“He doesn’t want to do names. Calls himself Joe. But I’ve done a couple jobs for the guy, and he’s always been straight with me. Pays well and on the dot, too.”
“Okay. If you’re vouching for the guy, he can’t be all bad.”
“I was never sorry I worked for him,” Wally said.
“Thanks, pal,” Manny said, then he hung up. WE’R E ON F O R one o’clock,” Evan said.
“Then we’d better get started,” Stone said. He called the airport and asked for his airplane to be refueled and pulled out of the hangar.
2 5 6
56
ST O NE L A ND E D A T Tamiami Airport, rented a car and drove to South Beach. When they were a block from Manny White’s office building, he stopped. “Okay, you take the car from here,” he said to Evan. “Put my cell phone number in your personal phone on a speed-dial button, so if you get into trouble you can call us. When you’re done, drive back to this point and pick us up.”
“Okay,” Evan said.
“There’s parking behind his building, and you can go in the rear entrance.”
“Got it.”
Stone had the feeling he was a lot more nervous than Evan. “Don’t hurry it; he’ll think you’re panicky.”
“When do I want this hit done?”
“As soon as possible. Tell him you’re under some time pressure, but don’t tell him why. Tonight is okay, tomorrow. Don’t agree to anything later than that, and insist on knowing when they’re going to do it. Tell him you want to be well away from the action.”
“Okay. Can I go now?”
Stone and Dino got out of the car, and he drove away. 2 5 7
S t u a r t W o o d s
MANNY WHITE ’ S S E C R E TAR Y buzzed him. “Mr. White,” she said, “your appointment is here.”
“Send him in,” Manny said, and he rose to meet the young man who entered his office. They shook hands, and Manny indicated a chair. “Have a seat, Joe.”
“Thank you. Wally Millard sends his best regards.”
“How did you meet Wally?” Manny asked.
“My New York lawyer sent me to him when I needed some work done.”
“What sort of work?”
“We don’t need to go into that,” Evan said.
“Tell me about your problem,” Manny said.
“I’m in business with a man, and it’s not working out. I want to sell the business, and I have a buyer, but my partner wants a lot more out of the deal than he put in.”
“So you want a sort of business divorce?”
“You could put it that way.”
“And it won’t be amicable?”
“No, and I’d like it to be permanent.”