Quick & Dirty

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Stone Barrington departed the Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue at Seventy-sixth Street and slipped from under the Seventy-sixth Street awning into his waiting car. He had had a business lunch after departing the United Nations, where his close friend Secretary of State Holly Barker had given a well-received speech. A heavy rain was falling, and he could hardly see across the street.

“Can you see to drive, Fred?” he asked his factotum, Fred Flicker.

“Only just, sir,” Fred replied. “I’ll go slowly.”

“As you wish.” Stone found his unfinished New York Times crossword on the seat next to him. It was quite dark outside, and he switched on the reading light and started to work.

Traffic was slow. He saw a figure in black jogging toward Park Avenue with something in his hand, Stone couldn’t tell what, and he went back to his puzzle.

They had reached Park Avenue, but just as they did the light turned red, and since there is no right turn on red in New York City, Fred waited for it to change.

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