woman he knew.

Why, I'm just rustlin' up some grub for us, Billy Bob said. I had to go with what I could find in the icebox, 'cept for the grits. I brought those with me.

You travel with grits? Stone asked.

Only when I go north, Billy Bob explained. You cain't get 'em up here. How you like your beef cooked?

Medium to medium rare, Stone said, annoyed with himself for cooperating in this endeavor. I'm not sure I can eat a steak at this hour of the day.

Don't worry, you'll have the grits and some eggs to cut the grease. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, y'know. Billy Bob picked up a bowl of what looked like a dozen eggs, whisked them briefly with a fork and dumped them into a skillet holding a quarter pound of melted butter. Have a seat, he said. Oughta be two minutes, now. He turned the steaks again.

Stone got a container of fresh orange juice out of the Sub-Zero and poured two glasses, put some coffee on, then set the table and sat down. Reconsidering, he got up and found two steak knives, then sat down again.

Billy Bob forked the steaks onto the two plates, then scooped out some grits, then filled the unoccupied portion of the plates with scrambled eggs. He took a bottle of Tabasco sauce and sprinkled it liberally over his eggs, but when he tried for Stone's plate, Stone snatched it away.

Hold the Tabasco, Stone said. You're trying to put me in the hospital, aren't you?

Aw, it's good for you. Billy Bob sat down and sawed his steak in half. It was blood rare, blue in the middle.

So was Stone's. He got up and put it back on the grill, then sat down and started on his eggs and grits.

You like your meat burnt, then? Billy Bob asked through a mouthful of food.

I like it medium to medium rare, Stone said, getting up and flipping the steak. He waited another couple of minutes, then removed the meat to his plate.

Real nice morning out there. Billy Bob said. I brought in your paper.

The forecast for this morning was six degrees Fahrenheit, Stone said.

Yeah, I guess it's about that, Billy Bob agreed.

You call that a real nice morning?

Well, the sun's shining bright, Billy Bob said. That's good enough for me.

Did you come to New York without an overcoat? Stone asked.

I never really needed one, Billy Bob said. I spent a week in Nome, Alaska, on an oil deal once, in the middle of the winter, and I got by all right without one. What'd you do with my gun?

I locked it in my safe, Stone said. You can have it back when you're on your way out of town.