Stone arrived exactly ten minutes later, moving through the crowd with his usual efficiency. He slid into the booth across from me.
"Quentin."
"Stone." I pushed a menu toward him. "Want something?"
"Just water." He glanced around the bar once—professional habit—then focused on me. "We need to talk about Julia."
“I know you’re not happy about it, but I already hired her. She starts Monday—”
"I’ve changed my mind. I think you need to postpone her starting day until we have more information." Stone leaned forward. "My contacts in New York are hearing things. The Russos are looking for answers, and they're looking in our direction. She's from New York. She has the perfect cover—executive assistant with full access to your schedule, your meetings, your life. This is textbook infiltration."
"Or it's a coincidence."
"You don't believe in coincidences."
He was right. I didn't.
"Un-hire her. Make up an excuse. Tell her the position was filled internally. Whatever. But don't let her into your inner circle when she could be the person sent to kill you."
I thought about Julia's voice on the phone that afternoon. The warmth when she'd accepted the job. The slight nervousness about the polygraph.
Was it genuine? Or was she an actress playing a role?
"You said it yourself. If she's the threat, keeping her close is the smartest move. I can watch her. Control the environment. Figure out what she's really after."
"Or she can put a bullet in your head when you're not looking."
"She'll have to pass the polygraph first."
"Professionals can beat polygraphs."
"Not Forrest's polygraph. You know how thorough he is."
Stone sat back in his chair. "You're making an emotional decision. You like her. That's clouding your judgment."
"Maybe. But for some reason, I want to see this through.”
"Even if it kills you?”
I couldn’t hide my grin.
Stone’s eyes widened. “Holy hell. This is a game to you?”
“Not at all. A challenge, maybe. But nothing I can’t handle.”
Stone shook his head. "But I'm trying to keep you alive. That's my job. And right now, you're making my job impossible."
"Sorry, Stone. But I'm not cancelling."
"Then at least delay. Tell her you need another week. Two weeks. Give Forrest time to dig deeper."
"There’s nothing more for him to find. No. I’ve made up my mind. She starts Monday. We'll be ready."
Stone shook his head. "This is a mistake."
“Maybe. But it’s my mistake.”
Stone recognized a man entering the bar, and waved him over.
