Read Online Foreign Affairs by Stuart Woods - Free Book Online

designers with furnishings. By the way, there’s an artist’s supply shop a couple of doors down from her. They should have what you need.”
    â€œThen I’m going there now,” Hedy said. “Which way?”
    â€œOut the gate, take a right, and it’s half a dozen shops down the street.” He took a key from a kitchen drawer and gave it to her. “This will get you back in through the door in the gate.”
    Hedy departed, and Marie returned with the driver. Stone tipped him and sent him on his way.
    â€œWelcome home, Mr. Barrington,” Marie said in her heavily accented English. “How long will you be with us?”
    â€œI’m not sure, Marie, a few days, at least.”
    â€œI’ve prepared some food for dinner tonight. May I get you some lunch? Perhaps an omelet?”
    â€œLet’s wait until Hedy comes back.”
    â€œAs you wish.” Marie disappeared into the kitchen.
    Stone sat down in the living room and phoned Marcel in Rome.
    â€œHello, Stone, I tried to call you at the Hassler, but you had gone, and your cell phone didn’t answer.”
    â€œI’m sorry about that, Marcel. The security people insisted that I disable it. I’ll have it working again in a few minutes.”
    â€œWhere are you?”
    â€œIn Paris. We had a threat, and I thought it best to get out of town for a bit. How is it going there?”
    â€œMichael Freeman’s people have been excellent. It seems that I was not as secure here as I had thought.”
    â€œHave there been any incidents since I saw you?”
    â€œOnly that Mr. Casselli continues to call each day, and I continue to refuse to speak to him. The new construction company begins today clearing away the ruins of the old hotel. They will be ready to start construction in a week or so. The architects have produced elevations and infrastructure plans already, and they are beautiful. My instructions to them were to make the building look as if it has always been there.”
    â€œPerfect.”
    â€œI believe Dino has been trying to reach you. He called here a couple of times.”
    â€œI’ll call him right away.”
    â€œHave a good time in Paris. Will you be coming here afterwards?”
    â€œIf you need me.”
    â€œI’ll try not to, but you never know.”
    Stone said goodbye and then called Dino, who was still in his office.
    â€œWhere the hell have you been?”
    â€œI had to disappear for a few days, and Mike’s people insisted I disable my cell phone. Not soon enough, though. Casselli’s people managed to track me down. We arrived in Paris an hour and a half ago.”
    â€œAh, Paris.”
    â€œWhy don’t you and Viv join me for a few days?”
    â€œI’ll see if I can think of a good enough excuse. In the meantime, I’ve spoken with a man named Massimo Bertelli, in Rome, who is head of the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigative Department, or DIA, and asked him advice on how you should proceed.”
    â€œI’d be grateful for his advice,” Stone replied.
    â€œHe’s assigned a special team to monitor your situation and to take such action as is required. He says to stonewall Casselli, to give him nothing. He’s unaccustomed to that sort of stand, and it will rattle him.”
    â€œThat is exactly what Marcel and I have done and will continue to do, though I have to say he’s managed to rattle us.”
    â€œYou’re better off in Paris. There’s nothing you can do in Rome but advise Marcel, and you can do that on the phone.”
    â€œI don’t want to run out on Marcel.”
    â€œDon’t overestimate your importance.”
    â€œGee, thanks.”
    â€œLet me talk to Viv and see what her schedule is, then I’ll get back to you about coming to Paris.”
    â€œDo that, it would be good to see you both.” Stone hung up.
    Hedy was just coming through the door. “I got what I