He rode the elevator upstairs and got off at the top level, where Marcel’s apartment was. “Marcel?” he called.
“In here,” duBois responded.
Stone walked through the living room and into Marcel’s study. The Frenchman sat in an armchair next to a man Stone didn’t recognize. He heard a small noise behind him and turned to find two hefty men sporting bulges under their arms.
“Stone Barrington,” Marcel said, “this is Yevgeny Majorov.” He nodded at his other guest.
“How do you do?” Stone asked, thinking fast. He was out of options at the moment.
“I do very well, Mr. Barrington,” Majorov said. “Please have a seat. I’m told breakfast will be ready in a moment.” His accent was more British than Russian.
As he spoke, a uniformed butler wheeled a large table into the room and uncovered several dishes.
“It’s a buffet,” Majorov said.
“I recognized it,” Stone replied.
The three men served their plates and sat down at a table already set for them.
“How did they get in?” Stone asked Marcel.
“I don’t know,” the Frenchman replied.
“Fear not, Mr. Barrington,” Majorov said, “I’m unarmed and not here to harm you.”
“What about your two minions?” Stone asked, jerking a thumb toward the men.
“They harm only those who attempt to harm me.”
“That’s benevolent of them. How many people did you harm getting into the building?”
“It was done quickly and quietly,” Majorov said, “and without serious injury to any person.”
Stone didn’t believe that for a moment.
They ate quietly for a bit, then Majorov spoke up. “I’m here on business,” he said.
“What sort of business?”
“I know that, in the past, you have rejected offers from my organization.”
“Quite true. Why do you think anything has changed?”
“Because the leadership of my organization has changed.”
“In what respect?”
“I am now its chief executive, instead of my late brother.”
“I fail to see the difference.”
“My brother tended toward bluntness in business and relied on violence instead of negotiation to achieve his ends.”
“I’m acquainted with his techniques.”
“My brother also tended toward the lowball offer when seeking new assets.”
“Yes.”
“When I took charge of the organization I began a top-to-bottom reorganization, eliminating a number of older members who relied on my brother’s techniques to achieve success. The Neanderthals are gone.”
“Leaving what?”
“Civilized men, like myself, who wish to conduct our affairs in a more straightforward manner.”
“Like the two—no, three recent attempts on my life?”
“I wish to apologize for that. We had previously relied on a French national who tended to overstep.”