“Because I left his meeting?”
“Because you left with the commissioner.”
“Oh.”
“Tiffany Baldwin was a little upset, too, but she hid it better. I think she didn’t want to share you with the commissioner.”
“If you say so,” Stone said.
“What did you and the commissioner talk about?”
“He wanted to talk about old times,” Stone said.
“You had old times together?”
“Not exactly. He apparently followed a case I worked right before I left the department.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Does that mean I’m not supposed to ask?”
“I’ll tell you about it when we have more time.”
“And when is that going to be?”
“I’m at your beck and call,” Stone said. “You tell me.”
“I’ll have to place another order with Derek Sharpe first,” she said.
“And when is that going to happen?”
“We’re letting him stew a bit; besides, I don’t want to appear too eager.”
“If it’s any help, I think Sharpe and Larsen are going to decamp.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because they’re both involved in enterprises that can’t continue forever without their getting caught, and I think they’re too smart to wait too long. I think you should see Sharpe for coffee and place a really big order.”
“How big?”
“Forget the marijuana. Ask him for ten kilos of cocaine, and imply that the orders could grow. You want to order enough to appeal to his greed; he’ll hang around a little longer for a big sale.”
“Good idea,” she said. “I’ll run it by Brian.”
“Don’t tell him it was my idea; he’ll screw it up just to spite me.”
“So I get all the credit?”
“And all the blame if it spooks Sharpe.”
“You said have coffee with him?”
“Don’t go to his studio; he’ll rape you.”
“Yuck. Coffee it is.”