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“Well, I’ in the middle of this,” Stone said

“Just sit there in your chair and don’t say anything, and it’ll be all right”

“Okay I’ll just sit here”

“Stone?” Dino was looking over Stone’s shoulder, toward the door

“Yes?”

“Have you seen Lance Cabot lately?” Cabot was the newly appointed deputy director for operations of the CIA Both Dino and Stone had done consulting work for him

“Not lately”

“Well, he looks like shit,” Dino said “He’s aged years”

“How do you know this?”

“Because I’ht now”

Stone turned and looked toward the door Lance Cabot stood there, looking, as Dino had said, years older He was also a bit disheveled, needed a haircut, and had at least a three-day growth of beard His face was bruised

“Good God, you’re right,” Stone said

Lance was, ordinarily, the rooreeted him and led him to a table at the rear of the restaurant

“He didn’t even look at us,” Dino said “So… Uh-oh,” Dino said

“What now?”

“Genevieve”

Stone turned to see the beautiful Genevieve enter the restaurant and head for their table They both stood, while Dino held her chair, a sure sign of fear

“How are you, Genevieve?” Stone said, giving her a kiss

“I’ Dino “Hoas your Malibu training?”

Stone shot a glance at Dino, as looking very uncoreat fun The new airplane is faster, smoother, and quieter, only it’s not a Malibu anymore; it’s called a JetProp”

“I remember,” she said

“I’ nuts,” Dino said

“What?”

“Lance just caain, and he looks perfectly fine”

Stone turned and looked, and there he was, younger, undisheveled, unbruised, and perfectly groo nuts,” Stone said

Lance ca their hands “Good evening,” he said