Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods Page A

that he was going to have to do it again.

22
    S tone attended a board meeting of the Arrington corporation the following morning, and it dragged on through lunch.
    Afterward, Marcel took him aside for a moment.
    â€œI understand there was an altercation in the men’s room during dinner last night.”
    â€œI’m afraid that’s correct. I didn’t go in there to start a fight. I just wanted to tell him to leave Gala alone.”
    â€œBut a fight started anyway?”
    â€œTirov produced a knife and made remarks about what he was going to do to my liver. At that point, the security people entered, and he threw away the knife. After they had searched him for other weapons, I asked them to leave us alone.”
    â€œDear God, like schoolboys.”
    â€œIt was going to come to this, and there was nothing I coulddo about it. I thought that, alone in the men’s room, with guards at the door, might be the best place to resolve the issue.”
    â€œAnd how did you resolve it?”
    â€œHe attacked me, and I hit him twice, gave him a bloody nose. He had no more fight left in him, so I asked the security people to allow him to clean up, then escort him from the building and not allow him to return.”
    â€œWell, I suppose that’s better than having him arrested.”
    â€œThat was my first thought.”
    â€œI’m glad you didn’t act on it. We’d have been all over the yellow press this morning. As it was, they didn’t get wind of what happened. Security found Tirov’s car and driver and put him in it. Presumably, he went home.”
    â€œI should think so. He was a mess, and he wouldn’t have wanted his friends at the table to see him. I think his nose may be broken. By the way, Marcel, I’ve already barred him from our Bel-Air hotel. I’d like him barred from all our hotels, present and future.”
    â€œAgreed. I’ll send out an e-mail to the managers.”
    â€œEspecially the one next door to me in England. It would be like him to try to check in there.”
    â€œAll right, especially that one.” He sat down at his computer and wrote the e-mail. “Uh-oh,” he said. “I got an immediate reply from the Beaulieu hotel. Tirov has a reservation for a week, checking in tonight. I’ll have them get in touch with Tirov and cancel.”
    â€œThank you, Marcel.”
    â€œWhen are you returning to England?”
    â€œThis afternoon. I’ll release the van at the airport.”
    â€”
    S tone went back to the Arrington and found his party lounging in their suite.
    â€œEverybody ready to go back to England?”
    â€œWe’re flying back to New York with Mike Freeman,” Dino said.
    â€œI can be ready in an hour,” Gala said. “I’ll get started now.” Viv went with her to help.
    â€œSit down,” Dino said, “I have some news.”
    Stone sat down. “Hit me with it.”
    â€œYou’ll recall our conversation in England about my retiring from the NYPD?”
    â€œI recall that, and I’d be happy to have you at Windward Hall for as much of the year as you’d like.”
    â€œWell, out of the blue, Mike Freeman approached me and suggested that I come to work for Strategic Services as a board member and consultant.”
    â€œNow that’s interesting.”
    â€œYou’re damned right it is. The money is three times my city salary, and I’d have the freedom to spend time in England or wherever else I’d like. The only problem I can see is that when Viv gets moved up to chief operating officer, I’d be working for my wife.”
    Stone laughed. “She’d probably be a pretty good boss.”
    â€œShe’d just be the boss. Would you want to work for your wife?”
    â€œWell, I’m staying out of that conversation. It’s one that only you and Viv should be involved in. Maybe Mike could have you report only to