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“Truth”
“I don’t believe you”
Chapet back to the matter at hand, if you two don’t mind”
Stone asked, “Will you ith us? I need that commitment before I explain my plan”
“You’re basically asking one With nothing left”
“But if we don’t stop this, there’ll be a lot one, won’t there? Not just people, maybe a city or two?” He paused “Nanobots? The Russians back on
the global warpath And if oal may be realized too This entire mess laid at the doorstep of Moscow”
She said coolly, “I’m fully aware of the situation”
“Then you know the stakes And I do need your help”
“Turkekul spent tihanistan They like to carve their enemies up there, one slice of skin at a time And then he’ll turn me over to the Russians And I can’t believe they’re any better”
“I’ll protect your life with mine”
She looked out theagain Stone watched as the woed continually until he could tell her mind had been made up She turned back to him
“I’ll help you”
“Thank you”
“But for the record, you could’ve just come to me directly and not stooped to a snatch operation I think I deserve better than that”
“You do,” said Stone “You actually do”
CHAPTER 75
A DAY LATER STONE SAT in a restaurant overlooking Fourteenth Street He was dressed in a black jacket, white shirt and jeans He had his gun but not his badge In his ht now the former was critical and the latter orthless In a far corner of the restaurant with a clear view of the front door sat Harry Finn sipping on a glass of ginger ale and casually studying the ainst his chest
Mary Chapman had the other end of the restaurant Perched on a barstool, she sipped on a Coke Her Walther was in her handbag
Three guns awaiting their quarry
Stone rose when they entered Fuat Turkekul looked solamorous Friedman The woman wore a dark pantsuit and her hair fell flawlessly around her shoulders She was a beautiful lady, thought Stone Which in her profession was a good thing It attracted certain men and also made such men focus on the woman’s physical assets as opposed to what could really hurt them, which was her brain
Stone shook hands with Turkekul and they all sat down The Turk’s gaze roa back on Stone He took a
“I was most surprised when Ms Friedman asked me to meet with you I did not presume that you would be in the… how do you say…?”
“The loop?” suggested Stone
“Yes”
“I get around,” Stone said vaguely His gaze pinged off all corners of the restaurant and he cauards in suits had followed Turkekul and Fried near the coat check Fried orders that when she ith the man they were to keep a respectful distance Riley Weaver’s men looked alert but relaxed Stone kept out of their line of sight just in case they recognized him
“And what did you wish to meet about?” asked Turkekul
“How are things going with Adelphia?”
“We ell together I aood partner as well”
“Fuat hopes to ress in the next several months,” volunteered Fried before breaking off and picking up the menu the waiter had just dropped off
Turkekul put up a hand “These things take ti done yesterday” He chuckled