“All checked in?” Stone asked.
“I’m in the Conrad Suite on the top floor,” Jack said.
“The perfect place to hunker down until this all blows over.”
“That was my thinking. Care to join me for a drink before you leave? I hear the rooftop bar is still open.”
“I’d love to.”
Stone stood and they headed to the elevator, neither saying a word until they were alone in a car, heading up.
“Very clever of you getting Estrada to sit near you,” Jack said.
“I merely acted as a tempting target. He did all the rest.”
“I suppose they won’t make a move until I’m in my suite.”
“That would be my bet,” Stone said. “But I suspect they’ll make an appearance at the bar to keep an eye on you.”
The rooftop bar was about half full when they arrived, and they were able to find a spot in a corner that was semiprivate.
A few minutes later, Estrada walked in alone.
“Stone,” Jack said.
“Yeah, I see him.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Stone looked over. Jack was holding the disposable phone he’d been sent by the extortionists. It was vibrating with an incoming call.
“Estrada’s not on a phone, so it must be Kroger,” Stone said.
The words were barely out of his month when Kroger entered the bar, with no phone in sight.
“Or not,” Stone said.
Chapter 47
Before Jack could answer thephone, Stone said, “Let it ring.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
Over at the bar, Estrada and Kroger had taken seats at the other end and were pointedly not looking in Stone and Jack’s direction.
As the phone continued to vibrate, Jack asked, “I take it you have a plan.”
“I’d say more of a scientific experiment,” Stone said. “I’m curious to see what happens with our new friends at the bar when you don’t pick up.”
The phone vibrated a few more times, then stopped.
Stone watched the duo at the bar. If the person on the phone was indeed working with them, then Stone expected either Estrada or Kroger to receive a call asking why Jack hadn’t answered, but in the minute that followed neither man reached for a phone.
Jack’s disposable vibrated again.
“Go ahead,” Stone said.
