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converse?”
    â€œWe did. He pointed out that we had a mutual acquaintance in Eduardo Bianchi.”
    â€œI’m not entirely surprised that he knew Eduardo. I’ll bet they hadn’t spoken for forty years.”
    â€œI didn’t ask, but if I see him again, I will.”
    â€œWhat makes you think you’ll see him again?”
    â€œHe expressed an interest in my burned-out car—or rather, in Marcel duBois’s burned-out car. He said that maybe it was a warning, and that maybe I should heed it.”
    â€œUh-oh.”
    â€œFunny, that’s what I said to myself.”
    â€œAre you mixed up in something Casselli is interested in?”
    â€œI don’t know, but I’m here for a board meeting, which was about buying a partially built hotel that we could turn into a new Arrington. That was at midday yesterday. Then yesterday evening the structure burned down.”
    â€œUh-oh.”
    â€œYou said that before.”
    â€œSounds like you and Casselli have a common interest.”
    â€œNot in the sense that we are partners.”
    â€œCasselli may not see it that way.”
    â€œI thought he was retired.”
    â€œHe’s retired from America, although he may still have hidden assets here, but he could still be active in Italy. I’ll check into that.”
    â€œGood idea.”
    â€œWhen are you going back to Rome?”
    â€œMarcel is sending a car for us tomorrow afternoon. We should be back later in the day.”
    â€œLet me talk to a couple of people, and I’ll get back to you late tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd in the meantime, try not to piss off any mafiosi, will you?”
    â€œI haven’t
been
trying.” They hung up.
    â€”
    W hat was that all about?” Hedy asked.
    â€œI’m not sure. Dino is going to make some calls and get back to me tomorrow.”
    â€œTell me who Dino is, if you haven’t already.”
    â€œHe’s the police commissioner of New York City.”
    â€œAnd you know him how?”
    â€œI used to be a cop, and Dino and I were partners.”
    â€œAnd you keep in touch?”
    â€œWe’re sort of best friends.”
    â€œThat must be very convenient for you.”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œIs Dino how we got our stuff back?”
    â€œI don’t think so. Apparently, there’s something going on that I didn’t know about. I’m going to have to have a serious talk with my partner, Marcel, when we get back to Rome.”

9
    T he following morning they took the little electric vehicle and roamed the vertically stacked streets of Positano, doing a little light shopping for Hedy. They checked out of Le Sirenuse at one o’clock, and there was a Mercedes with a driver waiting for them. Stone got a better look at the Amalfi Coast with somebody else driving, and he enjoyed the experience, until they got onto the autostrada, when the driver spoke up.
    â€œMr. Barrington,” he said, “is there any reason somebody would be following you?”
    â€œNone that I’m aware of.”
    â€œThere’s a black Lancia sedan three cars back,” the man said. “It’s been behind us since we left your hotel.”
    Stone looked back and saw the car; two men occupied the front seat.
    â€œHow fast are we going?”
    â€œA hundred and thirty kilometers an hour.”
    â€œLet’s see what happens at a hundred and sixty.”
    The Mercedes accelerated. “He’s keeping pace with us,” the driver said.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Hedy asked.
    â€œSomebody appears to be tailing us.”
    â€œAre we in any danger?”
    â€œI don’t think so, they’re keeping well back.”
    â€œI hope you’re right.”
    â€œSo do I.” Stone put his head back and dozed off.
    â€”
    W hen he woke up they were in Rome. “Do you want to go to your apartment or come with me?” he asked