ther has had a stroke, if anybody questions that. Then put on some clothes and come sit down for a minute,” Stone said. Evan went back into the bedroom and closed the door.
“You think he’ll do it?” Dino asked.
“We’re about to find out,” Stone said.
Dino took out his cell phone. “I’m going to go call Wally,” he said, going out onto the screen porch.
Tommy stood up. “And I’m going to go call Mike Levy.”
Evan came back into the living room and sat down. “I made the call; the secretary and my grandfather are both on board.”
“Evan,” Stone said, “have you ever done any acting?”
“Yes, in high school and university theater. I played both leads and character parts.”
“Well,” Stone said, “we’ve got an important role for you.”
“Oh?”
“How much cash do you have on hand?”
“Do I have to pay to play?”
“Only temporarily.”
“I’ve got about sixty thousand in my briefcase. You may remember that I’ve given you forty thousand over the past week. Why don’t we use your money?”
“I’ve already wired it to New York,” Stone lied. “Unlike you, I don’t like to travel with a lot of cash.”
“To each his own,” Evan said. “I’ve always found cash on hand comforting.”
“It just makes me nervous.”
“What kind of role do you want me to play?”
“It’s the lead,” Stone replied.
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MANNY WHITE O P E N E D his desk drawer and picked up the throwaway cell phone that was ringing. “Yeah?”
“You know who this is?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said. “I wish you every profi table happiness.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“So how’s the new life?”
“On hold,” she said. “The old, old man has had a stroke, and he’s flown north. You should pull our friend off. He’s very hot here, anyway.”
“Okay. Shall I send him north in pursuit?”
“No. I don’t know how long he’ll be there; he hasn’t called me yet.”
“Call him, then.”