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Five minutes later, the owner, Ken Aretsky, came over. “Your guest had to leave. The check has been paid.”
“What a good guest,” Dino said.
“You were very quiet,” Stone pointed out.
“Sometimes you learn more by listening. You should try it.”
“And what did you learn about Jack Collins?”
“That he’s a very careful man,” Dino replied.
25
Stone was athis desk the following morning when Joan buzzed him. “Lance, on one.”
“Good morning, Lance.”
“How was your dinner meeting last evening?” Lance drawled.
“Not unpleasant.”
“Did you like him?”
“I didn’t dislike him.”
“Where is he now?”
“He gave me no clue to his current whereabouts. He’s a careful man.”
“If a bit distrustful.”
“I had the impression that he was probably a good judge of whom to mistrust.”
“Did you?”
“Does he trust you, Lance?”
“I haven’t had an opportunity to ask him.”
“Do you have knowledge of his quarrels with the Russians?”
“I’ve picked up tidbits.”
“Anything you’d like to share?”
“He distrusts them.”
“Well, they keep trying to kill him. That would do it for most people. Was he a good officer when he was still on board?”
“Better than average.”
“Then he knows how to stay alive.”
“What did you two talk about?”
“The Russians, mostly. He passed on dessert and left early.”
“An old trick from the Farm.”
